Myths and truths about watch cleaning: Tips during COVID-19
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It's often a topic of heated discussion at every meeting of horological geeks. Everyone claims to have the magic recipe, the one that fixes scratches, makes steel shine, maintains water resistance... Today, with COVID-19 rampant and wreaking havoc, the topic of cleaning your watch becomes more relevant than ever, not just for aesthetic reasons, but for general health.
So, what do the experts say about best practices when cleaning your watch? First, we must understand the nature of the watch we're sanitizing. Cleaning a watch made in 1960 is not the same as cleaning one made in 2020. The tolerances between components, watertight seals, and corrosion resistance vary between models and play a key role when deciding on the best strategy.Is it necessary to sterilize a watch if it is at risk of being exposed to COVID-19?
Metal is one of the materials where the virus can survive for a long time, so this procedure should be performed. In general, modern watches, made of stainless steel and sapphire crystal, should be cleaned with 60% alcohol to remove any virus residue. Boiling them in water also eliminates the virus, but it can compromise the rubber seals that ensure water resistance. In general, the rule should be to clean with alcohol, but check the water resistance of each model. Older or less resistant watches should not be immersed in this solution.
What precautions should I take before starting the process?
Before sterilizing a watch, we must make sure to give it a good cleaning. That is, thoroughly clean it with warm water and hand soap , using a soft toothbrush to avoid streaks. To dry, use an extra-soft towel or paper towel to remove all the moisture from between the small spaces of the bracelet and case (bonus points if you disassemble the bracelet to clean each link). Again, this process is not recommended for watches with poor water resistance or older ones. Once clean and dry, you can begin sterilizing with alcohol.
What materials cannot be sterilized?
In general, plastics such as rubber, ceramic, leather, and carbon are materials that should not be exposed to alcohol, as they can lose their color or become damaged. If you want to keep a watch as sterile as possible, it is recommended to opt for steel bracelets with large links, ideally with few small corners where dirt and bacteria can lodge and that are difficult to clean. The good habit of keeping your collection impeccable will ensure it maintains its original shine over time and will allow you to avoid the transmission of viruses and bacteria to your wrists, one of the areas of the body most sensitive to the spread of this disease.
