The important consideration is knowing the materials of the watch, the watch crystal, and the watch strap. The brush you use on stainless steel can scratch the shiny gold finish on a precious metal timepiece,” so while you should use a soft brush to clean a steel or titanium timepiece, you’ll want to opt towards an ultra-soft brush, microfiber cloth, or even just your hands while cleaning something constructed of precious metals.

For more uncommon material case constructions, such as bronze, carbon fiber, or one of the many other natural and upcycled material options, contact the dealer you purchased from or manufacturer to learn how best to clean the watch in question.

He went on to tell us that harsh chemicals can also affect the gaskets, which is why using only mild soap at home for cleaning, like Dawn brand dish soap or a bar of hand soap, rather than a more heavy-duty cleaner. We recommend knowing the last service date of a watch, and if you have a concern over the adequate water resistance of your eye, have it inspected by a reputable watchmaker.

Hesalite Or Acrylic Crystal

A hesalite or acrylic crystal — found most often on vintage timepieces — can easily scratch compared to something more durable like sapphire, so you will want to opt away from abrasive brushes while cleaning these facets and again opt towards something very soft like a microfiber cloth or your hands.

When cleaning your watch like rolex explorer at home, the final consideration is to clean over a protected surface. The eyes become quite slippery while cleaning, and if your timepiece accidentally falls out of your hands and onto a hard surface, it can quickly become damaged. An excellent way to avoid this is by cleaning over a layered towel, which will help catch water and any potential slips.