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Rolex watches are the ultimate symbol of luxury and quality, and they’re a major financial investment. To keep your timepiece looking its best and avoid the need for a Rolex watch repair, it’s essential to take good care of it.
While keeping your Rolex safely in its case will minimize wear and tear, they’re made to be worn and appreciated. Understanding how to clean and care for your Rolex will allow you to wear it as much as you like while preserving its condition.
1. How To Clean a Rolex
Cleaning your Rolex doesn’t just maintain its appearance. It also guards against corrosion that could damage its function. Most Rolexes have a metal bracelet, the ideal environment for dirt, sweat, and other grime to build up.
Cleaning your Rolex regularly makes it more hygienic and stops it from corroding, minimizing the likelihood of needing a Rolex watch repair. You can clean your watch as often as once a month, although a few times a year is usually adequate to keep it in beautiful condition.
If your Rolex is waterproof, you can wash it in water with a mild detergent. A soft toothbrush is an ideal tool for removing all the dirt from the bracelet crevices. Make sure to dry your Rolex thoroughly after each cleaning.
We recommend booking your Rolex in for a water-resistance test at a specialist watch store every 3-5 years. If it’s been longer than this since its last water-resistance test or you know your model isn’t waterproof, you should remove the bracelet for cleaning and keep the watch itself well away from water. Otherwise, you could have an expensive Rolex watch repair on your hands. If you’re unsure, ask a specialist watch store to clean your Rolex for you.
2. Rolex Servicing
Rolex servicing is essential if you want to avoid a costly Rolex watch repair. The Rolex watch mechanism is highly complex, and a watch servicing specialist in Denver, CO, uses specialized equipment to remove the case back. Attempting to service or fix your watch yourself could cause scratches or serious internal damage.
During a Rolex servicing, the expert tradesperson will carefully take the mechanism apart and clean them to get them in perfect working order. They will also replace any elements that are worn out or working incorrectly and check that it is keeping time accurately. Servicing identifies and fixes small issues before they become big problems that require a Rolex watch repair.
You can ask the technician to give your watch a thorough polish and clean during the servicing process.
So, how often should you schedule a Rolex service? This essential process should be done at least every five years to keep your timepiece working correctly and in mint condition.
3. Should You Polish a Rolex?
You can avoid scratches by removing your timepiece when using a metal computer like a Mac and avoiding bumping it, especially against hard surfaces like stone. However, unless you keep your watch stored away in a box, wearing your Rolex will inevitably result in scratches.
Scratches don’t require a Rolex watch repair. Some people don’t mind a few scratches on their watch and believe it adds to its character. However, you can get rid of them by giving it a polish.
Generally, it’s best to leave watch polishing to a knowledgeable professional because it can affect the timepiece’s shape and lines. While it’s possible to do this task yourself, you could end up removing some of the material and affect its appearance and value. An expert watch technician has the specialist equipment necessary to get your watch looking like new while preserving its features.
Most repair shops include polishing in the price of a service. If you don’t want your watch to be polished, tell the technician when you take it in for servicing.
4. Rolex Water-Resistance
All recent Rolex models are fully waterproofed when you first purchase them, allowing you to fully submerge them in water without damage. However, vintage models may not be water-resistant, and even modern Rolexes can lose their water-resistance over time as the seals around the case back and glass become looser.
If your Rolex isn’t waterproof, water can seep inside the mechanism. This causes the delicate internal components to rust and corrode, a recipe for an expensive Rolex repairs further down the line.
The only way to make sure that your Rolex is water-resistant is to ask a specialist to perform a pressure test. If it isn’t, they can reseal the watch correctly to prevent water damage from cleaning or submersion.
5. Should You Wind a Rolex?
Rolex watches have automatic winding mechanisms, which means that they use your physical movements to keep the watch wound up. This makes them a convenient alternative to manually-wound models.
However, it’s not good for your watch’s mechanism to allow it to run flat, and the best way to avoid it is to wear it frequently, especially if it has a lower power reserve. Allowing your movement to stop regularly could lead to a Rolex watch repair in the future. If it does stop, you should wind it by hand a little to get the movement working again.
The Bottom Line
While there are simple steps you can take yourself to keep your Rolex in good condition, like cleaning it regularly and keeping it wound, a reputable watch expert can help you avoid a Rolex watch repair by performing regular services. It’s best to leave this job to the professionals to prevent damage to the delicate internal workings.
The knowledgeable experts at Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry of Denver, CO, can assist you with all aspects of Rolex servicing, including water-resistance testing and polishing. If the worst happens and your watch breaks, the technicians can carry out a high-quality Rolex watch repair to get your timepiece back in perfect working order.
