If you are the proud owner of a Rolex watch, you know the prestige of this luxury timepiece extends beyond its aesthetic. Wearing a Rolex gives you a level of self-assurance and confidence that few other watches can achieve; it is a true status symbol. Regular at-home Rolex cleaning is recommended to keep your watch looking its best and maintain its functionality. Keep your watch gleaming and grime-free with our comprehensive guide on how to clean a Rolex.
With their timeless designs and style gravitas, it’s no surprise that many Rolex owners like to wear their watches frequently. Whether it’s a staple accessory to your work suit or a timepiece that makes you feel most confident when you’re enjoying your days off, your Rolex will be exposed to dirt throughout the day.
Sweat, sebum, dead skin cells, skincare products, dust, and all manner of residues can make their way onto the surfaces and into the nooks and crannies of a Rolex. Over time, this can build up, dulling the look of the watches’ metals and crystal, causing chronograph pushers to jam and bezels to stick, and if the muck makes its way into the inner workings, it can disrupt the mechanism.
As you can see, cleaning a Rolex regularly is an important maintenance task. Maintaining the finish and functionality of a Rolex safeguards your investment, helping your watch retain its value whether you plan to sell it in the future or keep it in the family.
Rolex watches are built to last a lifetime, from their precision movements to their durable cases, crystals, and bracelets. They feature high-performance materials like the brand’s signature Oystersteel, a chromium and molybdenum-rich stainless steel alloy that gives the watches their iconic brilliance. Some Rolex watches feature Roledor, an alloy of Oystersteel with 18-carat gold.
Pure 18 ct gold, made in the brand’s Geneva foundry, offers the gold watches in the Rolex repertoire the most opulently warm lustre. For a more modern aesthetic, Everose gold, an 18 ct alloy with copper, palladium, and indium, delivers a uniquely deep tonal take on rose gold.
For those who prefer a white metal, Rolex showcases its 950 platinum, prized for its elite durability and captivating icy glow. Strong but light, for those who find stainless steel, platinum, or gold too heavy, the robust RLX titanium boasts an edgy polished finish.
Rolex uses two types of crystal to protect the watch dial: acrylic and sapphire. It’s important to know which type of crystal your watch has so that you can maintain it correctly. Generally, an acrylic crystal is convex and is more commonly found in vintage models, while a sapphire crystal is flat. Because it is much harder to scratch (being a level nine on the Mohs Scale for hardness), it is usually much clearer.
Now that you know which materials you’ll be cleaning, the next step is to source the right cleaning products to get the job done safely and effectively.
Though you may have invested a significant sum in your Rolex Daytona or Submariner, keeping it sparkling clean at home is surprisingly inexpensive. The brand recommends cleaning a Rolex with soapy water, and the simplest way to create this solution is with a mild dish soap. Your classic washing-up liquids are perfect for cleaning the durable metals used in Rolex watches, because they’re formulated to lift off fat-based particles, and natural skin oils are one of the main contaminants you’ll find on a watch strap and casing.
Rolex recommends cleaning your watch with a soft-bristled brush. A child’s toothbrush works a treat here because the head is smaller and, therefore, easier to work in between bracelet links and around the lugs. Alternatively, to ensure you choose a design with soft enough bristles, you could buy a specialist watch or jewellery brush.
A collection of microfibre cloths is also a must for Rolex watch cleaning. You can use them to clean the watch with soapy water, and you can dry and polish with them. If you want to buy a specialist watch polishing cloth, ensure it is compatible with the metals and crystal in your Rolex watch to prevent micro-scratches from abrasives within the fabric that are too harsh for the watch’s construction.
If your Rolex crystal has scratches, you can purchase a specialist polishing paste. Be sure to choose the right one for either an acrylic or a sapphire crystal.
Ultrasonic cleaners are a popular piece of kit among fine jewellery collectors. While you should not place a full Rolex watch in an ultrasonic cleaner (because it may disrupt the movement within the casing), you can detach the bracelet and clean it separately. This method is also preferable to using a wooden or metal pick to clean out debris between links, which could accidentally scratch the metal, especially in gold and rose gold Rolex bracelets, whose surfaces are more prone to scratches due to the softness of gold.
Before you start cleaning your Rolex, there are a few things you need to do. You must screw down your winding crown, as this will prevent moisture from entering the casing and damaging the movement. Though some Rolex watches boast impressive water resistance (notably those with an Oyster case), some of the older models are not water resistant and should not be submerged. What’s more, if you have a model that is water resistant but hasn’t been well maintained, it may no longer be as water-safe as you think. If you’re not absolutely certain your Rolex is waterproof, do not submerge it.
You can give your Rolex a daily clean with a microfibre cloth. This is particularly effective at removing surface debris like skin cells and oil. For a deeper clean, you can detach your Rolex bracelet to give you better access to the lugs. Unlike some luxury watches, removing the bracelet from a Rolex is very simple. If there are lug holes, dislodge the spring bars from the holes using a spring bar tool or a toothpick. If there are no lug holes, use a spring bar tool to push one side of the spring bar away from the lug.
With this in mind, to learn how to clean a Rolex watch safely, use the following steps:
Prepare your cleaning solution using warm water – never hot water. Fill a bowl with warm water and add about 10ml of mild dish soap, agitating the water to produce a gentle lather.
Dip your soft-bristled brush in the solution and scrub the watch all over. Remember to focus on the lugs and between the links, where grime can gather and harden. If you’re worried about your case’s water resistance, don’t hold it over the bowl. Instead, dip a microfibre cloth into the solution, wring it out, and use this to thoroughly clean the case and crystal.
If you’re satisfied with its water resistance, you can rinse a detached Rolex bracelet and the case under warm running water. Otherwise, to remove all the soapy residue, fill a clean bowl with warm water, soak a microfibre cloth in it, wring it out, and use the damp cloth to wipe away any remnants of soap. This step will prevent streaking and staining.
Dry all parts of the watch with a clean microfibre cloth before reattaching the bracelet.
Once your watch is spotlessly clean and dry, you can polish a Rolex by spending some time buffing it with a microfibre cloth. You could use a specialist polishing paste specific to the metal used in the bracelet and casing – and remember, these may not be the same, especially if you like to switch between bracelets. Likewise, you can polish the crystal with a specialist formulation. If your timepiece has notable scratches, take it in for a professional polish at an official Rolex service centre.
Now that you know how to clean your Rolex, you might want to consider how you can enhance its maintenance to keep it in pristine condition.
Rolex recommends you take your watch to one of their service centres every ten years for a full service. A number of procedures will be performed, including dismantling the movement and cleaning the components in an ultrasonic device, lubricating the movement, and making any necessary replacements or repairs.
If you own an ultra-durable Rolex model, you may take it with you on all your adventures. If you keep it on when you’re in the ocean, improve your watch maintenance by rinsing it with warm water as soon as possible afterwards to avoid salt and sand damage. Though a Rolex on your wrist may make a statement while you’re working out, consider taking your watch off for these sweaty pursuits – not just to keep sweat off the surfaces but to avoid accidental damage when lifting or participating in physical sports.
When you’re not wearing your Rolex, rather than laying it on your dresser top, tuck it away safely in a cushioned watch box and, ideally, lock it in a safe.
Knowing what could damage a Rolex watch is essential when learning how to clean it properly.
Make sure your dish soap is ammonia-free, as this chemical can cause discolouration. Less can be more with cleaning agents, and you’ll be surprised just how well a small volume of dish soap can clean a Rolex. More soap can leave patchy residues on the bracelet and case, especially if you don’t rinse diligently.
If you’ve got a vintage Rolex that looks a little lack-lustre, don’t be tempted to use overly abrasive formulations on it, including homemade concoctions like bicarbonate or soda and lemon juice. Be patient with your Rolex polishing, and if it still lacks a little pizzazz, take it for a professional polish.
How often should I clean my Rolex?
You should be cleaning a Rolex with a gentle surface wipe-down every time you wear it. If you wear your watch daily, give it the step-by-step clean detailed above once a week. If you wear your watch less frequently, give it this deeper clean every month or so.
Are all Rolex watches cleaned the same way?
The step-by-step guide here can be used on all Rolex watches, including stainless steel, platinum, titanium, 18 ct gold, and the brand’s signature gold alloys. You may want to be particularly careful when scrubbing or polishing platinum, gold, and gold alloy models, as these are more prone to scratching. Understanding what materials are present in your Rolex will help you choose the right specialist products if you’d like a more bespoke cleaning approach.
Do I need specialist tools to clean a Rolex?
If you’re going to detach the bracelet, getting a Rolex-compatible spring bar tool is a good idea. Other than this, you do not need specialist equipment to keep your watch clean.
If I damage my watch when cleaning it, will it be covered by my insurance?
Accidental damage while cleaning may only be covered if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions—as detailed here.
TH March has over 130 years of experience insuring luxury watches. With our competitively priced policies, you can benefit from worldwide accidental damage, loss, and theft cover for your prized Rolex or watch collection. From a dedicated claims handler in the event of a claim to a referral back to your original jeweller in the event of a theft or loss, your Rolex is in the safest hands with TH March. Get a quick quote for free now, and with just a few more questions answered, you’ll enjoy instant cover today.