Basic Care and Maintenance of Rolex Watches

Rolex watches are known for both their precision and elegance. Such a sterling combination of beauty and excellence may be the reason why they command such a high price. Every person who owns a Rolex treats it like a treasured possession. If you own a Rolex and want to cherish it forever, then you have to learn how to take proper care of your watch. A simple care and basic maintenance program will not only keep your Rolex in perfect functioning condition for years to come, but will provide the feel that you are wearing a brand new Rolex every time you wear your watch.

The basic care and maintenance program for Rolex watches includes the following steps:--

1. Wear Your Rolex Regularly
Regular wear and use of your Rolex will keep the watch in perfect running condition. By doing so, you can ensure a constant flow of lubricants in the movement. If not used on a regular basis, these lubricants may harden, causing friction within the movement. Eventually, this friction may damage the functioning of the movement. If you do not wear your Rolex regularly, make sure to wind it at least once a week. This will keep the watch gears moving, thus preventing the lubricants from hardening.

2. Cleaning Your Rolex
Like any other work of intricate artistry and technology, a Rolex requires occasional cleaning and upkeep. There are many places on the watch where dirt, body oils and other greasy particles accumulate, such as between the links on the bracelet, the area joining the case and the bezel, and around the Cyclops lens. On repeated use, you will see clearly such dirt particles on your Rolex. When such particles are seen, the watch will require a thorough cleaning as described below:

# Before you start cleaning, make sure the winding crown is tightly screwed onto the case.
# Since you will be using your hands to clean your watch, washing them thoroughly with soap or hand wash so you avoid transferring any dirt or grease.
# Use lukewarm water to rinse off your watch.
# Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and ammonia- free mild soap.
# Apply this soapy water all over your watch using your hands.
# Now, gently scrub the watch to clean it of all dirt particles. Your old toothbrush can be used as an ideal scrub for this purpose. During scrubbing, submerge the watch and the toothbrush into the soapy water at short intervals.
# Once you are confident that the Rolex has been cleaned, rinse the watch with lukewarm water.
# Using a clean and soft cotton cloth, gently pat the watch until dried.
# Since your cloth may not reach the links on the bracelet, you need to use a blower or hair dryer to remove the excess water from the inner surface of the links.
# To make your Rolex watch completely dry, you can also use a dry towel to remove any remaining moisture.

3. Removing Scratches from the Bracelet of Your Rolex Watch
The bracelet of your Rolex needs special care, as it is prone to scratches. This is especially true of the Oyster bracelet which features polished center links. By polishing the bracelet once every few months, you can retain the brand new look of your Rolex forever. You easily can remove the scratches from the polished center links with little effort and time expended. All you need is a good quality polishing cloth which can be picked from products designed for removing scratches from polished stainless steel and gold surfaces. Such a cloth comes soaked in a special liquid meant for polishing. These polishing cloths are inexpensive and can be used multiple times. When using the polishing cloth on the surface of your bracelet, there are several things you should keep in mind, including —

* Make sure you use the cloth only on the polished surface of your bracelet. If you use it on the non-polished surface, it will damage the brushed finish.
* One way to avoid this error is to use a Q-Tip. You can wrap the cloth around its head and comfortably restrict its movement to the polished surface.
* Do not exert too much pressure while polishing because only a moderate amount of pressure is needed.
* Avoid using circular or cross strokes while polishing. Instead, try to follow the flow of the metal. In other words, go with the grain of the surface and not against the grain.
* A minute of polishing usually is enough to remove the fine scratches that appear like hairlines. You may need to devote more time, however, if the scratches are deeper or more prominent.
* Finally, avoid polishing surfaces that have no scratches. You will end up removing a fine layer of metal from the surface by way of polishing because the surface has not suffered any indentation in the form of a scratch. Less is more.

4. Winding Your Rolex
Rolex watches (except Oysterquartz) are perpetual which means they are self winding. On an average, Rolex watches have a power reserve of 48 hours. If not wound after 48 hours, your Rolex will stop running and appear dead. It is not a major issue, however, because you can manually wind your watch. Simply unscrew the crown to position 2 and wind it about 30 to 40 times and once you have done this, screw the crown back down. There are a few points that you should take into account while winding your watch. They include —

* Winding your Rolex while wearing it on your wrist should be avoided.
* If found dead or in a non-functioning mode, do not shake your watch.
* Even after you have wound it, do not shake the watch if it does not start working. Simply, rotate your wrist gently, which will allow the watch to rotate as well and may give the rotor inside the “kick start” it needs.
* If still the watch does not start, rather than shaking and possibly damaging your Rolex, simply put the watch aside and allow it to start on its own.
* Never worry about over-winding your watch as every Rolex has a built-in protection mechanism, which does not allow the movement to be over wound.

5. Waterproof Rolex
Most of the Rolex watches come with a tested and guaranteed depth rating of 330 feet. This waterproof nature means that not only can you take a shower wearing your watch, but you also can swim with it. Avoid diving with diving equipment, however, when wearing your watch, because they are not made for deep water. For such aquatic situations, Rolex has created the Submariner and the Sea-Dweller models. When you are diving while wearing these models, however, make sure that the winding crown is tightly screwed down onto the case. Underwater, for any reason, if you have left the winding crown loosely screwed, there is a chance the case may become flooded with water, ultimately damaging your watch. If you choose to purchase a Rolex watch (non-diver's watches), we suggest the watch should not be worn even while swimming or showering. Treat these watches as only water resistant due to the age and custom work involved with them. Yes, you can wash your hands while wearing your Rolex, but please treat your Rolex with the respect and care that such a great treasure deserves