A dive watch is designed to be worn in the harshest environment a watch will ever meet: salt water, sand, sunscreen, and sweat. Cleaning it is not optional maintenance, it is what protects the seals, the finish, and the movement between professional services. Done correctly it takes a few minutes and needs nothing more than fresh water, a soft brush, and a cloth. Done carelessly it can force grit past a gasket or leave corrosive salt in the crevices. Here is the right way, and the mistakes to avoid.
Before you start: check the crown
The single most important step happens before any water touches the watch. Confirm the crown is fully screwed down (on a screw-down crown) or fully pushed in (on a push-pull crown). This locks the most vulnerable seal on the watch. Never rinse, soak, or brush a dive watch with the crown unscrewed. Most water ingress incidents happen through an open crown, not a failed gasket. If your watch has a chronograph or a second crown for an internal bezel, make sure those are secured too. For why the crown matters so much, see the six features of a professional diver.
Everyday rinse after salt water
After any exposure to salt water or chlorinated pool water, rinse the watch under cool fresh tap water while wearing it or holding it firmly. Salt crystals form as seawater dries and are mildly abrasive and corrosive; a simple rinse dissolves them before they can settle into the bracelet links, the bezel gaps, and the case-back seam. Work the bezel back and forth under the running water to flush salt out of the bezel mechanism. This thirty-second habit after every dive or swim does more for a watch's longevity than any other single act of care.
A fuller clean
Every few weeks, or whenever the watch looks dull or feels gritty, give it a proper clean:
- Confirm the crown is closed. Always the first step.
- Prepare warm (not hot) water with a drop of mild soap. Hot water and steam are harder on gaskets than cold water, so keep it lukewarm.
- Use a soft brush. A soft toothbrush works well. Gently brush the bracelet, the lugs, the case sides, the bezel edge, and the case back. Pay attention to the gaps between bracelet links and around the crown guards, where grime accumulates.
- Rinse thoroughly under fresh water to remove all soap residue.
- Dry with a soft, lint-free cloth, then leave the watch to air-dry fully before storing, so no moisture is trapped against the case back.
Cleaning specific parts
The bracelet
Metal bracelets trap the most grime because of all the links and gaps. The soft-brush-and-soapy-water method is ideal. For a rubber or Tropic-style strap, the same warm soapy water and a rinse keeps it supple and free of salt; rubber tolerates water freely. Leather straps are the exception, they should never be soaked, only wiped with a barely damp cloth, because water ruins leather.
The sapphire crystal
A sapphire crystal is extremely scratch-resistant and cleans with any soft cloth and a little water. Fingerprints and salt spots wipe off easily. If the watch has an older acrylic crystal, avoid abrasive cloths, and know that light scratches in acrylic can be polished out by a watchmaker, unlike sapphire, which is replaced rather than polished.
The lume and dial
The dial sits behind the crystal and is sealed away, so it needs no cleaning and should never be opened up by the owner to reach it. Cleaning the crystal is cleaning the view of the dial. For how the luminous material works and ages, see the dive-watch lume guide.
What not to do
- Do not use hot water or steam. Heat expands metal and stresses gaskets, and steam can be driven past a seal. Lukewarm is the limit.
- Do not use ultrasonic cleaners at home. These are for watchmakers with the case opened and the movement removed. On an assembled watch an ultrasonic bath can drive water past aged gaskets and loosen dial or bezel components.
- Do not use solvents or harsh chemicals. Alcohol, acetone, and abrasive cleaners can damage seals, coatings, and acrylic crystals. Mild soap and water is all that is needed.
- Do not clean with the crown open, ever.
- Do not assume cleaning restores water resistance. Only a pressure test and fresh gaskets do that, which is a job for a service.
Cleaning is not servicing
Regular cleaning keeps a dive watch looking and functioning well between services, but it does not renew the seals or restore the depth rating. Gaskets age regardless of how clean the watch is, and only a professional service can pressure-test the case and replace the gaskets. On an Aquastar that full service is needed every 5 to 10 years, with no annual service required even with daily diving. Think of home cleaning as daily hygiene and professional service as the periodic health check; both are needed, and neither substitutes for the other. More detail on the interval is on the service page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clean a dive watch?
First confirm the crown is fully closed. Rinse the watch under cool fresh water after any salt or pool exposure, working the bezel to flush out salt. For a fuller clean, use lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap and a soft brush on the bracelet, lugs, and case, then rinse thoroughly and dry with a lint-free cloth.
Should I rinse my dive watch after every swim?
Yes. After any exposure to salt water or chlorinated pool water, rinse the watch under cool fresh water and work the bezel back and forth to flush salt from the mechanism. Salt crystals are abrasive and corrosive as they dry, and a thirty-second rinse does more for the watch's longevity than any other single habit.
Can I use hot water or an ultrasonic cleaner?
No. Hot water and steam stress the gaskets and can be driven past a seal, so keep cleaning water lukewarm at most. Ultrasonic cleaners are for watchmakers working on an opened case; used on an assembled watch they can force water past aged gaskets and loosen components. Mild soap and water is all that is needed.
Does cleaning my watch restore its water resistance?
No. Cleaning keeps the watch looking and functioning well, but it does not renew the seals or restore the depth rating. Gaskets age regardless of cleanliness, and only a professional service can pressure-test the case and replace them. On an Aquastar that full service is due every 5 to 10 years.
How do I clean the bracelet and strap?
A metal bracelet cleans well with warm soapy water and a soft brush, working into the gaps between links where grime collects. Rubber and Tropic-style straps tolerate the same treatment and stay supple. Leather straps are the exception and must never be soaked, only wiped with a barely damp cloth, because water ruins leather.
Related reading: Servicing your Aquastar · Waterproof versus water-resistant · Dive-watch cases and how they seal · Insuring a dive watch
