How to Clean a Metal Bracelet in 4 Simple Steps

A metal bracelet can be your watch’s greatest companion. It’s water resistant, durable, elegant, and will last a lifetime. But like with all things, you need to maintain them to get the most from them and a metal bracelet is no exception. Over the many hours, days, and years of wear your bracelet will accumulate grime, dirt and, sweat. This builds up and eventually makes your beautiful watch look old and dirty. Not to mention the smell! So, in order to keep our watches looking in top condition I’ll be walking you through the best method for cleaning your metal bracelet in 4 simple steps.

Although I would recommend removing the bracelet from your watch for optimal cleaning, you may choose to keep the bracelet on your watch for cleaning and so before putting your prized possession anywhere near water we need to check a few things. Firstly, the water resistance of your watch. Many watches have the water resistance written on the dial or engraved in the case back. However, if there is no information on the watch itself you can check the user manual if there is one or simply search the model of your watch online to find the water resistance rating. Now, it’s important that you don’t take this number to be gospel as water resistance ratings tend to be a bit misleading. For example, if a watch has a 30m (3bar) rating it does not mean that you can hop into your scuba gear and dive down to 30m and have everything be okay. What it really means is that the watch is ‘splash proof’ but should not really be fully submerged. Confusing right!? I would suggest any rating lower than 50m (5bar) should not be fully submerged in water but could resist some light scrubbing out of the water. Anything above 50m (and is new which I’ll come onto) is classed as ‘swimmable’ and so should be safe to submerge.

The second thing to consider is the age of your watch. Over time O-rings and seals degrade and so the real-world water resistance of your watch decreases over time. I would encourage caution with any watch over 20 years old or one that hasn’t had regular servicing. In these instances, I would recommend removing the watch from the bracelet before beginning the next steps. It’s more faff, but some grime and dirt can also get in between the end links and case so it might be useful for making sure every part is clean.

Now that you’ve decided your watch is water resistant enough to be submerged you need to make sure that the crown is either pushed all the way in or screwed down depending on what type of crown your watch has. If you also have chronograph pushers that screw down, make sure these are too. If your watch has any other kind of pusher for setting complications on the outside of the case, I advise against submerging it.

If you have any doubts about the water resistance of your watch, it’s always best to err on the side of caution as it will be an expensive mistake to make if water does enter your watch. You will also find it easier to clean the bracelet fully without the watch on it.

That was a lot of information, but it is crucial to know how to protect your watch before you begin cleaning any part of it. With this information in mind, you can now begin preparing your water.

I’d recommend using lukewarm water in a small bowl. If you can comfortably keep your finger in the water that should be just right.

Here’s where you’ll find some conflicting advice. Some people say that dish soap is fine to use on watches and bracelets while others say it’s too harsh. Here’s what I’d recommend; if you are confident your watch and bracelet can withstand it as it has a full stainless-steel construction and is very water resistant, dish soap is fine. If you have an older watch and bracelet or one that has gold or PVD coating, I’d recommend using hand soap. Another consideration is how the soap will interact with your skin. If you have sensitive skin, then the gentler hand soap may be better to prevent any risk of irritation when you wear your bracelet again or while you’re cleaning. In this demonstration I’ve used our bathroom hand soap because I like the way it smells!

You can add the soap to the water, or gently apply it directly to the bracelet, or both. Either way you won’t need much, a couple of squirts at most.

The absolute best tool for cleaning watches and bracelets is none other than the humble toothbrush. Preferably one that isn’t going to be then used to clean teeth because that would be disgusting! The soft bristles are great for getting in between the links of the bracelet without risking scratching it.

If you are not submerging your watch and bracelet, simply wet the toothbrush and add a little soap to gently scrub the grime away without too much water.

It’s important to ensure there is no moisture left on the bracelet as over time this can enter small gaps in between the links and begin to corrode the bracelet or pins. Once you are happy with the cleanliness of your bracelet you can then dry it either on a hand towel, paper towel, or microfibre cloth.

Finally, I’d recommend wiping the bracelet all over with a dry microfibre cloth which will ensure there is no residue left on the bracelet and will help to shine it up ready to be worn again in its full glory.

We have many more guides on metal bracelets, leather straps, accessories, and more! Make sure to look through our article collections of guides for more tips, advice and reviews.