How to Polish a Watch Band and Watch Case

A quality timepiece can last a lifetime, so it's no surprise when the mental band and the watch casing itself become dull and discolored by scratches, dirt and oils. Luckily, there is a process that can restore your investment that any jeweler or watch repairperson worth his or her salt can do to restore your watch to its showroom sheen. 

Removing the Inner Workings

In order to polish the casing and the band, the delicate mechanism inside the watch must be removed and set aside. Here are the steps a professional will take to remove it safely.

Step 1

First, one of the pins responsible for holding the slip-on band together is removed with a pin removal tool. The pin is then carefully set aside. This allows the band to lay flat and expose both sides.

Step 2

A sharp knife is then used to pop the back casing off of the watch and expose the inner workings. This piece is also laid aside.

Step 3

Carefully, the inner movement of the watch is removed and laid aside. This is done very gently with tweezers to avoid damaging the fragile mechanism. The crystal watch facing is left intact.

Polishing with the Wheel

Run the band through the buffing wheel and apply pressure to the areas with scratches to remove them.

Step 1

Using an electric buffer, the casing and the band are polished carefully. Pressure is exerted on scratched areas to remove them.

Step 2

Lighter pressure is used to gently polish the entire surface.

Ultrasonic Cleaning and a Manual Rinse

Place watch in ultrasonic cleaning machine to remove all dirt and grease for about 10-15 minutes.

Part 1

Part 2

Place watch in rinsing solution for final cleaning

Step 1

The watch casing and band are then set inside a cleaning solution in an ultrasonic cleaner and left there for ten to fifteen minutes. This helps remove dirt and oils from between the links in the band, as well as from within the tiny spaces of the casing.

Step 2

After the cleaning cycle, the watch is then removed from the cleaning solution using tweezers and transferred in a bowl of rinsing solution. This helps wash away any remaining dirt or oil, as well as wash away the cleaning solution

Reassembling the Timepiece

Step 1

The watch is dried with a soft cloth and placed facedown on the workspace once more.

Step 2

Using clean tweezers, the inner mechanism of the watch is reinserted in precisely the same way it was removed.

Step 3

The back of the casing is replaced, and a hand press tool is used to create a tight seal to block out dirt and dust from the inside of the timepiece.

Polishing the band and casing of your watch not only brings back that showroom shine; it can extend the life of your timepiece by removing harmful materials from every nook and cranny.If you are unsure about any step in the process, you should consult with a knowledgeable professional to assist you.