Maybe take it to a watchmaker or jewler. Their ultrasonic and steam cleaners might be the best way into get into all the cracks and crevices.

 

I recommend the following steps.
1.Cover liberally in hand sanitising gel and leave for 20 mins.
2.Rinse thoroughly.
3.Get a shaving brush and some antibacterial soap/handwash, create a good lather and clean with the brush, getting into all the cracks and crevices.
4.Rinse thoroughly.
5.Put in freezer for 24 hours.
6. Allow to return to room temperature slowly.
7.Dry thoroughly.
Anything that survives after that, deserves to!

 

Whoa! Can't tell if you are serious, but seems like that would kill the watch!

 

No way should it kill the watch. I do steps 2, 3 and 4 with any watch. The Gel is kind to hands, so won't bother 914 steel. If you left a Rolex in your car overnight in a Canadian Winter and it stopped working I think you'd be justifiably angry.

 

-Rubbing hand gel contains alcohol, which can tarish finish such as AR coating, painted surface and of course the seals

-without knowing the service history or condition of the seal I wouldn't even wash it.

to the OP: get it service and have all the mystery seals replaced, just get it out of the way at once.

 

Replace leather strap unless new.

You can take off a metal bracelet and do whatever to it. Boil it if you like. Though a good scrubbing afterwards with a toothbrush while folding the link joints would be good. Ammonia solution would be good on S/S because it will obliterate any oily gunk, but be sure there is no aluminum on the bracelet.

On the watch head I just go over everything with a toothpick. Especially the crevices around the bezel and around the back. Best to take off the back and replace the gasket. I'd avoid any wet process until you are sure of the waterproofing.

 

Schedule an excorcism?

Or have it nuked from Space.

 

Only way to be sure.

 

drop it in a pot of boiling water for 3 days. allow watch to cool off before giving to grandpa.

 

drop it in a pot of boiling water for 3 days. allow watch to cool off before giving to grandpa.

To heck with that, give grandpa a pot of boiling water with a watch in it, Make a game of it!

 

let soak overnight in a cup of bleach.

 

This is the most thorough method I think. Though it might tarnish the bezel insert.

 

Take it apart and boil the case for ten minutes if you are paranoid...

 

I would not worry about it. However if it troubles you the watch should be disassembled for cleaning and not just plunked into an ultrasonic machine where it could very well leak. Disassembly will allow the seals to be replaced and the movement serviced.

Are you sure he will appreciate a used watch? Some people don't.

 

Why not hit the local watch store and have them steam clean it? I'd skip all the boiling water and freezing.

 

Ultra sonic and steam should take care of most anything that worries you.

 

time in shipping alone should kill most germs... then a little brush with antibacterial soap and room temperature water should do it.

 

Ultrasonic, yes. Steam, not good for O-rings.

A Water-Pik works very well for cleaning bracelets. Much better than a toothbrush.

 

Normally I would say dismantle what you can (bracelet, etc...) give it a good scrub and just go with it - we all have immune systems for a reason, and are perfectly designed to cope with a little muck if any is left over after giving it a good scrub (warm soapy water and a soft bristled toothbrush should be a good combination of cleaning power without destruction).

The fact that your grandfather has had immune related problems recently I wouldn't imagine should make too much of a difference - after all, he will still go outdoors, meet new people and similar activities and once he has worn it for a while it will have picked up new muck from whatever he is doing - but if you want to be sure it is clean, then get it done by a professional watch shop who should have the experience and equipment to give it a good once over. As an extra bonus, it would probably be well worth getting them to check/replace the seals and make sure it still has its WR rating intact (and hasn't had the seals eroded by previous cleaning escapades...).

 

One easy answer:

VERAET

 

Interesting, I'd think boiling and ultrasonic would cause problems for the watch. I figured it would allow for water to penetrate the watch case. I remember someone on the forum not so long ago had trouble when they cleaned their watch with an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner.

https://www.watchuseek.com/f6/ultra-sonic-cleaner-damage-movement-142509.html

I'd think just sensible cleaning should do the trick, soft brush, soap, and water. Other thing to consider; used watches may have bad gaskets that will allow water to get into the watch. First thing would be to get the watch serviced to ensure it won't get water damage, heck have the watch maker clean it while it's being serviced.

Also, has anyone else considered UV light for sanitizing? Thought that could work too.

Regards,

Mike

 

I agree with Panama mike. Ultrasonic might damage the movement.
I would remove the bracelet, and put it in an Ultraconic with a dishwasher/water solution.
The watch itself, I would just clean with a tooth brush, and the same solution.

Your Grand dad might have AID , but we are surrounded by viruses, molds, spores and bacteria. His immune system is not totally gone.

 

On a diver some Dawn and some warm water.

 

Are you sure you've thought this through? could a "similar" watch to his beloved stolen one bring back unhappy memories of the theft when, 2 years later he's hopefully nicely over it, wouldn't a brand new watch (albeit not as expensive) fit the bill better, call it a "moving on" timepiece if you will, and moreso if you're worried he may catch something from a used one. Probably the elderly gentlemans eyesight isn't quite what it was and he might appreciate an easier to read watch, or one of these "newer" quartz ones that runs from a battery and doesn't need winding. Sorry if i'm sounding a bit patronising, thats really not my aim, just casting a differant point of view into the arena. Good luck with whatever you decide anyway dark knight...

 

I agree with Panama mike. Ultrasonic might damage the movement.
I would remove the bracelet, and put it in an Ultraconic with a dishwasher/water solution.
The watch itself, I would just clean with a tooth brush, and the same solution.

Your Grand dad might have AID , but we are surrounded by viruses, molds, spores and bacteria. His immune system is not totally gone.

I'm with panamamike and Janne here. The above two steps should be more than sufficient to clean any watch after regular prolonged use. Boiling / freezing / steam are all overkill and would put significant thermal stress on the watch and oils. Bleach will work but will leave a residue that's harder to get off than any stuff that was in there to begin with.

 

To heck with that, give grandpa a pot of boiling water with a watch in it, Make a game of it!

I would stick my hand in boiling water to get a DJ.... providing it was real and in good working order

 

Not sure if it is worth doing that....

 

Umm, it's stainless steel. Use soap and warm water, maybe a toothbrush to get in crevices. Taa Daa!!
Cleaned.

 

Soak in hydrogen peroxide for 2 minutes to sanitize.

 

Some "interesting" suggestions...

Seriously, I would do the following:

1. fill a bowl with room temprature water and a few drops of good quality dish washing soap.
2. soak the watch for a couple of hours in the bowl. Ensure that the water covers the watch.
3. while the watch is still covered in water, scrub the watch using a used soft toothbrush.
4. Rinse watch in regular water, dry the watch.


I do this when I wear watches in unkind conditions, e.g. after a holiday. The amount of gunk and dirt that you will see at the bottom of the bowl will be amazing. I do this for rolexes, omegas and other watches. (i.e. steel 914, 316 ...etc)

 

I've seen alcohol-free hand sanitisers. I am unaware whether the DJ has AR coatings, but if it's anything like Sinn's it shuld be unfazed. Would you expect your DJ to evaporate if you spilt some cask-strength whisky on it?