Watch cleaning and polishing
Most watches only need a soft cloth and, for bracelets, warm water and a soft brush. Polishes are for specific jobs: Polywatch for scratched acrylic crystals and metal cloths for polished steel, and both can do damage on the wrong surface.
What to look for
- Microfibre for fingerprints on crystals and polished cases
- A soft brush and warm soapy water for bracelets, if the watch is water resistant and the crown is screwed down
- Polywatch only on acrylic or hesalite crystals, never sapphire or mineral glass
- Metal polishing cloths only on high-polish steel; they ruin brushed finishes and coatings
Which watches can take Polywatch?
Only those with acrylic or hesalite crystals. Most modern watches use sapphire, which is far harder than any polish. In our catalog, 10 current watches have an acrylic or hesalite crystal, including:
- Baltic HMS 002hesalite
- Baltic MR Classichesalite
- Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional 310.30.42.50.01.001hesalite
- Sinn 356 PILOT Classic Wacrylic
- Timex Ironman Classic 30 Full-Size T5E901acrylic
- Timex Marlin 1965 Reissue Hand-Wound 34mm TW2R47900acrylic
- Timex Marlin Automatic 40mm TW2V44600domed acrylic
- Timex Q Timex 1979 Reissue 38mm TW2T80700acrylic
The picks, cheapest first
Chosen from published specs, prices and what owners and reviewers consistently report. We haven't tested these ourselves. Prices are US list prices as of October 2026 and vary by retailer.
1.Bergeon 7875 Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, 120 x 120 mm
$4Best for everyday fingerprint wipe-downs
It is a small, inexpensive microfiber from a Swiss watch-tool maker. A cloth like this is all most watches need between deeper cleanings.
Watch out: Small size; a larger general-purpose microfiber does the same job for drying a whole bracelet.
- Type
- Microfiber cloth
- Size
- 120 x 120 mm (4.75 x 4.75 in)
- Material
- 75% polyester, 25% polyamide
- Made in
- Switzerland
- For use on
- Wiping fingerprints off crystals, cases and bracelets; drying after a wash
- Do not use on
- Do not use it to buff off polish residue and then wipe a crystal with the same cloth, because embedded grit can scratch
2.Cape Cod Polish Co. Cape Cod Metal Polishing Cloths, 4 x 6 in (2-pack, #8821)
$6Best for bringing back high-polish steel surfaces
Cape Cod cloths are the standard enthusiast recommendation for reducing hairlines on polished steel. They are cheap, and one pack lasts a long time.
Watch out: It removes a small amount of metal each time, so it will turn a brushed finish shiny and can wear through plating or coatings.
- Type
- Pre-moistened abrasive metal polishing cloth
- Contents
- Two 4 x 6 in cloths in a reclosable pouch
- Made in
- USA
- For use on
- High-polish metal surfaces (polished case sides, bezels, polished center links); gold, silver, stainless steel and other metals
- Do not use on
- Brushed or satin finishes, thinly plated or two-tone plated parts, and PVD/DLC-coated surfaces; keep it off crystals
- Notes
- Buff off the residue with a soft dry cloth afterwards
3.3M High Performance Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, 12.5 x 14 in
$7Best for drying a bracelet after washing
It is large enough to dry a whole bracelet and case after a soapy-water clean, which is the method Omega recommends for metal bracelets and water-resistant cases.
Watch out: The listing warns that the stitched edge may scratch delicate surfaces under direct pressure.
- Type
- Microfiber cloth
- Size
- 12.5 x 14 in (32 x 36 cm)
- Washable
- Machine washable and dryer safe
- For use on
- Drying a watch after a wash, and general dusting of cases, bracelets and crystals; can be used dry or damp
- Do not use on
- Avoid pressing the stitched edge onto delicate surfaces (the retailer notes it may scratch)
4.Bergeon 6033 Rodico (original green)
$8Best for dabbing dust and fingerprints off a crystal
Rodico is the watchmaker's standard putty for picking up fingerprints and dust without wiping, and it costs only a few dollars.
Watch out: It can leave residue if overworked or old; for an assembled watch, a clean microfiber is usually enough.
- Type
- Cleaning putty
- Contents
- One stick
- For use on
- Lifting fingerprints, dust and oily smudges from crystals, case surfaces and small parts by dabbing
- Do not use on
- Avoid pressing it into open movements, luminous dials or anything you cannot replace; it is a watchmaker's bench product
- Variants
- Bergeon 7033 Premium (white) $10.99; 8033 anti-static $12.99
5.Esslinger (house listing) Watch, Clock and Instrument Cleaning Brush (German made, extra-soft)
$11Best for scrubbing between bracelet links
A soft-bristled brush with mild soapy water is the cleaning method Omega's care guide gives for metal bracelets and water-resistant cases, and this brush comes in an extra-soft grade.
Watch out: The listing does not name the bristle material; a soft toothbrush does the same job for most owners.
- Type
- Hand brush
- Bristle options
- Extra-soft, soft, medium or hard (4 rows)
- Handle
- Wood
- Length
- 10 in
- Made in
- Germany
- Price range
- $11.49-$15.99 depending on bristle option
- For use on
- Dislodging grime between bracelet links, around lugs and under bezel edges (pick extra-soft or soft)
- Do not use on
- Leather straps, and the crown/pushers area of a watch that is not confirmed water resistant if the brush is wet; avoid medium or hard bristles on polished surfaces
6.PolyWatch Plastic Crystal Polish & Scratch Remover (5g)
$12Best for light scratches on acrylic or hesalite crystals
PolyWatch is the paste most often named by enthusiasts for vintage acrylic crystals and hesalite Speedmasters, and the retailer says one tube covers roughly 10-12 applications.
Watch out: It does nothing for sapphire or mineral glass, and deep gouges still need a crystal replacement.
- Type
- Polishing paste for crystals
- Size
- 5 g tube
- Applications
- About 10-12 (per retailer)
- For use on
- Acrylic (plastic/hesalite) watch crystals only
- Do not use on
- Sapphire or mineral glass crystals; it cannot fix deep gouges or cracks
- Also sold by
- Esslinger lists the same 5 g tube at $7.99 with a cotton cloth
7.Rapport London Luxury Watch Cleaning Kit (SP30)
$60Best for an all-in-one gift kit
It puts spray, brush and two cloths in one box from an established British accessories brand, and Teddy Baldassarre stocks it as an authorized dealer.
Watch out: It costs several times more than buying a soft brush, mild soap and a microfiber cloth separately.
- Type
- Cleaning kit
- Reference
- SP30
- Contents
- Watch cleaning spray, watch polishing cloth, metal polishing cloth, bamboo cleaning brush
- For use on
- Gold, platinum, silver and stainless steel watches (per retailer)
- Do not use on
- Leather straps should not be soaked; treat the metal polishing cloth like any abrasive polish and keep it off brushed and coated finishes
Worth knowing
- PolyWatch-type pastes work on acrylic (hesalite) crystals only. They do not work on sapphire or mineral glass, and a badly scratched sapphire crystal generally has to be replaced rather than polished. (watchscanning.com)
- PVD- and DLC-coated cases cannot be polished: polishing removes the coating and exposes the base metal, and the fix is professional re-coating (cited at roughly $200-$500). (watchscanning.com)
- Cape Cod cloths remove a small amount of metal; the grey residue on the cloth is metal taken off the watch. Retailers warn against using them on brushed or satin finishes and on thinly plated or two-tone plated bracelets. (kegworks.com)
- Omega's care guidance for metal bracelets and water-resistant cases is a toothbrush with soapy tap water, then drying with a soft cloth. It advises against leather cleaners on leather straps, and says to screw the crown in carefully so water cannot enter. (omegawatches.com)
- Hairlines on brushed surfaces are normally refreshed by following the original grain in one direction with an abrasive pad, not by using a polishing cloth, which turns the finish shiny. (watchscanning.com)