When you own a Rolex, it’s undoubtedly one of your most prized objects. As such, taking care of your Rolex should be a priority. But, these timepieces are mechanically sophisticated and need to be serviced carefully.

What many Rolex owners don’t know, though, is that you can do a lot of light maintenance on your Rolex yourself. Here’s what you can do at home to help keep your Rolex clean and protected so it maintains its value.

1. Wearing your Rolex often to keep it ‘alive’

A Rolex is too beautiful to sit in a drawer, we think you should be wearing it and enjoying it every day. But besides that, wearing a Rolex often actually keeps it ‘alive.’ The perpetual movement is driven by the subtle movements you make while the watch is on your wrist. So, if a watch sits for a long period of time, the lubricants inside can harden causing friction and even damage when it starts moving again.

Taking care of your Rolex Bubbleback 3131 can help it maintain its value

If your Rolex is truly for special occasions, you can help keep your watch from ‘dying’ by gently rocking it every 48-hours, and at least once a week.

2. You should clean your Rolex

First things first, this only applies to Rolex’s with an Oyster case — if your Rolex isn’t specifically waterproof, don’t try this at home.

Like any other piece of jewelry, your Rolex watch needs to be cleaned. Daily wear and tear can leave dirt and oil in crevices which can build up over time and make it appear dull. Besides that, if any dirt eventually works its way into your watch, it can affect how your watch operates.

There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure you are taking care of your Rolex.

• First, check the crown and make sure it is tightly screwed to the case before you begin. If you forget this, it could cost you down the line in repairs.
• Grab a medium sized bowl and mix in ammonia-free soap with lukewarm water.
• Dip your hands in the soapy water and rub or gently scrub your watch, if you need a little extra help, you can use a soft-bristle brush. We then suggest dipping the watch into water in short intervals to wash away the soap and dirt.
• To dry your watch, just pat it down with a cotton cloth. If you notice there are some crevices that just aren’t drying, you can use a blow dryer set on low to dry these spots.

3. But never polish your watch yourself

This is something you should leave for the professionals. If you think your watch is looking a bit dull even after giving it a wash, take it into a certified repair center to have it polished up to its original luster.

These Rolex watch care tips can help you maintain the value of your investment

If you’re worried about the scratches that appear with daily wear, you can purchase special high-quality polishing cloths specially designed for stainless steel and gold. But we highly suggest referring this work to a professional. What many people don’t realize is that these cloths actually remove a fine layer of metal, bringing the layer to the level of the scratch, thus causing it to disappear. So if you have a heavy hand or go in the wrong ‘grain’ direction you can really cause some damage.

4. Don’t be afraid to wind your Rolex

It’s not always necessary, but if you find yourself needing to wind your watch, don’t fret. Rolex has built in a device that makes sure you can’t overwind it, so there’s no need to panic that you can do it wrong. Here’s what you should do.

• First, you should never wind your watch while wearing it. Place your Rolex on a soft, flat surface before you begin.
• Unscrew the crown to position two and wind it about 30 or 40 times.
• When you’ve finished, screw the grown back done. It’s that easy.

Winding your watch can also ensure you are always taking care of your Rolex

Do note, winding your Rolex doesn’t mean it will always start automatically. If this is the case, gently rock it back and forth like it would on your wrist. If this doesn’t work, just lay it down and let it begin on its own. If this doesn’t work either, take it to a certified dealer who can help you out.