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Hi fellow watch enthusiast. I recently noticed that many of my yellow gold watches have orange patches forming. I do store them in the safe. I have a couple of questions…
1. May I know if that’s oxidation? If yes, how can I prevent it from happening.
2. Is there a way to remove it myself or do I have to send it for servicing?
Thanks in advance for your help! This message has been edited by India Whiskey Charlie on 2022-12-22 18:19:30
Although many prefer to leave any accumulated patina, others prefer to have the nice, clean look of when the watch was new. It's a matter of preference.
Rolex Yellow Gold oxidizing
Hi fellow watch enthusiast. I recently noticed that many of my yellow gold watches have orange patches forming. I do store them in the safe. I have a couple of questions…
1. May I know if that’s oxidation? If yes, how can I prevent it from happening.
2. Is there a way to remove it myself or do I have to send it for servicing?
Thanks in advance for your help! This message has been edited by India Whiskey Charlie on 2022-12-22 18:19:30
If the tarnish (patina) bother you, you can easily remove it yourself with a jeweler's polishing cloth. It only takes a few seconds.
I've had the same polishing cloth for at least a dozen years. These are a much safer option than actual metal polish since multiple uses of those can remove a noticeable amount of metal, eventually rounding and softening sharp edges--the cloth is much less abrasive.
These cloths are also great for removing fingerprints from stainless watches, which is mainly what I use mine for. Just be careful using it on non-glare crystals as they will remove the non-glare coating if used too often.
YouTube has videos of how these cloths work.
Perfect!
Definitely will give it a try! Much appreciate! One of my friend suggested tomato sauce hahahaha. Not sure if he is screwing with me.
Have a good day sir
Have a good day sir
Welcome to WatchProSite!
Welcome to WatchProSite! And congratulations on your first post!
1. Yes, that is considered oxidation. This is considered VERY MINOR oxidation.
2. The oxidation should slowly go away after some use. If it doesn't go away, there are some generic liquid cleaners that can remove the oxidation. Definitely go for liquid cleaners, avoid cleaners where you have to rub or apply as rubbing removes a small layer of gold. Servicing wouldn't be needed for this level of VERY MINOR oxidation.
3. To prevent this in the future, consider the following... 1. Wrap your watches in plastic film (the one you use to wrap food is good) as air tight as possible. Consider putting some plastic between the bracelet so the bracelet links don't rub against each other. Try to get all the air out, it's the air that causes oxidation. 2. Also, considering you live in Singapore, a fairly warm and moist country, your safe might need to be equipped with a dehumidifier. Consider a reusable desiccant that you can put in the safe to reduce moisture inside the safe. This may help reduce the oxidation. There are some desiccants that come in a small metal box (with little vent holes) and the metal box can be heated in a small oven every month to dry out and "recharge" the desiccant so it can absorb more moisture again. 3. Use your watches more often. You're probably rotating through multiple watches. If you rotate through them frequently (like wear a different one each day), you're less likely to see oxidation on any one watch.
My only comment on using liquid cleaners on precious metals is that they can often leave a very faint film, even after rinsing, and often require light rubbing with a cloth to remove the film. But they are indeed generally effective.
I find polishing cloths work easier and are very mild--requiring just a few passes to remove the kind of tarnish shown in the photo--and I've used them for years on vintage watches without ever 'softening' sharp edges, even under magnification. But be warned, anything, including liquid tarnish removers, has the potential to do damage, however minor, if overused or used incorrectly.
I concur. You're absolutely right.
I was hoping that since this oxidation looked so light, that the liquid itself would be sufficient. But a quick touch with the polishing cloth would be good too. But some people tend to polish too much or rub harder than necessary. They think, "it's metal, I can rub as hard as I want, it won't make a difference to metal" and I always advise them to rub as lightly as needed to get the job done. But yes, you're absolutely right. Good thing we have more people here to add their perspectives!
Super awesome community!
My first post and I got much better advice! This is way better than Instagram
Oh! Definitely better than Instagram!
You're on the oldest and most knowledgeable online watch community in the World. In operation since 2001! Probably the most amount of knowledge and the greatest chance for a high quality response can be found here amongst all online communities. We used to have one "negative" aspect that we've been trying to correct over the years. For many years this website was known as the "elite" collector group. People used to say, "that's the platform for Tourbillon and high end complicated watches, you won't be welcome if you're not a Tourbillon owner" and we've really been working hard to make that not the case and disprove that assumption. I joined when I didn't own a single watch and was very much welcomed by the senior moderator team and all members. We're more technically inclined than the average watch website; it has to be beautiful on the outside and beautifully made on the inside too - and we focus a lot on manufacturing technique, old-world ways of manufacturing and finishing, and overall we approach watches with a measured reaction. Instagram seems to care more about external beauty and instinctive knee-jerk reaction. Sometimes we get in a little too deep for some readers; no problem if you're not interested in getting too deep into the technicals, but if you do enjoy technical detail, you'll probably enjoy this review I wrote earlier this month: www.watchprosite.com
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Welcome again!
Welcome again!
I love that everyone can be so open with their opinions in this forum
And also sharing tips n tricks! I look forward to spending lots of time learning here. Cheers
Got caught not wearing them
Very true that I seldom wear my yellow gold pieces!! My taste have moved towards dress watches recently, hence, the sport watches are rarely touched! Thanks for the great help Patrick!
You're most welcome!
That reminds me, I need to check on some of my gold watches... I've been a negligent watch owner!
You might use moisture-capture crystals or something to reduce humidity
In your safe or in your room where the safe resides. We live near the ocean and almost all the metal around our house looked like that after a few years … until we got a couple dehumidifiers and now keep it at 50-65% humidity, no higher.
Ah looks very familiar
I have a two tone RO which does the same thing. It happens because I seldom if ever wear it. Those two tone watches I have (i have 2 others), do not develop this oxidation because they are in heavy rotation.
When that happens I soak it in a bottle of silver cleaning solution (the kind which is meant for use on silver jewellery). It has a sieve tray in a small bottle, meant for holding the jewellery while soaking it in.
I believe the method of using an aluminium foil, baking soda or polident, will work too, because the oxidation comes from the copper content of the Gold alloy. In this method, simply put the watch in a cup, with the oxidised gold area in contact with aluminium foil. Pour warm water and baking soda and some table salt in, and let it rest for 10 min. It will start an electrochemical reaction which removes the oxidation. It is a safer method than using polishing cloths or using silver cleaning solution.
The patina disappears after 10 min. Hope it helps.
I am hesitant to use cape cod polishing cloth on it, because it polishes the metal away.
Sounds like a science experiment
But I’ll give it a try in the future! Will make a post once done
thanks!
thanks!
It should do the magic
I just did it for my other pieces. I do it routinely. Oh yar, you can use a electronic water flosser (for teeth) on the metal. I used to use a fine soft tooth brush until I discovered fine scratches (yikes), so I converted to using a water flosser to clean dirty hard to reach areas. It works wonders too.
Welcome here, Noobcollector. It seems that you received all excellent advices. Tell us more about your passion for watches, please.
the selvyt jc purple cloth impregnated with a special gold cleaner(factory added) and polished off with a selvyt sr cloth is the best result i find for polishing yellow gold-carefully
will polish it up as good as new.
Sure!
I got into watches a few months before Covid! So during lockdown it kinda gave me lots of time to read and learn about watches! My first watch is the Tag Heuer Autavia “Jack Heuer 85th Birthday Edition”! That kinda kickstarted my love for watches and I started collecting Chronographs! Perhaps because of my itchy fingers haha. I hope to share more pieces and stories on this forum in time to come!