High-quality watches are more than just a timepiece, they are a fashion statement, an accessory, and an example of superior craftsmanship. The finest watches are built and handled with the utmost attention to quality, and the final action of cleaning and drying a completed watch is equally as important as each step that led to its final assembly. Watchmakers clean their finished pieces with the same care as jewelers do when handling their wares, and any appearance less than pristine can defeat the time and skilled craftsmanship that went into its creation. As anyone who has seen water spots on silverware after a run through the dishwasher knows, sometimes soap and water just don’t do the trick.
Water spots are the result of deposits left behind by water’s natural components, typically sodium salts or other impurities, when it is left to dry on a surface. The aqueous cleaners often used to clean watches and other jewelry are predominantly composed of water, with other agents like anti-corrosives added. Since watches are so intricately constructed, with delicate moving parts, running them through a harsh hot air dryer won’t work. Drying and rinsing agents like DuPont™ Vertrel® are specifically designed with a molecular structure that can displace and remove water gently but completely. Low surface tension means that it can easily reach even the tightest nooks and crannies of a watch interior. Water spots are a thing of the past, as Vertrel® won’t leave behind any deposits or residue. Treatment with Vertrel® is the final step in bringing a watch to ready-to-wear status.
