Watch bracelet cleaning & timegrapher diagnosis in Zurich
An ultrasonic clean that lifts the grime a cloth never reaches, plus a measured health check of the movement, written up in a short report. Selling? It is the simplest way to present your watch at its best, with readings to back it up.
01What you get
- Ultrasonic bracelet clean. The bracelet is removed and cleaned in a professional ultrasonic bath with a pH-neutral concentrate, then rinsed and fully dried. Skin oil, grime and residue come out of the gaps between the links.
- Timegrapher diagnosis in six positions. Rate (seconds per day), amplitude and beat error, measured dial up, dial down and in four crown positions, with the correct lift angle for the calibre.
- A written report. Every reading in a table, the positional spread, and a plain verdict: running healthy, within specification, or a service worth planning.
02Before you sell
- A better first impression. Buyers judge condition from photos. Grime between the links reads as a neglected watch; a clean bracelet photographs the way the watch deserves.
- Proof it runs well. The written report answers the first question a serious buyer asks, with six measured positions instead of "keeps good time".
- Still original. We clean, we never polish, so the case keeps the sharp edges collectors look for.
Selling a Rolex? Pair the clean with an authentication of the watch you own, and list it with a signed report. See authentication →
03What the report looks like
A real example, from a Rolex Datejust 41 (calibre 3235) that came in for a clean:
| Position | Rate s/d | Amplitude | Beat error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dial up | +1 | 202° | 0.1 ms |
| Dial down | −5 | 212° | 0.1 ms |
| Crown up | −7 | 177° | 0.0 ms |
| Crown down | −11 | 180° | 0.5 ms |
| Crown left | −8 | 177° | 0.3 ms |
| Crown right | −7 | 179° | 0.0 ms |
Verdict: within specification. Timekeeping is excellent at +1 s/d dial up. Amplitude is modest, the typical early sign of ageing lubrication, so a service is worth planning in the next year or two. That's the value of measuring rather than glancing: the watch keeps perfect time, and the numbers still tell you what's coming.
04What we don't do
- No polishing. Polishing removes metal and softens the case edges, and it's one of the main reasons a watch loses value.
- No movement or case work. Only the bracelet is cleaned. The watch head never goes in the bath, and the case is never opened.
- No water-resistance testing.
05How it works
- Book by email or WhatsApp with the model and your preferred evening.
- Handover in the evening at a neutral location in Meilen or central Zurich. We record the watch's condition together and photograph it in front of you. The handover is between you and us only; we never attend sales or buyer meetings.
- Clean and measure at the bench.
- Collect the watch and receive the report, two to three working days later.
06Questions
Is ultrasonic cleaning safe for a Rolex bracelet?
Yes, on solid steel and solid gold bracelets. Ultrasonic cleaning lifts grime from inside the links without abrasion. It can reveal weakness that was already there, such as worn pins or stretched links, which is why the bracelet's condition is recorded and photographed at handover before any cleaning.
Do you clean or open the watch case?
No. Only the bracelet goes in the ultrasonic bath. The watch head is never immersed, and the case and movement are never opened for this service.
Do you polish watches?
No. Polishing removes metal and softens the sharp case edges, and it is one of the main reasons a watch loses value. The ultrasonic clean usually restores enough shine on its own.
What does the timegrapher report tell me?
The rate in seconds per day, the balance amplitude and the beat error, measured in six positions. From those readings you get a plain verdict: running healthy, within specification, or a service is worth planning. Low amplitude is often the first sign that a service is due, even when the watch still keeps good time.
Which watches do you accept?
Rolex, Omega, Tudor, Breitling, IWC and other fine Swiss mechanical watches on a metal bracelet.
How long does it take?
Two to three working days. The watch is measured over more than one session, because rate and amplitude change as the mainspring unwinds.
Is a clean worth it before selling a watch?
Yes. Buyers judge condition from photos, and grime between the links reads as neglect. A clean bracelet presents the watch properly, and the written timegrapher report answers the first question a serious buyer asks: does it run well? We clean, we never polish, so the case stays original.
Selling your Rolex?
Prove it before you list it. Independent forensic authentication of the watch you own, from CHF 110: microscope, UV and timegrapher, with a signed, numbered report. We work for the owner and never attend buyer–seller meetings. See authentication →