How to clean a watch: case, crystal and strap care

For everyday watch cleaning, start with a clean, soft cloth and light pressure. Treat the case, crystal, steel bracelet and leather strap as separate surfaces. Ask for model-specific advice about stubborn dirt, damage or uncertain water resistance. A 5 ATM rating is not a complete cleaning instruction.

The Avanté Lunar Gunmetal combines sapphire crystal with a 316L steel case and metal bracelet. Before choosing a treatment, identify what you can actually see: a fingerprint, a loose speck or dirt around a joint. This guide covers external care. Opening the case is a service task.

Identify the problem before choosing a method

Put the watch on a clean, soft surface and examine it in good light. Check the inside of the bracelet and clasp as well as the front. A local mark does not mean every part needs the same treatment.

• Fingerprint on the crystal or case: begin with a clean section of a soft cloth and gentle movements.

• Loose dust: remove it carefully before rubbing. Do not scrape away a particle with a hard edge.

• Dirt lodged between links or around the crown: stop increasing the pressure and ask how this particular version should be cleaned.

• A persistent line, discolouration, loose clasp or moisture beneath the crystal: make a service enquiry rather than treating it as ordinary surface dirt.

Take a photograph before cleaning if you are unsure. A second picture from another angle can help show whether a line changes with a reflection. The pictures make your enquiry clearer; they do not establish a diagnosis.

A short routine after wearing your watch

1. Prepare the cloth and work surface

Use a clean, soft cloth without cleaning chemicals. Check that it contains no hard particles. Move keys and jewellery away so the case and clasp cannot knock against them while you work. Take the watch off your wrist to inspect the back as well.

2. Work on one surface at a time

Gently remove light fingerprints from the crystal, then wipe the case and outside of the bracelet. Move to a clean part of the cloth for each area. Support the watch while examining the inside and clasp. Avoid pulling on joints to reach an awkward spot.

3. Check the result without adding force

Look at the surface again under the same light. If the fingerprint has gone, the routine is finished. If a mark remains, do not automatically press harder or add a cleaning product. Note its location and the steps you have already taken. Those details help someone answer a service question.

Cleaning the crystal is different from polishing damage

Sapphire is a material specification, not an instruction to use abrasives. Current product information lists sapphire crystal for the Lunar Gunmetal. It does not authorise toothpaste, metal polish or an arbitrary cleaning spray on either the crystal or case.

There is therefore no polishing stage in this routine. To have a visible scratch assessed, send a photograph and identify the component: crystal, case, bracelet link or clasp. Trying to remove a scratch changes the task from cleaning to surface restoration. A dark colour alone does not tell you which treatment would be suitable.

Our guide to 316L stainless steel in watches explains what the material designation does and does not establish.

Give the bracelet and leather strap separate attention

Metal bracelet: inspect the spaces between links

Wipe visible perspiration away with a soft cloth after wear. If dirt remains inside a joint, ask how the bracelet on your model may be cleaned more thoroughly. Instructions for a detached metal bracelet do not automatically apply to the complete watch attached to it.

Leather strap: blot moisture away

Use a soft, dry cloth to absorb moisture gently rather than scrubbing the strap. Leather is a different material from steel, so do not carry a metal-cleaning method across to it. Avoid alcohol-containing cleaners and bleach. Let the strap dry gently before wearing the watch again or putting it away.

If you are still choosing between the two, read our steel bracelet versus leather strap guide. That comparison helps with the purchase decision; this routine concerns care after wearing.

When should you ask for advice first?

Ask before using an unfamiliar product, immersing the watch or taking the bracelet apart. Give the model, affected component, any contact with water or chemicals and what you have already tried. Add a clear photograph. Condensation beneath the crystal concerns the inside of the watch; external wiping does not resolve that observation.

For use around water, read our explanation of 5 ATM. Neither a steel grade nor a crystal type or water-resistance figure assesses the current condition of your individual watch.

Frequently asked questions about watch cleaning

How often should I clean my watch?

Check it after wearing and remove visible moisture or dirt. A fixed calendar interval cannot account for how frequently you wear it or the conditions it encounters.

Can I put my watch under a running tap?

Do not make that the default step in this routine. Check your model's instructions first and ask for advice if the condition of the crown or seals is uncertain.

Can I use a silver-polishing cloth?

Only if its suitability for that surface has been confirmed. A silver-coloured steel watch is not evidence that a product intended for silver jewellery is appropriate.

Will cleaning remove a scratch?

Cleaning removes surface dirt. A persistent mark needs assessment before a restoration treatment is chosen. Rubbing harder will not identify the cause.

Can I use the same cloth for leather and the crystal?

Use a clean section each time and avoid transferring dirt or a leather-care product to the crystal. A separate clean cloth makes this easier.

What if dirt remains around the crown?

Do not insert a sharp tool. Take a photograph and ask Avanté or a watchmaker how the dirt can be removed from your particular model.

Sources and editorial checks

Citizen's watch-care information distinguishes cases, metal bracelets and leather straps. Seiko's storage guidance provides general context for putting a dry watch away. These manufacturer resources do not grant additional water-use approval for an Avanté watch. The decision framework and sequence above are our editorial application; no cleaning test was performed.

A closer look at the Avanté Lunar Gunmetal

The Avanté Lunar Gunmetal was €180 and in stock when checked on 15 October 2026. Its 40 mm case and metal bracelet are specified as 316L steel. The MIYOTA 6P00 quartz movement displays the day, date, month and moonphase. The watch has sapphire crystal and a 5 ATM rating. This version includes free shipping, 30 days to request a return and a two-year manufacturing-defect warranty in addition to statutory rights; return postage is paid by the customer. Check the current listing and shipping, returns and warranty policy before ordering.

View the case and bracelet on the product page to assess the finish. Then explore the moonphase calculator to find the moon for a date of your choice.