If the debris is stubborn, dip the Q-tip or cloth in soapy water and use it to remove the debris. Squeeze a bit of the toothpaste onto the watch face. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the glass is clear and polished. Imperfections, raised surfaces and small surface cracks can be sanded out of glass. If you wear the watch immediately after you clean and rinse it, your body heat will help get rid of water between bracelet links and in other little nooks and crannies. Last Updated: October 20, 2020 Wait a few minutes, then remove the toothpaste with a soft cloth, using gentle, circular polishing motions. Mix the cerium oxide into a paste using water and either apply by hand using a cloth or sponge and plenty of elbow grease, or for best results use in a rotary tool or electric polisher on a felt bob or wheelon a slow speed. Buff out the remaining residue. Alternatively, you can brush the bracelet with warm, soapy water if you don’t have sandpaper. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. It is advisable to clean your watch before polishing it. Remove the band Apple Watch using the two buttons on the underside of the casing. Take the watch to a jeweller if there are still scratches after the second polish. References. The sand block should be at least 600 grit. If your watch is inexpensive, it most likely has an acrylic crystal, sometimes referred to as plastic or hesalite. You can find sandpaper at a hardware store. He completed his residency in graduate gemology at the G.I.A. Let the nail polish set for an hour so the polish fills the glass scratch. A final polish with Polywatch or similar and you will have a super shiny and scratch free finish. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Polish the scratched glass with the sander or buffer while you continually moisten the area by lightly squeezing out a trickle of water from a saturated sponge. If this happens, and is not fixed by wiping it down with the ammonia/water solution, try applying a coat of clear nail polish. in 1979, New York and now specializes in Fine, Antique and Estate Jewelry, consultations and expert witness work. Take the watch into different light, look at it from every angle, scrutinize it entirely. If the scratches remain untouched, rub the watch with more pressure. Rub it into the scratch with a finger. Rub the watch gently at first. Wring the cloth to remove all excess moisture. Rub the polish into the sanded glass so the entire surface is coated in a thin, even layer. in 1979, New York and now specializes in Fine, Antique and Estate Jewelry, consultations and expert witness work. Fill a bowl with warm water and a squirt of liquid dish soap. To clean a mineral-glass crystal, follow some simple steps. Inspect the watch under bright light to locate the scratches. There are few more timeless pieces of furniture than a glass table, whether it’s in your dining room or holding down the fort next to your couch. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Use toothpaste, Polywatch paste, or Brasso polish on an acrylic crystal. After the glass is sanded, it will have a dull, cloudy appearance. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Use narrow masking tape to cover up the bezel of the watch to prevent damage. This article was co-authored by Edward Lewand. Rub the cloth back and forth over the entire area. unlocking this expert answer. a mirror), it is best to lay it on a flat, solid surface during the buffing. If you have a vintage watch, try to find a jeweler that specialises in vintage or estate jewellery. My choice is to offer polishing option (no pressure, if the customer doesn’t want to polish his watch. Polish the scratched areas for 2-3 minutes with pressure, using a cotton pad or microfibre cloth. You don’t need to spread the clear nail polish all around the scratch. Wipe off any excess cleaner with a microfiber cloth. Instead, the less expensive 90% Optical grade will work fine. Glass polish brightens the glass and restores it to its clear and shiny appearance. Continue to rub the watch face until you are happy with how it looks. Polish the crystal face with aluminum polish. There are other options too: toothpaste, Peek or Displex will do the job as well. Hold the compound against the turning wheel with medium-light pressure for just two seconds. Attach the red polish strip to the wooden stick. To lessen the chance of cracking the glass during the buffing process, if the glass can be removed (i.e. For more tips, including how to get rid of deep scratches in your watch, read on! Step 3 What do you have to lose if the only alternative is to replace the glass. Edward Lewand is a Graduate Gemologist & Accredited Appraiser with over 36 years of experience in the jewelry industry. If the watch crystal looks plastic-like or is extremely lightweight, it is probably acrylic. Allow the polish to dry on the glass, which should take about 15 minutes. Rub the polishing agent with the soft cloth in a circular motion. Graduate Gemologist & Accredited Appraiser. Apply a tiny dollop of repair goo to the phone.Massage the goo into the scratch area for three minutes, using small strokes and firm pressure. Make sure the glass is free of all dirt and debris, then apply a small amount of metal polish to a cotton ball. After just a couple of minutes, you should see the scratches begin to disappear. Glass is relatively easy to polish. Once finished, simply clean the excess polish off the crystal and you should be done. Continue sanding until the desired result is achieved. Support wikiHow by By using our site, you agree to our. Step 2 Work the paste in a circular motion with a clean polishing cloth. Make sure to keep a light pressure and consistent circular motion. Purchase a polishing cloth from a jewelry store. This prevents the compound from drying out and creating more scratches. unlocking this staff-researched answer. Sanding and polishing headlight covers can remove scratches and imperfections. Step 5 Buff the polish from the glass by rubbing a dry cloth into the polish in a circular motion. Hold side button and turn off Apple Watch. This sands the glass. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Put a few drops of Brasso cleaner on a cloth and polish the glass surface with it. Aluminium cleaner is effective on all metal types. Kallie Johnson began her writing career in 2009, contributing to various online publications. If your watch face isn’t waterproof, keep the water away from the face and concentrate on the strap. Sandpaper can be purchased from a hardware store. Deep scratches may need to be treated more than once. Continue buffing until all of the polish is removed. Graduate Gemologist & Accredited Appraiser. When you’ve finished cleaning the links, buff them with a microfiber cloth. Purchase a microfiber cloth from a jewellery store. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Removing Mineral Glass Watch Crystal Scratches. I’m also very happy to do not polish:) ) for the customers watches and my customers are very happy with the polishing quality I’m providing. Cerium Oxide Powder to remove light scratches and stains from glassCerium Oxide can be used to remove superficial surface scratches from glass surfaces. You can also use a nail polish remover for cleaning the excess nail polish after it has dried. She enjoys writing home and garden topics and considers herself an expert on do-it-yourself home improvement topics. Your choice is do not polish customer watches it’s all good. He is a Certified Appraiser of the Appraiser Association of America (AAA) and an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) of the American Society of Appraisers In Gems and Jewelry. I find that I can solve the most difficult of problems – I’ve worked out gouges and pock marks – using this method, a process born from necessity, but useful for other needs when power tools are too agressive or threaten adjoining surfaces. Buff the polish from the glass by rubbing a dry cloth into the polish in a circular motion. You can power polish the scratch, then use a fabric buffing attachment to clean it up really well. Dampen a piece of 1500-grit sandpaper and gently rub the links. Buff it into the scratch in a circular motion then use a clean, damp cloth to remove the excess when you’re done. Edward Lewand is a Graduate Gemologist & Accredited Appraiser with over 36 years of experience in the jewelry industry. Polish the sides and top of the band evenly over the whole surface. For the best result, clean the watch before polishing it with a polishing cloth. But the beauty of glass is also its downfall—it can get and show scratches way more easily than anyone would like.Luckily, there’s a super easy way to remedy those unsightly marks using items you almost definitely already have at home. This article has been viewed 42,631 times. That is, unless you have a dremel tool with polishing compound. To keep your watch looking shiny and new, polish it every 3 months. Just be careful not to use too much. You can easily remove small scratches from the metal with a small amount of elbow grease and patience. Repeat the process once or twice. This article was co-authored by Edward Lewand. Dip a sand block made with industrial diamonds or one that specifies it's safe for use on glass into the soapy water. % of people told us that this article helped them. Use an unscented dish soap if you want your watch to have a neutral smell. This polishing method is suitable for metal watches. Wipe until the polish, and glass scratch, is completely removed.