How Much Does a Watch Cleaning Cost?


Written by:  Howmuchisit.org Staff

To properly clean a watch, you may find that with some models, you will have to tear it apart to get to the components that need the most work.

Since most people do not feel comfortable tearing apart their watch, many will go to a watch repair professional to perform this type of job.

Vintage Huguenin dresswatch, back from s by GuySie, on Flickr
Vintage Huguenin dresswatch, back from s” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by  GuySie

How much does a watch cleaning cost?

The cost of cleaning and oiling a watch is going to depend on the type of watch, geographical location and specialist performing the work.  On average, a watch cleaning should cost anywhere from $45 to as much as $250 for a higher-end brand such as a Rolex.

If you want to do the job on your own, most watch cleaning kits can be bought for $5 to as much as $25.   On Amazon, for example, the highest rated cleaning kits retail for $7 to $20.

For example, on this MetaFilter.com forum thread, a few members claimed that they spent anywhere from as little as $45 to as much as $125 to get their watch professionally cleaned.

Renaissance Watch Repair, a professional watch repair company located in Washington, charges anywhere from $325 to $400 for a full-service clean, lubricate and adjustment, according to their official website.  These are the prices for vintage, antique or automatic wrist watches.




Watch cleaning overview

During the process, the watch will first be inspected to make sure that it is in working order and no additional repairs are required.  If any repairs are needed, they will be recommended and performed as the watch is put back together after the cleaning.  After the inspection, the watch will be disassembled, cleaned, lubricated, calibrated, and polished.

Watch cleaning kits for home usage, if you choose to do it on your own, will either come with a spray or cleaning holder that does the cleaning for you.

What are the extra costs?

If they find any repairs that need to be done during the routine cleaning, additional fees may apply.  The costs will depend on what kind of repairs are necessary.  Common repairs include overhauling the mechanical components, replacing the crystals and/or replacing the strap.

Many professionals often recommend getting a new battery while the watch is disassembled.   A battery change, depending on the watch make/model, can cost $10 to $40+.

Tips to know

With some premium names, such as Cartier, they only train their own people to repair and clean watches.  These authorized cleaning and repairs can cost a lot more than a lower-end watch.  If you have a higher end watch, always make sure that it is cleaned by an authorized center.

If your watch came with any type of guarantee or warranty, make sure that you check with the company before getting it cleaned.  Doing it the wrong way or through an unauthorized company could void your warranty.

How can I save money?

Try to compare at least three to five quotes before deciding on a repair shop.  Don’t forget to check online repair professionals as their options can be cheaper than a local retailer.

If you feel comfortable with it, try looking for how-to guides on the Internet.  These guides, if followed properly, may be able to show you how you can carefully take your watch apart to clean it.  However, if you are going to go this route, make sure that you do so at your own risk.

Consider buying your own watch cleaning kits.  As mentioned above, most cleaning kits online retail for $5 to $25+.


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Average Reported Cost: $575

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0 %
Less Expensive $1 $1.5K $3K $5K $6.5K More Expensive $8k

How much did you spend?

Was it worth it?  

  1. Omega (Chicago,  Illinois) paid $500 and said:

    Automatic wrist

    Was it worth it? Yes

  2. Mark T. (Severna Park ,  Maryland) paid $650 and said:

    Had a ladies Rolex cleaned. Thought it was a bit high, expected no more than $500. It also took longer than a month.

    I think I should have shopped around more before committing. However it looks great and so far time is accurate, and shop is locally owned not large chain.

    Was it worth it? Yes

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