To polish or not polish during service?

[joli160]

I want mine polished, nothing better than a brand new watch after service

[explorer77]

I lean towards polishing but it depends on the watch to me. PCL really seem to call for it.


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[AED_Watch]

I lean towards non-polishing. One option can be to just polish the bracelet and not the watch

[CaptT]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I think this right here is the rub …. And what I was trying to get at in my post.

Sure, you can polish any Rolex to look like new again, but just how long does it last? Depending on wearing habits etc., maybe a long long time, or maybe only a few months ….

Eventually you will lose the factory finish if you polish a watch multiple times. It just stands to reason

Understood, agreed.

A buddy once said something to the effect of “polishing my watch is like cleaning the kitchen…..sure we can tidy it up, but the kids will return it to its previously destroyed condition in no time”..

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by CaptT

Understood, agreed.

A buddy once said something to the effect of “polishing my watch is like cleaning the kitchen…..sure we can tidy it up, but the kids will return it to its previously destroyed condition in no time”.

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[doyall]

I was happy with the way mine came back from the RSC but it was fairly well beat-up after 30 years. As others say, YMMV.

[karleone]

I always ask my watch not to be polished during service and made it written. Why? Because my watches are either unpolished or repolished but very well done so I don’t want to take the risks Rolex messing up with polish. Whatever people who are fan of polishing says a repolished watch would never look as good as a factory unpolished Rolex. Especially on 4/5 digits Sub/SD/GMT/Explo 2 where the case have bevels/ chamfers most of watches after a repolish lose these bevels/ chamfers that were originally there when the watch left the factory. It’s very common to see as well rounded lugs, lug holes surface not sharp, rounded crown guards, lug holes too close from bevel/ chamfer if still there etc. An additional problem is lugs not being V brushed as it supposed to be on 4/5 digits or with a grain different from Rolex factory finish. People saying a Rolex will come back as new after RSC are just not enough knowledgeable. On a 4/5 digits best case your watch has been repolished by an expert like Rolliworks or LAWW or someone very qualified at RSC and it will look decent / great (but not 100% orignal factory finish). Worst case your watch has been polished not by an expert (and it happens a lot even by Rolex RSC) and your watch has no more scratches so form a non expert looks new but someone who know about polish / repolish will be able to say watch has been repolished and it won’t look as good / not as sharp as initially

[CaptT]

I once bought a used Rolex from someone that had the entire case replaced after Rolex (RSC Dallas) botched the polishing. Rolex eventually admitted they had over-polished it (and supplied the new case free of charge), but only after sending back to the customer. Thankfully for the customer, he had detailed "before" pics to compare to the "after", which clearly showed an egregious amount of the case and crown guards had been polished away.

One additional data point, but something to think about as you make the choice to polish or not.

[Phil8352]

After reading this thread, I am now in the camp of baby the heck out of my watch and never get it polished.

[daysky1]

Originally Posted by tmaynard

My BLNR is approaching 9 years of age, and has accumulated a plethora of dings and scratches over time that I've more or less come to accept (with a couple that irk me).

The rotor started making noise a couple days ago, so it is being sent for service (first time).

What's the current consensus on polishing?

On one hand, would be nice to have the watch in like-new condition. On the other, I can't "undo" the polishing job (if i come to regret the decision) and may lose the "original shape" of the case. I'd also get to go through the anxiety of re-scratching the watch all over again.

Heavily leaning towards not polishing, but would like to hear from others who had to make the same decision.

The watch has sentimental meaning and will eventually be passed down to my kids.

If the question is only about polishing, then I hope the person doing it has the skill to not knock off the sharp edges. A lot of small stuff can be taken care of by you with a Cape Cod polishing cloth being very careful to stay on the scratch you desire to eliminate. I cut a quarter inch square off the cloth, making sure it is moist with mineral oil and work the scratch out, it takes time and care but it works. I have heard flitz will work for bringing the shine back without much else being done to the surface. Now comes the question of "will Rolex recase the watch", ie put the movement in a new case if requested? And how much would that add to the cost of the service? If the case is really scratched up or the bracelet as well, can I request a new either case or bracelet?

[NewYorkRanger]

Plan on keeping the watch forever? Polish it at service, make it look good so you can fall in love all over again.

[azhiker54]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I know that its not a Rolex, but the watch that I sold so I could buy my DJ, was a 12 yr old Breitling Chrono 44. Two years ago, I had issues with it, and I sent it to Breitling SC to be 'serviced/repaired. When you send a Breitling in, they restore all the edges, angles to 'as new' condition.

When I ask the dealer how they did this, he said that they have special jigs, and that they guarantee it to meet new specifications in all aspects, appearance, etc.

I would hope that Rolex SC are better than Breitling, or at least as good. I wear my DJ every day, and yes its going to get scratched. Fact of life. And polishing just to polish is insane IMHO. But when its serviced, as someone else pointed out, let the experts do what they do best, and let the 'expert-wanna-be's' write in forums about it.

Again, just my opinion. (from a been there done that guy)

[No SUBctitute]

No polish for me. I LOVE the feeling of the sharp corner of the lug when I press my finger into it. And I like how crisp the bottom edge of the lug feels. I'm not sure it would be the same after a full RSC polish.

If a large dent or scratch really bugs you, have an independent polish it out or bond it. But hold short of the full RSC polish.

Here is my daily wear watch of 13 years. No polish here.

[jamesbondOO7]

Originally Posted by daysky1

If the question is only about polishing, then I hope the person doing it has the skill to not knock off the sharp edges. A lot of small stuff can be taken care of by you with a Cape Cod polishing cloth being very careful to stay on the scratch you desire to eliminate. I cut a quarter inch square off the cloth, making sure it is moist with mineral oil and work the scratch out, it takes time and care but it works. I have heard flitz will work for bringing the shine back without much else being done to the surface. Now comes the question of "will Rolex recase the watch", ie put the movement in a new case if requested? And how much would that add to the cost of the service? If the case is really scratched up or the bracelet as well, can I request a new either case or bracelet?

This is a quote I received for their recommendation to change the case on my 16030 when I brought it for service at Geneva HQ. I declined as I want to keep it original as my first Rolex of 1986. They did not give a full warranty, waterproofing is excluded. The quote for the tapestry dial was on my request, but there again I decided to keep it original.

[Csugden]

I have sent a few watches "back to Rolex" in the past 6 months and they came back like new with the older references finished perfectly including the lug bevels. In my view they have really improved this element of their service perhaps due to the implementation of the CPO? However, I sent my hulk in recently which was unpolished and it came back with rounded off lugs and and a shiny polish that in my eyes totally ruined the wearing experience. My take on this (though not 100% sure) is that watches sent to RSC get the CPO standard refinish which is beautiful but the watches that are done by the AD certified Rolex watchmaker may still get the traditional "jewellers refinish" ie the watch comes back shiny but without the original DNA of the watch preserved. Interested in other peoples thoughts on this.

[jamesbondOO7]

And a picture of the watch as a bonus:



PS: now I have decided I am going to wear it today!

[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by Csugden

I have sent a few watches "back to Rolex" in the past 6 months and they came back like new with the older references finished perfectly including the lug bevels. In my view they have really improved this element of their service perhaps due to the implementation of the CPO? However, I sent my hulk in recently which was unpolished and it came back with rounded off lugs and and a shiny polish that in my eyes totally ruined the wearing experience. My take on this (though not 100% sure) is that watches sent to RSC get the CPO standard refinish which is beautiful but the watches that are done by the AD certified Rolex watchmaker may still get the traditional "jewellers refinish" ie the watch comes back shiny but without the original DNA of the watch preserved. Interested in other peoples thoughts on this.

NO bueno.

Was Hulk sent to an AD polisher or RSC?

[Brian Page]

I wouldn't polish, the only thing I would do to a case is metal weld if there was a horrible dent or gauge. Otherwise I'm in the camp of - it will look like it did previous to polish in another month anyway.

[rpdur]

Originally Posted by fsprow

Gee, kids. The watch I’m gifting you has some nice scratches from when I got drunk and fell down the stairs at a casino in Vegas. Please wear it with this in mind.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Csugden

I have sent a few watches "back to Rolex" in the past 6 months and they came back like new with the older references finished perfectly including the lug bevels. In my view they have really improved this element of their service perhaps due to the implementation of the CPO? However, I sent my hulk in recently which was unpolished and it came back with rounded off lugs and and a shiny polish that in my eyes totally ruined the wearing experience. My take on this (though not 100% sure) is that watches sent to RSC get the CPO standard refinish which is beautiful but the watches that are done by the AD certified Rolex watchmaker may still get the traditional "jewellers refinish" ie the watch comes back shiny but without the original DNA of the watch preserved. Interested in other peoples thoughts on this.

Have to agree myself been wearing and owning many Rolex watches for 50 plus years and sent many for service through many RSC world wide.Plus some of my watches were used as real working tool watches,and not like the mostly pampered watch of today's.And can honestly state never ever had a bad polishing job by any of the RSC used.

[CFR]

Originally Posted by tmaynard

My BLNR ... has accumulated a plethora of dings and scratches over time that I've more or less come to accept (with a couple that irk me) ... On one hand, would be nice to have the watch in like-new condition. On the other, I can't "undo" the polishing job (if i come to regret the decision) and may lose the "original shape" of the case. I'd also get to go through the anxiety of re-scratching the watch all over again ... Heavily leaning towards not polishing, but would like to hear from others who had to make the same decision.

Originally Posted by tmaynard

I had hoped RSC would be open to a light touch up on part of the clasp and case side, but the service was presented as "all or nothing".

You're ambivalent right now, so don't polish it yet. There is no harm in waiting to see if you eventually feel more inclined, or less inclined, to polish it.

Personally, I've always been in the "no polish" camp, not just with Rolex but with other brands too. Seeing slightly rounded edges that were once crisp, or seeing a slightly distorted reflection on the side of a case that I know was once a clearer reflection, or seeing crown guards/lugs that should be thicker, all bother me. I've bought several preowned watches where the dealer has offered to laser fill/repair nicks and dings for free and I always decline. I like to see evidence of wear and use -- whether my own or someone else's.

That being said, I bought used bedsheets on eBay more than once, so take what I just said with a grain of salt.

[Texharp]

It also depends on the watch and your intentions. I don’t plan on polishing my daily worn Sub. I treat itas a tool watch and it has the scratches and dings to reflect that.
I will however have my more dressy watches polished because I wear them less, am more careful with them, and want them to look great when I decide to wear them.


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[Csugden]

Originally Posted by No SUBctitute

NO bueno.

Was Hulk sent to an AD polisher or RSC?

They were all sent in via my local Rolex AD. I was told it’s not possible for them to tell me if the went to RSC or were done locally by the “Rolex certified” watch maker.

I think the mistake I made was being lulled into a false sense of security by the amazing results I had seen from RSC refinishes and failed to consider that the local watchmaker might approach things differently.

From now on I plan to drop my watches in myself to RSC if I decide to go for a refinish.

[Csugden]

BTW the hulk was so bad I actually decided to sell it :(

Won’t make that mistake again

[FloydRedford]

I’ve never understood or embraced the no polish argument. As long as you don’t over-polish, like only every 8-10 yrs at service, it looks new again, at least to my eyes. I much prefer that look to the beat up, scratched version. I associate no memories in my life with scratches on my watch. To each their own though.


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[Csugden]

Totally. I think it comes down to personal preference, how you plan to wear the watch, attractiveness of the watch in its unpolished state - sometimes visible wear on the case and bracelet adds character if it is an all original never polished sub for example. Also the collectability etc etc.

I felt my 14060 just looked a little tired and beaten up and now looks amazing post service.

However I have a 1680 with beautiful wear and a never polished case that I plan to keep that way :)

[Pepperjack]

Originally Posted by Csugden

They were all sent in via my local Rolex AD. I was told it’s not possible for them to tell me if the went to RSC or were done locally by the “Rolex certified” watch maker.

That is a little surprising to read. When was this done? At least where I am located, RSC will engrave the inside of the caseback, and the warranty cards have the account number of where it was serviced.

[Csugden]

Yes I was surprised by that response also. I’m sure the casback will be engraved even if done by the local Rolex certified watchmaker so not sure if that would help. Also the service cards I got were the new kind with no information on them just a qr code and nfc chip. These are issued regardless of whether it was done locally or at RSC so I couldn’t think of any way for me to tell other than perhaps contacting RSC.

[Csugden]

Anyway the take home message for me that I thought might be worth sharing is that it might be worth going to RSC directly if you plan to request a refinish.

[Pepperjack]

Originally Posted by Csugden

Yes I was surprised by that response also. I’m sure the casback will be engraved even if done by the local Rolex certified watchmaker so not sure if that would help. Also the service cards I got were the new kind with no information on them just a qr code and nfc chip. These are issued regardless of whether it was done locally or at RSC so I couldn’t think of any way for me to tell other than perhaps contacting RSC.

I've never engraved the inside of the caseback, as it's not a requirement of being a Rolex certified watchmaker. The ones in the States will specify which RSC it went to by having NY, PA, or TX listed. Unfortunately I don't deal with the new cards, so I don't know what exactly comes up via the NFC.