CHNR bracelet polish

[dikst]

I scratched up my brand new CHNR’s bracelet and it literally drives me crazy. The shiny middle part is scratched up but so is the side on two of the links. I bought the cape cod polishing cloth and from what I have seen it should help with the shiny part, but what do I use on the non shiny part of the links ? Is cape cod safe to use on that particular bracelet ? I know watches do get scratched but it really bothers me 😭

[Chester01]

I have owned many two-tone watches over the decades and that's about a daily accumulation for me. I mean im not expert on if you can use that method, but the two tone can really have you polishing every few days. Let it go, and the entire thing will take on a kind of patina where the shine gets more muted and swirls mute the larger scuffs. If you want it polished, wait until it needs a service and then decide. Rolex is like a good pair of boots, they will get a bit scuffed.

[GB-man]

Put down the cape cod and walk away. It’s for polished parts not brushed. If it’s going to drive you nuts switch to something more durable like a steel sub.

[Oytun]

You should just use it like that, thats nothing major. You'll get used to it. I got many scratches on all of my tt and yg's. Dont care about them, it can only be seen by you.

That watch will loose little bit of gold on each polish work. (even with cod) scratched watch worths more than polished one for me.

[JayHantz]

I would let it go. You are the only one who is going to notice these, and with any polished center link in PM, you are just going to get more scratches.

[Time Out]

Leave it alone. It going to get scratched up much. much worse than this. My SD43 ( full stainless ) was completely trashed after the first year of almost daily usage. I know it sucks but its just part of enjoying these watches.

[burnthesehills]

Someone should have told you that is normal before you purchased it. There is literally no sense polishing it. It’s just going to accumulate more scratches within weeks if not days.

So either wear it and enjoy it, sell it, or put it in a safe.

[Seddyspaghetti]

If you must, use a scotch brite pad on the brushed parts. Go up and down with the grain.

[inadeje]

Sadly that side of your bracelet will collect tons of scratches, especially visible on watches with PCLs (polished center links). I know it can be distressing, especially if you’re new to the hobby, but you’ll no sooner polish that one out and there’ll be another. In my case, I don’t subscribe to the “never polish” crew on TRF, but what I do is wear my watches, scratches become so numerous that they become largely invisible after a short period of time. Every five years or so I get my watches serviced and usually polished (not my vintage stuff though). The watch is returned to new appearance and the cycle recommences again.

[huncho]

you got the wrong watch if scratches bother you. you'll get scratches on that one if you breathe on it and you'll end up polishing all the material off of it in a few years

[Mystro]

I will tell you that those marks can easily be repaired at home with a scotchbrite pad for the brushed finish and cape cod cloth for the polished metal (yellow sunshine cloth is actually better than Cape Cod). It would take me about 20 minutes by looking at your pic. The key element is experience in doing the job and you absolutely do not want to learn these skills on your CHNR. I enjoy detailing a watch and very experienced in do it but it took decades of learning on other watches and gradually applying those techniques to my Rolex watches. Do not attempt to detail your CHNR unless you have done a few recons on other less $$$ watches. Getting a factory grain finish on 904l requires knowing exactly what a factory finish looks like to begin with and that’s not for the novice.
I have done a few forum tutorials years back on some of my techniques to remove a few hairlines and reorient the satin finish back to factory but it’s a slippery slope and better left for those that have done a few other cheaper watches before trying a Rolex.

I am not telling you to buy these but I found these Sunshine Cloths much better for polished 904l and 18k gold. They are less aggressive and leave a mirror finish without cloudy micro scratches.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


I removed a vacation concrete hot tub scratch on my CHNR clasp and first link. They were completely removed leaving a factory finish so don’t worry, your marks will come out when professionally touched up.

[sleepydoc]

Would like to see those tutorials. Unfortunately TRF search function baffles me.

[ricardo-sf]

-- wear it more often .. then the scratches begin to build up on top of each other and pretty soon you can't see them apart ..

[2loaded]

Mystro is correct, with some practice and the right components it is very doable.
Years ago I bought a cheap replica bracelets off ebay to practice on.
I would also recommend high temp tape.

Best of luck and cheers to a fellow CHNR owner.

[Gab27]

Brushed finishes are very much DIY finishes. Bergeon Polishing Block or Scotchbrite. Definitely worth practicing on something other than a Rolex so you can get the lines straight and ensure you are using the right amount of pressure.

They'll never be 100% identical to a factory finish, but all Rolex factory finishes are not identical, for that matter.

That said, the marks you have on the brushed portions are not very visible, scratch marks on brushed finishes really aren't that unsightly, and it is going to quickly get marked up again. So, if you are wearing the watch as your daily driver, you may also want to consider whether or not it is worth the time investment.

FWIW, I don't have any experience polishing Rolex PCLs, but I have worked on other polished finishes that are right next to brushed/stonewashed. Even with a Cape Cod, I highly recommend taping the portions off you do not wish to polish, or you will modify the brushed/stonewashed finish and this can be much more unsightly than scratches, IMHO.

[joli160]

For the satin finish scotch brite. Tape the polished part when doing it.
It’s not rocket science

[SS Oyster]

You will RUIN the watch by constantly polishing it: leave it alone or sell it while it still has value. Get a SS sub.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wilsonpepper]

I use this wheel once or twice a year on the brushed parts, dependent.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...5#post11615845

Does perfect job !

[wilsonpepper]

Also this gent has detailed advice, on cleaning and scratch removal...

https://minus4plus6.com/

[Incroyable12]

There's also a Bergeon fiber pen that some people like to use to restore small areas of the brushed finish.

[Berty234]

My CHNR is developing its own patina of swirls on the polished parts three months in. You’d be polishing every few weeks to get rid of them, which is a bad idea.

Even with these slightly more obvious scratches, don’t worry and just enjoy it. You’ll polish it and then do the same a week or two later any way.

[George58]

rolex polished links get patina from wearing enjoying your watch keeping it mint /perfect
ever see a dog chase its tail

[padi56]

Originally Posted by dikst

I scratched up my brand new CHNR’s bracelet and it literally drives me crazy. The shiny middle part is scratched up but so is the side on two of the links. I bought the cape cod polishing cloth and from what I have seen it should help with the shiny part, but what do I use on the non shiny part of the links ? Is cape cod safe to use on that particular bracelet ? I know watches do get scratched but it really bothers me 😭

Scratches are a simple fact of any watch when wearing, get over this fact or leave your Rolex in its box. And the only time any Rolex needs any sort of polishing is at normal routine RSC service only so forget about all polishing cloths.

[travisb]

Do NOT use the Cape Cod Cloth on the brushed surfaces.
I'd leave it alone all together.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Incroyable12

There's also a Bergeon fiber pen that some people like to use to restore small areas of the brushed finish.

Have you used a Bergeon fibre pen??

[Incroyable12]

Originally Posted by Andad

Have you used a Bergeon fibre pen??

Yes I used it to touch up the lugs on a platinum DD I own. There were scratch marks from previous owners not knowing how to remove the bracelet properly.

It worked great.

[hutch300]

You get used to it. Wear the watch and enjoy it.

[1995akcoop]

use a Yellow Sunshine cloth


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CarlOver]

Let it be. And love it with all the personal patina you apply.

[underpar]

Grey or burgundy scotch brite pads on the brushed metal, never the green. Cape cod on the polished. But please stop with the misuse the word "literally".