To polish or not polish during service?

[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.

[nosignalbmwdriver]

no brainer, polish it to look like new

[Bxtek]

I vote no polish. When you get the watch back from service, continue to add more "history" to it. When you hand it down to your kids, each one of those nicks, scratches and imperfections were from you enjoying it over the many years. Polish it, and it erases that "history" imo. That's just my $0.02.

[jb335]

Skip the polish, no brainer.


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[Mike507]

i honestly don't understand the logic behind the "history" of scratches, so i would 100% get it polished. I've got a ding on my panerai from dropping it, a ding on my air king from knocking it on a door frame. I've also got numerous lug scratches from changing speedy straps and then a ding from hitting a desk once. Not that i will lose any sleep about it, but all of them annoyed me lol and i wish that none of them happened.

Each to their own, but i assume those with a preference for non-polish would replace all of their other damaged items like shoes, clothes, cars etc. I can't think of anything else collectible that you'd want to keep looking rough.

[Solo118]

no polish for me... if you are really dying to polish it have an outside place do it (rolliworks, LAWW, etc)

[Doood]

Originally Posted by Solo118

no polish for me... if you are really dying to polish it have an outside place do it (rolliworks, LAWW, etc)

This. You’ll have more control over the outcome.

[Notimetodie]

I always polish and always feels like a new honeymoon.

[Mountain66]

No polish.

[Saoirse32]

Originally Posted by Bxtek

I vote no polish. When you get the watch back from service, continue to add more "history" to it. When you hand it down to your kids, each one of those nicks, scratches and imperfections were from you enjoying it over the many years. Polish it, and it erases that "history" imo. That's just my $0.02.

Yup! I agree with this ^^


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[ArtNouveau]

I’m a polisher. Seems to me that the never polish mantra started relatively recently. When I started buying Rolex in the 80’s it was a given that when your watch was serviced it would come back looking like new.
As long as you send it to an RSC or one of the trusted independents you have a near perfect chance of the polish job being awesome. On the off chance that you’re not happy with the quality of the work, there are always solutions.

[996marty]

I’d leave it unpolished you are surely going to get marks on it again. They are made for wearing and scratches and scrapes are inevitable

[hello93]

It's only factory metal once.

[Gerardus]

Due wearing scratches and dents are inevitable. If you don’t want to have it scratched, don’t wear it.

[Scottyboy]

Come on Padi, get the Seadweller post ready...

[jamesbondOO7]

I would recommend “no polish”. No way you will get the sharp edges and the healthy lugs back. Unfortunately even at an RSC. I guess it is ok for the bracelet.

[padi56]

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.

Today there is a anti-polish syndrome god knows why as for polish thats up to the owner but below a picture of my own personal working tool watch 16600 SD,it was used and many times abused for many years underwater as a real working tool, with well over 600 hours underwater. Plus its been serviced and polished every time by now 4 different RSC world wide,picture taken in Singapore after last service.Expect this working tool watch has seen more use that todays mainly pampered watches will see in ten lifetimes and now almost 23 years old. As long as any Rolex watches are only polished at normal routine RSC service now average 5-10 years depending on use, should have no problem for 40 plus years of wearing.

[Tambo19]

Id advice you polish it.

[thegrandseirolexguy]

IMHO, if I’m going to send it in for a service at RSC, I want the full works and spa treatment, polish included.

Frankly, I only ever service my watches when it stops working, which in the case of Rolex watches, is probably a good 20 years of mileage.

Like Omega, I suspect the volume of watches being sent in for service means they inevitably end up working on a “replace, replace, replace” basis in order to save time.


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[TimeRookie]

I had my 8 year old BLNR serviced last year. I hesitated to polish it but in the end I did and it looks amazing now. It was really banged up as I’m hard on watches. I have no intention to sell the watch and in the end, my desire to have it look like new outweighed the nostalgia to keep the scratches.

[blufinz52]

I'm in the polish camp.

[brandrea]

I’d leave it be unless there are glaring dings or dents that really irk you.

You’ll wear it a few months and you’ll get more scratches again anyway

[Phil8352]

What are the *valid* arguments for not having a RSC polish your 5-figure luxury watch back to near-perfect condition other than:

- “sentimental value” of existing scratches
- “it’s just going to get scratched again anyways!

Please help me understand why people are avoiding this?

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by Phil8352

What are the *valid* arguments for not having a RSC polish your 5-figure luxury watch back to near-perfect condition other than:

- “sentimental value” of existing scratches
- “it’s just going to get scratched again anyways!

Please help me understand why people are avoiding this?

They ruin the original sharp edges. And yes the scratches just come back.

[1William]

I would just leave it alone and get the movement service.

[thesharkfactor]

If it has dings on the edges of the lugs don't polish as they will destroy the sharp edges and your watch will like like a used bar of soap. Superficial hairlines are ok to remove but don't ever let them remove dings with a polishing wheel -

..goodbye lugs,
goodbye crown guards,
goodbye lovely sharp crown splines
goodbye nice defined bezel scallops
goodbye sharp looking Rolex,
goodbye potential resale value,
goodbye $$$$$,
goodbye..!

A touch up with a capecod and brushing wheel is fine, 99% of dealers do this. Polishing wheels to remove marks is not fine. Just look at the state of some older Rolex watches.

[Chefinspecteur]

I had my 16600 (from 2001) and my 116520 (from 2009) in RSC service last year including polishing. The results looked amazing, like brand new. You will fall again in love with your Rolex ))

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Phil8352

What are the *valid* arguments for not having a RSC polish your 5-figure luxury watch back to near-perfect condition other than:

- “sentimental value” of existing scratches
- “it’s just going to get scratched again anyways!

Please help me understand why people are avoiding this?

Originally Posted by EEpro

They ruin the original sharp edges. And yes the scratches just come back.

[Phil8352]

Originally Posted by EEpro

They ruin the original sharp edges. And yes the scratches just come back.

This seems like a fear unfounded in reality as seemingly everyone who has had the RSC polish their watch has been thrilled with the results…?

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by Phil8352

This seems like a fear unfounded in reality as seemingly everyone who has had the RSC polish their watch has been thrilled with the results…?

Surely you jest.

Here's my 3 week old 116500 after RSC for a dial QC issue. Like all technical businesses, there are maybe 10-20% that are actually good at their job. Total clown show in my opinion.