To polish or not to polish?
 

I just inherited a lovely 116613 from my dad and I'm in love with it. Now my dad doesn't really take care of his watches. Not just when he's wearing them, but he also doesn't store them well. As a result, this watch is quite "beat up". He didn't even wear it as much as his other pieces but it looks like a daily beater of a watch.

I love the fact that it has all of the marks from my dads usage over the years, but a small part of me is considering getting the whole case refinished so that I can leave my own marks on this beauty.

Attachment 942873
Attachment 942874
Attachment 942875

I've attached some photos, but there are a lot more marks than what I'm showing. What would you guys do?

Just wear it and enjoy it until it needs a service! :thumbsup:

There's your answer. You can never get those unpolished once they're gone.

Maybe you’re too young to appreciate it now, but I’d keep those as preserved as possible and wear it proud! That’s a gorgeous watch by the way!

This needs a polish imo.

Don’t polish. It’s just going to get scratched again. Those side scratches aren’t really noticeable when you’re wearing it.

Leave as is.:thumbsup::cheers:

Very nice.

Wear it unpolished until service. It may mean more to you in the long run without you realizing it now as you've only just got it.

When the service comes up - decide whether you want to start a new chapter with this watch or do that with a different watch and keep the history on this one.

I would let it as it is.

Don’t polish.

The marks being your dad's I'd never polish and add my own.
If bought used I would polish :cheers:

I am all for polishing and getting a like new look. However as many have suggested , I would wear it as is and wait until the service time. This way you will give yourself a chance to decide whether you want to permanently keep those existing scratches, or if you like to refresh the looks and get them polished. If you decide to polish at that time, you get to experience the excitement of s new ( to you) watch again when it comes back from a polish and service.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would polish it. Your dad gave you the watch to continue to wear it and make your own marks on it.

Polishing will make it look brand spanking new again just make sure you take it to an RSC for a proper job.

Scratches are lame, I agree, but what happens after you get it polished? It will get scratched again. After putting your own first few scratches on the watch, maybe you will realize as I did that scratches are just scratches.

The scratches in the pictures don't look overly demanding so I would say you're good.

I would not polish it. Polishing will inevitably change the lines of the brushed finish, and the shape of the crown guards.

Don’t polish

+1

It looks fine in those images.

Have you tried cleaning it with soap and water first, then wiping it off?

I would leave it and enjoy it.

:thumbsup:

Definitely leave as is, it’s part of the charm

Tape off the brushed parts of the bracelet links and hit the gold with some Simichrome metal polish. It will remove fine scratches and put a nice shine on the gold. Do the same with the clasp. You'll still have your dad's scratches, but you'll be amazed at how much better it looks.

It looks good to me.

Please don’t polish it. It’s very nice now.

That doesn't look bad at all. I wouldn't polish it yet.

Polish at service,

I’d leave it. Take it from someone who lost their father when I was 30 years old... you’ll regret it one day.

Leave it enjoy it and cherish it

Leave it alone and enjoy!!!
If you ever sell it (I don’t think you will) buyers prefer unpolished anyway.

It actually looks fine! It’s not really beat up at all. I’ve seen some watches that look like they’ve been straight up abused! You’re never going to sell this anyway so I would leave it as is. I would only polish it once it looks really worn but that could be a decade or more from now depending on how you treat it.

Now if the scratches really bother you, I would hit the PCLs including clasp lightly, not the case or anything else, with some Cape Cod. It will remove minor lines and bring back its full shine. It will not remove deeper lines but you would be surprised at how good it would look. Just tape off the brushed parts and don’t overdo it. The amount of material removed will be really insignificant.

I wouldn’t polish it. The scratches give the watch character.