IF, you do not intend to sell your Rolex, why no polish?

[kilyung]

I could care less as none of my watches are vintage.

[VonSomething]

Originally Posted by kilyung

I could care less as none of my watches are vintage.

Time passes though.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Help a Dorklehead to understand.

I see so many posts on here, especially in the vintage section, about sending a watch in for service and insisting it NOT to be polished. I understand over-polishing of any metal results in an unattractive finish, and many vintage buyers prefer a watch not to have been polished, but if you are keeping a watch, why not let RSC (or a certified watchmaker doing the service) polish the case? I would like to believe they know what they are doing and will not damage or over-polish, and (IMHO) a newly polished watch looks very nice, shiny and without scratches.

If you do not intend to sell the watch, why such an intense anti-polishing sentiment?

There's no way to guarantee that you'll get a perfect result. But there is one way to guarantee you won't get a bad result, and that is not to have your watch refinished.

It appears, unfortunately, that not all RSCs are created equal when it comes to refinishing. Having said that, there's a strong correlation between sending in a beat to crap watch and having it come back "over" polished. Of course there is.

For normal, light, hairlines and marks, refinishing should be fine.

Personally I'm in the get it done camp. For all those saying "it will just get scratched again" I'd say, yes, but it will only be half as scratched as it would have been otherwise. And I take care of my watches, so it may well not "just get scratched again".

What really cracks me up is that practically every single watch that comes from most of the "Trusted Sellers" that's not "unworn" has been refinished. And I don't see anyone saying, for example, that every used watch David SW sells has been "ruined" ....

But remember, if it all goes wrong, anything can be fixed.

https://www.instagram.com/the_watch_...YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by VonSomething

The sad reality is that often a lot of service-centers don't know what a good polish/brush looks like and you get a watch returned that have lost the lines you loved about the watch in the first place. That can actually ruin the entire watch for me.

An example of this would be sending my JLC to a service and bye bye were the hard chamfers on the lugs, which are one of the iconic trademarks of this model.



Those beautiful lines removed, just like that.

Luckily for me the service center further damaged the midcase with a few deep dents and after long arguing they accepted my request for a new case.

(Thank god I always macro-photograph the condition of a watch before sending it to service)

I'm glad this worked out. I will never request polish on my watches, especially VC, for this reason. A technician's "good enough" can change it enough to make it aesthetically appalling to someone who loves the lug contour or case flank or bevels etc.

My worst experience with this was my first decent watch. My Omega 2254 came back softened up so much I couldn't grip the bezel to turn it. Lesson learned inexpensively thankfully.

[HogwldFLTR]

Dear Dorkelheaded-one, No-one has the right to tell you what is right for your watch and your situation. Stop being a dorkelhead, put on your big boy pants and take control of your choices. If you like a watch to look good then by all means get it polished. The downside of course is that too much polishing will have the opposite affect.

[samson66]

Personally I always get my watches polished. I like them coming back to me looking brand new. You get that new watch joy all over again. As for over polishing, if you just get your watches serviced every ten years, you shouldn't have to worry too much about it. It's your watch, enjoy it. Don't let others talk you into our out of polishing. If you want to get it done, there's no harm in it.

[7enderbender]

My theory is that this started with the same crowd that is proud to have dings and scratches all over their watches (“because it’s a tool watch and my privileged life is so tough”). If you send in a banged up watch and they polish it I may lose shape since the polishing has to be pretty extensive. I don’t see a problem on watches that only show normal to minor wear like mine do even after decades.
I personally don’t see how an “unpolished” or beat up watch would be more valuable than one that was well taken care off and went through the standard process at Rolex (assuming everything was done right). To this is like the vintage guitar world. Minor repairs aren’t an issue. Less beat up specimens pay more than the beat up ones (at least in watches there isn’t any artificial aging or “relic treatment” yet as known with brand new guitar models made to look like the coveted originals from the 50s etc).

[codecow]

Originally Posted by 7enderbender

(at least in watches there isn’t any artificial aging or “relic treatment” yet as known with brand new guitar models made to look like the coveted originals from the 50s etc).

There is actually.

Consider the Speedmaster 57 LTD. Artificial relic on this one not exactly the same because they didn’t ding it up but they artificially aged the hands and dial to look older.

[Driver8]

As others have said, I think it’s predominantly two things – the first is that people are (often quite rightly) concerned about the skill level of those performing the polishing. It seems that for every 99 good jobs, there is 1 absolute shocker – e.g. too much metal removed, bad (or unwanted) chamfers, etc. Now I’m certainly not anti-polish AT ALL, but I also do understand the concerns whenever you send your watch off to be worked on by anybody: as I always say, no-one will care for your watch more than you.

And secondly, some people subscribe to the “every scratch tells a story” ethos. This is something I’ve always had an extremely hard time understanding, even after 30 years of watch collecting. I never get why an expensive watch is thought of by some in a totally different way to any other expensive item they may own.

Loads of tiny dents and scratches down the side of your car? Does anyone ever say, “I don’t repair them as they all tell a story”. Yep, and that story is that you parked too near an idiot with a trolley in your local supermarket, or some little old lady opened her car door onto yours. Worth remembering?
A rip in your business suit? “No worries chaps, I just leave them as every rip tells a story”. Uh huh, it tells the story that you caught your arm on a slightly overgrown bush when you got home from the office one evening. Personally I’d rather forget that!
Broken floor tile in your bathroom where you dropped a glass on it? “Replace the tile? No way! Every smashed tile tells a story”. Yes indeed, they tell the story that you're clumsy and don't care what your house looks like.

Do people really need to memorialise catching their 5 figure watch on a door frame, or that time they cut back some really spiky brambles in their garden, or that time they forgot to take their watch off when they needed to mix some concrete for some DIY?

The ONLY time I could imagine even considering a scratch or dent as something worth remembering is if it happened at a particularly memorable and joyous moment. For example, if your watch somehow got scratched when you proposed to your s/o. Other than that, scratches and dings on your watch are just damage. Plain and simple.

I thoroughly believe that watches are for wearing and enjoying, and I don't stick plastic protectors all over them, but IMO all damage is best repaired at service time, or sooner if it's particularly bad.

But, each to their own and YMMV, etc, etc.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by TimeAZ

If given the option I would always choose to turn down a polish.

When buying used, I would always look for an example of a watch that is unpolished or at most VERY lightly polished.

An overly-polished watch looks hideous to my eye. Blunted degradation of all the original lines and curves. Wears away the coronet on the clasp and crown. Gives an artificial look and feel. No thank you! I want sharp chamfers, crisp markings on my clasp, crown guards that don't look like little worn-down nubbins.

Don't forget the "burnt" spots. When you get one you will see it reflect in light and it looks far worse than any scratch could.

[Mystro]

I always do touch up polishing as I like my watches to look their absolute best. This is a “pride of ownership” thing.

When I do sell one of my watches, (usually to one of our trusted sellers) they always command the highest prices. They know there isn’t any question or stories about the condition of my watches. They will not have to put any additional work into my watches for resale.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by Driver8

As others have said, I think it’s predominantly two things – the first is that people are (often quite rightly) concerned about the skill level of those performing the polishing. It seems that for every 99 good jobs, there is 1 absolute shocker – e.g. too much metal removed, bad (or unwanted) chamfers, etc. Now I’m certainly not anti-polish AT ALL, but I also do understand the concerns whenever you send your watch off to be worked on by anybody: as I always say, no-one will care for your watch more than you.

And secondly, some people subscribe to the “every scratch tells a story” ethos. This is something I’ve always had an extremely hard time understanding, even after 30 years of watch collecting. I never get why an expensive watch is thought of by some in a totally different way to any other expensive item they may own.

Loads of tiny dents and scratches down the side of your car? Does anyone ever say, “I don’t repair them as they all tell a story”. Yep, and that story is that you parked too near an idiot with a trolley in your local supermarket, or some little old lady opened her car door onto yours. Worth remembering?
A rip in your business suit? “No worries chaps, I just leave them as every rip tells a story”. Uh huh, it tells the story that you caught your arm on a slightly overgrown bush when you got home from the office one evening. Personally I’d rather forget that!
Broken floor tile in your bathroom where you dropped a glass on it? “Replace the tile? No way! Every smashed tile tells a story”. Yes indeed, they tell the story that you're clumsy and don't care what your house looks like.

Do people really need to memorialise catching their 5 figure watch on a door frame, or that time they cut back some really spiky brambles in their garden, or that time they forgot to take their watch off when they needed to mix some concrete for some DIY?

The ONLY time I could imagine even considering a scratch or dent as something worth remembering is if it happened at a particularly memorable and joyous moment. For example, if your watch somehow got scratched when you proposed to your s/o. Other than that, scratches and dings on your watch are just damage. Plain and simple.

I thoroughly believe that watches are for wearing and enjoying, and I don't stick plastic protectors all over them, but IMO all damage is best repaired at service time, or sooner if it's particularly bad.

But, each to their own and YMMV, etc, etc.

This is truly an excellent post!

[Chadridv]

you can't win... you have a "syndrome" (according to Padi) if you don't want your watch polished and you have a syndrome if you want your watch to be scratch free.

Especially if I have no intention of selling a watch I'm not opting for polishing simply cause there will just be more scratches and wear added to the watch. And yes, if you don't get someone good they can over polish your watch. It's happened to me at RSC NY. So why risk it?

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by Driver8

As others have said, I think it’s predominantly two things – the first is that people are (often quite rightly) concerned about the skill level of those performing the polishing. It seems that for every 99 good jobs, there is 1 absolute shocker – e.g. too much metal removed, bad (or unwanted) chamfers, etc. Now I’m certainly not anti-polish AT ALL, but I also do understand the concerns whenever you send your watch off to be worked on by anybody: as I always say, no-one will care for your watch more than you.

And secondly, some people subscribe to the “every scratch tells a story” ethos. This is something I’ve always had an extremely hard time understanding, even after 30 years of watch collecting. I never get why an expensive watch is thought of by some in a totally different way to any other expensive item they may own.

Loads of tiny dents and scratches down the side of your car? Does anyone ever say, “I don’t repair them as they all tell a story”. Yep, and that story is that you parked too near an idiot with a trolley in your local supermarket, or some little old lady opened her car door onto yours. Worth remembering?
A rip in your business suit? “No worries chaps, I just leave them as every rip tells a story”. Uh huh, it tells the story that you caught your arm on a slightly overgrown bush when you got home from the office one evening. Personally I’d rather forget that!
Broken floor tile in your bathroom where you dropped a glass on it? “Replace the tile? No way! Every smashed tile tells a story”. Yes indeed, they tell the story that you're clumsy and don't care what your house looks like.

Do people really need to memorialise catching their 5 figure watch on a door frame, or that time they cut back some really spiky brambles in their garden, or that time they forgot to take their watch off when they needed to mix some concrete for some DIY?

The ONLY time I could imagine even considering a scratch or dent as something worth remembering is if it happened at a particularly memorable and joyous moment. For example, if your watch somehow got scratched when you proposed to your s/o. Other than that, scratches and dings on your watch are just damage. Plain and simple.

I thoroughly believe that watches are for wearing and enjoying, and I don't stick plastic protectors all over them, but IMO all damage is best repaired at service time, or sooner if it's particularly bad.

But, each to their own and YMMV, etc, etc.

Agreed.

And who's to say I get less enjoyment from my watches by exercising wrist awareness and generally taking care of them than someone who's an advocate of the "wear your watch, don't let the watch wear you" crap that's often spouted on here and who's watch looks like its been wiped down with 60 grade sandpaper?

Arguably I enjoy them more because I actually care about them


The days of the "tool" watch are long gone. Its therefore completely understandable that many want to keep their watches looking as undamaged as possible

[karleone]

Originally Posted by DG123

Consider that when the metal of a Rolex watch is brand new it looks great.
When a watch is polished, even lightly polished, it does not look brand new, it looks polished.

Exactly this.
There are very highly qualified polishers working at independent watch shops that do amazing work. But when you send your watch at RSC you never know who will polish your watch and there is chances your watch come back over polished or a bad job. Especially for vintage pieces 4 and 5 digits where you have factory specifications like V brushing on lugs, chamfers/ bevels there is a big chance RSC polish your watch and it comes back with 0 scratch but not the factory finish. I know what I am talking about because I had two unpolished watches where on one chamfers / bevels disappear with the RSC polish and the other one they just over polished the watch lugs came super thin and brushing on lugs nothing near the grain on the factory finish. Never ever polish a watch especially if unpolished. Another think repolished metal bezels on 16520 / 116520 look awful.
I prefer 100% an unpolished watch with dents and scratches vs a repolished watch.

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by karleone

Exactly this.
There are very highly qualified polishers working at independent watch shops that do amazing work. But when you send your watch at RSC you never know who will polish your watch and there is chances your watch come back over polished or a bad job. Especially for vintage pieces 4 and 5 digits where you have factory specifications like V brushing on lugs, chamfers/ bevels there is a big chance RSC polish your watch and it comes back with 0 scratch but not the factory finish. I know what I am talking about because I had two unpolished watches where on one chamfers / bevels disappear with the RSC polish and the other one they just over polished the watch lugs came super thin and brushing on lugs nothing near the grain on the factory finish. Never ever polish a watch especially if unpolished. Another think repolished metal bezels on 16520 / 116520 look awful.
I prefer 100% an unpolished watch with dents and scratches vs a repolished watch.

Are any independents working 32xx yet?

Agree on the steel bezels. RSC doesn't polish them; only replace... So it's a dead ringer for a back room job if you see that.

[Chiboy]

Originally Posted by Driver8

As others have said, I think it’s predominantly two things – the first is that people are (often quite rightly) concerned about the skill level of those performing the polishing. It seems that for every 99 good jobs, there is 1 absolute shocker – e.g. too much metal removed, bad (or unwanted) chamfers, etc. Now I’m certainly not anti-polish AT ALL, but I also do understand the concerns whenever you send your watch off to be worked on by anybody: as I always say, no-one will care for your watch more than you.

And secondly, some people subscribe to the “every scratch tells a story” ethos. This is something I’ve always had an extremely hard time understanding, even after 30 years of watch collecting. I never get why an expensive watch is thought of by some in a totally different way to any other expensive item they may own.

Loads of tiny dents and scratches down the side of your car? Does anyone ever say, “I don’t repair them as they all tell a story”. Yep, and that story is that you parked too near an idiot with a trolley in your local supermarket, or some little old lady opened her car door onto yours. Worth remembering?
A rip in your business suit? “No worries chaps, I just leave them as every rip tells a story”. Uh huh, it tells the story that you caught your arm on a slightly overgrown bush when you got home from the office one evening. Personally I’d rather forget that!
Broken floor tile in your bathroom where you dropped a glass on it? “Replace the tile? No way! Every smashed tile tells a story”. Yes indeed, they tell the story that you're clumsy and don't care what your house looks like.

Do people really need to memorialise catching their 5 figure watch on a door frame, or that time they cut back some really spiky brambles in their garden, or that time they forgot to take their watch off when they needed to mix some concrete for some DIY?

The ONLY time I could imagine even considering a scratch or dent as something worth remembering is if it happened at a particularly memorable and joyous moment. For example, if your watch somehow got scratched when you proposed to your s/o. Other than that, scratches and dings on your watch are just damage. Plain and simple.

I thoroughly believe that watches are for wearing and enjoying, and I don't stick plastic protectors all over them, but IMO all damage is best repaired at service time, or sooner if it's particularly bad.

But, each to their own and YMMV, etc, etc.

Excellent, I was thinking about making the same point re -- dings on the door of your car.

TBH, I don't even understand the "I did xxx in this watch, I'll never sell it" mentality. 30 years before I discovered TRF, I bought a Datejust. Since I didn't know the absolute rules of Rolex ownership, I wore it working out after a day at the office, in the steam room, sauna, whirlpool, playing golf and tennis numerous times (especially golf). It's still fine. And while I am sure I wore it to my wedding in 1988, TBH I have no particular memory of the watch being on my wrist. That day had (gasp!) very little to do with my watch! I haven't sold my watch, but no longer wear it, and don't really think I'd miss it or think, "gosh, I wish I still had it in a drawer. I got married in it!"

Thankfully on the subject of polishing, I learned here on TRF that platinum gets pushed around, rather than buffed off, so at least if I polish my Daytona, it won't lose metal! So I have THAT going for me, lol.

Do whatever you want. I never plan on selling my Daytona and on this one thing am with Padi that 3 or 4 polishes over 30 or 40 years ain't gonna ruin it.

[karleone]

There are actually two kind of collectors. The ones collecting only modern pieces and they are less knowledgeable. On a 6 digit référence where there is no chamfers / bevels plus the brushing on lugs is vertical re-polishing a watch is less visible. For the ones that are vintage collectors and know very well how a 4/5 digits factory finish case looks like. Unpolished vs repolished does matter because unless you have an extremely highly skilled polisher like LAWW for example that does very good job when you polish / repolish a watch most of the times it loses the original factory finish (nice bevels / chamfers, V brushing on lugs, fat crown guards etc). I think that anyone claiming that a polish is not bad for their watch is just not enough knowledgeable and just want a watch that looks scratch free even if does not have the original factory finish.

[2loaded]

As other have said, if done right at service intervals, will keep the watch as the beautiful tool it is.

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by Old Geezer

When mine go to the RSC for service, I want them to come back as close to new looking as they can make them. I'm fine with my watches showing wear as I enjoy them but when it's time for service, I want the full spa treatment.

Ditto.

[JAJ2349]

I’ve seen too many bad polish jobs and I keep my watches in excellent condition.

Most of my Rolex watches are more than 25 years old and all appear in Near Mint or Mint condition. The only giveaway to the age on a few is the tritium that has turned a beautiful cream color.

[Phrank]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

For the same reason why when a rich gets a haircut they don’t want it to look like they just got a haircut, or to have the whitest Gucci runners (the rich don’t run), or the cleanest Maybach. The flex is acting like you don’t care about the things that a poor has to sell a kidney for. Buy a new Rolex and drag it behind your rickshaw for fun.

I laughed out loud, continued to laugh, and am just regaining motor control - absolutely hilarious!!

Thanks for the smile!

[TheVTCGuy]

Very interesting opinions! For the record, the polishing interval I am talking about is during a regular service time. For me, that's every five years. As someone pointed out, a watch will have 5 or 6 polishes before it starts looking "bad." So, that is 25 years. I am not advocating getting it polished every time you see a scratch, but why someone wouldn't want it polished every few years I don't understand. Like a post stated, when it goes in for a service, I would like it to come back looking great!

[RFC]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Do what you want Paul. Life’s to short to worry about what others do with their watches. I’ve sent new daytonas off to get brushed, I’ve sent a 5513 off for a full case refinish. I once had a gauge in a lug laser welded.

So too I've sent a 5513 for a full case refinish and could not be happier. Had it been unpolished I would not have done it.

[inadeje]

Originally Posted by Driver8

As others have said, I think it’s predominantly two things – the first is that people are (often quite rightly) concerned about the skill level of those performing the polishing. It seems that for every 99 good jobs, there is 1 absolute shocker – e.g. too much metal removed, bad (or unwanted) chamfers, etc. Now I’m certainly not anti-polish AT ALL, but I also do understand the concerns whenever you send your watch off to be worked on by anybody: as I always say, no-one will care for your watch more than you.

And secondly, some people subscribe to the “every scratch tells a story” ethos. This is something I’ve always had an extremely hard time understanding, even after 30 years of watch collecting. I never get why an expensive watch is thought of by some in a totally different way to any other expensive item they may own.

Loads of tiny dents and scratches down the side of your car? Does anyone ever say, “I don’t repair them as they all tell a story”. Yep, and that story is that you parked too near an idiot with a trolley in your local supermarket, or some little old lady opened her car door onto yours. Worth remembering?
A rip in your business suit? “No worries chaps, I just leave them as every rip tells a story”. Uh huh, it tells the story that you caught your arm on a slightly overgrown bush when you got home from the office one evening. Personally I’d rather forget that!
Broken floor tile in your bathroom where you dropped a glass on it? “Replace the tile? No way! Every smashed tile tells a story”. Yes indeed, they tell the story that you're clumsy and don't care what your house looks like.

Do people really need to memorialise catching their 5 figure watch on a door frame, or that time they cut back some really spiky brambles in their garden, or that time they forgot to take their watch off when they needed to mix some concrete for some DIY?

The ONLY time I could imagine even considering a scratch or dent as something worth remembering is if it happened at a particularly memorable and joyous moment. For example, if your watch somehow got scratched when you proposed to your s/o. Other than that, scratches and dings on your watch are just damage. Plain and simple.

I thoroughly believe that watches are for wearing and enjoying, and I don't stick plastic protectors all over them, but IMO all damage is best repaired at service time, or sooner if it's particularly bad.

But, each to their own and YMMV, etc, etc.

Brilliantly put

[mountainjogger]

Good question Paul. For me, I would prefer to not polish a truly vintage Rolex even if I am not going to sell it. However, I have no such qualms about a contemporary or modern piece.

[tifosi]

I plan to have my modern watch fully serviced whenever I get it serviced. Might as well have it looking brand new every 7-10 years.

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by tifosi

I plan to have my modern watch fully serviced whenever I get it serviced. Might as well have it looking brand new every 7-10 years.

You mean the one you’re giving me for my birthday this year Russ?

[S7gpt]

will get our watches serviced and polished as and when they are due, its included in the price and will be nice to get them back looking new.

[codecow]

The car analogy is interesting. People do measure the paint thickness on vintage cars usually when considering how to detail it.

To me it’s simple. Are you going to lower the value of your watch if you have scratched it anyway and decide not to polish it? No.

If you send your watch away to have someone polish it, can they ruin the polished bits and reduce the value? I think yes.