Has my 16710 been polished?

[pnwwatches]

I know I shouldn’t really care, but I can’t help but be curious whether folks can tell whether my 16710 has been polished. I’m very new to watch collecting, and this is my first Rolex, but based on my research, I think it may be unpolished given the size and sharpness of the lugs and chamfers. Thanks for the education.

[0nly5iv3Digits]

Yes, it has been polished.

[padi56]

Its been polished like all Rolex watches have in there life time.

[thesharkfactor]

Quick checklist:

Did I buy it used?
Was it clean with no marks?
Polished

Did I buy it new?
Unpolished.


It looks wonderful.

Over polished is bad, tidied up for resale is a normal/good thing. Yours is fine!

[502 to Right]

It has been polished but it does not look bad. I had a badly polished 16610 Submariner. Big difference.

[joli160]

Yes, it has been, looks good

[brandrea]

I’m not the right guy to ask, but it looks polished to me

[travisb]

Polished but not over polished. Looks good! Welcome!

[Triggerfish]

I'm glad I'm not OCD enough to care about a light polish on a watch.

[1William]

Polished but looks good.

[kegan]

Nice 16710 you have there.

[sportsfan0704]

It has definitely had a polish or two, but nothing bad. Likely wasn’t done by Rolex based on how the chamfers are a little dull. It takes a skilled polisher with the right tools to keep a crisp chamfer. The good news is the lugs are still thick and there is chamfer remaining. How is the crown on the clasp? That is a good tell also.

[123Blueface]

Originally Posted by Triggerfish

I'm glad I'm not OCD enough to care about a light polish on a watch.

Same here. I don’t get the fuss.

[pnwwatches]

Well that's a definitive response! Thanks all. I clearly still have a lot to learn. I'll attach a picture of the Rolex crown on the clasp.

Counterintuitively, this makes me more interested in having it polished just once more. The watch is new to me and came with some visible-to-the-naked-eye scratches that bug me a bit, so a nice polish would give me a fresh start (to scratch it myself of course). Obviously I know there's risk involved, but it seems like it could take one more polish by a skilled polisher? I'd be curious about people's opinions on whether the watch could take one more or if even a good job would push it over the edge to being over polished.

It's gaining 11 seconds a day, so I'm going to get it serviced. I was thinking of going into Nesbit's on Monday as I'm in the Seattle area. Does anyone have experience with Nesbit's polishing? I'd be willing to go with RSC Dallas if that's less risky. Thanks again. I really appreciate this community.

[Tools]

Nesbits is a long time family owned shop with a very good reputation. They used to be an Omega Service Center, but have also been known for other high end watches such as Rolex.

I don't think that I would get it refinished again, but just address the scratches on the sides which can easily be polished up.

Might just need regulation and not a full service. Ask the Nesbits watchmaker for what he might suggest.

[shaunylw]

Yes, 100%.


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[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by padi56

Its been polished like all Rolex watches have in there life time.

Definitely not all and you have been around long enough to know that.


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[georgekart]

Was it polished? Yes. Is it polished well? Also yes. They didn't screw it up, so you're good.

[sportsfan0704]

Crown looks good on that clasp. I’d say 1, maybe 2 polishings max. If you’re going to get the chamfers to pop again, I’d send it to Zimmerman watch repair in PA. They’re the best at that technique, which requires skill and won’t result in much metal loss given how much is still there.

It’s a lovely watch. I had a 16710 and now a 16700. It’s a great piece. Enjoy!

[Speed]

Originally Posted by padi56

Its been polished like all Rolex watches have in there life time.

Hey Padi - Long time.

Nice to see you’re still alive / kicking and dishing it out.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by thesharkfactor

Quick checklist:

Did I buy it used?
Was it clean with no marks?
Polished

Did I buy it new?
Unpolished.


It looks wonderful.

Over polished is bad, tidied up for resale is a normal/good thing. Yours is fine!

Did you know all watches are polished at the factory

[Sipper]

Not polished.

[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

Did you know all watches are polished at the factory

lol we are going to go down this road now? Next is NOS doesn’t count as NOS if someone has held it.


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[SVH]

polished and done well, looks great

[Andad]

I doubt the polishing done by a RSC?

To me it looks a bit rough in places.

[502 to Right]

I would leave the case alone. In a few months you won't care about the marks currently on the watch as you will have added your own on top of them. All it takes is one careless person polishing the watch and you will have something you don't like anymore. Let sleeping dogs lie.

With regard to the current timing, if the amplitude is good and you don't have a crazy bad positional error you might only need a regulation which would take just a few minutes to do.