Rolex Submariner Brushed Steel Restoration at Home with Scotch Brite Before and After

[Furbo]

Originally Posted by Airborne

Very easily thank you.

Can we see pictures?

[tkerrmd]

Originally Posted by Bluedeacon

I don't know about the resale value. I know it does look better, and I know that scared me.

agree

[sdwtchlvr]

I didn't watch the video but if done right, this technique can yield surprisingly fantastic results. I used to brush my satin bracelets out occasionally with a green scotch brite pad and using very little pressure....though I haven't done it in years.

I wouldn't consider this polishing. You are removing such a minuscule amount of metal with these pads. When you get into using a polishing wheel, that's when you can do some damage if you don't know what you're doing. Using a scotch brite pad, 15-20 light swipes, you'll be fine. Just be sure to remove the bracelet from the watch head of course...and don't touch the lugs with these pads, you'll muck them up.

There is a nice tutorial in the watchtech section...which is where this thread should probably be too. lol

[SeaDweller50]

Originally Posted by Furbo

Can we see pictures?

Yes sir.

[jimbones43]

Remember you are not removing the scratches, you are removing metal from the unscratched areas.
Each time you do this, you are removing more and more of the original finish/metal.

[jhe888]

Originally Posted by DaveDhc

I use stainless steel measuing spoons at home and dry them with cotton cloths. Over the course of a couple of years the shape of the spoons have changed and they have become more rounded. Each time I dry them, the removed meal must be microscopic, but over time it adds up to be significant.

What you did was to agressivley remove metal from your watch band. It may seem that not much was removed, but my guess is that a significant amount of metal was removed. I'd guess that if you used a micrometer on the band, you could measure the change in the thinkness of the links.

Since you asked, I would not consider purchasing a watch if I had any idea that it had been agreesivley polished with Scothbright or anything else. So the depreciation in the value of the watch for me was significant.

I doubt he removed much metal with that pad. He just realigned scuffs, mostly. I still wouldn't do it, though.

[yld2rob]

That's how I do it..

Originally Posted by JayJ

This is the proper way to do it.
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...ght+work+space

[yld2rob]

X2. Do not press hard.

Originally Posted by sdwtchlvr

I didn't watch the video but if done right, this technique can yield surprisingly fantastic results. I used to brush my satin bracelets out occasionally with a green scotch brite pad and using very little pressure....though I haven't done it in years.

I wouldn't consider this polishing. You are removing such a minuscule amount of metal with these pads. When you get into using a polishing wheel, that's when you can do some damage if you don't know what you're doing. Using a scotch brite pad, 15-20 light swipes, you'll be fine. Just be sure to remove the bracelet from the watch head of course...and don't touch the lugs with these pads, you'll muck them up.

There is a nice tutorial in the watchtech section...which is where this thread should probably be too. lol

[APguy]

ehhh, no go mate, Best to brake the bracelet down and use single direction strokes over the entire surface. tubing back and forth puts non liner brush strokes on the part. It must be in a liner line or would look awful.

[toebone7]

Thanks for the feedback guys! Happy to share the video. Don't stress guys, the surface that I was "polishing" on top of is made of plastic - there's no way that the crystal or the rest of the watch should get messed up by plastic - if it did, I'd have serious doubts about Rolex's build quality and wouldn't have bought it in the first place. :) Next time, I'll probably put it on a towel, or try taking the bracelet off if I'm ambitious (thanks for the link!).

I do not baby this watch at all. It never gets taken from my wrist - its been through showers, oil changes, painting, sleeping, the beach, you name it. It never comes off. It's been clonked into more door frames than I can remember. In fact, this was probably the first time I took it off in months! hahaha I feel like a rolex is meant to be on a wrist.

I still think it looks better with the brushing than it did all scuffed. Cheers, guys!

[NYCREBROKER]

Is it the video, or does it have a more muted tone after the polish?

[BomB#Frog]

My sub has scratches... Oh the horror....I know, I must scratch them out!! Lol

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by Old Geezer

...Once a used watch is polished to look new, the question begins to come up about how much polishing has occurred, lug thinning, etc which would likely prevent someone from paying top dollar. My 2 cents.

Well, that one has been polished three times in the last two years.

But hey, it's just a bracelet I suppose. But these days they're not cheap either.

[HobokenRolex]

That was like fingernails on a chalkboard. Looks better, though. I'd personally wait for a service or two and have it done professionally.

[Justinmg]

Originally Posted by jimbones43

Remember you are not removing the scratches, you are removing metal from the unscratched areas.
Each time you do this, you are removing more and more of the original finish/metal.

X1, not for me, that video was hard to watch.

[denmanproject]

If Submariners were pets yours would be taken away from you and placed in a better home

[antbkny]

Originally Posted by NYCREBROKER

Is it the video, or does it have a more muted tone after the polish?

looks more of a matte finish compared to the original brushed look.

[997.2]

Originally Posted by Airborne

Very easily thank you.

You must be fun at parties.

[997.2]

Originally Posted by denmanproject

If Submariners were pets yours would be taken away from you and placed in a better home

Rofl. Yep

[cht]

Originally Posted by APguy

ehhh, no go mate, Best to brake the bracelet down and use single direction strokes over the entire surface. tubing back and forth puts non liner brush strokes on the part. It must be in a liner line or would look awful.

This.

Originally Posted by azguy

My God, at least take the bracelet off and lie it flat, between the grit and your hands and flopping the watch around you're accomplishing little IMHO..

I love it as 4:27 & 5:25 when you have the crystal face down on your work service and you can hear it being ground back and forth, classic, next post will be how my bezel insert got scratched....

I know, I'm NOT that careful with my watches, but, good gawd I was cringing too!


I think we scared him away lol

[joejeweler]

In actuality,.....re-brushing a SS Rolex bracelet would be MUCH easier with the watch ON and wearing it, as the links are supported safely and you'll be hitting the direct areas on the bracelet which are prone to scratch while wearing. If you have sensitive skin, a zip lock baggie can be placed between the inside of the bracelet and your wrist,so you don't irritate your skin if you go wide off the edge with some strokes of the pad.

It's not usually necessary to worry about getting super close to the bezel either, as those areas aren't as prone to scratch as is the back and sides of the bracelet,....mostly from the usual way we all lay are arms on tables. For this reason I wouldn't bother to remove the bracelet either,......but would not press the watch flat like what was shown.

I've done my own at times, and found just hand holding the watch in one hand across the knuckles or palm helped to control the work.

Also,...this would be MUCH easier by cutting a smaller strip of the Scotch-Brite, say ONE INCH wide X about TWO INCHES long. This will give you much better control.

For all you nay-sayers,.....when you get a service do you think Rolex is doing the refinish "BY HAND"?

I doubt it,......the band is probably pressed up against a brush finishing wheel with a similar material,......and I can tell you that will take more metal off than the TINY amount removed by hand. Probably some finalized "blending" with a hand pad also.

By the way,.....I was a bench jeweler/diamond setter for 35 years,.....and this is so simple a procedure with such a great result, that those who are against it don't know what they are talking about. (done with reasonable care of course)

......but do it on the wrist OR possibly with the watch wrapped around a plastic soda bottle perhaps to support it properly. (and ALWAYS OVER a cushioned surface in case you drop it.)

Also,....The GREEN Scotch-Brite pads are a big rougher texture than the RED version. I personally like the Red pads for the finer finish and sheen produced. It's the Red version that a lot of Titanium Bicycle Frame makers use to brush finish their frames. Red removes a hair less actual metal too.

Originally Posted by 997.2

Yeah me too, but you know what? my sub is scratched. your sub is scratched. EVERYONE'S SUBS ARE SCRATCHED!!! That's life and it's unavoidable unless you carry it around covered in bubble wrap.

Well,...if you think about it,.....ALL Subs come from Rolex already SCRATCHED. That's what a Brush Finish IS!. Just a controlled and uniform scratching is all......

[Watchgeek5000]

It will look ok in most lighting situations, but look at it in the sunlight and it has a weird shine. I know, I've done it many times ......but an Omega was were I drew the line! The bracelet was brushed and high polished, took a lot of time of putting tape on the high polished areas, but it came out decent!

[LuminousMaximus]

Originally Posted by 997.2

One time, a TRF member here gave away some free pads. They were the red kind, which he claimed were the best ones to use. I tried it on my Omega and after just one light swipe, I felt dread in the pit of my stomach. I threw the pad away and never used it again.

Originally Posted by yld2rob

I use the 3M red pad and it works like magic on the ss braclets.

It was I that gave everyone the FREE ScotchBrite Avery, FINE Burgundy 7447. I apologize if you messed up your Omega, but It is what I read here on TRF.

I have used it, as well as many other, and it has worked well for the Matt type finish on our Rolex and Omega's. I have even seen the Rolex technician using sand paper on the end links...

Here are the 2 Links. The first the original link, and the second is actually linked to the first post for all to read...

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=376989

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=349253

[997.2]

Originally Posted by LuminousMaximus

It was I that gave everyone the FREE ScotchBrite Avery, FINE Burgundy 7447. I apologize if you messed up your Omega, but It is what I read here on TRF.

I have used it, as well as many other, and it has worked well for the Matt type finish on our Rolex and Omega's. I have even seen the Rolex technician using sand paper on the end links...

Here are the 2 Links. The first the original link, and the second is actually linked to the first post for all to read...

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=376989

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=349253

I really appreciated it. Should have rephrased - it was ME that was unequipped for the job. I didn't feel confident in my ability to do straight lines and over analyzed it. Thanks for the pads, it was a great gesture.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LuminousMaximus]

So maybe the 7447 isn't fine enough? I'd like to learn what the proper method is, and if it's true that the 7447 messed up your watch, let's find out what that method is...

i mean, I'll throw away the whole box as well..

Here's a video on youtube...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTE7TWsNpVk

[Ritch99]

Lol, making a list of pad users to never buy a watch from...lol.

[Koala]

I think you did a great job. well done!

[mfer]

Well, you aren't afraid of scratches, but you go at length to remove them. It is your watch, enjoy it.

I really feel that Rolex develop patina/scratches well with time. My M series sub looks better everyday I wear it. Enjoy.

[kirksingleton]

I think it looks pretty good

[Mauiguy]

Good Lord, treating a tool watch like a tool. Who would have ever thought?

Nothing at all wrong with the Scotch brite treatment on the daily beater. Good job!