Polishing....

[GarageBMW]

Originally Posted by SearChart

One of the best Rolex watches ever made in my opinion

Absolutely. But when finding a nice example is utterly difficult and challenging, I went for the SD4K, which I think is the last of the real tool watch, purpose built, the end of an era for the SD.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by 123Blueface

Not even remotely close. Paint adds major variables in that there are many tints involved, can be impacted by how the HVLP gun is adjusted, can be impacted by dirty filters in the paint booth, can be impacted by the experience of the painter, but more importantly, has to be done by someone (body shop) other than Porsche once it leaves the factory. There is no paint on a Rolex. It’s just buffing metal, that was already buffed before, and can be done by the manufacturer.

It's not just buffing metal. It's removing metal. And all the variables mentioned with a respray on a car can apply to polishing a watch ... different skill levels of the polishers, different tools used, variations in the actual polishing wheel, etc ... That's why newish Rolexes sometimes come back post-polish from an RSC not looking great, but others look fine. It's not an exact science. Tons of threads over the years about it.

And a final polish by Rolex to complete the case is very different to subsequent repeated polishing that removes metal and permanently changes the case lines.

[Gab27]

Nothing wrong with a good quality polish on occasion. Alternatively, there's nothing wrong with not polishing the watch, either.

[AD337]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well if some of you guys had seen my 16600 SD after working as a real tool watch and yes it was quite badly scratched.And lot more than todays very pampered watches many would have a heart attack to see these scratches.Plus its been serviced and polished by 3 different RSC world wide, now almost 25 years old and still looks good today.

I love that pic you posted of yours after its service - I also love the idea of imagining that thing on wrist underwater all those countless hours being a workhorse… very cool stuff… my sub only gets to see water for basic swimming lol

I admit, I am one of those guys who has pampered to hell and back Rolex watches… all of mine still look brand new with almost zero evidence of wear, however I feel like my daydates, and my shiny Daytona with its PCLs etc etc would look like shyte all scratched up.. My submariner is also in flawless almost unworn looking condition, but I believe some wear on it wouldn’t affect its beauty at all if that makes sense…. In other words the flashy shiney watches DO need to look as close to perfect as possible.. but the more so sporty and more brushed finish models out the lineup can get away with some wear looking right at home on them.. but I enjoy and wear all of my watches often ! Matter of fact my most often worn watch pretty much my daily is my 228236 fluted bezel platinum DayDate40, so just to clarify none of mine are safe queens by any stretch!

BUT, I say all that to say I am very much so in the camp of no polishing - I enjoy mine as mentioned above but I wear them mindfully… so with that said, mine should never even “need” to be polished ..


Ok enough of all that blabbing and thread jacking but while we are at it PADI can you post a recent pictures of how your SeaDweller is looking these days?! Any other pieces that you have got a lot of underwater use too or is that the main one

[JacksonRain]

Originally Posted by kegan

It’s good if done right is an oversimplification. If the watch is in excellent condition with minor scratches you will most likely have an acceptable outcome with a polish. On the other hand a hard worn example with damage on the sharp edges is how you get what is considered a bad polish when in fact the watchmakers are simply doing what is asked of them. Any timepiece that is in rough or say abused condition either needs to be left alone or be polished by someone who adds material prior.

Originally Posted by swish77

Because when you polish a watch it’s no longer in its original form, and for many watch enthusiasts that’s bad.

I’d rather have a scratched original-condition case than a pristine case that’s been polished. But if it’s done well, nothing wrong with a light touch up.

That's right. RSC has botched many of watches, it happens. But overall I would recommend them over the alternatives for service.
Kegan is right on, but even then, even when you perform laser welding and the refinisher is not heavy-handed, it's still never the same as our of the factory.
But many don't notice, and even if they notice they don't care. To each their own.


Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

[Henrimontgomery]

Brands (Rolex, AP) start to advise against polishing.

Despite the fact that it saves them money (flat service price, refusing a polish is not generating a discount, so they make more money out of the service), they are correct to say this now.

A watch will scratch. You can't prevent it. So let me know, why would you try to remove the scratches, at the cost of the shape of the watch? Angles will soften, shapes will lessen, and your watch will scratch still the same.

Don't polish, instead embrace the patina.



Here's my wedding band. Scratched to no end, but also as sharp as day one.

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by padi56

Today many have been brainwashed into thinking all polishing is bad by the likes of so called social media.But today Rolex watches in general get such a very very pampered life they should only need any sort of polish at normal routine service only.The sure way to ruin any Rolex watch is wanting to polish every time you see the slightest scratch.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. And has been serviced and polished by 3 different RSC world wide,picture taken in Singapore after last service.This working tool watch has seen more use that todays mainly pampered watches will see in ten lifetimes. As long as any Rolex watches are only polished at normal routine RSC service now average 8-10 years should have no problem for 40 plus years of wearing.

Padi!!!!

Did all the polishing grind off the raised winding crown crown? Or you didn’t want it changed? This demands clarification!!

[DavidUK]

I quite liked the look of this worn 2002 model a few weeks back. Would have cost me around £5,400 all in. But in the end I wasn't sure I could live with it...

[Swatski]

scratches just shows you wear it like you should.

[TimeAZ]

Bad polishing is bad.
Good polishing is good.
No polishing is best.