How to restore the finish at the lugs>>>>

[Jocke]

Here I goes for another refinishing tour. This time I
should restore the orginal finish on the lugs. This one
have I polish and here I will show you how easy it´s to
get it back to orginal style.

Here is the lug.



I start to pull off the bezel and I use a razor blade
just press it in between the bezel and the case. Go all
the way round and see so he go up straight.



Then I use a pocket knife to take it off the case.



Here the bezel is off.



Now I use some masking tape around the crystal and
on the sides of the case so I don´t get some scratches
on the crystal or the polished surfaces.



Here is the masked lug.



This time I only use the sandpaper sponge and I go
very easy and go around the crystal so I get the lines
correct.



Here is how it looks after I have use the sponge on
the lug, just like it was from the start.



Now it´s time to put back the bezel, sometimes it
will be a little tricky so if it going to hard just
ask your watchmaker to put it back for you. If you
do that it will be smart to change gasket too and
give your watch a waterproof test at the same time.



Viola just like new, the lugs looks real nice now.



Thanks for you looking.

Jocke

[frostie]

WOW great one Jocke. Thanks for sharing

[davor]

nice and informative as always...thanks jocke

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Whoa!

Another GREAT tutorial!

Went straight to my bookmarks!

[Tools]

Excellent

Top notch - as usual...

[Thani]

great work jocke..

amazing work u do with ur watches..

keep it up

[jamesthejeweller]

lovely! Jocke, that came out really well!
I have a little trade secret too for putting that brushed look back on to the case, and for polishing the highly polished area's. For this i use a girls Nail buffer, all it is, is a glorified nail file which is used to bring the surface of the fingernail to a brilliant polish, the polisher itself has usually 4 different grades of gritted paper, the 1st grade being relatively coarse to remove the ridges from the fingernail, the second being very fin grit to get an even surface and the last two are not textured but smooth, these achieve a mirror polish, i will try and find some pictures !

[ntm]

very informative, just wanted to know what Grit is the sandpaper?

[jamesthejeweller]

Ok i have found some picture of when i gave my bracelets and cases on my Two GMT's a thorough clean,. you can see the difference in the bracelet from pictures one and two.
Scratched and marked Bracelet

Shiny and Clean, after a going over and a warm soapy bath

finished

[mullman]

IMHO that is still too rough.
Use some 0000 steel wool after the sponge.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Here the bezel is off.

Where is the SERIAL NUMBER? Did you grind that away, too?

[1fastsaleen]

Once again thank you for the tutorial.

I thought I was the only one who would sit around watching tv and inspect my watch for flaws. After joining and reading many, many posts I feel much less neurotic.

You guys are great.

[Solar]

I wonder how the Rolex people remove a bezel; is it with a plastic, non-scratching tool of sufficient metal-like strength to allow it to pop the bezel ring off?

Ironstark, can you weigh in on this?

Chris

[SSD]

Thanks, Jocke! I have wondered about this once or twice, but didn't expect such a nice tutorial. A very welcome answer once again.

[Troy]

I ordered some cape cod cloths any suggestions on there use like with pattern of watch or just go to town?
Thanks

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by Troy

I ordered some cape cod cloths any suggestions on there use like with pattern of watch or just go to town. Thanks

Cape Cod cloths are useful but NOT on SATINISED surfaces! But - used with care - Cape Cod cloths can give you nice results on a POLISHED surface.

Here are some tutorials (one of them is google-translated from German):

"Removing Scratches From The Polished Center Link! (English!) CLICK!

Removing micro-scratches from bracelet! (google-translated from German). CLICK!

[ Note: maybe not the best of translations (cf. "microwave scratches"! ), but I hope the pictures do the talkin'! ]

[Troy]

Thanks for the info only the Bo Knows lol

[JJ Irani]

Good stuff, Jocke....thanks for sharing!!

[marshallr47]

Jocke, you are a true WIS. Thanks for sharing.

[Tombstone]

Thanks outstanding as always my friend.

[Edensknight]

Wow! Great tip, Jocke!

[Andad]

Hi Jocke,

Sorry, IMO, I think that looks like it has been sandpapered.

I would not go near any of my watches with a rusty old razor blade and a penknife.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Hi Jocke,

Sorry, IMO, I think that looks like it has been sandpapered.

I would not go near any of my watches with a rusty old razor blade and a penknife.

Well....those were my thoughts exactly!!

[jasonbellevue]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Hi Jocke,

Sorry, IMO, I think that looks like it has been sandpapered.

I would not go near any of my watches with a rusty old razor blade and a penknife.

Great tutorial there Jocke, and thanks for taking the time out to share it with us, but I must admit, I share the same sentiment as Eddie and JJ, I personally wouldn't touch any of my watches with a razor blade and a knife. Any refinishing of my watches will only be done by the RSC. I guess i'm just not as adventurous and skilled with watches as some of you guys are.

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Hi Jocke,

Sorry, IMO, I think that looks like it has been sandpapered.

I would not go near any of my watches with a rusty old razor blade and a penknife.

Come on guys, it´s just a freaking watch.

It´s not my wife I do some surgery on.

About the finish so did not look that bad, check out my untouched Explorer lug with factory finish.



Thank you all for the kind words.

Jocke