RSC Bad Experience - Should I Polish?

[joli160]

I am pretty sure they will do their utmost to make it look good. Hope you’ll be pleased with the outcome

[Pepperjack]

Originally Posted by brandrea

That lug ding looks pretty deep to me, and I’m not sure about “moving” material. I’ve heard of this on platinum but other metals I’m not so sure.

This process is buffing, where a hard felt wheel with the appropriate paste is used to create a high amount of heat in order move material from the high spots to the low spots, filling in scratches and dings. It's often the initial stage in the whole refinishing process. It can then be followed up with applying the desired finish.

[MRBolton]

Originally Posted by Pepperjack

This process is buffing, where a hard felt wheel with the appropriate paste is used to create a high amount of heat in order move material from the high spots to the low spots, filling in scratches and dings. It's often the initial stage in the whole refinishing process. It can then be followed up with applying the desired finish.

As someone with your background, what do you think of what you see, in terms of how much material is going to be removed to fix it? Do you agree with the RSC tech that it should be able to be refinished as well as they're making it out to be to me?

[Pepperjack]

Originally Posted by MRBolton

As someone with your background, what do you think of what you see, in terms of how much material is going to be removed to fix it? Do you agree with the RSC tech that it should be able to be refinished as well as they're making it out to be to me?

I want to preface this with the caveat that I am not as practiced at refinishing as a technician at an RSC; I am stating these opinions based on what I know I or one of our refinishers are able to accomplish with our experience and tools. I am not often in the position to see the end results of the NY service center.

Refinishing the sides of this case are a non-issue. The caseback I suspect will be returned to you in like-new condition. I don’t really see any areas on the bracelet that concern me. I believe the bracelet is going to appear to have been refinished, but really well done; I suspect material removal will be negligible, but if you look for it, you’re going to find it. The tops of the lugs are tricky, but I think they will turn out moderately well, possibly ever so slightly rounded. My experience with Daytona bezels is that they look “new” new, and at no other time. I’d be ecstatic to be proven wrong on that front.

[Hollie_Rollie]

Yikes! Thats terrible service. I’d probably opt for a light touch up


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AF_Rob]

Given your luck, I would just live with it. Reengage with the polish at the next service. By then, you can send it to a trusted independent.

I think you’re setting yourself up for more disappointment. If you send it back and they did anything less than perfect, which is likely, you would notice it and be pissed.

If I was in your shoes and sent it back for a polish, I would subject it to an unreasonable amount of scrutiny when I got it back.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rockysw]

this is very very disappointing from rolex.

[ecbkk]

I have two gold sports watches, and both need a service. they're losing power reserve and time, but I haven't serviced them because I know ANY service center will butcher the gold watches. I have plenty of -2/+2 watches from different brands when I need accuracy so I don't think I will ever service the gold watches since I wear them more for the rich gold look.

whenever I see gold artifacts in a museum, dragon's hoard, or pirate loot of gold doubloons in treasure chests, I think the rubies and sapphires will scratch the hell out of the gold coins. If I were a pirate I would put each gold coin in a separate leather pouch so they don't get scratched.

[MRBolton]

Just got it back in today. As AF_Rob said above, I'm now subjecting to an arguably unreasonable amount of scrutiny.

The good:
- The dings in the lugs look like they never happened. I can't how great a job they did on that. I can't imagine how they fixed this without laser welding.

The bad:
- The bezel clearly looks like it's been polished now. The numbers are a bit softer. If you were unfamiliar with the watch, it would probably be fine. But as someone who wore this piece 80% of the time the last year, it jumps out like a sore thumb. I asked them not to polish the bezel if they thought it would have a result like this, so that's very disappointing. It's tempting to get a new bezel.
- The case doesn't look as sharp. I don't know how much of this is coming from my looking at the bezel and it not looking up to snuff to me. It just looks a bit rounded off.
- The scratches they added to the first link after the 12 o'clock endlink on the brushed part are still there, albeit about 75% removed.

I will post pictures/videos tonight for those interested.

While I'm thrilled about the ding removal, I wish I just didn't polish it currently. Maybe in a few days I'll be fine with it.

I'm going to reach back out to the manager I was talking to at RSC to give her feedback. I am very doubtful they'll do anything. Perhaps they could be willing to discount a new bezel.

This definitely was a situation where I wasn't going to be happy either way (either live with scratches I didn't do or polish the factory finish away), so it is what it is now.