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mister tawny · 14 June 2012, 10:35 AM

So there's my question to you. In the long term when you are having an overhaul done it seems standard now they want to refinish the dial and then polish the case to a mirror finish. But from my collecting this is usually bad. You want things with the patina showing it's age. But I have read conflicting opinions. Is there a consensus among members here?

FremStar · 14 June 2012, 10:43 AM

Personally I would want to keep all my references factory original and free from any type of polish! The only alteration I would adhere to are new internal parts for worn gears and the like...

jolimont · 14 June 2012, 10:58 AM

you want to leave case hands and dials original.

sarir97 · 14 June 2012, 11:25 AM

Excellent question, that should from time to time be revisited. I, for one, don't get the whole "never polished" craze. I like my watches, even vintages one, to shine as if new.

K.W · 14 June 2012, 12:46 PM

IMHO one reason I like vintage is because they are worn, or "softened" maybe a light polish or buff to get rid of a few nicks at one time, but nothing too crazy.. You can pretty much do that your self, by hand if you wish.. once you start using a wheel, it gets sketchy. that ol' chestnut- you can always remove material.. but once you do, its not coming back.

sarir97 · 14 June 2012, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K.W

IMHO one reason I like vintage is because they are worn, or "softened" maybe a light polish or buff to get rid of a few nicks at one time, but nothing too crazy.. You can pretty much do that your self, by hand if you wish.. once you start using a wheel, it gets sketchy. that ol' chestnut- you can always remove material.. but once you do, its not coming back.

Agree about light polish, and that's what I meant really. For me, not every swirl is welcome, and doesn't particularly add character. I wouldn't touch the dial for example, but of course I would only buy a beautiful "vintage patina but otherwise free of stains" watch to begin with. I suppose there has to be a happy medium between bringing a watch "back to life" and keeping some of its old character. That medium, I suppose, will vary from one individual to the next.

cruvon · 14 June 2012, 02:12 PM

It all comes down to personal preference but If there are too many unsighty scratches guess is fine to do a light polish. About the dial, I would avoid a refinish at all costs unless was absolutely necessary. Note that a refinish is different from a dial clean which involes removing grime and ugly stains on the dial using a cleaner without repainting or redoing the dial in any way. This is usually done in watches that have been in storage for many years and are a barn find. So a dial clean is totally a good thing but best left to the experts and not a DIY, a refinish, unless totally necessary where dial damage is not restorable, is not!

14 June 2012, 10:35 AM	#1
mister tawny Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 28	To polish the case and refinish the dial or not So there's my question to you. In the long term when you are having an overhaul done it seems standard now they want to refinish the dial and then polish the case to a mirror finish. But from my collecting this is usually bad. You want things with the patina showing it's age. But I have read conflicting opinions. Is there a consensus among members here?

14 June 2012, 10:43 AM	#2
FremStar "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2009 Real Name: Sam Location: Gotham City Watch: Wall Street Posts: 9,954	Personally I would want to keep all my references factory original and free from any type of polish! The only alteration I would adhere to are new internal parts for worn gears and the like... __________________ "Wealth is of the heart and mind, not of the pocket!" "A Watch Is An Emotional Object, And So, It Is The Responsibility Of The Brand To Create Emotion Through It's Products" - Georges Kern "In the 1950s and 60s, they made the Ref 8171, which is a cult collectible—now that’s the ultimate Rolex you could own with a calendar and a moon phase.” - John Reardon "Heh, heh, heh..." - Michael Kilyung

14 June 2012, 02:12 PM	#7
cruvon "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 4,689	It all comes down to personal preference but If there are too many unsighty scratches guess is fine to do a light polish. About the dial, I would avoid a refinish at all costs unless was absolutely necessary. Note that a refinish is different from a dial clean which involes removing grime and ugly stains on the dial using a cleaner without repainting or redoing the dial in any way. This is usually done in watches that have been in storage for many years and are a barn find. So a dial clean is totally a good thing but best left to the experts and not a DIY, a refinish, unless totally necessary where dial damage is not restorable, is not! __________________ Last thing I remember, I was Running outta sight I had to find the passage back,To the place I was before. ’Relax,’ said this Rolex place,We are programmed to receive. You can checkout any time you like, But you can never leave!

14 June 2012, 10:58 AM	#3
jolimont "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Real Name: Will Location: land of oz Watch: sundial Posts: 2,219	you want to leave case hands and dials original.

14 June 2012, 11:25 AM	#4
sarir97 "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: Mehrdad Location: Scottsdale, AZ Watch: Ω & Rolex Posts: 320	Excellent question, that should from time to time be revisited. I, for one, don't get the whole "never polished" craze. I like my watches, even vintages one, to shine as if new.

14 June 2012, 12:46 PM	#5
K.W "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: United States, TX Watch: '68 GMT Master Posts: 101	IMHO one reason I like vintage is because they are worn, or "softened" maybe a light polish or buff to get rid of a few nicks at one time, but nothing too crazy.. You can pretty much do that your self, by hand if you wish.. once you start using a wheel, it gets sketchy. that ol' chestnut- you can always remove material.. but once you do, its not coming back.

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