Rolex Service Centre and no case polishing?

[tawny_ulcer]

Will the RSC (irrespective of where it is located) respect a request by a client not to polish a case being sent for service? Any advice and first hand experiences would be appreciated before I decide where to send my 104060M to be serviced.

[kieselguhr]

Yes, but why? In my experience they do a great job.

[tawny_ulcer]

Thank you for your reply kieselguhr. I know that they can do a great job, but I want my case to stay as it is - scars and all. Just a personal preference - I also wish to keep the lugs as thick as possible. I also can't count how many times when I have gone to sell a watch one of the first questions I am asked besides "Is it still available" :-) is "has it been polished?" I have no doubt that many buyers prefer unpolished watches, but as I say, it's a personal thing.Many collectors of vintage pieces also this as a priority.

[SearChart]

Yes. It should be respected and will be respected.

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by tawny_ulcer

Thank you for your reply kieselguhr. I know that they can do a great job, but I want my case to stay as it is - scars and all. Just a personal preference - I also wish to keep the lugs as thick as possible. I also can't count how many times when I have gone to sell a watch one of the first questions I am asked besides "Is it still available" :-) is "has it been polished?" I have no doubt that many buyers prefer unpolished watches, but as I say, it's a personal thing.Many collectors of vintage pieces also this as a priority.

Right on.
Just saying, nothing wrong with the courtesy polish that RSC offers during interval service (q10years). Doubt it actually makes a difference in value either. It’s the Joe Smith Dremel polishing service that you gotta worry about.

[tawny_ulcer]

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

Right on.
Just saying, nothing wrong with the courtesy polish that RSC offers during interval service (q10years). Doubt it actually makes a difference in value either. It’s the Joe Smith Dremel polishing service that you gotta worry about.

[Maverick686]

Do your guys's cases get scratched much at all?

My polished center links scratch if I sneeze wrong, but my case rarely takes a scratch.

[lear60man]

Originally Posted by Maverick686

Do your guys's cases get scratched much at all?

My polished center links scratch if I sneeze wrong, but my case rarely takes a scratch.

Ive had the same sub for almost 20 years of daily driving...zero dings on the case. A few light scratches on the gold center links but meh.

[tawny_ulcer]

Originally Posted by Maverick686

Do your guys's cases get scratched much at all?

My polished center links scratch if I sneeze wrong, but my case rarely takes a scratch.

Yeah same here with the PCLs - I have thought of getting them brushed out

[tawny_ulcer]

Originally Posted by Maverick686

Do your guys's cases get scratched much at all?

My polished center links scratch if I sneeze wrong, but my case rarely takes a scratch.

Yeah same here with the PCLs - I have thought of getting them brushed out for that bracelet.

[SkyJuice]

Good question. I wonder too.

[GGGMT]

I too prefer no polishing. Good to hear about RSC. Respecting that


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[Michaeli Paulo]

I’m still new to the Rolex World, having bought my Rolex Submariner around 3 months ago. This 14060M is eight years old, but was a one owner, “safe queen.”

Soon after receiving it, I brought the watch to the RSC for its first service. To my eye, there were no marks or imperfections on the watch, aside from a very minor scratch on the clasp, made by me.

I didn’t feel it needed a polish, so I asked the rep at the RSC if they agreed with me. After taking the watch back to the technician for the initial assessment, she returned saying the technician agreed that a polish wasn’t necessary.

A few days later, I received the official itemized estimate for the service.

It stated:

-Clasp scratched
-Case scratched
-Bracelet scratched
-Bezel scratched

Initially, I was a bit concerned about this assessment, as in, “what have they done to my watch?!?!” (Ha,ha) Then I realized that this assessment was made with the use of a jeweler’s loupe and that the RSC was just being thorough, so that they were “covered” in the event that I later claimed that they scratched my watch.

(This experience made a believer out of me to never look at my watch through a loupe.)



The watch looked fantastic when I picked it up from service. I’m glad I skipped the polish this time. Since this is my only watch and daily wearer, I imagine I’ll request the polish come next service, if I’m still around!

Michael

[jimcameron]

Why are you having your watch serviced?

[supernova]

I had my 116710 serviced by RSC in London this year through my AD here in Dublin.

I requested my AD to inform RSC not to polish, in which they passed on my request and RSC respected my decision and performed full service without polish.

[IMG][/IMG]

[Bozack90]

Originally Posted by lear60man

Ive had the same sub for almost 20 years of daily driving...zero dings on the case. A few light scratches on the gold center links but meh.

thats impressive, I have a good number of dents and dings in my 10 yr old one

[The Libertine]

Yes, I used RSC twice, and both times my request not to polish was honored.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Michaeli Paulo

I’m still new to the Rolex World, having bought my Rolex Submariner around 3 months ago. This 14060M is eight years old, but was a one owner, “safe queen.”

Soon after receiving it, I brought the watch to the RSC for its first service. To my eye, there were no marks or imperfections on the watch, aside from a very minor scratch on the clasp, made by me.

I didn’t feel it needed a polish, so I asked the rep at the RSC if they agreed with me. After taking the watch back to the technician for the initial assessment, she returned saying the technician agreed that a polish wasn’t necessary.

A few days later, I received the official itemized estimate for the service.

It stated:

-Clasp scratched
-Case scratched
-Bracelet scratched
-Bezel scratched

Initially, I was a bit concerned about this assessment, as in, “what have they done to my watch?!?!” (Ha,ha) Then I realized that this assessment was made with the use of a jeweler’s loupe and that the RSC was just being thorough, so that they were “covered” in the event that I later claimed that they scratched my watch.

(This experience made a believer out of me to never look at my watch through a loupe.)



The watch looked fantastic when I picked it up from service. I’m glad I skipped the polish this time. Since this is my only watch and daily wearer, I imagine I’ll request the polish come next service, if I’m still around!

Michael

Thank you for sharing your story with us

[tawny_ulcer]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Thank you for sharing your story with us

+1 more

:-)

[Laszlo]

Me personally can spot an RSC polish from a mile away. I haven't seen one good example, only horror stories. And I've seen first hand service with polish including dust left inside the dial and wasn't impressed --- it wasn't acceptable IMO. Sorry, I would be very, very specific not to polish and inspect with scrutiny. And hold accountability. Nothing worse than a polish.

[tawny_ulcer]

Originally Posted by Laszlo

Me personally can spot an RSC polish from a mile away. I haven't seen one good example, only horror stories. And I've seen first hand service with polish including dust left inside the dial and wasn't impressed --- it wasn't acceptable IMO. Sorry, I would be very, very specific not to polish and inspect with scrutiny. And hold accountability. Nothing worse than a polish.

I have also heard similar stories

[Bozack90]

Originally Posted by Laszlo

Me personally can spot an RSC polish from a mile away. I haven't seen one good example, only horror stories. And I've seen first hand service with polish including dust left inside the dial and wasn't impressed --- it wasn't acceptable IMO. Sorry, I would be very, very specific not to polish and inspect with scrutiny. And hold accountability. Nothing worse than a polish.

Well I would think there are plenty of things that could happen which are worse than a polish....

What I don’t get is how dust on the dial relates to polishing

[neildickson2000]

New guy on here - have a 2005 D series 16610LV Kermit with a couple of bezel dings. Any idea what the service centre protocols are for bezels? Do they insist on replacement, do they repair / refurbish original bezels.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by neildickson2000

New guy on here - have a 2005 D series 16610LV Kermit with a couple of bezel dings. Any idea what the service centre protocols are for bezels? Do they insist on replacement, do they repair / refurbish original bezels.

Bezels (sans insert) are done on the lapping machine.

[watchmaker]

Originally Posted by Laszlo

Me personally can spot an RSC polish from a mile away. I haven't seen one good example, only horror stories. And I've seen first hand service with polish including dust left inside the dial and wasn't impressed --- it wasn't acceptable IMO. Sorry, I would be very, very specific not to polish and inspect with scrutiny. And hold accountability. Nothing worse than a polish.

Dust on the dial has nothing to do with polishing.

And you seem to be forgetting this work is done by humans. Errors happen and there is no rational expectation of perfection.

If that’s not acceptable to you you need a hobby or interest that doesn’t involve handmade/assembled devices.

[Lol-x]

Polishing removes metal. It should be the personal choice of the owner to polish or not.
The owner of the watch should have the authority to decide.
Similarly, if the owner wants to polish the watch him/herself, Rolex has no right to say 'no'.

Rolex are now cancelling international warranties (with years left to run) just because owners polish their own watches.

[neildickson2000]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Bezels (sans insert) are done on the lapping machine.

Thanks - any idea how obvious work on a bezel is or if I'd be as well living with the two marks (at around 37 seconds and 54-56 seconds on the attached picture)?

[neildickson2000]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Bezels (sans insert) are done on the lapping machine.

Sorry - just recognised my rookie mistake - insert is not the bezel.... duh - any idea how readily available the Kermit inserts are?

[037]

Originally Posted by neildickson2000

Sorry - just recognised my rookie mistake - insert is not the bezel.... duh - any idea how readily available the Kermit inserts are?

They're available through your local RSC but are exchange-only. They won't sell LV inserts outright.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by 037

They're available through your local RSC but are exchange-only. They won't sell LV inserts outright.

Correct.