Rough on watches

[Judge]

I am pretty tough on watches, lots of travel for work, dinners, hotels, airports..etc.

My watches are not desk divers, except for Friday and Monday when I work from home, but usually I slap on my Suunto for the weekend.

When I see watches for sale they say "unpolished" what is the significance? More valuable not being polished?

My 16600 SD will probably look like it has been through WW2 in a year, that's ok with me just curious about to revamp it occasionally for when I go out on date night with my wife.

Thank you.

[THC]

Padi is gonna love you

Great post

[1SG MTB]

Same here, OP! If I can’t wear a watch through hell and back I wouldn’t bother wearing one at all! I never give a second thought to where I’m going or what I’m doing (gym and shower aside), my watches are a part of me. I don’t think any of them have survived a single day without getting some scratch, ding, or dent, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

[stil]

Wear it like it’s not there is my view. I didn’t buy them to constantly be worried about where I might end up or what I am doing with one on my wrist.

I collect these to enjoy and to me part of the enjoyment are the stories that unfold with one on my wrist.

[Rolexoman]

From my limited understanding of polished versus unpolished is each time a watch is polished it removes some amount of metal and if not done correctly the beveled edges and contours are altered to a degree that is not acceptable as it ruins the look of that piece and therefore affects the value to the collector.

There are some owners that even request by RSC or other service center that on a regular service interval that the case and or strap not be polished as they don’t want the patina of wear removed.

I personally have not polished any watch or strap I have but I try to watch what I’m doing when wearing but I can honestly say when I send a piece in for full service I want to get it back looking brand new but that’s me.

[Rebel]

It can take it.

[Sunny Arizona]

Polishing wears down the metal. Most prefer the “worn” look. I wore my Rolex to Iraq..twice. Radio mounts can be pretty hard on ss.

Originally Posted by Judge

I am pretty tough on watches, lots of travel for work, dinners, hotels, airports..etc.

My watches are not desk divers, except for Friday and Monday when I work from home, but usually I slap on my Suunto for the weekend.

When I see watches for sale they say "unpolished" what is the significance? More valuable not being polished?

My 16600 SD will probably look like it has been through WW2 in a year, that's ok with me just curious about to revamp it occasionally for when I go out on date night with my wife.

Thank you.

[dwjez14]

Originally Posted by Judge

I am pretty tough on watches, lots of travel for work, dinners, hotels, airports..etc.

My watches are not desk divers, except for Friday and Monday when I work from home, but usually I slap on my Suunto for the weekend.

When I see watches for sale they say "unpolished" what is the significance? More valuable not being polished?

My 16600 SD will probably look like it has been through WW2 in a year, that's ok with me just curious about to revamp it occasionally for when I go out on date night with my wife.

Thank you.

I think majority of people would prefer a watch to be unpolished. Polishing isn’t the easiest thing to do. Are you from arlington Texas ? If so that’s great. I’m in mansfield just south of you

[eskimochaos]

You don’t sound tough on watches at all.

[Chester01]

I’m tough on watches. Airports? You are aware that before the gshock marketing hype, Rolex was and still is the original and first go anywhere do anything watch.

So I may wear my sub in a mountain bike, in the ocean doing various water sports, tennis, golf, touch football, soccer, cleaning the house, operating power tools. What ever I am doing, my Rolex is doing. It does not take weekends off.

[joli160]

You are not tough on your watches, quite the contrary

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Judge

I am pretty tough on watches, lots of travel for work, dinners, hotels, airports..etc.

My watches are not desk divers, except for Friday and Monday when I work from home, but usually I slap on my Suunto for the weekend.

When I see watches for sale they say "unpolished" what is the significance? More valuable not being polished?

My 16600 SD will probably look like it has been through WW2 in a year, that's ok with me just curious about to revamp it occasionally for when I go out on date night with my wife.

Thank you.

Below a picture of my own working tool SD was used and sometimes abused for many years underwater as a real working tool watch.And watch has seen more use and scratches than most of today's Rolex watches will see in ten lifetimes.It has been serviced and polished by 3 different RSC world wide,picture taken in Singapore after last service quite a few years ago now. Rolex watches are meant to be worn if they get scratches that's a fact of wearing easily remedied at normal service.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by eskimochaos

You don’t sound tough on watches at all.

I agree, sounds like pretty normal everyday wear to me.

[Judge]

Originally Posted by dwjez14

I think majority of people would prefer a watch to be unpolished. Polishing isn’t the easiest thing to do. Are you from arlington Texas ? If so that’s great. I’m in mansfield just south of you

Yes I live in Interlochen, Christmas light capital of DFW,,,,

[Judge]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I agree, sounds like pretty normal everyday wear to me.

Well that's work...deer hunting, riding my motorcycle,camping in my Airstream, as well as kayaking on a every other weekend basis. So going forward Suunto will be in watch box!

Thanks.

[ThatExplorer]

Wear it everyday, from SCUBA diving (not PADI, but SSI, lol) and working in Emergency Medicine, gets dinged scuffed etc... honestly I enjoy it the looks it gets, it shows it’s worn and not kept in a safe somewhere.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mjrchabot]

I have always said that Rolex professional watches look better with scuffs and swirls. At the end of the day, they are all designed with a specific purpose in mind, they are took watches first and foremost.

I’m always careful with my watches the first week or so and after that I wear them like I never knew it was there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Adirondoc]

Chainsaw out back, oil change under the truck, sheetrock and spackle. That's a good weekend. My pepsi and polar explorer have stood up to anything and everything, though I have accidentally gotten paint and axle grease on them more than once. A good cleaning and they're right as rain. I don't intentionally abuse my watches but do often forget I'm wearing them. When I bought my APs, they were billed as "classic steel sports watches". I asked the associate what sports they had in mind, he replied that if I was doing anything more than badminton, I'd best get a Rolex. There you go.

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk

[77T]

Originally Posted by Judge

When I see watches for sale they say "unpolished" what is the significance? More valuable not being polished?

I think the value in finding a truly unpolished watch is one’s avoidance of poor polishing in the past. Don’t know that it’s worth paying more unless it is NOS.

As Peter showed above, proper polishing (even multiple times) at the hands of an expert in the RSC is just fine.

But many times I see poor workmanship in a vintage watch case that I wouldn’t pay the premium they ask.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[TheWatchmen]

I think the whole polishing thing is more important to vintage stuff. One because it’s in a more “original” condition, and two because polishing too much wears down the case over time.

For modern pieces it’s no big deal IMO and these things will outlast us.

Beat the crap outta that watch my friend, scars will seriously make it better...and it’s amazing what a good refinish can do if you decide you don’t like the “character”.

[TswaneNguni]

Its made to be used .NOT just sportie ss models ,ALL Rolex models are very tough ....and then RSC makes it look like new .Brilliant .

[1665fan]

Use it for everything, then never polish it.....simple

[Roddypeepa]

Love the sentiment but how are dinners, hotels, airports etc “tough” on watches?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dsmith1974]

Originally Posted by Roddypeepa

Love the sentiment but how are dinners, hotels, airports etc “tough” on watches?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Chuckle. I guess OP means he’s not scared of a few scratches and doesn’t save it for best. Which is how it should be.

[Roddypeepa]

Originally Posted by Dsmith1974

Chuckle. I guess OP means he’s not scared of a few scratches and doesn’t save it for best. Which is how it should be.

I hope he doesn’t mean he selfishly sits it on its own seat at the breakfast table like those spoiled tarts with their Gucci and michael lots bags Its a hard life taking your Rolex out to dine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Judge]

Originally Posted by Roddypeepa

I hope he doesn’t mean he selfishly sits it on its own seat at the breakfast table like those spoiled tarts with their Gucci and michael lots bags Its a hard life taking your Rolex out to dine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[doramas]

Originally Posted by Judge

I am pretty tough on watches, lots of travel for work, dinners, hotels, airports..etc.

My watches are not desk divers, except for Friday and Monday when I work from home, but usually I slap on my Suunto for the weekend.

When I see watches for sale they say "unpolished" what is the significance? More valuable not being polished?

My 16600 SD will probably look like it has been through WW2 in a year, that's ok with me just curious about to revamp it occasionally for when I go out on date night with my wife.

Thank you.

Picture of SD please

[Judge]

Ordered from C&C on Friday last week at 5 pm cst.....hopefully will have it here by Thursday.

[Albusdabbledore]

Originally Posted by Roddypeepa

I hope he doesn’t mean he selfishly sits it on its own seat at the breakfast table like those spoiled tarts with their Gucci and michael lots bags Its a hard life taking your Rolex out to dine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Misread that lol. This is actually funny


Sent from my iPhone using Tapata

[Phooi]

Originally Posted by Judge

I am pretty tough on watches, lots of travel for work, dinners, hotels, airports..etc.

My watches are not desk divers, except for Friday and Monday when I work from home, but usually I slap on my Suunto for the weekend.

When I see watches for sale they say "unpolished" what is the significance? More valuable not being polished?

My 16600 SD will probably look like it has been through WW2 in a year, that's ok with me just curious about to revamp it occasionally for when I go out on date night with my wife.

Thank you.

It’s hard to imagine how your SD will look like “WW2” based on your usage case above. I’ve had a SubC for about 10 yrs worn daily and it still looks in decent shape. I’m sure your watch will be fine.

As for polishing, it is purely a personal aesthetic thing. Some like their watches to show their age and experience. Some like it looking new. Polishing will remove metal. Just make sure you take it to someone reputable when you do polish it.

As for value retention, unpolished watches will hold their value more than polished.