The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Old 26 January 2018, 10:24 AM   #1
LazySumday
"TRF" Member
 
LazySumday's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 285
What is with polishing?

I am fairly new to the luxury watch market. I see that some people write about watches being “polished”, and that is looked down upon. Does this mean watches are simply Brillo padded to remove scratches or does this mean literally polishing with a bidding wheel to attempt to remove scratches and swirls? I am referencing tool watches like vintage GMT’s and Subs. I don’t really understand what the big deal is about polishing watches and why it is a negative.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
LazySumday is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 January 2018, 10:27 AM   #2
The Libertine
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2014
Real Name: Mike
Location: BOS
Watch: 16710;14060;214270
Posts: 6,375
Polishing, if either not done properly, or too frequently will ruin the original (factory) lines of the case.
The Libertine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 January 2018, 11:01 AM   #3
aquatimerfla
Banned
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: FL
Posts: 673
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Libertine View Post
Polishing, if either not done properly, or too frequently will ruin the original (factory) lines of the case.
Polishing the Case is the worst. Bracelet being rebrushed/finished is fine Cant tell you how many 'vintage' watches i have passed on because of 'polishing' of the case.
aquatimerfla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 January 2018, 10:29 AM   #4
brandrea
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
brandrea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Brian (TBone)
Location: canada
Watch: es make me smile
Posts: 78,113
What mike says ^^^
Attached Images
 
brandrea is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 26 January 2018, 10:58 AM   #5
Bladeshot
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
Bladeshot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Real Name: Grant
Location: U.S.
Watch: GMT 1675 PCG Gilt
Posts: 5,850
Quote:
Originally Posted by brandrea View Post
What mike says ^^^


Wonderful example pic!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
Just another WIS who loves to trade...
Bladeshot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 January 2018, 11:01 AM   #6
brandrea
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
brandrea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Brian (TBone)
Location: canada
Watch: es make me smile
Posts: 78,113
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bladeshot View Post
Wonderful example pic!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I can’t take credit for that, I googled overpolished Rolex
brandrea is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 26 January 2018, 11:04 AM   #7
Bladeshot
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
Bladeshot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Real Name: Grant
Location: U.S.
Watch: GMT 1675 PCG Gilt
Posts: 5,850
Quote:
Originally Posted by brandrea View Post
I can’t take credit for that, I googled overpolished Rolex


Thank goodness for Google!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
Just another WIS who loves to trade...
Bladeshot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 January 2018, 11:42 AM   #8
Steerpike999
"TRF" Member
 
Steerpike999's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Melbourne
Watch: A few.....
Posts: 931
Quote:
Originally Posted by brandrea View Post
what mike says ^^^
Wow
Steerpike999 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 January 2018, 12:10 AM   #9
spoilsofwar01
"TRF" Member
 
spoilsofwar01's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Real Name: "H"
Location: England
Watch: ing Rainclouds
Posts: 1,439
Quote:
Originally Posted by brandrea View Post
What mike says ^^^
Gulp..........Dare I measure mine????
spoilsofwar01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 January 2018, 10:41 AM   #10
JacksonStone
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Oregon
Posts: 5,150
Quote:
Originally Posted by LazySumday View Post
Does this mean watches are simply Brillo padded to remove scratches or does this mean literally polishing with a bidding wheel to attempt to remove scratches and swirls?
It can mean both. Some people like to take Scotchbrite pads, Cape Cod cloths, or some other home-remedy method to their watches and buff out the scuffs. That's one type of polishing. There's also the professional type, which can be done either by an independent, or by an RSC. (Advanced amateurs with the proper equipment could do it, too.) Opinions vary on whether either are good and should ever be undertaken, or in what amounts. As you can see, though, when done poorly or too often, the results are bad and irreversible.
JacksonStone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 January 2018, 10:51 AM   #11
Mystro
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
Mystro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Real Name: The Mystro ;)
Location: Central Pa.
Posts: 15,513
Yea, polishing correctly means restored to a like new condition. That means if done correctly, you won’t be able to tell if it has been done and the watch will look new. If done incorrectly, you will be able to tell and the lines/edges won’t look sharp as if new.
__________________
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hyitq0aikqgajc0/Time%20sig.jpg?raw=1[/img]
Mystro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 January 2018, 11:04 AM   #12
aquatimerfla
Banned
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: FL
Posts: 673
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mystro View Post
Yea, polishing correctly means restored to a like new condition. That means if done correctly, you won’t be able to tell if it has been done and the watch will look new. If done incorrectly, you will be able to tell and the lines/edges won’t look sharp as if new.

To an extent. If its the first polish on a Rolex ** after 20 years!! from RSC thats one thing. Multiple RSC polishes on a Rolex are still noticeable and destroys the case.

I see so much 'vintage' crap being sold its ridiculous. They all need new cases.
aquatimerfla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 January 2018, 11:02 AM   #13
JacksonStone
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Oregon
Posts: 5,150
What is the consensus (if there is such a thing on this forum) on how well RSCs perform polishing during periodic services? Are there ones known to do it better or worse?
JacksonStone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 January 2018, 11:04 AM   #14
schoolboy
Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Real Name: Jesus
Location: Texas
Watch: 116234
Posts: 8,721
Hi, I am new to this community too.

The members above are speaking the truth. I only have one small thing to add.

I have noticed that some members like their watches to look like new and will lean towards polishing the watch to remove a tiny scratch (or multiple tiny scratches), as they like their watches to be "perfect."

Other members, accept the scratches and don't polish them away because they see them as "battle scars" if you will. As part of the experience that you and your watch have been through.

Some people that buy a pre-owned watch, like to receive it polished and like new.

Others like to receive it unpolished, and see what the watch has gone through... After this, they decide whether to polish it to a like-new condition, or keep the scars as a sign of what the watch has gone through.

It's like two different worlds.

My two cents.
schoolboy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 January 2018, 01:46 PM   #15
JParm
2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member
 
JParm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: NorCal
Watch: Yes!
Posts: 6,568
Quote:
Originally Posted by schoolboy View Post
Hi, I am new to this community too.

The members above are speaking the truth. I only have one small thing to add.

I have noticed that some members like their watches to look like new and will lean towards polishing the watch to remove a tiny scratch (or multiple tiny scratches), as they like their watches to be "perfect."

Other members, accept the scratches and don't polish them away because they see them as "battle scars" if you will. As part of the experience that you and your watch have been through.

Some people that buy a pre-owned watch, like to receive it polished and like new.

Others like to receive it unpolished, and see what the watch has gone through... After this, they decide whether to polish it to a like-new condition, or keep the scars as a sign of what the watch has gone through.

It's like two different worlds.

My two cents.
Good points there. I buy all my watches pre-owned, and would rather not have the watch polished. I do, however, try to find the best pre-loved example and then take it to my watchmaker to polish to like-new condition, as I trust him fully (he does great work).
__________________
JParm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 January 2018, 01:46 PM   #16
Egelber
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Real Name: Elliott
Location: Prosper, Texas
Watch: Sub 114060 2019
Posts: 410
I too like my watch to look pristine, I have had my jeweler lightly buff 2 portions on my bracelet. The clasp and an area that had scratches on the bracelet. Now, my timepiece is almost 3 years old, and I have never had the case touched, and I have a few scratches on the side opposite of the crown. I like the fat lugs, and how their all proportionate to each other. That's just me..... So don't touch the case
Egelber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 January 2018, 11:55 PM   #17
SeaAndSky
"TRF" Member
 
SeaAndSky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Wild Blue Yonder
Watch: 116710 LN
Posts: 1,613
Padi will probably chime in with some good advice soon that I agree with. One should, in my opinion, only have a watch polished at service. If at all. Every time you polish it material is removed. Even with those soft Cape Cod cloths. If one wears a watch it's going to wear. Personally, when I have my first new Rolex serviced sometime in the next couple of years, I'm just going to have the bracelet restored and skip any polishing of the case. Bracelets are replaceable items in my opinion so I don't mind if they're polished.
SeaAndSky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 January 2018, 12:18 AM   #18
red wrx
"TRF" Member
 
red wrx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: los angeles
Posts: 145
With my first watches, I used to be a freak about scratches and any sign of use. But in reality is one or the other, never wear the watch and keep it looking brand new, wear it and learn to embrace the scratches or polish it so often that soon it wont look like what it used to be. I am fine with everyday scratches, they do give character to a watch.
red wrx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28 January 2018, 06:07 AM   #19
spoilsofwar01
"TRF" Member
 
spoilsofwar01's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Real Name: "H"
Location: England
Watch: ing Rainclouds
Posts: 1,439
so true

Quote:
Originally Posted by red wrx View Post
With my first watches, I used to be a freak about scratches and any sign of use. But in reality is one or the other, never wear the watch and keep it looking brand new, wear it and learn to embrace the scratches or polish it so often that soon it wont look like what it used to be. I am fine with everyday scratches, they do give character to a watch.
Your absolutely right, I made a mistake in comparing my 5513 1968 with a brand new Explorer 1 .... on my wrist at the same time, it took several hours before common sense kicked in that it was wrong to compare a 50 year old watch with a brand new one, it did however help make my mind up about purchasing a Explorer 1. On the hunt now.
spoilsofwar01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28 January 2018, 06:52 AM   #20
sawhornsoff
2024 Pledge Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 508
Polish, buff, or whatever you want to call it enough and the watch will have measurable changes dimensionally and in weight. I’ve had 4 watches serviced by RSC and there was a very slight loss in the sharpness of the shape from original. They do the some of the best possible work IMO.

Here is a video of Patek service. Around 2:17 they go over polishing.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6qMurhSSkrU
sawhornsoff is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Wrist Aficionado

My Watch LLC

WatchesOff5th

DavidSW Watches

Takuya Watches

OCWatches


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.