Do you polish your SS Rolex, PP etc at Service time?

[Mahatma]

What are the pros and cons of getting your SS watch polished by original manufacturer? is there a light vs full polish option? I'd love to get feedback and experiences from the community.

[logo]

Resist the siren's call of polish during service. Let your Rolex bear the scars of its temporal odyssey, and allow patina to stand as silent witness to a life well lived.

Or polish it, if you like shiny things.

[Calatrava r]

Most Rolex have the sharp top lug angles. A careless hand can soften those out. Unless the watch really needs it I would pass on a polish. Minor stuff just comes right back.

[Stan Cooper]

When I send my watches to the New York RSC for service about every ten years they polish the case and bracelet. So far, I've used their service four times, and each time my watches come back looking like new. There's been no noticeable lug thinning or rounding of the chamfers. I'm not so sure I'd have the same confidence having it polished by just any shop.

[subtona]

rolex tends to abuse the watch during service and then polish it to hide their hamfisted workmanshipmand worn out tools.

"please don't polish"

50/50 comes back polished

[Easy E]

I haven’t sent one in for such, yet. I have purchased a 2007 GMT that had been RSC serviced and that thing was either unworn or perfectly refinished. I know there are horror stories about bad polish jobs, but considering the vast number of service and polish work that comes back looking brand new I feel like the bad examples are way over dramatized.

[WatchTimes]

Got two going into RSC Dallas next week, I will decline polishing on both.
It's a personal choice, I rather not ruin the factory lines, edges till it's necessary.

[Joearch]

Have had a few watches into Rolex for service. Cleaned up and polished looking like new. Don’t know why one would want their watch to look beat up after 10 years or so? To each their own.

[brandrea]

I’d only polish or repair major dings on the case. I’d leave it alone if it’s just scratched up, these just come back anyway

[Oystersteel92]

I always have them polished and they always look fantastic. Only ever dealt with RSC Dallas, FYI.

[Rollieo]

I had it done and it turned out great. Looked brand spanking new after the service. With that said, it’s amazing how quickly watches pick up little scratches.

I didn’t notice any softness or rounding in the edges, but it was a datejust.

I had asked my AD about polishing for watches with more defined edges, like a GMT. He actually said that they use a lathe to hold the watch in position when polishing to ensure the edges stay perfect. I was a bit surprised about this, as I’m familiar with machining with CNC mills and lathes and couldnt see how a lathe would help. Also in watching the videos from Rolex’s website and online, I’ve almost always seen polishing done by hand.

Only instance I’ve seen which would perfectly maintain a straight edge is with something like this: https://youtube.com/shorts/Ts1I8rgwx...ytUkQk0FzklpGE

Maybe Rolex does this for the watches that need it?

[JSol1]

Originally Posted by Oystersteel92

I always have them polished and they always look fantastic. Only ever dealt with RSC Dallas, FYI.

Same.

[JSCP]

Yes!

[sawhornsoff]

RSC Dallas does an excellent job with the polish. They respect the case lines the best the can. Yes you can see that some edges are not quite as sharp when factory fresh but overall most will think it is a new watch.

[Gaussian]

About 18 months ago, I received my 116400GV back from Rolex with a fresh polish.

Did it look like new? Absolutely!

And it still does as I’ve been afraid to wear it out of fear for the first new scratch or swirl mark; I’ve worn it twice since receiving it back.

The thing that bothers me about having it polished is that I do notice some of the original edges are softer, mostly, on the inner edges of the clasp.

If you like the look of a new watch, my advice would be to forgo the polish and put whatever the additional cost is towards your next watch.


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[joli160]

I like them looking mint after service.
It’s like strapping a brand new watch on your wrist again.

[JSCP]

Originally Posted by Gaussian

About 18 months ago, I received my 116400GV back from Rolex with a fresh polish.

Did it look like new? Absolutely!

And it still does as I’ve been afraid to wear it out of fear for the first new scratch or swirl mark; I’ve worn it twice since receiving it back.

The thing that bothers me about having it polished is that I do notice some of the original edges are softer, mostly, on the inner edges of the clasp.

If you like the look of a new watch, my advice would be to forgo the polish and put whatever the additional cost is towards your next watch.


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Just got this summer my 1987 first Rolex overhauled and polished, bought by me, a new ss jubilee bracelet was put on n as original was stretched. Case polished. Looks new, and don’t notice any issues.

I would polish an any bbc watch that goes to be serviced.

This one was at RSC Dalllas that my AD sent to.

[trout_thumper21]

Bracelet only

[VonSomething]

I once requested a polish, never again. I had hoped it would come back "looking like new" but the exact opposite happened.

All sharp edges were gone, the lines of the watch was in my opinion ruined.

This topic is however very subjective, I'm sure there are a bunch of people that would receive the same watch back and think "wow so shiny, it's brand new" and be extremely satisfied with the job.

In the same way there are people out there driving a 911 as a means of transportation, getting them from A to B, if the rims get a knick, whatever, doesn't really matter.

Another 911 owner would freak out and lose sleep over the same issue.

[Henrimontgomery]

Originally Posted by VonSomething

I once requested a polish, never again. I had hoped it would come back "looking like new" but the exact opposite happened.

All sharp edges were gone, the lines of the watch was in my opinion ruined.

This topic is however very subjective, I'm sure there are a bunch of people that would receive the same watch back and think "wow so shiny, it's brand new" and be extremely satisfied with the job.

In the same way there are people out there driving a 911 as a means of transportation, getting them from A to B, if the rims get a knick, whatever, doesn't really matter.

Another 911 owner would freak out and lose sleep over the same issue.

Fully agree with you. People who are amazed at the new polished watch are probably very happy with their decision.

I’d never have anything polished because what I like is sharp angles.

[Chefinspecteur]

Sent my 16600 (2001) and 116520 (2009) for the 1st servicing incl. polishing to RSC Geneva. They came back like brand new, including the sharp angles. It was the right decision for me and I was very happy with the results.

[hello93]

I assure you no matter how good the polishing job it 100% won't be the same. Remember it's only factory metal once.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by hello93

I assure you no matter how good the polishing job it 100% won't be the same. Remember it's only factory metal once.

Where it was polished before it left

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Mahatma

What are the pros and cons of getting your SS watch polished by original manufacturer? is there a light vs full polish option? I'd love to get feedback and experiences from the community.

Well my working tool watch 16600 SD had a very hard life working for many years underwater, and has been serviced and polished by now 4 different RSC world wide.

[Michael1968]

I’m always asking for polishing when my watch is in service

[espanol]

I’ll have my first interval service in a few years for my BLRO. Acquired in 2018. I will elect to polish, for no reason other than to slim down the lugs ever so slightly. Personally don’t mind the scratches dents at all.

[East of Eden]

A watch looks new either by being shiny or having sharp edges, I prefer the second option.

[karleone]

I always ask my watch not to be polished during service and made it written. Why? Because my watches are either unpolished or repolished but very well done so I don’t want to take the risks Rolex messing up with polish. Whatever people who are fan of polishing says a repolished watch would never look as good as a factory unpolished Rolex. Especially on 4/5 digits Sub/SD/GMT/Explo 2 where the case have bevels/ chamfers most of watches after a repolish lose these bevels/ chamfers that were originally there when the watch left the factory. It’s very common to see as well rounded lugs, lug holes surface not sharp, rounded crown guards, lug holes too close from bevel/ chamfer if still there etc. An additional problem is lugs not being V brushed as it supposed to be on 4/5 digits or with a grain different from Rolex factory finish. People saying a Rolex will come back as new after RSC are just not enough knowledgeable. On a 4/5 digits best case your watch has been repolished by an expert like Rolliworks or LAWW or someone very qualified at RSC and it will look decent / great (but not 100% orignal factory finish). Worst case your watch has been polished not by an expert (and it happens a lot even by Rolex RSC) and your watch has no more scratches so form a non expert looks new but someone who know about polish / repolish will be able to say watch has been repolished and it won’t look as good / not as sharp

[MrMercedes]

SS: no, TT: yes!

[wgdaytona]

Had one polished with service by Rolex Dallas and was not happy with he results. They didn't ruin it or anything, but it just wasn't the same, I could tell. Since then, I am basically a no polish, just ultrasound guy.