How effective is polishing for removing scratches?

[soorg]

Have a SS Sub. Putting some miles and scratches on it, as I'm
wearing it daily to work. Hoping to have dings and scratches
polished out in a few years. Anyone know how effective this
process is in removing scratches? I refuse to baby this beast,
but don't want it to look too messed up!

[Oyster99]

Its super effective! Like, you take off a thin layer with the scratches (i believe) and you'll get a clean watch back!

[jthop]

Scratches can always come out. Dings could be another story if too deep. In general when watches come back from a service at the RSC they look very close to new!

[Dittox]

It is amazing the level of detail that RSC will put into the polising. They will completely remove any scratches and even some of the minor dings.

[RichM]

Had my TT OP serviced and polished at RSCNYC and it came back looking like the day I bought it. There were no dings in it but plenty of scratches from wearing it every day for 5 years. You will be surprised.

[Chewbacca]

effective, yes.

more important, is never let someone refinish a case or band who hasn't done it before on premium watches with great success.

polishing a wedding ring is not the same as a watch case.

[bayerische]

After enough polish you'll end up with a lump of steel.

[Jim Smyth]

Scratches have to be removed with other scratches. Depending on how deep they are determines at what grit you start with. All the scratch lines have to run in the same direction to make it look good again at the same grit level.

So every time you refinish a watch you loose metal. This is where the pro's stand out and remove as little metal as possible while retaining the crisp edges on your watch. This is why there's so many adamant watch lovers that never get there watch refinished.

Someone not versed in metal working with access to a buffer can turn your premium watch into a POS watch "greatly" devaluing it in very short order.

Be very careful who you use. Rolex is a stand up company of trained professionals with a reputation to stand by. Other watchmakers live and die by there reputations. Do your homework so your not disappointed with the results. Cost shouldn't be the driving factor in choosing someone to rework your watch.

[tkerrmd]

you don't "polish" a SS brushed sub. you can DIY brush it with Scotchbrite, try a search

[ec51]

Deep dings can be laser-welded and other scratches will be easily taken care of.

[watchwatcher]

It's effective...but at the cost of some of the metal on your watch. Best to let that happen only at service intervals of 5-7 years, or you could over polish and degrade the looks/value of it.

[soorg]

Can anyone recommend a good place in Manhattan or Northern NJ?

[ec51]

Originally Posted by soorg

Can anyone recommend a good place in Manhattan or Northern NJ?

Time Care Inc.

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by soorg

can anyone recommend a good place in manhattan or northern nj?

rsc

[dadonn2]

The Rolex Service Center on 5th Avenue.

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by soorg

Have a SS Sub. Putting some miles and scratches on it, as I'm
wearing it daily to work. Hoping to have dings and scratches
polished out in a few years. Anyone know how effective this
process is in removing scratches? I refuse to baby this beast,
but don't want it to look too messed up!

Since the surfaces of your Sub are brushed, perhaps the better term is refinishing. Done by someone who knows what they are doing it is highly effective in bringing your watch back to like new condition. But there are hacks out there that will over-polish a watch and essentially ruin it. This has even happened at the Rolex Service Center on rare occasion but at least they are in a position to cop to it and remedy the problem, which the last time I recall a case on here, they did to the customer's satisfaction (a new case, IIRC). Try to get some local hack to admit it and fork up for a new case. But by and large, they are a good place to have it done. They have all the exact right equipment and training. Besides, they are part of the same outfit that polished the watch when it was first made.

Obviously there are only so many times a watch can be refinished until it is bound to lose it's original lines. That's why many subscribe to the idea only have it done at service time, and then only if needed.

BTW, the RSC includes polishing as part of every routine service, included in the base price. So if you do not want your watch polished you'd better tell them.

[jhcam8]

Originally Posted by soorg

Have a SS Sub. Putting some miles and scratches on it, as I'm
wearing it daily to work. Hoping to have dings and scratches
polished out in a few years. Anyone know how effective this
process is in removing scratches? I refuse to baby this beast,
but don't want it to look too messed up!

Think twice before polishing. The beauty of a tool watch is in the wear. Anything but the lightest polishing may seriously harm the value - and looks.