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dramsey · 11 March 2009, 03:24 PM

After 18 months of near-daily wear, my GMT IIc has accumulated its share of fine scratches on the band. Taping the center of the band and hitting the edges with a Scotchbrite pad quickly restore the edges, but I can't seem to get the polished centers right. For the center I used a Dremel polishing wheel and jeweler's rouge (red), and it helps, but I wind up with what I'd call an extremely fine semi-brushed finish rather than the mirror finish the link centers originally had.

Of course, I could make my life much simpler by just making everything brushed...but do you guys have suggestions getting that factory mirror shine?

bodybump · 11 March 2009, 03:31 PM

dramsey..i think you should leave your watch alone..if you dont know what your doinf it will only gets worst...once you polish it the next day it will get scratched again...but to answer your question..use cape cod cleaning cloth..it will help make it shine a bit...just wear and enjoy it..then if you cant stand the scratch have it polish in any watchmaker..it will only cost you less than $150....

bodybump · 11 March 2009, 03:31 PM

18 months for $150 of refinishing is worth it...

bry1975 · 11 March 2009, 03:37 PM

Dramsey,

Mirror finishing is quite a laborious process with many different stages required. And if you get the slightest bit of contamination(known as crap) you get a crap finish. Sounds like you've missed out the coarser polishing compound prior to the final polishing compound. It takes practise I know I've been there :(

Regs

Bry

BLACK DIAMOND · 11 March 2009, 03:38 PM

I do like the GMT IIc, but because of the polished center links, I personally would likely never buy one. I think polished stainless steel is really nice when it is perfectly polished with no scratches, etc. But, once scratched, I'd much rather have brushed stainless steel or matte, to hide all the wear and tear......and it's virtually impossible to not scratch up the polished center links.....from just wearing it normal, the high shine is going to take a beating.

TheVTCGuy · 11 March 2009, 04:19 PM

Now HERE'S an idea! Hey Rolex, why not offer the choice so that your buyers could have PCLs if they want, or brushed if not. I hope they're listening!

bry1975 · 11 March 2009, 04:28 PM

IMO the bracelet links should be either brushed or mirrored.

karmatp · 12 March 2009, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thevtcguy

now here's an idea! Hey rolex, why not offer the choice so that your buyers could have pcls if they want, or brushed if not. I hope they're listening!

x2

postiff · 12 March 2009, 12:37 AM

It’s like polishing rocks. It takes time and several different steps. But as others have said just leave it as it is only going to get scratched up again in a few days. IMO as long as the dial and bezel look good as new I could careless how the bracelet looks. From 3 feet away the PCL’s still look good.

dramsey · 12 March 2009, 10:43 AM

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I'll leave it as is for now and may go brushed later on...or have it done professionally.

yannis · 12 March 2009, 03:18 PM

I would wait untill the 5 year service is due and do it then.

VTSKL · 12 March 2009, 03:29 PM

apply the "stuff" from a capecod, and hit the links with your dremel.....100% succes.

JJ Irani · 12 March 2009, 04:49 PM

Nothing wrong with polished centre links on the APPROPRIATE watch!!

sheldonsmith · 12 March 2009, 10:23 PM

for polishing compound, use Green rather than red. Green is designed for stainless steel. For the center links, I use Cape Cod. For the most part, I just let the mirror finish get scratched hoping that it will turn brushed someday...

-Sheldon

train-time · 12 March 2009, 10:42 PM

Wear it and enjoy it for a while. When it looks too bad, just ship it off to Dalton in LA and for a VERY REASONABLE price it will come back in a FEW DAYS looking BRAND NEW!!

2th Dr · 13 March 2009, 12:29 AM

What type of wheel are you using? If you're using a ragwheel with rouge, you won't get a mirror finish. you need a chamois wheel for that.

ROBERT123 · 13 March 2009, 07:24 AM

Dramsey, the $150.00 cost for polishing is not worth it, unless you are about ready to sell your watch. After the polish, it will be a matter of days before you get the same scratches again, just leave it and enjoy your watch.

ROBERT123 · 13 March 2009, 07:24 AM

Dramsey, the $150.00 cost for polishing is not worth it, unless you are about ready to sell your watch. After the polish, it will be a matter of days before you get the same scratches again, just leave it and enjoy your watch.

ROBERT123 · 13 March 2009, 07:24 AM

Dramsey, the $150.00 cost for polishing is not worth it, unless you are about ready to sell your watch. After the polish, it will be a matter of days before you get the same scratches again, just leave it and enjoy your watch.

11 March 2009, 03:24 PM	#1
dramsey "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Reno Posts: 76	Polishing center links After 18 months of near-daily wear, my GMT IIc has accumulated its share of fine scratches on the band. Taping the center of the band and hitting the edges with a Scotchbrite pad quickly restore the edges, but I can't seem to get the polished centers right. For the center I used a Dremel polishing wheel and jeweler's rouge (red), and it helps, but I wind up with what I'd call an extremely fine semi-brushed finish rather than the mirror finish the link centers originally had. Of course, I could make my life much simpler by just making everything brushed...but do you guys have suggestions getting that factory mirror shine?

11 March 2009, 03:31 PM	#2
bodybump ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2024 SubLV41 Sponsor & Boutique Seller Join Date: Sep 2008 Real Name: Oscar Location: Florida Watch: Me!!! Posts: 23,233	dramsey..i think you should leave your watch alone..if you dont know what your doinf it will only gets worst...once you polish it the next day it will get scratched again...but to answer your question..use cape cod cleaning cloth..it will help make it shine a bit...just wear and enjoy it..then if you cant stand the scratch have it polish in any watchmaker..it will only cost you less than $150.... __________________

11 March 2009, 03:31 PM	#3
bodybump ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2024 SubLV41 Sponsor & Boutique Seller Join Date: Sep 2008 Real Name: Oscar Location: Florida Watch: Me!!! Posts: 23,233	18 months for $150 of refinishing is worth it... __________________

12 March 2009, 03:18 PM	#11
yannis "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Real Name: Yannis Location: Europe Watch: maniac Posts: 9,070	I would wait untill the 5 year service is due and do it then. __________________ Rolex Submariner 116610LV \| Tudor 79220N DSSD MEMBERS - OWNERS CLUB

12 March 2009, 04:49 PM	#13
JJ Irani Fondly Remembered Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: JJ Location: Auckland, NZ Watch: ALL SOLD!! Posts: 74,319	Nothing wrong with polished centre links on the APPROPRIATE watch!! __________________ Words fail me in expressing my utmost thanks to ALL of you for this wonderful support during my hour of need!! I firmly believe that my time on planet earth is NOT yet up!! I shall fight this to the very end.......and WIN!!

11 March 2009, 03:37 PM	#4
bry1975 Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: England Posts: 83	Dramsey, Mirror finishing is quite a laborious process with many different stages required. And if you get the slightest bit of contamination(known as crap) you get a crap finish. Sounds like you've missed out the coarser polishing compound prior to the final polishing compound. It takes practise I know I've been there :( Regs Bry

11 March 2009, 03:38 PM	#5
BLACK DIAMOND Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Real Name: Jeff Location: Los Angeles Watch: Black Diamond DD Posts: 285	I do like the GMT IIc, but because of the polished center links, I personally would likely never buy one. I think polished stainless steel is really nice when it is perfectly polished with no scratches, etc. But, once scratched, I'd much rather have brushed stainless steel or matte, to hide all the wear and tear......and it's virtually impossible to not scratch up the polished center links.....from just wearing it normal, the high shine is going to take a beating.

11 March 2009, 04:19 PM	#6
TheVTCGuy Banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Real Name: Paul Location: San Diego Watch: 126619LB Posts: 21,540	Now HERE'S an idea! Hey Rolex, why not offer the choice so that your buyers could have PCLs if they want, or brushed if not. I hope they're listening!

11 March 2009, 04:28 PM	#7
bry1975 Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: England Posts: 83	IMO the bracelet links should be either brushed or mirrored.

12 March 2009, 12:37 AM	#9
postiff Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Real Name: Danny Location: Ca Watch: 116710LN Posts: 936	It’s like polishing rocks. It takes time and several different steps. But as others have said just leave it as it is only going to get scratched up again in a few days. IMO as long as the dial and bezel look good as new I could careless how the bracelet looks. From 3 feet away the PCL’s still look good.

12 March 2009, 10:43 AM	#10
dramsey "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Reno Posts: 76	Thanks for the feedback, guys. I'll leave it as is for now and may go brushed later on...or have it done professionally.

12 March 2009, 03:29 PM	#12
VTSKL Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Denmark Posts: 56	apply the "stuff" from a capecod, and hit the links with your dremel.....100% succes.

12 March 2009, 10:23 PM	#14
sheldonsmith 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Member 202♛ Posts: 1,815	for polishing compound, use Green rather than red. Green is designed for stainless steel. For the center links, I use Cape Cod. For the most part, I just let the mirror finish get scratched hoping that it will turn brushed someday... -Sheldon __________________

12 March 2009, 10:42 PM	#15
train-time 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Real Name: Plankton Location: US Watch: less Posts: 4,161	Wear it and enjoy it for a while. When it looks too bad, just ship it off to Dalton in LA and for a VERY REASONABLE price it will come back in a FEW DAYS looking BRAND NEW!!

13 March 2009, 12:29 AM	#16
2th Dr Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Real Name: Mark-O! Location: Arlington, TX Watch: Rolex Posts: 12,714	What type of wheel are you using? If you're using a ragwheel with rouge, you won't get a mirror finish. you need a chamois wheel for that.

13 March 2009, 07:24 AM	#17
ROBERT123 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Real Name: robert Location: CALIFORNIA Watch: GMT IIC,SS Daytona Posts: 127	Dramsey, the $150.00 cost for polishing is not worth it, unless you are about ready to sell your watch. After the polish, it will be a matter of days before you get the same scratches again, just leave it and enjoy your watch.

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