I Just Couldn't Take It Anymore

[HogwldFLTR]

To start off with I must apologize for not taking any before photos. So it goes. I couldn't take wearing the Platona with the amount of scuffs on the bracelet that it's accumulated in the last year and a half so I went to the shop I bought it in with it carried in a Rolex pouch and not saying what it was. At the door they asked what I wanted I showed the pouch and said I need to get some service work done. Went through hand sanitization and mask rules and was escorted to their service counter.

The lady at the counter asked what I wanted and I explained that the watch bracelet was getting beat up and I'd like to get it polished. She had the green Rolex pouch in her hand and asked if I bought the watch from them. I said I did about a year and a half ago. She launched into her spiel about how they only polish with a full service and that they would be unable to do anything for me. I said something along the lines of, "do I need to find another shop to take care of this?" At which point she pulled the watch out of the pouch and the look on her face changed to "omg, what have I said?"

At any rate they quickly came up with an ability to get the minor polishing done that I needed. Really, they have the techs in house to do the work. Why would they turn a customer away even if it wasn't a Platona? So, the watch will be in the shop for a couple of weeks. I'm certain that when I get it back I won't get depressed looking at the wear I've added to it. Maybe I should have said in the first place that I had a Platinum Daytona I bought from them that needed some polishing but I didn't think that I would have needed to do that.

Again, sorry I have no before photos; I'll promise to take some when I get it back.

[LOWERCASE GUY]

Haha, great story, looking forward to seeing the after photos.

[Maxy]

Don't get the post at all. So you wanted AD to do polishing for you and not RSC? Not every AD has their watchman on site and if they do they pay it with their own money and then polishing is not their job. Yes, buffing, cleaning and minor touch ups they do for every customer for few years but polishing specifically is not their job. They might have done exception for you as its Platona but you expecting that they do it for every customer watch? They need to hire another watchman just to do that job!

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by Maxy

Don't get the post at all. So you wanted AD to do polishing for you and not RSC? Not every AD has their watchman on site and if they do they pay it with their own money and then polishing is not their job. Yes, washing, cleaning and minor touch ups they do for every customer for few years but polishing specifically is not their job. They might have done exception for you as its Platona but you expecting that they do it for every customer watch? They need to hire another watchman just to do that job!

They are an authorized Rolex Service Provider and not RSC. They provide the same warranty that comes from RSC and can be covered at any RSC if there is a failure. They are charging me for the work; the same price as if it were done by an RSC.

[Maxy]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

They are an authorized Rolex Service Provider and not RSC. They provide the same warranty that comes from RSC and can be covered at any RSC if there is a failure. They are charging me for the work; the same price as if it were done by an RSC.

Before and after pics would have been good! Irrespective its SS or Platinum, the scratches are inevitable!

[vh2k]

Originally Posted by Maxy

Don't get the post at all. So you wanted AD to do polishing for you and not RSC? Not every AD has their watchman on site and if they do they pay it with their own money and then polishing is not their job. Yes, buffing, cleaning and minor touch ups they do for every customer for few years but polishing specifically is not their job. They might have done exception for you as its Platona but you expecting that they do it for every customer watch? They need to hire another watchman just to do that job!

I understand and appreciate the OP’s request. He asked for some reasonable after-sale service, flexed his status of an owner of an expensive watch, and got the treatment to which he felt entitled. Heartwarming and inspiring. :)

[R_Rated]

Originally Posted by vh2k

I understand and appreciate the OP’s request. He asked for some reasonable after-sale service, flexed his status of an owner of an expensive watch, and got the treatment to which he felt entitled. Heartwarming and inspiring. :)

But the point is that he shouldn't have had to flex!

[boogiebot]

Originally Posted by Maxy

Don't get the post at all. So you wanted AD to do polishing for you and not RSC? Not every AD has their watchman on site and if they do they pay it with their own money and then polishing is not their job. Yes, buffing, cleaning and minor touch ups they do for every customer for few years but polishing specifically is not their job. They might have done exception for you as its Platona but you expecting that they do it for every customer watch? They need to hire another watchman just to do that job!

The point is the dip sh** AD was trying to pass some sort of judgement as to whether Howard’s watch or him even deserved their attention. And the tune changed when they saw what his watch was worth. This kind of practice from the AD is just gross in my opinion.

Howard glad you’re get things sorted. Hopefully in the future you buy from another AD that would treat you better


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Randyp905]

She should have known whatnot was when you handed her a 5 pound green velvet bag


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Randyp905

She should have known whatnot was when you handed her a 5 pound green velvet bag


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Damn right!

Haha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Polarexplorerii]

Originally Posted by Randyp905

She should have known whatnot was when you handed her a 5 pound green velvet bag


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

lol hell yea

[mitchellp]

Does this process shave off pieces of platinum?

[Chiboy]

Originally Posted by mitchellp

Does this process shave off pieces of platinum?

What I have read is that platinum gets “pushed around” with a polish, but metal isn’t removed. Not sure if it’s true.

I wear mine every day, but the little blemishes don’t bother me. What would likely bother me is getting the bracelet polished so it looked new, and then seeing the inevitable hairline scratches and nicks come back.

To each his own!

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

...

Originally Posted by Chiboy

...

I took out the OP text to save space here

To both of you owners, doesn’t the platinum start to patina over time rather than show swirls and scratches?

Obviously I don’t have any experience with the platinum references but I’m curious. My wedding ring which is platinum has almost a “dull” looking finish on the outside, vs a high polish gloss on the inside.

Didn’t mean to hijack Lee, but thought it’s might add to the conversation

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I took out the OP text to save space here

To both of you owners, doesn’t the platinum start to patina over time rather than show swirls and scratches?

Obviously I don’t have any experience with the platinum references but I’m curious. My wedding ring which is platinum has almost a “dull” looking finish on the outside, vs a high polish gloss on the inside.

Didn’t mean to hijack Lee, but thought it’s might add to the conversation

No problem. The desk diving swirls don't look like patina; just depressing. I've taken to placing a soft headset bag under my left wrist to reduce impact.

Originally Posted by vh2k

I understand and appreciate the OP’s request. He asked for some reasonable after-sale service, flexed his status of an owner of an expensive watch, and got the treatment to which he felt entitled. Heartwarming and inspiring. :)

Originally Posted by R_Rated

But the point is that he shouldn't have had to flex!

I totally believe I shouldn't have had to flex. No customer should have to live with crappy looking jewelry. If it was a bracelet that was damaged (it was) I'd go to a smith to get it taken care of. Why not with a watch?

One interesting detail I left out of the conversation, it was by invitation of the CFO of the company that I went there in the first place. We're friends from the gym. "You should bring it in and we can clean it right up for you" he said one evening at the gym a few months ago. I didn't have to play that card but I had it on good authority that the work could be done.

Originally Posted by Maxy

Don't get the post at all. So you wanted AD to do polishing for you and not RSC? Not every AD has their watchman on site and if they do they pay it with their own money and then polishing is not their job. Yes, buffing, cleaning and minor touch ups they do for every customer for few years but polishing specifically is not their job. They might have done exception for you as its Platona but you expecting that they do it for every customer watch? They need to hire another watchman just to do that job!

And to answer the rest of this, imagine if they handled all their customers request for a fee; they might actually be able to afford another repair guy. That would really be a problem wouldn't it.

[Chiboy]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I took out the OP text to save space here

To both of you owners, doesn’t the platinum start to patina over time rather than show swirls and scratches?

Obviously I don’t have any experience with the platinum references but I’m curious. My wedding ring which is platinum has almost a “dull” looking finish on the outside, vs a high polish gloss on the inside.

Didn’t mean to hijack Lee, but thought it’s might add to the conversation

I just took these outside, so you could see what mine looks like after 3 1/2 years of daily enjoyment. It obviously has a bit of dust on it, although I cleaned it yesterday. Probably should have cleaned it again before shooting it in the bright sunlight. Anyway, pictures make it look worse than it is, but I don't too much care. I bought it to enjoy it, not to preserve its pristine original condition. And if I want to, I can have it polished back to like-new whenever it gets serviced. In the meantime, it puts a smile on my face every day, despite not being magazine worthy.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Chiboy

I just took these outside, so you could see what mine looks like after 3 1/2 years of daily enjoyment. It obviously has a bit of dust on it, although I cleaned it yesterday. Probably should have cleaned it again before shooting it in the bright sunlight. Anyway, pictures make it look worse than it is, but I don't too much care. I bought it to enjoy it, not to preserve its pristine original condition. And if I want to, I can have it polished back to like-new whenever it gets serviced. In the meantime, it puts a smile on my face every day, despite not being magazine worthy.

Thank you for that Perhaps patina wasn’t the correct term, but that’s about what I was expecting see, and FWIW ... I think it looks fantastic

[gnuyork]

Originally Posted by Chiboy

I just took these outside, so you could see what mine looks like after 3 1/2 years of daily enjoyment. It obviously has a bit of dust on it, although I cleaned it yesterday. Probably should have cleaned it again before shooting it in the bright sunlight. Anyway, pictures make it look worse than it is, but I don't too much care. I bought it to enjoy it, not to preserve its pristine original condition. And if I want to, I can have it polished back to like-new whenever it gets serviced. In the meantime, it puts a smile on my face every day, despite not being magazine worthy.

I can't believe I'm about to say this, but that actually looks good with the scratches. I have been pondering a new DJ but the polished center links are making me hesitate. I guess if they get scratched up enough it will just look like a well worn watch and maybe not bother me. Normally, I try to avoid scratches if possible, but I don't get too beat up if I get them unless it's a dressier piece. I actually got more upset scratching an under $200 Citizen dress watch than I did with my Omega dive watch.

[Nixshah]

Originally Posted by Chiboy

What I have read is that platinum gets “pushed around” with a polish, but metal isn’t removed. Not sure if it’s true.

I wear mine every day, but the little blemishes don’t bother me. What would likely bother me is getting the bracelet polished so it looked new, and then seeing the inevitable hairline scratches and nicks come back.

To each his own!

+1 I’ve heard the same explanation about platinum...never been able to confirm it though...

[214270Explorer]

Originally Posted by Chiboy

What I have read is that platinum gets “pushed around” with a polish, but metal isn’t removed. Not sure if it’s true.

I wear mine every day, but the little blemishes don’t bother me. What would likely bother me is getting the bracelet polished so it looked new, and then seeing the inevitable hairline scratches and nicks come back.

To each his own!

The "pushed around" part is absolutely true. Pt tends to 'gall' as opposed to having tiny amounts of metal removed such as when steel or gold gets scratched.

Pt is also somewhat more difficult to polish than steel or gold due to its physical characteristics.

And it is true that Pt scratches more easily.

But ya gotta love the heft if it.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by mitchellp

Does this process shave off pieces of platinum?

They actually say platinum clings to itself and polishing it is like smoothing wet putty with no metal loss, unlike gold or steel. I still would not polish it. The metal is very soft, although dense and heavy, and the scratches will reappear in short order. I actually saw a Platona that was so scratched up it was unbelievable. The scratches were the hairline type. If I bought that watch I would have just left it alone and worn the heck out of it with no worries.

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

They actually say platinum clings to itself and polishing it is like smoothing wet putty with no metal loss, unlike gold or steel. I still would not polish it. The metal is very soft, although dense and heavy, and the scratches will reappear in short order. I actually saw a Platona that was so scratched up it was unbelievable. The scratches were the hairline type. If I bought that watch I would have just left it alone and worn the heck out of it with no worries.

But hey, given the amount of metal loss if I polish it every couple of years really it's no big deal. I might as well be happy wearing it.

[Benzsiam]

lol

[Stevec14]

Awesome - the watch version of ‘don’t you know who I am!’

Let’s hope it comes back lovely.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sunny Arizona]

Yes...quite smug

Originally Posted by Stevec14

Awesome - the watch version of ‘don’t you know who I am!’

Let’s hope it comes back lovely.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Gerardus]

Originally Posted by Stevec14

Awesome - the watch version of ‘don’t you know who I am!’

Let’s hope it comes back lovely.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

-> THIS <-

[synrrgy]

This story reminds me of that scene in Pretty Woman when she enters the store in Beverly Hills/Rodeo Drive wanting to buy a ton of stuff but only to be turned away. lol

[LOWERCASE GUY]

Originally Posted by R_Rated

But the point is that he shouldn't have had to flex!

The way of the Rolex world now though it seems. Plus there is a small sense of feel good too, think i'd have quite enjoyed that moment.

Originally Posted by synrrgy

This story reminds me of that scene in Pretty Woman when she enters the store in Beverly Hills/Rodeo Drive wanting to buy a ton of stuff but only to be turned away. lol

You work on commission right? Big mistake, huge.

[iTreelex]

I guess if it bothered you that much? It'll get scratched the moment they hand it to you though. But whatever floats your boat. Platona is a pretty watch

[nyyankees]

Good story and you have also just made me feel a little better about polishing a watch (and also about recently trading my DJ41 because I couldn’t deal with the PCLs!)