RSC "Buff" Case/Bracelet

[LegalEeze]

Watch is pending approval for overhaul service. The line itemization states "Buff Case" "Buff Bracelet". Is this the same as the optional refinishing of case and bracelet, explained as "polishing" that Rolex refers to in the online explanation of its RSC service procedure? Just trying to confirm. First time servicing my watch at RSC. I have a message into to RSC Dallas, but I have heard nothing back.

[LegalEeze]

Just spoke with RSC. Buffing is apparently not the same as polishing/refinishing. She said that buffing would still show basically all of the scratches and dents. Polishing/refinishing will remove most of them, though possibly not the deepest ones. Polishing/refinishing will still maintain the integrity, edges and lines of the watch case, she said. Based upon that explanation, I am going to get the polishing/refinishing.

[thesharkfactor]

Best of luck Michael.

I'd have left it alone or done it myself if I need to. No way I'd let service personnel polish a watch that I cared about, I've seen too many bad jobs.

[fskywalker]

I would do it as am not polish / bidding averse as many, specially if done by a good private watchmen or an RSC center


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[ArtNouveau]

I too have no issue with having a watch come back from service at the RSC looking like new. Having owned Rolex for over 30 years now, the anti-polish brigade is a relatively new faction I really don’t understand.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

I too have no issue with having a watch come back from service at the RSC looking like new. Having owned Rolex for over 30 years now, the anti-polish brigade is a relatively new faction I really don’t understand.

Have to agree my 16600 SD had a very hard life with well over 600 hours underwater.Yet it's been serviced and polished by 3 different RSC world wide and just been serviced by one in UK.Yet now almost 25 years old still ticking and looking good today there is a anti polish syndrome today god knows why.

[George58]

nothing wrong with a good polish by Rolex. I all depends on the skill in the hands and eye of the watchmaker. some are great some are just not. You might get a rookie and will regret getting it polished. I wouldn't take a chance leave it unpolished all the scratches will come back anyway after some wear.

[thesharkfactor]

The probelm arrises when they try to get nicks out of the shoulders of the lugs (and crown guards if your watch has them), they end up rounded. The bezel knurls or flutes can be softened too. Once it's had a few rounds it looks like this..



..now, if the owner(s) of that watch had not had it polished a few times it would look much better.

Nothing wrong with a polish I agree. Any watch you buy from a dealer pre owned will have been tidied up. But blasted on a buffing wheel, compromising the shape of a watch to get a nick out of a lug is unaccepetable. I'd rather have the nicks and dents than the round shoulders!

If you have nicks or dents on your shoulders, I would opt just for a 'CapeCod and brush' tidy up instead of a full refurbish and live with the imperfections instead of that watch you see above.

[S.Explorer]

Laser welding before polishing will be good for nicks / dents. Done properly, there should be no overall loss of material / rounded edges.

[LegalEeze]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I do have one small linear cut-like ding on the flat top of the 2'oclock lug. The other scratches are the clasp (easily done), all of the bracelet links on the twelve o'clock side from the watch falling out of pocket into an airport TSA tray. A few on the polished side of the case, and dings scratches in the bezel which I am replacing. I suppose I could call back into RSC Dallas if wanting to change the service, as I just got the estimate and spoke with them yesterday. I would like it to come back tidied up, just not rounded off and ruined.

[Old Geezer]

My 16610 acquired in 1992 has been serviced, including polishing by RSC 3 times. It looks great. Maybe if you took a micrometer and started measuring compared to a NOS or unpolished piece you might find dimensional differences but to the naked eye it looks like a relatively new piece.

[PenDelicate]

Originally Posted by Old Geezer

My 16610 acquired in 1992 has been serviced, including polishing by RSC 3 times. It looks great. Maybe if you took a micrometer and started measuring compared to a NOS or unpolished piece you might find dimensional differences but to the naked eye it looks like a relatively new piece.

Love hearing things like this.

What a product!

[joli160]

Enjoy a brand new looking watch on its return. For me that’s the best part after a service

[doyall]

Just had my 30+ year old TT DJ36 serviced at a RSC (which one IDNK) and whatever polishing was done was done very well, IMO. Gloss areas still gloss, satin areas still satin, edges still sharp, some of the larger scratches can still be identified on ultra-close inspection. I am satisfied with what was done. YMMV.

[LegalEeze]

I will stick with the RSC polishing option. If they F it up, I will complain and then maybe send to Rolliworks. lol I had my IWC 3706 serviced last year at the IWC (Dallas?) Texas service center, and elected not to get it polished, and kind of wished that I did. That watch is more beat up, though and is a strap monster. So many ways to look at it. Every ding has a story, which is nice, but so too is a new-looking watch. Going forward, I may just polish every other service. I have probably given this all too much thought, although I supposed that is kind of the purpose of this entire forum.

[Ravager135]

Just let Rolex or a Rolex certified watchmaker polish the watch. I just had my 216570 Explorer II serviced after ten years by my local AD. It's not a rare watch, it will never be. It looks brand new and I am glad they did it.

There's nothing special about a scratched 16610, 116610, or 126610. When it's time for service, have them do a light polish.