Do you polish or not polish at service time?

[AWS]

When taking your watch in for recommended service do you have your watch polished or not? It seems that a watch left untouched over the years may be more desirable to a collector. Barring anything major in the way of knicks or scratches, which do you prefer?

[Johny]

for me it would have to be unpolished. i would want it back looking as it did when handed over.

[daveathall]

After owning it for 5 or more years I think I would like it to come back looking like new, unless of course, it was a vintage watch.

[Renoir]

Unpolished for me as well.

[Jackxv]

If I want it unpolished I'd bring it to a independant watch maker.

The biggest plus for RSC is their immaculate polishing work, the parts which are replaced during normal service on a modern watch are rather easily to become.


Jack

[AWS]

I should probably mention that I would not be sending to a RSC but the Rolex trained watchmaker at my local AD.

[Johny]

i hate seeing an ad where a freshly polished watch is for sale.

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by Johny

i hate seeing an ad where a freshly polished watch is for sale.

can i ask why? do you maybe prefer seeing the "used" look so you can gauge how the owner treated the watch?

[Casey VP-26]

On recent RSC service I requested No Polishing and Do not remove sticker on back of case . RSC complied and returned my daytona as requested, Total service was 908.00, I don't believe they deducted anything for not having to polish.

[Johny]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

can i ask why? do you maybe prefer seeing the "used" look so you can gauge how the owner treated the watch?

5yr service?....5yrs of your watches history gone in the spin of a mop. imho. i have already polished some bits on my watch because that is the way i want it. i dont want anyone to change that. rsc.to me means servicing oils new parts regulating ...watchmaker stuff.

[icnbne]

polished or unpolished, its still 'my' watch.. i dont get any less attached to it.
for me, i would polish it.. i love seeing my watch look new

[Psmith]

No polishing SS

Perhaps jewellery pieces (not that I have any)



Cheers

[SDDS17]

Well I have to say I am in agreement with most here on the non-polish!! However, when my SD 4000 went in for service after 8-years, they brought it back to new. It looked amazing!! I would have to say for any newer model I would have the full service, anything else, leave untouched.

[metaphysician]

If it's vintage, leave it alone. If it's a more modern piece, I think a little touch-up polish is okay.

[smallcandle]

I wouldn't have my watch polished. How will it ever be able to obtain a nice vintage patina if it is polished every five years? To say that its okay to polish new watches but not vintage watches makes no sense to me. EVERY watch was new at some time - and somewhere in its life the owner had to make the decision to leave it unpolished.

[level]

Polished and new looking makes that $550 a little easier to swallow.

[springbar]

Unpolished. The patina of day-to-day use doesn't bother me, but the erosion of overpolishing does.

[sea-dweller]

I have them polish just enough to remove scratches. If the surface does not need polishing, I tell them to leave it alone.

[slcbbrown]

if it isn't a museum piece-- polish.

[Mystro]

Does RSC leave the edges factory sharp after polishing the watch? I am going to send my 12yr old Serti Sub in for its very first cleaning/service. Over the years all I have done is rub a gold cleaning cloth over the 18k links and I just ran a scotchbrite pad over the clasp so it looks brand new now. The watch keeps the same +3 seconds a day as it did when new. I really am not sure why I should even send it in. It runs perfect.

This pic was taken last fall.

[Tools]

If I were sending a fairly modern watch into the RSC, I would not be concerned with their case refinishing.. They have a fixture that the case is installed to, then the robotics take off only the minimal amount necessary, and it is uniform... The watch looks very much like new when done...

If I had an older one that I wanted to retain the "character" of, then I would say no refinish..

If I was using an independent... I would ask only for a cleaning and light brushing... Hand work and power buffers are too variable to risk a thinned lug or crown guard....

[Tek]

Polish please. Love the new look.

[mike]

Originally Posted by Tools

If I were sending a fairly modern watch into the RSC, I would not be concerned with their case refinishing.. They have a fixture that the case is installed to, then the robotics take off only the minimal amount necessary, and it is uniform... The watch looks very much like new when done...

If I had an older one that I wanted to retain the "character" of, then I would say no refinish..

If I was using an independent... I would ask only for a cleaning and light brushing... Hand work and power buffers are too variable to risk a thinned lug or crown guard....

Yeah. That's pretty much the policy I've always used as well.

[sakuraba]

I only polish when I first get the watch. I want all the marks and battle scars to have come from my own experiences, not the previous owner's.

[Dr. Robert]

Originally Posted by Tools

If I were sending a fairly modern watch into the RSC, I would not be concerned with their case refinishing.. They have a fixture that the case is installed to, then the robotics take off only the minimal amount necessary, and it is uniform... The watch looks very much like new when done...

If I had an older one that I wanted to retain the "character" of, then I would say no refinish..

If I was using an independent... I would ask only for a cleaning and light brushing... Hand work and power buffers are too variable to risk a thinned lug or crown guard....

Great tips!

[ESKO]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

Great tips!

He always has the best tips and advice in my opinion

[BMAN8]

Originally Posted by smallcandle

I wouldn't have my watch polished. How will it ever be able to obtain a nice vintage patina if it is polished every five years? To say that its okay to polish new watches but not vintage watches makes no sense to me. EVERY watch was new at some time - and somewhere in its life the owner had to make the decision to leave it unpolished.

This makes complete sense to me. I’m not against someone polishing their watch though – that’s their business.

[jeangtd]

i only have them polish the bracelet, leave the case untouched for 10 to 15 years