The difference in Rolex finishes and what to expect. My thoughts on each finish.

[Mystro]

I want to chime on some observations that grabbed my attention the last week over wearing a polished center link, jubilee, and brushed satin bracelet as my daily Rolex. We have discussed this before but I think it’s worth noting how these three bracelets stand up to daily use. All of them are tough as nails but there is a noticeable difference in showing superficial hairline scratches that will occur with daily use activity. Over 30 years and I feel I know all the tips and tricks on avoiding hairline scratches as much as possible but perhaps some of our newest members might want to pick a bracelet that meets their expectations.


Satin brushed finish:



Satin Brushed finish is by far the easiest Rolex finish to hide daily scuffs and hairline scratches. So much so that I have worn a Hulk to Walt Disney World on a 2 week vacation and came home with zero marks on the clasp or bracelet. I have done the same vacation with a oyster pcl and jubilee with pcl clasp that always brought home a few battle scratches. It’s almost amazing how well the Rolex brushed satin finish holds up under some pretty tough conditions. A big contributor to this is the clasp is also fully brushed on the top surface. this is where most of your first scratches will occur. If you can’t stomach hairline scratches, this will be your best option. Another advantage is it can be easily touched up with a scotchbrite pad when the satin finish does need freshening up.
The down side to this is it’s not as “flashy” as a pcl or jubilee. This may not be a down side if “bling aint your thing”.






2nd most durable would be the Jubilee
The Jubilee will give you the bling but in a far easier to live with bracelet hiding hair line scratches. There is a down side as it has a polished center clasp which will accumulate every day scratches rather easy because it’s at a vulnerable place to pick up scratches. Your jubilee bracelet will easily look better than the pcl clasp over a few months.






The Oyster bracelet with polished center links and clasp is the most visible finish to show any hairline scratches. The pcl is everywhere on this combo so anywhere you touch the watch will show a mark. This combo may also be the most bling on a sporty kind of way. You have to be very comfortable living with marks on the clasp and bracelet or you will go out of your mind trying to keep this combo pristine. You can buff out some of the hairline scratches with a yellow “Shinshine polishing cloth” but this is a slippery slope if you have ocd.


So three different Rolex bracelet finishes that are all brilliant in their own way. You need to know how you intend on using your Rolex and how tolerable you are with looking at daily wear and tear. Even now, I find my self surprised how easy or fickle these finishes can be. 904L can seem very durable when it is brushed but made of soft butter if it’s polished. Know the difference going in so you can wear it with enjoyment rather than the watch wearing you with constant worrying over daily wear.

[Seddyspaghetti]

Thanks for sharing. How about the presidential bracelet?

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by Seddyspaghetti

Thanks for sharing. How about the presidential bracelet?

I have no 1st hand experience but would fall into the PCL finish category but with less pcl surface area.

[McinRolex]

Originally Posted by Seddyspaghetti

Thanks for sharing. How about the presidential bracelet?

Is it presidential bracelet or president bracelet?

[Seddyspaghetti]

Originally Posted by McinRolex

Is it presidential bracelet or president bracelet?

Not sure tbh. Waiting for someone here to correct me if i’m wrong.

[kieselguhr]

Great overview of the various Rolex finishes Mystro

[Oyster Sauce]

Thanks for sharing Mystro I agree with your assessment.

[Uncle Meat]

Interesting observations. Thanks.

I have the first one shown and can concur that scratches are mostly hidden by the finish.

[Stan Cooper]

President Bracelet.

[brandrea]

Nicely done Mystro

In my books the new jubilee bracelet actually stands up the best to daily wear (in terms of scratches), even more so than the brushed oyster.

[Stevez]

Nice one....thanks for sharing.

[Director EDTF]

I agree with your descriptions as posted. Thanks!!

[Saoirse32]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Nicely done Mystro

In my books the new jubilee bracelet actually stands up the best to daily wear (in terms of scratches), even more so than the brushed oyster.

Indeed! Thank you Mystro. Great post.
I have no experience with the jubilee, but hope to one day.
Your observations on the other two are spot on.


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[Oxfordian]

My Submariner is being worn daily at the moment and I have to agree any marks are virtually invisible.

I can vouch for the PCL clasp on a jubilee being a scratch magnet, wave it anywhere near anything and a mark appears, love my DJ but the clasp, aggghhh!

But if we get obsessed with scratches we would be better off not wearing a watch.

OP, great thread and great pictures, thanks.

[JSol1]

Great summary! Totally agree. For some reason, I found the hairline scratches are a bit less visible on YG PCL than SS, but worse on RG.
Wear my brushed bracelet whenever I’m doing anything that involves physical activity…

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by JSol1

Great summary! Totally agree. For some reason, I found the hairline scratches are a bit less visible on YG PCL than SS, but worse on RG.
Wear my brushed bracelet whenever I’m doing anything that involves physical activity…

You all are very welcome. I too have noticed 18k pcl is a bit less noticeable than 904L and it is also easier to erase them with a polishing cloth on 18k. 18k is so easy to polish to perfection where 904l can be tricky.

[B2 Stealth]

Great info Mystro! Thanks for sharing! Spot-on!

[Casotakar]

Lol, my wife’s face when she scratched the polished bracelet on her date-just for the first time…classic. She keeps saying my submariner looks brand new still and I have to play with the light to show her all the scratches.

I agree with your summation although we don’t have a watch with pcl yet! Brushed oyster is the best.

[inadeje]

My TT Zenith Daytona bought in 1997 being part of the first series had a simple clasp SS without the dual lock function. The clasp is brushed. This turned out to be a godsend over the years since a simple scotch brite would bring it back to new in seconds. The later polished PCL variants and others I have pick up most scratches on the clasp.

[travisb]

Good feedback Mystro! I agree with your observations. If it weren’t for the PCL clasp with the jubilee it would hide the hairlines equally as well.


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[JSol1]

Originally Posted by Mystro

You all are very welcome. I too have noticed 18k pcl is a bit less noticeable than 904L and it is also easier to erase them with a polishing cloth on 18k. 18k is so easy to polish to perfection where 904l can be tricky.

This is my 18 year old TT when it got back from its first and only RSC servicing and I had it polished as I’m not in the anti-polish camp for modern Rolexes…

[watchwatcher]

Originally Posted by Mystro

I have no 1st hand experience but would fall into the PCL finish category but with less pcl surface area.

I was actually thinking it would fall more in the jubilee category you present with the BLNR, but, in truth, it's probably somewhere in between.

Great review...and pics, as always.