Rolex AD and Authorized Service Polishing Question

[clerkpalmer]

Not looking to start a flame war on whether I should polish my watch or not. My question is a little different. I have a local AD which is also an Authorized Rolex Service Center. Specifically, they advertise that they are authorized to polish and service Rolex watches as well as being an AD.

I have a new to me preowned TT Explorer which came with some light wear marks. They aren't too bad but since the watch is new to me, I was considering getting a light polish to make it look like new.

So I inquired with the head watchmaker on the topic and he told me that we would be unable to polish the watch. In other words, he is refusing to do the work "per rolex policy" because it is a "new" watch.

He told me this once before when I asked for a refinish on my Exp. II bezel but he ultimately agreed to do the work after some back and forth.

Is this correct information? Is a Rolex AD really not permitted to give a watch a light polish? Seems bizarre to me for a few reasons including the fact that I'm willing to pay for the work.

Thoughts are appreciated.

[Hardtimes]

I cant answer your questions, but between strange and ever-changing Rolex policy and sometimes not updated ADs good luck finding the truth.

[clerkpalmer]

Originally Posted by Hardtimes

I cant answer your questions, but between strange and ever-changing Rolex policy and sometimes not updated ADs good luck finding the truth.

There is a vibe of arrogance which is off putting. "We polish Rolexes" but we won't polish yours because we have decided for you that it shouldn't be polished yet. I mean I don't have to give them my business but I'd prefer that the best do the work.

[brandrea]

Doesn’t sound right to me.

Are they saying by de facto that they won’t polish till service?

[clerkpalmer]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Doesn’t sound right to me.

Are they saying by de facto that they won’t polish till service?

Yes, he declined to polish the watch. Second time he's done it.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by clerkpalmer

Yes, he declined to polish the watch. Second time he's done it.

And the reason being is that it’s a “new watch” if I read you correctly ….

I guess I’d be asking them what constitutes a new watch. At what age will they polish it?

My sense is they want a full service out of you

EDIT: how old is the watch?

[fsprow]

I wouldn't push anyone to polish my watch if they did not want to do it.

[Tim Plains]

Two guesses assuming the warranty card has a very recent purchase date:

1. They don't want to encourage you flipping it as unworn.
2. They don't want the headaches of someone who didn't buy the watch from their store claiming the polisher ruined it.

[cornerstore]

Maybe they don’t want to dismantle it for just a polish. Just sent my wife’s two-tone Date Just to get a service and polish. My understanding is Rolex polishes the watches when it’s dismantled. Otherwise you don’t get a very good job. Unless it’s really bad I would just leave it because it’s going to get a lot worse ,based on her wearing experience.

[clerkpalmer]

Originally Posted by brandrea

And the reason being is that it’s a “new watch” if I read you correctly ….

I guess I’d be asking them what constitutes a new watch. At what age will they polish it?

My sense is they want a full service out of you

EDIT: how old is the watch?

The watch is approaching 2 years old.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by clerkpalmer

The watch is approaching 2 years old.

I'd ask them the above questions. It doesn't make sense to me

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[clerkpalmer]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I'd ask them the above questions. It doesn't make sense to me

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

Direct from the horses mouth:

"Rolex dictates that the watch may be polished once between the 10-year service intervals. Usually, 5 years at the halfway point."

Is this for real?

[clerkpalmer]

Originally Posted by clerkpalmer

Direct from the horses mouth:

"Rolex dictates that the watch may be polished once between the 10-year service intervals. Usually, 5 years at the halfway point."

Is this for real?

How does that reconcile with what this "Authorized Rolex Service Center" provides:

https://raymondleejewelers.net/rolex...ce-boca-raton/

"However, if you have a modern model, especially one that had a non-limited-edition-size production, it makes sense to polish it every so often to keep it looking its best. I mean, who doesn’t like their watch to look brand new. A slight polish of your Rolex watch is absolutely fine, although a significant amount of people would forgo a Rolex polishing.

Some people like their Rolex scratches (aka scars), as they tell a story. However, only the owner who made those scratches would appreciate them. If you want your watch to look like new, especially if it’s pre-owned, or you are looking to resell it, there is no reason not to seek a professional Rolex watch polishing service."

[Calatrava r]

I contacted Rolex service and enquired about them removing a scuff mark on a relatively new watch. I was told their policy is not to perform any polishing whatsoever until a regular full service is performed. I was told there are no exceptions to this rule. Thus, if your AD is authorized by Rolex as service center they must comply with Rolex's rules.

[clerkpalmer]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

I contacted Rolex service and enquired about them removing a scuff mark on a relatively new watch. I was told their policy is not to perform any polishing whatsoever until a regular full service is performed. I was told there are no exceptions to this rule. Thus, if your AD is authorized by Rolex as service center they must comply with Rolex's rules.

Well that's at least consistent. Seems ridiculous to me that I can't decide like a grown up what to do with my watch but there's plenty of other places that will do the service.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by clerkpalmer

Direct from the horses mouth:

"Rolex dictates that the watch may be polished once between the 10-year service intervals. Usually, 5 years at the halfway point."

Is this for real?

When I enquired service periods were 5 years so it is good to know now, they will polish after 5 years where the service interval is now 10 years.

[ArtNouveau]

Maybe related…when my BLRO went to the RSC for a movement issue it came back unpolished. It seems that they don’t polish when it’s in for warranty work, only on a full service after five years.
If the blemishes you describe are minor, maybe try touching it up yourself using a Cape Cod or Sunshine polishing cloth. There have been numerous threads here about them.
I am not part of the never polish crowd but I’m also pretty picky about who does it and how often, one should never break out the wheel every time you get a hairline scratch.

[clerkpalmer]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

Maybe related…when my BLRO went to the RSC for a movement issue it came back unpolished. It seems that they don’t polish when it’s in for warranty work, only on a full service after five years.
If the blemishes you describe are minor, maybe try touching it up yourself using a Cape Cod or Sunshine polishing cloth. There have been numerous threads here about them.
I am not part of the never polish crowd but I’m also pretty picky about who does it and how often, one should never break out the wheel every time you get a hairline scratch.

I'm largely being picky. I bought a preowned gold watch so I knew what I was getting into. I'll probably take a sunshine to the clasp and see how it goes. I would have gladly paid a professional to do it right but I guess they don't want the business. I still find it somewhat odd that Rolex has this policy. I could certainly see them not wanting to be part of overpolishing watches but there is lot of room between asking for a light polish on a 2 year old watch and overpolishing. And once every 5 years seems somewhat draconian.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by clerkpalmer

I'm largely being picky. I bought a preowned gold watch so I knew what I was getting into. I'll probably take a sunshine to the clasp and see how it goes. I would have gladly paid a professional to do it right but I guess they don't want the business. I still find it somewhat odd that Rolex has this policy. I could certainly see them not wanting to be part of overpolishing watches but there is lot of room between asking for a light polish on a 2 year old watch and overpolishing. And once every 5 years seems somewhat draconian.

You should know that almost any AD who has a watchmaker can do that for you. They should have a cloth buff wheel which takes almost no metal off. Most watch dealers I have been in, have a person buffing off marks on watches some people just can't live with. It happens way more than folks realize. My DD had some scratches on the side from a nylon jacket sleeve. Yes, that's all it takes to mark gold. They looked awful. I took it to my dealer, and they buffed them off in a second and the side looks brand new. Most used watch dealers do the same light buff on all their watches. No way a three-year gold watch looks brand new or unworn, if there is evidence of use from the play in the bracelet.

[Brich436]

I had my AD polish the bracelet of my Sub when I scratched it terribly and then boogered it up even more trying to get the scratch out.

It was 2 months old - they did it for free and did a very nice job.

I don't really polish my watches other than that and my 13 year old Explorer 2 has a LOT of wear on it. Looks better that way.

[clerkpalmer]

Originally Posted by Brich436

I had my AD polish the bracelet of my Sub when I scratched it terribly and then boogered it up even more trying to get the scratch out.

It was 2 months old - they did it for free and did a very nice job.

I don't really polish my watches other than that and my 13 year old Explorer 2 has a LOT of wear on it. Looks better that way.

They probably hooked you up. Since I bought on grey market I’m sure they aren’t inclined to do me any favors.

[Ísafjörður]

Sounds odd but this is Rolex.

If you do get it lightly polished you'll be back where you started after about 5 wears.

[clerkpalmer]

Originally Posted by Ísafjörður

Sounds odd but this is Rolex.

If you do get it lightly polished you'll be back where you started after about 5 wears.

I know. The gold scratches in a stiff wind.

[Subguy88]

I encountered the same issue at my local Rolex AD, they refused to polish my 2020 GMT root beer, saying they really only like to do it at service time, since it removes 10% of material each time. I was thinking so you're telling me, I polish my watch 10 times and there won't be any watch left? Ridiculous, it's my watch, I should be able to pay for a polish anytime I feel like spending the money to do so.