Getting watch polished

[ObscureLight]

So..... Yeah here is my dilemma. My YG DD has a few light brownish marks at the end links that was due to gold oxidation from being under the AD display light for too long. Thats how it was explained to me and getting the watch polished was suggested. Now this is another problem, I went to Tourneau in NYC to see if they polish and I was told I need to give it to RSC for them to polish the brownish color off. I went to RSC in manhattan yesterday and I was told they would only polish the watch during its 5 year service...... Even though its under warranty. .

So what should I do? Is there any other option to get it polished? While the brownish marks are barely visible and only can be notice if you look at the watch really closely, it still drives me insane. Should I just leave it alone and wait for 5 years or I should get the watch polished as early as possible to prevent the marks from becoming permanent on the watch. Is this a minor issue that I shouldn't worry about? Thanks

[sakuraba]

An RSC is the only place I would trust to polish my watch.

Would you be comfortable sending your watch cross country to SFO RSC? Giovanni has polished my watch with amazing results.

And unlike NY, SFO will not give you a hard time on what you want to do to your watch.

[ObscureLight]

Originally Posted by sakuraba

An RSC is the only place I would trust to polish my watch.

Would you be comfortable sending your watch cross country to SFO RSC? Giovanni has polished my watch with amazing results.

And unlike NY, SFO will not give you a hard time on what you want to do to your watch.

Well if its a rolex service center then I guess I'll be comfortable if you would care to go over the process with me. How much would they charge if watch is under warranty?

[sakuraba]

Originally Posted by ObscureLight

Well if its a rolex service center then I guess I'll be comfortable if you would care to go over the process with me. How much would they charge if watch is under warranty?

I don't think they would do it under warranty.

I was charged $200 for

1) case and bracelet polishing
2) replace all gaskets (4 of them, IIRC)
3) pressure testing

The watch comes back looking like new in the green service pouch.

[ObscureLight]

Originally Posted by sakuraba

I don't think they would do it under warranty.

I was charged $200 for

1) case and bracelet polishing
2) replace all gaskets (4 of them, IIRC)
3) pressure testing

The watch comes back looking like new in the green service pouch.

I see, then I might have to just live with it until it needs to be serviced then. Do the different RSC charge different prices? I got 2 quotes on 2 old watches yesterday from NY RSC Both were exactly $1173 each. Except one was a YG Lady President and the other was a SS Lady DJ. only thing I was happy with was that I got 2 green pouches and 2 really nice cleaning cloths just for getting the quote. >_>

[HL65]

There are a lot of excellent watchmakers out there. Just make sure if you do get polished just to do a light polish.

[DCgator]

Ritchie- You a have YG DD that cost thousands and should have it buffed for 200 bucks. My 2c.

[Watch Professor]

Try Wempe in NYC, just down the road from RSC on 5th Ave.

[ObscureLight]

Originally Posted by Watch Professor

Try Wempe in NYC, just down the road from RSC on 5th Ave.

I guess I'll go pay wempes a visit within the next couple of days then

[Watch Professor]

In re-reading your story, I realized that you bought this new from an AD. If that's the case, have the AD take care of it, either they do it by their Rolex tech., or they send it to an RSC.

[ObscureLight]

Originally Posted by DCgator

Ritchie- You a have YG DD that cost thousands and should have it buffed for 200 bucks. My 2c.

Yeah I guess but the thing is it's more of the hassle than the price issue. I'm lazy and try to avoid hassles whenever I can.

[Captainz]

Originally Posted by sakuraba

An RSC is the only place I would trust to polish my watch.

Would you be comfortable sending your watch cross country to SFO RSC? Giovanni has polished my watch with amazing results.

And unlike NY, SFO will not give you a hard time on what you want to do to your watch.

Jib,

I am confused. I thought there was only a Dallas and NY RSC.

I hear about Sfo and Beverly Hills too now.

ALso Ben Bridge told me that they only use the PA RSC,

So what is available and what am I missing..Thanks. My YG DD needs a SPA treatment and perhaps a Bracelet treatment.

AL

[Naples09]

Originally Posted by ObscureLight

I'm lazy and try to avoid hassles whenever I can.

Yet you want to open a Rolex AD in China?

[ObscureLight]

Originally Posted by Naples09

Yet you want to open a Rolex AD in China?

There is a HUGE difference between business opportunity speculation and going through weeks of annoyance for a small matter. In other words I decide if its worth the trouble to pursue it.

[JetRanger]

Originally Posted by sakuraba

...Would you be comfortable sending your watch cross country to SFO RSC?

I was under the impression that there are only 2 Authorized Rolex Service Centers in the USA:

1) ROLEX WATCH U.S.A. INC.
665 Fifth Avenue
New York 10022

And,

2) ROLEX DALLAS
Rolex Building
2651 North Harwood
Dallas, TX 75201

[Dr. Robert]

There are still a couple of independent, but licensed thru Rolex places in the USA, they only work on Rolex/Tudor/Cellini, have Rolex parts account priority.....the best thing about the indies is that they'll work on vintage, no hasseling and they are flexible.

[ObscureLight]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

There are still a couple of independent, but licensed thru Rolex places in the USA, they only work on Rolex/Tudor/Cellini, have Rolex parts account priority.....the best thing about the indies is that they'll work on vintage, no hasseling and they are flexible.

So San Francisco rolex isnt a real RSC that was opened by rolex themselves?

[sleddog]

My AD will do it for free while you wait......! If you have purchased from them!
They do have a service center inhouse,but can also be done easily yourself if its only minor blemishes....

[buke45]

You should have your AD do it for free.

[ObscureLight]

Originally Posted by buke45

You should have your AD do it for free.

It was bought from an AD in Cali, don't think I can justify flying over there for a polishing

[sakuraba]

Originally Posted by Captainz

Jib,

I am confused. I thought there was only a Dallas and NY RSC.

I hear about Sfo and Beverly Hills too now.

ALso Ben Bridge told me that they only use the PA RSC,

So what is available and what am I missing..Thanks. My YG DD needs a SPA treatment and perhaps a Bracelet treatment.

AL

Originally Posted by JetRanger

I was under the impression that there are only 2 Authorized Rolex Service Centers in the USA:

1) ROLEX WATCH U.S.A. INC.
665 Fifth Avenue
New York 10022

And,

2) ROLEX DALLAS
Rolex Building
2651 North Harwood
Dallas, TX 75201

There are 2 Rolex-owned Service Centers: NY and Dallas.

Pennsylvania and SFO are both independently owned, but Rolex certified. Beverly Hills has unfortunately closed down.

I personally prefer SFO since its owner, Giovanni, is very easy to deal with and very accommodating. Whereas NY will not return your old parts (ie bezel insert), SFO will even wrap it up for you.

Hope this helps, guys.

[esm]

my AD would polish the watches for me - light polish only. Last time was my TT DJII, when I stupidly bumped the PCL against a metal door frame and left a pretty decent mark.
Will have to go back soon to polish the SS GMTIIC clasp. Have managed to add quite a few scratches on the polished bit...

[TRW]

When I bought our 2 watches from our AD back in '07,the only Freebie's I recieved were a couple of Nice Polishing Cloths.I must say,and this goes against the the grain here with all the "Experts",that I have polished my YM more times than I can remember and Don't think I have screwed the watch up in any way.I would Polish the Entire Watch and think nothing of it.

[ObscureLight]

I think mine will need some professional polishing as its blemishes in the gold and not really scratches. I don't know how serious the brown marks are though just hope that the markets arent permanent.

[buke45]

Originally Posted by ObscureLight

It was bought from an AD in Cali, don't think I can justify flying over there for a polishing

You can send it USPS FedEx or UPS to them.

[hhh007]

<<< My YG DD has a few light brownish marks at the end links that was due to gold oxidation from being under the AD display light for too long. >>>


Well gold really doesn't oxidize and I have never seen gold develop spotting from being exposed to a showcase light.....sounds very fishy to me.

If they are just minor discolorations you would not have to necessarily 'polish' them out, a quick dip would probably remove them.

[hhh007]

I should clarify my last post..........pure gold (.999) will not really oxidize however 18K gold may develop copper or other spotting where the alloy used with the gold actually comes to the surface. This was common on many older US gold coins which were 22K gold.

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by ObscureLight

I think mine will need some professional polishing as its blemishes in the gold and not really scratches. I don't know how serious the brown marks are though just hope that the markets arent permanent.

Just try it; you can't hurt anything and you might be able to clean off the marks yourself and spare the AD drama.

[Rolesor]

Originally Posted by DCgator

Ritchie- You a have YG DD that cost thousands and should have it buffed for 200 bucks. My 2c.

x2