Polish Hands on 6694 oysterdate?

[ConnorK]

Hello all,
I recently just recieved my first Rolex, and am about to take it in for service and was wondering what else I should do. It’s a 1981 Rolex 6694 with a champagne dial and steel hands.
I am going to replace the crystal and service it for sure, it’s loosing about 2 minutes a day, but I was wondering if it would be a smart idea to polish the hands and Rolex logo? I have no interest in polishing the case or bracelet or anything else.
The hands and logo have a slight amount of corrosion on them, but I know that sometimes cleaning up the dial of a watch too much can hurt the value of the watch. The dial does have some damage on it right by he hands, but I do not plan on repainting or replacing the dial at this point in time.
But to restate my main question, would it be smart or not to polish the hands and logo or would it just hurt the value of the watch too much?
Thanks, Connor

[schaumburgla]

I wasn't even aware that type of work could be done. In order to polish the hands it would seem that they would have to be replated & the lume removed?
The coronet on the dial seems to be a plated piece as well & seems very risky to polish this. Possibly could clean it up a bit but Im not aware of this being done.

[ConnorK]

I was doing some research and it seems like while polishing can be done sometimes, more often hands are just replaced. But after talking to my AD about servicing costs, I’m gonna hold off on everything for now. Because according to them, Rolex will only completely overhaul a watch, not just service the movement. So nothing is gonna change for now. Thanks for answering my question

[Tools]

Originally Posted by ConnorK

. . . Rolex will only completely overhaul a watch, not just service the movement. So nothing is gonna change for now. Thanks for answering my question

What is your definition of "servicing" the movement if it isn't an "overhaul"?

They don't replace hands, dials, or cases if you do not agree, and pay up-front, as part of their estimate-to-work. I would never send to the RSC through an AD because then the AD makes all of the decisions, not you.

Still, a watch that old I might take/send to a qualified independent who you can speak to about what you want.

[springer]

Originally Posted by ConnorK

Hello all,
I recently just recieved my first Rolex, and am about to take it in for service and was wondering what else I should do. It’s a 1981 Rolex 6694 with a champagne dial and steel hands.
I am going to replace the crystal and service it for sure, it’s loosing about 2 minutes a day, but I was wondering if it would be a smart idea to polish the hands and Rolex logo? I have no interest in polishing the case or bracelet or anything else.
The hands and logo have a slight amount of corrosion on them, but I know that sometimes cleaning up the dial of a watch too much can hurt the value of the watch. The dial does have some damage on it right by he hands, but I do not plan on repainting or replacing the dial at this point in time.
But to restate my main question, would it be smart or not to polish the hands and logo or would it just hurt the value of the watch too much?
Thanks, Connor

Your silver-colored hands are plated. If you try and polish them, you could end up with copper-colored hands. The plating is very thin.

[ConnorK]

Originally Posted by Tools

What is your definition of "servicing" the movement if it isn't an "overhaul"?

They don't replace hands, dials, or cases if you do not agree, and pay up-front, as part of their estimate-to-work. I would never send to the RSC through an AD because then the AD makes all of the decisions, not you.

Still, a watch that old I might take/send to a qualified independent who you can speak to about what you want.

The reason my definition of a servicing is an overhaul is because that was the definition given to me by the AD I visited. They gave me the impression that I can only send the watch to Rolex through them, and Rolex will only overhaul the watch. But now that I know I can just send it to Rolex myself, I think I’ll just do that. Thank you for the information.

[ConnorK]

Originally Posted by springer

Your silver-colored hands are plated. If you try and polish them, you could end up with copper-colored hands. The plating is very thin.

Oh wow I was not aware of that. Thanks for the info