Huge pile of Rolex gold dust

[997.2]

Wow! I was born at night but not last night.


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[jmiicustomz]

Jewelers have been doing this for years. There are people coming by the pawn shop all the time looking to buy my "sweeps" but we don't polish in house so they waste their time. The last shop I worked for, the owner keeps a 55 gal drum full of all the sweeps. Once full she sells it. In 24 yrs he has filled it at least 3 times that I know of but it's been almost 5 yrs since I worked there.

[Rachaphon]

Wow!

[mikevitucci]

You can almost relate this to a barbershop except hair doesn't have value. Same concept though. Overtime you definitely accumulate a bit of dust that would eventually have a value more than expected. Good for him.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by THC

Hmmmmm, I would need to see how much gold actually comes off during polishing for me to buy in to this... I honestly do not know though

Have to agree.

[hunterp27]

Originally Posted by 997.2

Wow! I was born at night but not last night.


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Not sure I'm following your mening? And......why was this thread moved from its original forum? Moderator?

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by hunterp27

Not sure I'm following your mening? And......why was this thread moved from its original forum? Moderator?

Not much said about Rolex, just gold dust. So it should be right here in the open forums.

[997.2]

Originally Posted by hunterp27

Not sure I'm following your mening? And......why was this thread moved from its original forum? Moderator?

It means I'm calling BS. Absolutely ridiculous tale


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[Tri-Tip]

Would be interesting to weigh the watch right before and after polishing and measure the fraction of a gram that comes off of each.

[james1787]

In a way... he's recycling / re-using it and not letting it go to waste!

[Invictus Maneo]

I like it! Great story! I never would have thought about something like that!

[Desibaba]

I wouldn't be surprised if the official Rolex service centers in New York and Texas don't do something similar considering how many watches they polish on a daily basis.

[goldfixer21]

I'm a jeweler, and this story makes complete sense. I send my bench sweeps and polishing dust out twice a year to be refined. I save anything that comes in contact with gold/silver /platinum filings or dust. This includes paper towels I use to dry my hands after washing them. It adds up quickly.

[goldfixer21]

Originally Posted by 997.2

It means I'm calling BS. Absolutely ridiculous tale


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Sorry, but you're wrong. My polishing machine has 2 separate and enclosed polishing areas and has 2 separate filter systems, one for gold and silver and one for platinum. The jewelry/watch industry goes to great lengths to recover precious metal filings/polishings. Large manufacturing businesses often have rugs on the floor near exit areas that attract metal dust.

[goldfixer21]

The amount of gold removed from a single watch during polishing would be nearly impossible to detect, unless the watch is extremely abused, and even then it would still be an insignificant amount. I work on dozens of pieces of gold every day, and it takes months to accumulate a significant amount of material. Next time I polish a gold Rolex, I'll weigh it before and after.

[andromeda160]

The local pawn shop let me go "mining" for gemstones in their dust, I found a few small diamonds and a ruby that they let me keep. But you could see the gold piling in the corners.

[Cru Jones]

who would have thought one guy polishing watches would accumulate so much gold dust? esecially doing it part time and all. anyway, interesting story.

[bayerische]

I believe it. Just look at all over polished Rolex watches.

[Desibaba]

Can you tell if a Rolex is SMALLER because of over polishing too much over the decades?

[beer]

Originally Posted by 997.2

I'm calling BS. Absolutely ridiculous tale

Originally Posted by goldfixer21

I'm a jeweler, and this story makes complete sense. I send my bench sweeps and polishing dust out twice a year to be refined. I save anything that comes in contact with gold/silver /platinum filings or dust. This includes paper towels I use to dry my hands after washing them. It adds up quickly.

compelling arguments from both sides, not sure which way to go

[bradj]

Seems plausible that he found a few ounces of sweeps. I imagine it was mostly polishing compound with gold mixed in... Check out the video link below.

https://youtu.be/YKOfk_78dx8

[TheBluePrince]

Seems plausible.

I was reading the other day that in the sewer water in London now the concentration of Gold is at the same level as to be profitable for commercial mining operations. Same for Platinum which is washed into the drains after tiny amounts come out of catalytic converters.

Edit - Source - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/scie...-platinum.html

[hunterp27]

Originally Posted by 997.2

It means I'm calling BS. Absolutely ridiculous tale


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You haven't been back around to defend your previous statement? I'm guessing you figured out that you shot your piehole off a little too quick and now you feel like a complete jackwagon. Just a guess though.......

Oh and regarding the one reply suggesting that it was a part-time gig......it's not. It's his way of making a living. I don't know why people are finding this story so hard to believe? Why would someone make up something so esoteric? Just trying to make the point that when you get your watch polished, you lose material and over time it's not insignificant. Damn people........

[997.2]

Originally Posted by hunterp27

You haven't been back around to defend your previous statement? I'm guessing you figured out that you shot your piehole off a little too quick and now you feel like a complete jackwagon. Just a guess though.......

Oh and regarding the one reply suggesting that it was a part-time gig......it's not. It's his way of making a living. I don't know why people are finding this story so hard to believe? Why would someone make up something so esoteric? Just trying to make the point that when you get your watch polished, you lose material and over time it's not insignificant. Damn people........

Not quite, easy tiger 😛


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[hunterp27]

Originally Posted by 997.2

Not quite, easy tiger 😛


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Not quite what? You are showing a$$ and I'm finding it amusing and so are a few others judging by the PM's I'm receiving. You are developing a reputation........tiger

[hunterp27]

You might wanna just admit you were wrong and leave it at that........just sayin

[THC]

I think it is fair to understand the skepticism.... But more importantly, do not take it personal (sounds like you might be).. We are all allowed different thoughts here..

[TheRolexKingofLV]

I see both sides of the debate.

[Ticknaway]

Wow amazing makes me think twice about polishing a watch. Nice Lilly's bonus for him though.

[PaulRP]

Very interesting story.