DIY brushing polished centre links

[Cambo]

I’d rather do it myself by wearing my watch for years and years. More fun that way and every scratch will tell a story.

[Master_Grogu]

Originally Posted by DJ2020

Nice article on polishing, but unless you work in a padded room, It's all very short lived. That's a lot of effort and cost just to make the watches appearance so fragile. Unless your watch lives in a safe or in a office , that degree of polishing is a waste. It's like putting on your Sunday best only to go work in the garden.

Rolex advertises to be durable, made to be worn everyday in a wide variety of task. Mountain expeditions, deep sea diving etc. They certainly won't stay polished long. Rolex would be better suited to offer a option of finish for wearers who actually use them in the real world everyday. Not just to the office or a outing.

Well I see it like this. Steve Jobs went to a Tsubamesanjo based company to make the polishing of their iPods back (remember how beautiful yet scratch prone these were?). Just like Rolex PLC, and even more on gold ones as we lucky owners quickly find out, they basically scratch by simply looking at them. And it sucks. The pristine state is so beautifully perfect that we want to preserve it, yet this is nothing but a Sisyphean endeavor.

However it also allows it to get a very personal patina, which can be beautiful.

A friend of mine has a 5 million $ Swiss chalet, and furnished the kitchen bar with a metal top. I think remember going there and not knowing where to drop my bottles of Syrah. She said “put them on the counter, the surface is made to scratch and get a patina over time”. I was baffled.

Years later, the kitchen counter is my favorite place. It looks beautiful, full of memories and scratches.

While I’m not advocating to be reckless, sometimes the wabi-sabi nature of degrading perfect surfaces can yield a new kind of beauty.

[BOX177]

Do it! If you do not like the result, sell the watch at MSRP... to me...

[azs.77]

Don’t DIY.


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[Goin2drt]

Looks great. I hated the PCLs on my BLNR and that is one of the reasons I sold it.

[kenlperry]

The finished product doesn't look bad to me at all. And other than pics no one would ever be looking at the brushing that closely. If that's your preference go for it, it's your watch.

[hgb4529]

I prefer the brushed finish too. You don't need a machine. Use the Scotch brite pad that others have mentioned. I brushed finished my yellow gold oyster bracelet for my DD and I must admit it looks significantly better than the original PCL.

[envuks]

The finishing on clasp on the right looks very not good to my eyes. Perhaps I’m over reacting, but I would never do this at home myself


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[brucethemanlee]

nope

[envuks]

Originally Posted by hgb4529

I prefer the brushed finish too. You don't need a machine. Use the Scotch brite pad that others have mentioned. I brushed finished my yellow gold oyster bracelet for my DD and I must admit it looks significantly better than the original PCL.

I’d love to see this on your DD if you’re willing to share pics

Thanks in advance


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[wsfarrell]

Originally Posted by Mystro

I feel compelled to chime in: Regardless if you like the look or not......you should never need any power tool to brush a clasp or link. I have been at this for over 30 years and am fairly accomplished with polishing and brushing a watch. I have never used a power tool.
A green scotchbrite pad will do a better job and remove a lot less material. Never ever use a dremmel on a watch you want a factory finish on. We see these threads come up every other year or so.

I disagree. You can perfectly replicate a factory finish using Bergeon satin wheels, like these from Otto Frei: https://www.ottofrei.com/Bergeon-608...n-Finish-Wheel
Scotchbrite pads are useless for this, and Dremel tools are too hard to control. Satin wheels on a buffer, when used properly, will remove only as much material as needed to restore the finish. I use polyimide tape to mask off the polished area while brushing, then to mask off the brushed area while polishing (with different wheels, of course).

[onefishtaco]

I love the look of this, way better for daily wear. I didn't like the PCL's on my BLNR because they got sooo scratched up. This would have been a good idea to try. Although, if I were to do this now... think I'd get the Batfirl with the Jubilee, and then get a second Rolex with a brushed bracelet to interchange between the two! I think I caught a thread somewhere about which models would work, just don't recall which ones it was. Maybe the bracelet on a no date sub would do the trick.

[joli160]

Dremel is not the tool for this. Very hard to get nice parallel lines. Don’t use that. The example you showed is really poor.

A scotch brite and a steady hand gives a lot better results. In 10 minutes done and very easy DIY.

Reversing the process thus going back to PCL i would let a pro do it. Polishing is an art. Scratching it up is easy

[AJMarcus]

Originally Posted by DJ2020

Can't get a DJ with a brushed oyster bracelet, I asked. I even inquired about having them switch it with a 36 OP bracelet. My AD wouldn't do it. Yes the look of PLC'S is appealing to me, until you wear it for more than a minute and the scratches start to accumulate. No longer looks the same. Would much rather have a brushed finish on the bracelet.

Suggest you take it to a reputable jeweler/ watchmaker. They can easily brush it if that’s what you prefer. Cost should be negligible . Good luck.

[garyk]

I love the brush finish on my D Blue and the PCLs on my Bluesy. Have one of each and avoid the DIY....good luck...

[Big Jay]

No way I would let someone other than a qualified watch specialist polish. I bought the wife's OP31 for Christmas used. I had never had a watch polished to that point. Ian, royaloak36, assured me it would look brand new after polishing by a qualified shop. Sure enough, I was amazed. There is nothing that compares to a true professionals polish job.

[DJ2020]

Originally Posted by AJMarcus

Suggest you take it to a reputable jeweler/ watchmaker. They can easily brush it if that’s what you prefer. Cost should be negligible . Good luck.

Thanks for the suggestion. I am learning to live with it as it's the only thing about the 126200 that I don't care for (PCL's) Don't hate it, just don't care for it either. Funny thing, I never cared or noticed scratches for 30 + years until I got a watch with PCL's. Omega AT was the first, Rolex 126200 was the second.

If all else fails, I will go back to a Super Ocean and be done with it. (Just kidding)........ Maybe?

[turkeysub93]

The PCL on a Jubilee are a marvel. I am VERY peculiar about scratches on my watch bracelet and the 126710 passes the test with flying colors. Three months of daily wear and no noticeable scratches other than those on the clasp.

[Cambo]

I gotta say I've been scoping watches on peoples wrists for years and can honestly say I don't remember looking at the clasps ever...only the dials/bezels and, once in a while, bracelets...but never the clasp.

[Onikage]

Needs smartening up a bit. No power tool needed but I'm not against the odd careful DIY brushing. And yes no SS gmt on oyster should have had PCLs in the first place! Imo.
That's fake too isn't it? Tell your friend he is a very naughty boy for buying that crap!

[ArtNouveau]

The brushed finish on my Omega Speedmaster clasp is easily touched up with a green Scotchbrite pad. I’ve never tried going from polished to brushed though.

[PBJ1925]

I'd personally skip on the polishing but to each their own.