Removing scratches from a Submariner

[steve saiz]

Hello, I can easily tape off with blue painter’s tape the textured parts of my submariner watch and I use a dremel on slow speed with a small buffing wheel and swirl mark remover auto polish and I can easily get out 90% of all my light scratches with a really nice even shine on only the smooth gold portion of the 2 tone watch.
But how can I remove the scratches in the textured part without going to the dealer? Does anyone sell a tool to recreate the Rolex texture from home? Thanks!

[2th Dr]

You can use a 3M green pad. Works great.

[goog53]

Dremel tool and Rolex Submariner used in the same sentence?
If it isnt that bad I would let it be or next time you send it in for service it should come back looking brand new from a RSC

[rad87gn]

Wait until service time and have Rolex take care of it for you!

[MortgageGuy]

I agree I would not use a dremel on the watch but what do I know. For the PCL's I have always taped off the brushed areas and used a bit of cape cod and it looks amazing! As for the brushed I have heard a 3m green pad will work but I also believe there is a bergeron scratch removal pen for this although I have never tried it.

[911SC]

Originally Posted by MortgageGuy

I agree I would not use a dremel on the watch but what do I know. For the PCL's I have always taped off the brushed areas and used a bit of cape cod and it looks amazing! As for the brushed I have heard a 3m green pad will work but I also believe there is a bergeron scratch removal pen for this although I have never tried it.

+1 Cape cod.
I used a Cape cod polishing cloth on my 16613 for the first time today, and my watch looks amazing, especially the gold.

[TempoKing]

Originally Posted by 2th DR

You can use a 3M green pad. Works great.

With a steady hand this will work....

[nwilliams]

Just got my Submariner back from Rolex Canada today for it's service. I've had the watch for 12 years and it came back looking brand new!!!

Incredible! I was shocked to see how they managed to get rid of all the scratches and signs of wear accumulated over 6 years (last service done) of every day wear.

It's now my "casual" Rolex since I bought the SS Daytona which is the "special occasion" watch...and so far....it's a special occasion about three days a week!!lol

Don't mess with it and wait for the next service...if you've never had it serviced, it's well worth the money

[PN221]

Get a brushed pen tool from ebay for brushed finish parts:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...tool&_osacat=0

Hope that helps!!

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by PN221

Get a brushed pen tool from ebay for brushed finish parts:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...tool&_osacat=0

Hope that helps!!

I have been looking at those. Do they work? i have been using semi-chrome and a 3m pad.

[JohnBoy]

Hate to add this note, but Dremel makes a little 1" dia soft rag wheel that works really well with light (dark red, super fine finishing, gold/silver)) jeweler's rouge on low speed. Its not recommended for everyone, I know, but your jeweler probably uses something just like it - perhaps with an air motor. A light touch and steady hand......works really great for me on highly polished areas......but I've spent most of my lifetime now fiddling around with metals and their various finishes. If you decide to do something like this, practice on other stuff before taking on your Rolex! It won't take off much metal on each pass, but I wouldn't do it very often. Rule of Thumb: OCD - Leave It Be!

[Squidrow]

More people have ruined guns and watches with a Dremel. It's a WATCH!! Wear it and enjoy it!!

[Mickey®]

Wear it and let Rolex fix the rest every 5 to 10 years.

[Jsan20]

Its a watch no need to buff out the wear marks. Leave it to rsc.

[springer]

Originally Posted by Squidrow

More people have ruined guns and watches with a Dremel. It's a WATCH!! Wear it and enjoy it!!

The right tool in the wrong hands can ruin anything. Many of fine watches have been polished with dremels, especially the dremel "pencil" attachment.

[handsfull]

Bergeon fine and medium are what produce the best results...http://www.ofrei.com/page250.html

[ROLEXUS]

Originally Posted by Squidrow

More people have ruined guns and watches with a Dremel. It's a WATCH!! Wear it and enjoy it!!

Agree, whilst home polishing might look good initally, you are probably doing more harm than good. Unless you're an expert and can keep the dremel, 3m pad, cape cod etc very constant and steady you are likley polishing the links, case etc out of shape and creating a wavy effect that you can only see under certain light. You are also removing some of the metal every time you polish.

Not only that but who's to say that the day after you polish you don't pick up a whole bunch of new scratches. Just leave it alone IMO, scratches are just part and parcel of wearing the watch as it's intended and if you really must have a scratch free watch then let RSC do the job at regular services.

From memory after 5-6 bracelet polishes RSC won't polish any more as the amount of metal removed will now affect the structural integrity of the bracelet.

[Onikage]

I use brasso polishing wool for the PCLs and Green scotch bright for brushed areas. You have to be really straight with the scotch bright so maybe try it on a lesser stainless steel object first.

[wineguy]

I wouldn't touch it or let RSC polish it either. I've seen some really awful polish jobs, even from RSC. But since we're talking about polishing tools, don't the older service booklets that came with Rolexes show a guy holding a bare case up to a massive grinding wheel?

I would take a Dremel over that.

[IMG2]

Polishing your bracelet is just another way to enjoy your watch. Like others, I use a Cape Cod cloth for the polished parts. Bergeon makes 3 different grades of pads (coarse, medium and fine) to put the satin finish on. A scratch pen is generally used for touching up small areas. I went out and bought a cheap watch with a ss bracelet and I used this to practice on. A green scotch pad works great. Oh yeah, it works best if you take the bracelet of the watch. Read some more, don't use power tools and have fun.

[acce1999]

Originally Posted by 2th DR

You can use a 3M green pad. Works great.

True. Make sure to use a new one, and to remove the bracelet from the watch. There are some good DIYs around on the net.

Best,

A

[Psmith]

It might be worth considering that you are not actually removing scratches, but rather removing some of the watch from around the scratches

[azguy]

Originally Posted by Squidrow

More people have ruined guns and watches with a Dremel. It's a WATCH!! Wear it and enjoy!!

I agree, what's with all this I have a little ding.....I have a little scratch....can I wear it swimming.... cooking... sleeping.... or in the shower....

jeesh........

[Harry Brown]

Originally Posted by steve saiz

But how can I remove the scratches in the textured part without going to the dealer? Does anyone sell a tool to recreate the Rolex texture from home? Thanks!

Some time back I slipped with a knife whilst changing the bezel insert on a GMT, I put quite a deep-ish scratch in the top of the brushed lug. Anyhow, I used a small diamond sharpening stone as used for re-edging skis. by drawing it along the lug I managed to remove the scratch quite easily within a few strokes and re-apply the chamfer edge.
I used a fine (red) or extra fine grade (green DMT)? They only cost a few $.

I traded the watch recently with a well known UK dealer who knows his stuff and examined it with his loupe, he never picked up on my handy work and said the watch was 'mint'!
If your scratch is to deep to remove with scotch-brite pad as already advised you could try this, using little pressure.

Good luck

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by Harry Brown

Some time back I slipped with a knife whilst changing the bezel insert on a GMT, I put quite a deep-ish scratch in the top of the brushed lug. Anyhow, I used a small diamond sharpening stone as used for re-edging skis. by drawing it along the lug I managed to remove the scratch quite easily within a few strokes and re-apply the chamfer edge.
I used a fine (red) or extra fine grade (green DMT)? They only cost a few $.

I traded the watch recently with a well known UK dealer who knows his stuff and examined it with his loupe, he never picked up on my handy work and said the watch was 'mint'!
If your scratch is to deep to remove with scotch-brite pad as already advised you could try this, using little pressure.

Good luck

Yah a man with balls!

[azguy]

Originally Posted by Harry Brown

Some time back I slipped with a knife whilst changing the bezel insert on a GMT, I put quite a deep-ish scratch in the top of the brushed lug. Anyhow, I used a small diamond sharpening stone as used for re-edging skis......

that takes guts

[smallcandle]

Originally Posted by azguy

I agree, what's with all this I have a little ding.....I have a little scratch....can I wear it swimming.... cooking... sleeping.... or in the shower....

jeesh........

Nothing new around here, just seems our newer members are of the impression that watches are meant to be babied at all times... Just wear 'em and enjoy 'em folks.