Brushed Metal Over Time?

[alettiere]

I'm the owner of a Rolex Sub that I purchased back in 2011. I've worn it practically every day for the last five years and will continue to wear it until I eventually send it in for service in another five years.

One of the things that I've noticed over time is that my brushed metal seems to have taken on a much more umm...."shinier" appearance in comparison to the matte finish it had when I bought it new. I can't figure out if this is just from constant wear and all of the hairline scratches (the clasp and bracelet are covered in them, as expected) or if it's from something else.

I only clean mine every few months, which usually just consists of using a toothbrush and dish soap. It gets shower time every now and again, so I really don't think I'm doing anything bad. I was just comparing my old sub to someone's new sub the other day, and just thought to myself that my bracelet seems much more reflective and mirror-like. You can't even really make out the brush strokes anymore on mine. Then again, I've never seen a really worn in bracelet up close in person, so I really don't have anything to compare it off of.

So, is this just basically wear and tear to a brushed finish that would be restored whenever I get a service?

[HiloBeMagical]

Originally Posted by alettiere

So, is this just basically wear and tear to a brushed finish that would be restored whenever I get a service?

The short answer is "yes".

Here's the long answer: Your bracelet is shinier because the scratches you are putting on it are finer than the scratches that Rolex puts on it at the factory.

Taking metal from matte finish to gloss finish isn't a matter of "adding gloss", it's a process of removing metal. *1

Sanding the metal with a finer and finer grit causes more light to be reflected with each successive grit. By the time you sand metal with paper of 2000 grit and then finer and finer buffing rouges, you go from totally matte to mirror gloss.

Your bracelet is somewhere on the road to "gloss". ;)
A service will take it back to the brushed finish.

OR, YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF. There are folks here who have posted pretty impressive results using green Scotch-Brite pads. Seems to put (almost) a Rolex factory finish on it.

Hilo

[1] Except for Platinum. Sanding platinum doesn't so much remove metal as "push it around"; filling the valleys that were there, and therefore producing a surface that reflects more light.

[Tools]

Just like your belt buckle and the shine on the seat of your pants, wear and tear..

[KeithP]

I just wanna chime in and say that clasp is beautiful.

[tkerrmd]

Same with my WG sub

[Ryuden]

Originally Posted by tkerrmd

Same with my WG sub

Wow...nice patina there Tom...

[IT Nerd]

Originally Posted by tkerrmd

Same with my WG sub

Now there's a watch with some stories to tell!!! Well done

[scooba]

Originally Posted by tkerrmd

Same with my WG sub

Yikes Tom,

I realise WG is soft but slightly shocked , Think I would be getting the cape cod out

[sco]

Originally Posted by tkerrmd

Same with my WG sub

GASP!!!!!! Just kidding, I'm glad you wear your watches how they should be worn!

[beer]

Originally Posted by tkerrmd

Same with my WG sub

would be interesting to see a distance shot of this

up close looks extremely well used (as it should be!!) wondering if it can be seen from a distance

[sickened1]

Wow that WG became really shiny! Thanks for the pics, Doc.

[alettiere]

Oh, wow! Okay. Well, at least I now know it's normal. The inside of the band still has that brushed looked to it (mostly). As does the area that is hidden under the clasp - which doesn't get exposure to bangs and bumps.

My bezel and crystal still look flawless, despite being banged on doors, tables, and desks more times than I can count.

I was told that the first scratch is always the most painful. Which is funny now that I look back on it. You just let it go, wear it, and enjoy it :)

[S.C]

When you send it in for a polish post before and after pictures :)

[beer]

its been polished over time by your shirt cuffs

[tkerrmd]

no worries guys the watch was made to be worn and is and looks great!

[imperio]

Anyone know what the tool is to touch up a brushed bracelet? I remember reading it previously; I think it's some sort of a pencil. I'm basically looking for the equivalent for brushed surfaces for what cape cod is to PCLs. Thanks in advance!

[jnkay]

Bergeon No. 5444 abrasive block is the best for restoring the brushed finish on the bracelet and clasp.

The Bergeon 2834C is the fiberglass scratch brush you are thinking of.

[yoast]

Just buy a scotchbrite pad at your local supermarket and brush it yourself with even strokes over the length of the bracelet. Super easy and only takes 5 minutes to make it look like new.
Do a search or google for it and you will see how easy it is.

Good luck

[RolexxxeloR]

Dude, I think it looks better after the initial ugly stage--you know, when your PCLs first start getting scratched? Once the scratches start to become uniform, the watch looks awesome again!

[JoelUlrich]

The Bergeon block works very well for a brushed finish.