Polishing by rsc

[nintendo]

Just wondering if anyone had polishing experience with rsc?

How good are they? And do they touch up the scratches on the back of the case and the case back?

Thanks!

[RichM]

Rolex as a general rule will not just polish a watch. It's usually done during a complete service.

If you say nothing about polishing, for instance, don't polish or light polish, they will polish the watch and it will look like brand new.

Now there is someone on here now who just got a less than perfect job done at the NYC RSC. That watch is going back and I'm sure they'll correct it. That's an exception. I think most are amazed at how good the watch looks when they get it back.

[Dr. Robert]

Supposedly if you want your Rolex or Tudor polished, rsc is the place.......they're supposed to have good equipment, the operators may not be as good......I've been happy with the polish rsc SF did on my ss Rolex.

[swish77]

I would never, ever let an RSC polish my watch. (The bracelet, maybe.) There are a lot of horror stories out there, especially regarding vintage models. There's also inconsistencies at RSCs. San Francisco and London have good reputations for polishing, but some other RSCs don't.

When I take my modern Rolexes for service at the RSC in NYC, I always make them write on the paperwork, "No Polishing." You can opt out if you want.

[JnmEaton]

This may be a stupid question....... My AD tells me its $80 to send to Rolex for servicing and polishing (as part of the service). That is like "THE ROLEX" not just a service center, right? They create these wonderful timepieces surely they don't mess up polishing?

its never occurred to me that I COULD have a bad experience?

is there something I should be asking my AD that I don't know?

[RichM]

Originally Posted by JnmEaton

This may be a stupid question....... My AD tells me its $80 to send to Rolex for servicing and polishing (as part of the service). That is like "THE ROLEX" not just a service center, right? They create these wonderful timepieces surely they don't mess up polishing?

its never occurred to me that I COULD have a bad experience?

is there something I should be asking my AD that I don't know?

That $80 is the charge your AD is charging you to send the watch to Rolex. Save yourself some money and mail it yourself. Call Rolex, they will email you the instructions.

The charge from Rolex for a service is $600 to $1,000 depending on which model and what parts are needed.

[JnmEaton]

Originally Posted by Rich Mickol

That $80 is the charge your AD is charging you to send the watch to Rolex. Save yourself some money and mail it yourself. Call Rolex, they will email you the instructions.

The charge from Rolex for a service is $600 to $1,000 depending on which model and what parts are needed.

I have expr'd the $600-$1000 part several times, no worries, just didn't expect to read the "horror stories" about polishing from several ppl. I like my watch to be polished, restored. I'm not ever gonna sell it so......

Thanks.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

Supposedly if you want your Rolex or Tudor polished, rsc is the place.......they're supposed to have good equipment, the operators may not be as good......I've been happy with the polish rsc SF did on my ss Rolex.

I disagree. The polishers at the various RSCs are among the least trained on staff. I know the guy who trained the polishers at Dallas. SF is a different story though - they're an affiliate, not a real RSC.

[Juantxo]

RSC in the US and elsewhere do the best polishing jobs available. They work according to factory specs after decades of experience... well, since they founded the factory.

[RPB]

I've now had a 2002 Airking (sold) polished by them and I got my GMT IIc back last week from the London RSC. I have been well impressed on both occasions and all marks were gone apart from a dint on the Airking bezel that was almost gone, but it was a good dint, they still did a great job with that too.
My GMT looks mint and brand new.

[RPB]

Another after shot...

[THC]

Originally Posted by RPB

I've now had a 2002 Airking (sold) polished by them and I got my GMT IIc back last week from the London RSC. I have been well impressed on both occasions and all marks were gone apart from a dint on the Airking bezel that was almost gone, but it was a good dint, they still did a great job with that too.
My GMT looks mint and brand new.

Looks great

[Sweetswisssteel]

Looks fine to me. Anybody got any reviews on Melbourne or Sydney RSC?

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[nintendo]

Looks like there are mixed reviews about polishing with RSC.

RSC Singapore and KL do offer polishing at cost outside of servicing. Just hesistant if I should send it in for a good spa after a few good years of wearing it. Heard stories about how they overpolish the watches.

I don't have major dings or dents on my batman, just regular desk dive scratches on bracelet and couple of bracelet changing marks on the lugs shown in the photo (inner edge of bottom right lug).

[Verdi]

Don't polish.
Wear it for another few years. Scratches will always accumulate. Better wait.
I would wait 10 yrs before I consider polishing any watch......and I don't pamper any of my watches. I wear them in any conditions.

RSC ill do a good job. Of course, exceptions are there to confirm the rule.
Generally, polish is included in the full service price.

[Tomas Eriksson]

Originally Posted by RPB

I've now had a 2002 Airking (sold) polished by them and I got my GMT IIc back last week from the London RSC. I have been well impressed on both occasions and all marks were gone apart from a dint on the Airking bezel that was almost gone, but it was a good dint, they still did a great job with that too.
My GMT looks mint and brand new.

It looks mint in the way that there is no visible deep scratches but it's polished to the extent that it has lost some of it's lines. Not to be rude but I would not be happy with how hard they have polished the sides of the bracelet.

I wan't to highlight that "one man's meat is another man's poison" is very true when it comes to polishing. Im probably a outlier, but I prefer a scratched piece than an over polished one every day of the week.

[The Libertine]

When I send to RSC clearly state: DO NOT POLISH.

Even with scratches, I want to keep factory finish and case lines as long as possible.

RSC obliges my request.

[RPB]

Originally Posted by Tomas Eriksson

It looks mint in the way that there is no visible deep scratches but it's polished to the extent that it has lost some of it's lines. Not to be rude but I would not be happy with how hard they have polished the sides of the bracelet.



I wan't to highlight that "one man's meat is another man's poison" is very true when it comes to polishing. Im probably a outlier, but I prefer a scratched piece than an over polished one every day of the week.

I know a lot of people don't want them polished. With a PM watch I can understand it even more. However I do not see where it has 'lost some of its lines'. The sides of the watch only had light, normal use, scratches so not sure how they've overdone the polishing.

[nello]

That does not look like it needs a polish to me.
The lug top scratches would bother me a bit, but not enough to polish. Your pcls look very good to me.

[Tomas Eriksson]

Originally Posted by RPB

I know a lot of people don't want them polished. With a PM watch I can understand it even more. However I do not see where it has 'lost some of its lines'. The sides of the watch only had light, normal use, scratches so not sure how they've overdone the polishing.

Like I said, there is no right or wrong. It's up to each owner what he does to his piece. Let me refrase what I said about the job done on your piece. One can clearly tell that it has been polished. But on the good, all scratches came out.

[RPB]

Originally Posted by Tomas Eriksson

Like I said, there is no right or wrong. It's up to each owner what he does to his piece. Let me refrase what I said about the job done on your piece. One can clearly tell that it has been polished. But on the good, all scratches came out.

Tomas, there is no need to feel like you have to re-phrase it. I really am not offended by your comment. I am very interested in how the watch has lost its lines. That's what my reply was asking. I've been trying to find some older photos of my watch to compare but for some reason they have vanished in that most wonderful iCloud somewhere. Seriously annoying.

[Tomas Eriksson]

Originally Posted by RPB

Tomas, there is no need to feel like you have to re-phrase it. I really am not offended by your comment. I am very interested in how the watch has lost its lines. That's what my reply was asking. I've been trying to find some older photos of my watch to compare but for some reason they have vanished in that most wonderful iCloud somewhere. Seriously annoying.

What I most reacted to is that the edges on the bracelet links as well on the clasp are somewhat rounded. Then it might be the pictures, but the polished areas on the side of the case and clasp doesn't have the same mirror polish that it has from the factory. Similiar to the "clouding effect" you get from using cape codd, this due to that they aren't able to polish to the exact same mirror finish that they do at the factory.

[The Libertine]

Originally Posted by Tomas Eriksson

What I most reacted to is that the edges on the bracelet links as well on the clasp are somewhat rounded. Then it might be the pictures, but the polished areas on the side of the case and clasp doesn't have the same mirror polish that it has from the factory. Similiar to the "clouding effect" you get from using cape codd, this due to that they aren't able to polish to the exact same mirror finish that they do at the factory.

Agree. The finish is not as clear and the edges of the case not as sharp.

These points would be indiscernible to the average person on the street, but are otherwise apparent to those of us who prefer not to polish.

Again, there is no right or wrong, only what is a matter of individual preference.

[RPB]

Originally Posted by Tomas Eriksson

What I most reacted to is that the edges on the bracelet links as well on the clasp are somewhat rounded. Then it might be the pictures, but the polished areas on the side of the case and clasp doesn't have the same mirror polish that it has from the factory. Similiar to the "clouding effect" you get from using cape codd, this due to that they aren't able to polish to the exact same mirror finish that they do at the factory.

Originally Posted by The Libertine

Agree. The finish is not as clear and the edges of the case not as sharp.

These points would be indiscernible to the average person on the street, but are otherwise apparent to those of us who prefer not to polish.

Again, there is no right or wrong, only what is a matter of individual preference.

I thought this may be what you were referring to, i.e. the edges, etc. I just wanted that clarification.
Not sure I agree about the 'cloudy' though. The watch was smudged in those pictures. I must get out my decent camera and try again.
I sort of sit in both camps as regards polishing. I too want my watch 'as it was' from the factory and can totally agree as to why you leave your watches like that.
I cannot remember what the finish was like from new as its over 7 years old so in that sense I cannot 'from memory' compare it.
Luckily for me, I had a very positive first experience with the London RSC when I sent in my 2002 Airking with machined bezel. They did a great job on that one too. So in that sense, I had no qualms about sending this in to include polishing.
However, with all of that said, I do not think I would let them polish a PM watch. Maybe in future, even this watch. I no longer work with machinery at the moment so it shouldn't get too bad.
Appreciate the honest replies though. This is what I want from the knowledgable folk on here and not smoke blown up my a**e. ;)

[The Libertine]

RBP, you make a good point in that your experience with RSC polishing was positive. Other members here, not so lucky, which I expect plays into the hesitancy to do so.

I learned my lesson with another brand. Sent the watch in for service, including polish, and it was (over) polished to the point that, by example, the logo on the clasp was half gone. So, going forward, I make sure to avoid polishing.

[Danny83]

I would get it serviced and polished as they dont just polish

[teb1013]

I didn't go the RSC route, I got service by the Watch Buyers Group on my TT DJ 16233, the watch and Jubilee were polished with the service and the result was excellent, this 25 year old watch looks brand new. Basic service with WBG costs $395 so it's a significant saving over RSC.


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[mtgjr]

A polish w/service once every 10 years, done by an RSC or trusted indie watchmaker like Rik or Vanessa, is what I'd recommend. The watch pictured by Nintendo in post #14 is not even close to being ready for a refinishing, if the part pictured is representative of the rest of the watch.

[Peter99]

A relative of mine had his 20 year old Exp 2 serviced & polished by the West Malling, Kent RSC and he was absolutely convinced that the case had been replaced FOC! It was that good!
I've had a job trying to convince him otherwise!

[Goin2drt]

All the fuss of no polishing. I beat up 10+ yr unpolished watch vs a newly serviced and polished from a RSC is no comparison. I will take the "like new" look all day long. Bad polishing at a RSC is as rare as a bad service at the Porsche dealer.

Great brands take great pride in what they are going to put their name on and to not polish a Rolex to very precise specs just is such a small number.

If you want your watch looking new again, take it in and let the RSC polish it. If you like the beat up, vintage, worn look then tell them to leave it alone. Either way it is a taste preference.

Beverly Hills RSC did an AWESOME job on my 13 yr old Sub and will have them polish every watch that goes in for service. It is like getting a new watch every time it comes back.