Datejust fluted bezel dings

[staycalmsipmalt]

Hi, Rolexforums newbie here. I know that i should not be worried about scratches on my Datejust 41 and that servicing takes care of such trivialities. However, today i saw a ding (more than just a scratch) on my fluted bezel - don't know how i got it, which is frustrating. Question: does anyone know if servicing removes such dings in the fluted bezel as well? There is nothing i can do or want to do about it at the moment - i can wait until servicing or accept my fate and live with it. Just evaluating my options.

[MattyL147]

Cannot be polished. Leave it be. You may be able to get it laser welded. Otherwise it would need to be replaced.

IMO, that's not a big deal and I'd leave it be.

[Auto16610]

"don't know how I got it" It got banged on something! All servicing could do is polish it down. And down. And down. Maybe in 20 years get it replaced. Otherwise just keep wearing it and enjoying it. That is the nature of wearing fine jewelry! Nice watch by the way!

[REFZ]

I assume you can't even see it while wearing the watch so leave it as is.

[Crazy Lugs]

RSC would be happy to replace the bezel (for a price) if it proves too frustrating to live with.

[Rolexoman]

This is why I have a love/hate for my Datejust with the fluted bezel, the bezel when new and taken care of just “pops” but once you bang it on something it can’t be fixed short of replacement

[staycalmsipmalt]

for me it is an everyday watch and scratches and even dings are part of the game. I guess i will check with the RSC when servicing it after 5 years. A part of me says it’s a watch and such things are inevitable. What i need to do is learn to listen more to that part of me :)

[samson66]

Originally Posted by Rolexoman

This is why I have a love/hate for my Datejust with the fluted bezel, the bezel when new and taken care of just “pops” but once you bang it on something it can’t be fixed short of replacement

I've owned both smooth and fluted Datejusts and from experience I can tell you the fluted does a much better job hiding dings and scratches. That smooth bezel was a scratch magnet and I mean BIG and OBVIOUS scratches. With the fluted, unless you really smack it hard on something, will hide the vast majority of blemishes.

[mykii]

It's your watch and its wearing your lifestyle; its either laser-weld or replace, and both options seem like overkill. The first few always hurt, but just enjoy it from here on out!

[Likestheshiny]

As noted, it can't be polished entirely away. However, polishing can minimize it by removing the "hills" gouged out by the "valley."

Not something I personally would replace the bezel over, especially since you're likely to do it again sooner or later.

[Wobbly]

I’m glad I’m getting old and my eyesight fading, I don’t see tiny marks on my watches.

[dchernikoff]

Congratulations, now your watch has character! lol

The first ding in anything (car, watch, wife) always hurts, but in a few weeks you'll find you don't care about it so much (well, with the exception of "wife"). Wear it and enjoy it!

-Dan

[sea206]

I would never polish my Rolex. They might make it look brand new look again but gives that I just got out of the plastic surgery look, lol.

[GMT Aviator]

The trouble with polishing fluted bezels is they take on a softer and less defined shape to the facets once polished. Only way around this is complete bezel replacement come service time.
I was looking at a TT DJ2 for sale at watchfinder here in the uk a few weeks back. It was an identical watch to mine. The bezel had been so over polished that it looked 'melted' and was essentially ruined, but to the non wis guy off the street they wouldn't probably see the difference unless it was placed side by side with an un polished example.
For this reason I would try and live with it as a polish will soften the whole bezel too much.
Once a few more dings and scratches take hold, you wont even notice.

[Neo_Anderson302]

Its going to get more. After awhile life will happen and you will not care. It's just material good. I been there.

[staycalmsipmalt]

guys, thanks for all your advice. This was very helpful :)

[Speedbird-1]

Ten minutes after you get it back from repair/peplacement, you could whack it on something hard, again.
What would you do then?

I'd leave it, it doesn't look too bad.

[Rolex-istanbul]

a little advice for you, just wear it every day you and your eyes will not see it anymore.

if you are a perfectionist than buy a new bezel mate.

[Onikage]

Even laser welding would involve polishing the immediate area. Leave well alone Imo. You'll only make it worse. And it's tiny.

[Gerardus]

Leave it this way.

[wigdog63]

Originally Posted by Wobbly

I’m glad I’m getting old and my eyesight fading, I don’t see tiny marks on my watches.

That's me too!

[Bruno Datejust]

I still wonder if nothing can be done about these scratches. I think that such a scratch is made of a valley and hills on both sides. The hills reflect light and amplify the whole damage. Being gold a soft material in some way it should be possible to press the hills back into the valley and after that manually reshape the damaged flutes and hand polishing the affected area parallel to flutes. It would become very close to new I believe. But I don't know if you can pop off the bezel without damage from the watch to perform this. Thoughts?

[Johnpierpontmorgan]

it is a mens jewelry

[doramas]

No. I took my 16234 and had it serviced completely, but the white gold fluted bezel doesn't touch it. They just clean it.

[japenney]

I think a smooth bezel is better for daily and fluted for after work. Ideally own one of each ;).

[Manu74]

The watch looks great, just leave it and enjoy wearing it.