14060 service, polish or not?

[Stan2515]

Hi, my first real post so be gentle! Just asking opinions on servicing and polishing. Looking to get my tritium dial 14060 serviced and don’t want to send it to Rolex as I have nightmares of them replacing the dial or hands and ruining my watch as I love the creamy lume dots and don’t care that it doesn’t glow in the dark anymore!

There is a Rolex accredited service centre in Mayfair in London I will probably use as I can talk directly to the technician.

My question is about polishing. I kind of want my watch to look like new but don’t want to ruin it. I don’t think it’s been polished before.

What are people’s thoughts on this in general?

[Kube]

A proper polishing job will leave it looking great without ruining it. Some prefer not to polish because it alters the case profile. It comes down to a matter of personal preference.

[iTreelex]

If it's never been polished then it doesn't hurt to get it polished. It's been utterly demonized on the forums like touching a buffing wheel will destroy your watch forever. It won't and RSC does a great job with that. As far as the dial I'm not sure about Rolex replacing it but I'm sure they won't. You can verify since it's not a 1680 or 16800 but correct me if I'm wrong.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Stan2515

. . .

My question is about polishing. I kind of want my watch to look like new but don’t want to ruin it. I don’t think it’s been polished before.

What are people’s thoughts on this in general?

The only way that you can make it look nearly new is to have it properly refinished.

You need to look at other work, and the qualifications of who is doing the job.

[timlaw]

my 16710 was looking pretty good before its RSC service last december - the refinish done made the watch look like NOS and no parts were replaced without my express approval - i was pleased with the work done

[Likestheshiny]

The best competent polishing is amazing -- you'll feel like you were given a new watch. The worst incompetent polishing will permanently ruin the case.

If I had your watch, I'd polish it no problem. It's not a rare collector's item that needs to be kept as pure and original as possible. I'd only give it to a highly recommended, trusted watchmaker, though. Random dude at a mall AD offering to "clean that up for ya" is never touching my watches.

[1665fan]

No polish! It’s only unpolished once....like a car is only original once....

[joli160]

I’d polish it but would prefer the RSC route.
You can agree with them on keeping dial and hands.

[J-E]

Do not polish!!! Never polish

[Ihatecheese]

Which place in Mayfair? If it's accredited and you have trust then why not get the watch fixed up. I'd go via the official RSC channel myself

[pap4t4]

Don't think polishing is such a good idea.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Stan2515

Hi, my first real post so be gentle! Just asking opinions on servicing and polishing. Looking to get my tritium dial 14060 serviced and don’t want to send it to Rolex as I have nightmares of them replacing the dial or hands and ruining my watch as I love the creamy lume dots and don’t care that it doesn’t glow in the dark anymore!

There is a Rolex accredited service centre in Mayfair in London I will probably use as I can talk directly to the technician.

My question is about polishing. I kind of want my watch to look like new but don’t want to ruin it. I don’t think it’s been polished before.

What are people’s thoughts on this in general?

As long as any polish is done correctly like at a RSC no problem with today's mainly pampered watches as in most cases the amount of metal removed are microns.As most likely they will be slight wearing swirls scratches etc ,and you can ask not to touch dial and hands.But no big deal if you do want full lume back on your watch as its doubtful any 14060 or 14060M will become really collectible to many around.Below a picture of my own personal working tool watch SD,it was used and many times abused for many years underwater as a real working tool.And has been serviced and polished by 3 different RSC world wide,picture taken in Singapore after last service a few years back.This working tool has seen more use that todays mainly pampered watches will see in ten lifetimes.

[Dennisoul]

I sent my 2006 14060M into RSC via an AD in 2017 for a full service and polish....when it arrived back even the AD said it looked stunning. I’ve since had 2 other watches sent into RSC for service and polish, these also came back absolutely beautiful. I’ve got no worries at all with the work they do.


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[Ketler]

Personally I would never have a watch of mine polished...But were I to do it, no one polishes a Rolex like Rolex...!!!

[Crazy Lugs]

IMHO, five digit cases hold up poorly to most polishing jobs these days. Aside from butchering the svelte and sharp lugs, a telltale sign is how the sides of the case get wavy reflections. It really is a shame to see so many five digit pieces on the market that look nothing like Padi’s 16600 above.

I vote no polish, but tempered by the fact it’s not an unpolished watch to begin with...

[garyk]

Send it to RSC, you'll receive back a brand new watch basically. Life is short, why not!!!

[Platypus]

If you don't care about losing value, why not?

[Bruno007]

If you have no intention of ever selling the watch then you don't have to worry about the effect on value of having it polished. If you want it to look new, I would get it serviced and polished by the RSC and don't worry about it. Good Luck whatever you decide to do.

[Golfbone]

A vintage automobile is worth more if it has the original point even if that paint looks like shit. I would not want to drive that car however. Sometimes what matters is what things are worth to YOU and not at auction or on ebay. If you are going to keep it I'd send it to ROLEX and let them do the work on it....period. Let them make it like new. If you do not want them to change hands, dials, whatever you can specify that I'm sure.