Polishing

[Linuxpenguins]

If a watch has had a 'light polish' is this bad?

also, if it is a 'light polish' will it be THAT visible?

[Old Geezer]

"light polish" is in the eye of the beholder. The purists will say the watch is ruined. My 29 year old Submariner 16610 has been serviced by Rolex RSC 3 times in its lifetime and refinished each time. If someone took a micrometer to it, they might find a deviation from the specs when it left the factory but to the naked eye, it doesn't look any different than when it was new.
Now if an amateur or careless jeweler polished it, it might look awful.

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by Linuxpenguins

If a watch has had a 'light polish' is this bad?

also, if it is a 'light polish' will it be THAT visible?

If polishing were so “bad” then why would Rolex even offer it…

[Linuxpenguins]

has anyone had experience with watchfinder polishing pieces? who do they use?

[Brny11]

Original form commands more $ on resale if that matters to some. Polish can remove that original form factor. A light polish is done on every watch top greys sell (I’d assume and sort have been told).

I want my watch polished 100% when serviced. Looks like new if done well.

Resale doesn’t matter to me and if they mess it up a bit, that doesn’t matter to me either. It is my watch not my investment.

Doesn’t take a genius to realize there are better investments out there than watches.

Get it polished or don’t. Just enjoy the watch.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Linuxpenguins

If a watch has had a 'light polish' is this bad?

also, if it is a 'light polish' will it be THAT visible?

Today there is a anti polish syndrome with Rolex watches god only knows why. As long as any polish is done at normal routine RSC there is no problem with getting watches polished especially with todays mainly very very very pampered watches. Below picture of my own proper working tool watch SD that had a very very hard life as working tool for over many many years underwater. And this watch has been serviced/polished by 3 different RSC world wide, Rolex watches are designed to be polished at normal routine service.

[214270Explorer]

As padi56 says.
Nothing wrong or evil about polishing watches.
My year 1987 Oyster Perpetual Date was refinished in 2016 and it looks new again. Couldn't be happier that I let the Rolex tech accomplish the polish that was recommended.

[ks58]

I'd be careful with who polished it or plans to.

[Linuxpenguins]

i think watchfinder are reputable.. i guess rhey only use decent people

[LC23]

I polished my batman myself. 90% people told me noooo but honestly it came out great. search my post

[Rado63]

If you look at the same reference often enough you will see what an over polished watch versus correctly polished watch looks like. Using the watch in your avatar, the flutes on the bezel have crisp uniform peaks and valleys even after correct polishing. The bracelet links, polished surfaces will be smooth but the satin brushed finish will remain and have a consistent level of brush even after polishing. Looking at the underside of the case the edges will maintain a sharp edge down both sides of the case to a crisp finish at each end of the lug. The Rolex crown on the crown, and on the clasp will still have a definite shape to the Rolex crown even after the polishing. Familiarize yourself with the reference and then have a look. Problems is you are usually looking at a sellers photos and they often do not take the time to document all the surfaces well in their photographs.

[Linuxpenguins]

Does this look overly polished?


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[Judge]

Originally Posted by Linuxpenguins

Does this look overly polished?


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Yes,

[Linuxpenguins]

how do you tell?

[Linuxpenguins]

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[Tools]

Originally Posted by Linuxpenguins

If a watch has had a 'light polish' is this bad?

also, if it is a 'light polish' will it be THAT visible?

There is nothing wrong with a proper refinish or touch-up, and never has been.

This new anti-polish crowd is baffling and likely couldn't tell the difference.

[Master_Grogu]

Don’t polish your watches and don’t buy polished watches. Despite what people will say, it does change the shape and it is visible. Perhaps some users here have eyes that have known better days, but even Rolex RSC in Geneva is starting to say don’t polish your watches (though I imagine this is more to extract more profit from their service by keeping the same price yet removing some manual labor).

[Linuxpenguins]

i cant tell if this has or hasn't been polished

[Andad]

Polished or unpolished?

[Linuxpenguins]

Originally Posted by Linuxpenguins

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the bezel seems a bit rounded compared to yours or am i looking at it wrong

[Number3]

Originally Posted by Linuxpenguins

Does this look overly polished?


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The lug shoulders look a bit ‘rounded’ from the way they reflect the light. Just depends on whether this is important to you.

[msdmck]

can't tell directly whether its polished or not

[Sisyphus]

I really wonder whether people would actually able to tell from photograph of an "appropriately"t polished watch, whether it was polished or not... Idea for a new thread? :D

[jimcameron]

Originally Posted by Linuxpenguins

If a watch has had a 'light polish' is this bad?

also, if it is a 'light polish' will it be THAT visible?

No, and No.

The "don't polish" crew are but a tiny segment of the Rolex family.

The only caution is to have it done by RSC or an equally skilled independent.

[Boaters]

A proper job done by a trained and capable individual done at proper intervals is totally acceptable in my opinion.

[Zsprings]

The only difficulty for anyone with experiences of polishing 'chrome' metal alloys or plastic, is IMO repolishing the centre mirror finish links, where they are set tight against brush finish links !

I have thought about how RSC might go about this, do they finish the brushed links 1st, then place a metal protector over the brushed bracelet links, so that only the center links are exposed to be polished?

So much easier to finish where all the links are brushed finish, but then someone going a bit heavy with the 'brushing' wheel, could wear away the important raised rolex crown on the clasp.

[Gab27]

Every single Rolex gets polished at the factory when new. Even the factory lines vary between individual watches to some extent.

Polishing is fine provided the individual doing it is competent. If they are not competent, they can do a LOT of damage.

With respect to the picture you posted, that watch appears to be severely overpolished if what is shown is not a result of the image. The lug shows rounding on the edge. It should be sharp. The reflection is wavy. It should not be like that. The caveat is that sometimes pictures make something appear different than it is. A concern I would have as a buyer is that those really aren't great pics.

This watch was cosmetically refinished by LAWW. Notice the edge is sharp and the reflection is true:
(and even these pics are a bit misleading as the edge is even sharper than these pics make it look.)

[tquieng]

Lifht polish with fritz metal polish is best - used a cotton tip and do it by hand- never a buffing wheel. Fritz will removed fine scratches without changing the shape-

[Zsprings]

The big diiference between 'polished at the factory when new' and re-polished center links on the bracelet, is the surely the already mirror finish center links are assembled with the brush finished links at the factoy. If you have kept back a spare link from new (never re-polished), attach it to the 're-polished' bracelet and do you see any difference in reflections?

[NachoNeal]

I just had my early 90s DayDate serviced and instructed them NOT to polish the watch but a light polish on the bracelet was okay.