Small dents not removed after full service and polish on YG DD

[DarkPool]

Hi

I recently purchased a 18238 YG DD and had it fully serviced and polished at my AD who has in in-house RSC. I did hesitate about the polishing since it's a nearly 30 year-old watch and the scratches didn't really bother me but I decided to go ahead with it.
The overall result looks great, all scratches have been removed, but I noticed the watch still has some small dents in it, notably one on the bracelet and two right on the edge of the case next to the bezel.
They are minuscule and you can barely see them with the naked eye (I noticed them under a loupe) but is there any good reason they have not touched these?
Would buffing them out entail taking away too much of the original material or might this be an oversight of their part? See picture...
Any ideas?

[Hardtimes]

I think they did the right thing. To get those out with buffing would really make the thing look over polished IMHO

[ArtNouveau]

Those are too deep to polish away without altering the shape. There are specialty places that can add material by laser welding but not cheap, I’d leave it as is.

[WatchGuy1966]

Originally Posted by Hardtimes

I think they did the right thing. To get those out with buffing would really make the thing look over polished IMHO

Agree

[DarkPool]

Originally Posted by Hardtimes

I think they did the right thing. To get those out with buffing would really make the thing look over polished IMHO

That's what I suspected as well...a superficial scratch can be polished, but evening out a dent would require to remove more material.

tx

[Michael1968]

They made it as good as possible. Sometimes things can’t be removed at all from the case or bracelet

[l_chissle]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

Those are too deep to polish away without altering the shape. There are specialty places that can add material by laser welding but not cheap, I’d leave it as is.

Do RSC not laser weld?

[DarkPool]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

Those are too deep to polish away without altering the shape. There are specialty places that can add material by laser welding but not cheap, I’d leave it as is.

I agree, they are barely visible with the naked eye and I just spent a hefty amount to have it completely serviced.
Also it's a full gold watch so it probably will attract more scratches and dents in the future.
I have 3 two-tone models and the gold center links are real scratch magnets.

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by l_chissle

Do RSC not laser weld?

Not regularly no. Maybe specific ones too like Geneva and others in Europe. Definitely not in Lititz

[yankeeromeo]

Laser welding would get it looking how I believe you would like.

[Patekfinder]

Rolliworks in Miami can easily repair those dents without taking off material and by injecting more gold then polishing down to match size and shape of the existing case. Look up Rolliworks on goodly


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[Calatrava r]

The one that looks like a hole would have to be filled and then finished. Under high resolution you will see the underlying marks too deep to buff out. I would like to see the condition before and after polishing as total views to see the overall difference.

[Pepperjack]

Originally Posted by l_chissle

Do RSC not laser weld?

The NY facility definitely does do laser welding, though if it's just for superficial repairs it likely needs to be specifically requested. There are also, I believe, some AD / independents who have Rolex's blessing to do laser welding; I think Drew Zimmerman can, for instance. For most AD service centers, we have been instructed to not use the welder. Doing so would technically add material to the watch that isn't Rolex material. I'm positive that not every AD watchmaker necessarily follows that rule.

[agsstructures]

It actually looks fine to me. I have a 18239 and wouldn’t mind those at all given the age of the watch. Looks like they maintained the brush finish on the lug quite nicely also!

[DarkPool]

Originally Posted by agsstructures

It actually looks fine to me. I have a 18239 and wouldn’t mind those at all given the age of the watch. Looks like they maintained the brush finish on the lug quite nicely also!

Yes, they did a fine job.
Here's the before and after, the brush finish is still completely intact.

[joli160]

Can’t expect an old watch to become new.

Be glad that the watchmaker knew when to stop

[painexpert]

They did the right thing. Just leave it alone and enjoy it.

[l_chissle]

Originally Posted by Pepperjack

The NY facility definitely does do laser welding, though if it's just for superficial repairs it likely needs to be specifically requested. There are also, I believe, some AD / independents who have Rolex's blessing to do laser welding; I think Drew Zimmerman can, for instance. For most AD service centers, we have been instructed to not use the welder. Doing so would technically add material to the watch that isn't Rolex material. I'm positive that not every AD watchmaker necessarily follows that rule.

For the ones that laser weld, would it return it back to brand new if you request it?

[DarkPool]

Originally Posted by joli160

Can’t expect an old watch to become new.

Be glad that the watchmaker knew when to stop

Ir was done at a RSC, I wasn't really letting anyone else touch it ;)

[joli160]

Originally Posted by DarkPool

Ir was done at a RSC, I wasn't really letting anyone else touch it ;)

It looks really great now, enjoy it

[DarkPool]

Originally Posted by joli160

It looks really great now, enjoy it

Wearing it right now, thanks :)

[oak3x]

Originally Posted by Hardtimes

I think they did the right thing. To get those out with buffing would really make the thing look over polished IMHO

Totally agree with this deduction...

[DarkPool]

For completeness' sake, here's the full result.

[huncho]

it's barely even noticeable imo

the watch looks to be in amazing condition otherwise so i wouldn't mess with it past the polish you just had, even the bezel looks mint which you rarely ever see on these 5 digits

[padi56]

Originally Posted by yankeeromeo

Laser welding would get it looking how I believe you would like.

Those very tiny miniscule dents would not be worth the cost in laser welding and everything looks a lot worse under high magnification than it is.

[DarkPool]

Originally Posted by huncho

it's barely even noticeable imo

the watch looks to be in amazing condition otherwise so i wouldn't mess with it past the polish you just had, even the bezel looks mint which you rarely ever see on these 5 digits

Thanks!
With the naked eye it isn't unless, you have exceptional vision and know where to look.
It's a '95 serial so approaching 30 years, apart from some minor dents and scuffs it was in good condition. Now, after the service, it's a very handsome watch.
Most of the work has been done internally: swapped out the crown and a link (luckily I had a spare, because those don't come cheap), hands needed replacing, a and of course the full Rolex service.

[DarkPool]

Originally Posted by padi56

Those very tiny miniscule dents would not be worth the cost in laser welding and everything looks a lot worse under high magnification than it is.

I like to take pictures of my watches and that's how I noticed the dents.
Didn't even notice them before service, now I'm trying to determine whether I made the second dent to the right myself after service.
I briefly bumped against a wooden door yesterday.
OCD is a terrible thing

[Sgooter]

If you are keeping the watch, then regard it as having a unique character that others do not, and then relax and smile.

[TunaTuna]

I wouldn't worry about any issue that needs a loupe to see. Enjoy it you will be ok

[DarkPool]

Originally Posted by Sgooter

If you are keeping the watch, then regard it as having a unique character that others do not, and then relax and smile.

Yes, keeping it. thx
Seems to be inevitable that watches collect scratches and dings, YG even more so. Gold and polished center links on my other models tend to get scratched up as well...