To have Rolex polish or not polish my 10-year-old sub?

[seabreeze]

I know there are number of posts on here, but I have a 10-year-old sub, ceramic. Going to send it to RSC for its first proper service.

I know unpolished is a thing however, it would be Rolex doing it and I guess one of the pleasures of getting the watch back is that it would be in new condition.

I guess on the plus side they know what they’re doing and it would come back looking great on the minus side it will only be for a short period before it starts to be scratched up again.

I know it’s a 50-50 with valid points on either side but I am curious as always what people think


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[Balsquat]

To be quite honest, you can probably polish your own Rolex if you were so inclined. That being said, I think it's a waste of time in either case. To each their own though.

[Easy E]

There is certain to be a number of users telling you never let them polish your watch and they will site some verifiable examples of bad poor workmanship, I am in the let them polish camp. Given the thousands of watches serviced a year pointing to a few bad examples isn't enough for me. I, not too, too long ago, purchased an older 16710 that had been serviced at a RSC. I am 99% certain it had been polished, but it looked perfect - brand new even.

[HHIslander]

Sounds like you want a polish, so I’d do it. No harm in it. I am in the polish camp myself for non vintage.

[padi56]

Well my own working tool 16600 SD had a very hard life with well over 600 hours underwater.And now have been serviced and polished every time by now 4 different RSC worldwide now 24 years old and still looking good.

[seabreeze]

this is great thanks! yes i am in the polish camp

[PenDelicate]

As long as you appreciate the consequences of your decision, whatever you decide is fine.

Polishing a watch can have two negative consequences:
1) It may devalue it. If you're thinking of re-selling it down the line, know that most collectors tend to value unpolished pieces more than polished.
2) There's no going back. You might love your polished piece now, but down the line, you might regret losing those, "Original, sharp edges."

And it can have one positive consequence:
1) Your watch will look brand new.

You may hear the argument, "Why make it look brand new again if it will only get scratched-up again?"

This has always struck me as an unusually equilibrium-focused view of things, discarding the temporary, transient states through which you pass on the way to equilibrium. Sometimes the transient states are the point. Eating food, for example. Or being alive.

Of course, I'm using flippant examples, but the answer to, "Why polish when it'll end-up scratched anyway?" is, "To enjoy it looking brand new again, even if only for a short while."

[thesharkfactor]

If you have any dings or dents - don’t polish! They will ruin the nice defined sharp edges getting those out.

If it’s just superficial marks hairlines and swirls - polish away!

[0nly5iv3Digits]

I would not, personally. You’re better off “cape” cod polishing the case flanks and re-brushing the bracelet yourself with scotchbrite.

I’m not even close to joking.

[jgottsman11]

For that model i'd say polish it

[Idaho]

I would say to not polish. I have never been very happy with the RSC polish. Bezels get destroyed. Just my opinion

[Tools]

Originally Posted by seabreeze

. . .

I know unpolished is a thing however, it would be Rolex doing it and I guess one of the pleasures of getting the watch back is that it would be in new condition.

. . .

Rolex uses standards and proper contour shapers to keep your watch looking like new, properly.

If you make the insides like new, why not give yourself a mint looking watch to see outside too.

[Calatrava r]

If it looks okay to you, I would not have it polished. Sometimes there is a particular mark which annoys, and it is best to remove that with a polish at service.

[173rdabn]

Just polish it! RSC will do a good job.

[Car32]

Originally Posted by Tools

Rolex uses standards and proper contour shapers to keep your watch looking like new, properly.

If you make the insides like new, why not give yourself a mint looking watch to see outside too.

I had my 16570 polished by RSC NY during services. lugs were fine, polish on the 9 o'clock side of the case was not totally "rounded" as it should be, more like an octagon with the sharp ends at regular intervals along the side. However very slight and only noticeable in certain light, so I just left it alone.

to OP: if you are planning on wearing the watch regularly, I would say no polish. Not only because of the risk of a bad job, but also, it's just going to get scratched and dinged anyway, so what's the point?

[slide13]

You sound like you'd enjoy it looking new again, in which case I think a polish is a fine idea as long as the case is in good overall condition with no deep marks or dings they would need to try and get out.

Personally, I'm a no polish person. I like the crisp edges of an unpolished case and once you polish you can't go back...it'll always be a polished case. Plus I don't like the idea of erasing the wear I put on the watch.

But, I do think it's much less noticeable on 6 digit watches then the 5. With the bevels on the 5 it gets to be so noticeable if it's been even just slightly overpolished so it's a riskier endeavor. With a 6 digit it usually tends to go better with the thicker cases and lack of bevels.

[Verdi]

I don't polish my watches if I am the one that put the scratches on them.

Nothing wrong with a polish after 10 years of wear. It'll look like brand new providing that is done professionally. So, you get that new watch feel for a while.

[Dirt]

It may not necessarily come back in like new condition.
If you've bashed it up too much, someone has to make a judgement call as to whether it would be an advantage to Laser weld the worst of the nuga-chungas.
There are limits as to how much one can make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

Having said that, a SubC has shite loads of meat on it so that aspect of the job will be an advantageous with little down side.
Some before pics would be great to help gauge the damage.
Some after pics would be awsome
We don't generally get to see much of the aftermath of RSC work on a SubC or any SubCs if I recall correctly

Great movements too.
How is timekeeping so far?
Why do you think it needs a service in your case?
You're lucky.
I normally only get 5 - 5.5 years out of a daily wearer auto before something is up with it and it needs a service

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by HHIslander

Sounds like you want a polish, so I’d do it. No harm in it. I am in the polish camp myself for non vintage.

Agreed
Besides, one has to do it to know whether it works out and is of value.
As Tools says, it's basically hard to beat a RSC job because they are a dedicated lot.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Car32

I had my 16570 polished by RSC NY during services. lugs were fine, polish on the 9 o'clock side of the case was not totally "rounded" as it should be, more like an octagon with the sharp ends at regular intervals along the side. However very slight and only noticeable in certain light, so I just left it alone.

to OP: if you are planning on wearing the watch regularly, I would say no polish. Not only because of the risk of a bad job, but also, it's just going to get scratched and dinged anyway, so what's the point?

Your rationale makes a case for the occasional polish job.
After all, if it's going to get knocked around some more when it's back on the wrist. It's a bit like a haircut. It's only a week between a good one and a bad one. Lol.

[jamesbondOO7]

It could be ruined in an instant. Don’t do it.

[Spoonage]

I personally prefer to leave as is so no polishing for me. While new and shiny is always appealing, a watch with some light scratches and dings has its own charm and appeal. No if it looks as if it was thrown out of a window .. polish it then.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Spoonage

I personally prefer to leave as is so no polishing for me. While new and shiny is always appealing, a watch with some light scratches and dings has its own charm and appeal. No if it looks as if it was thrown out of a window .. polish it then.

Now let me say this.
My DSSD doesn't quite look like it's been thrown out of a window, but it's in pretty sad shape. In fact it's the worst condition watch I've ever had after over 12 years of daily wear and tear and two much needed services under it's belt.
The watch has never been polished because my RSC doesn't do Laser welding.
It needs welding up otherwise it will never look respectable or it will look like a bad fake after polishing.
In summary, Jesus Christ himself couldn't fix it with a polish alone.
How do I know this?
This kind of thing is a large part of my trade.

A blanket statement about polishing being the be all and end all without seeing the item in question is folly.
We need to factor in the possibility the OP doesn't have easy access to an RSC that Laser welds the worst of it if required before finishing off with a polish job.
The OP may well be better served by going to a great independent to have the work done as Rolex isn't the only game in town when it comes to the full spa treatment.

[alphadweller]

You'll have rounded edges for nothing. You basically polish the case to have it scratch free for a while, until scratches come back and you're left with a case that's lost its original sharpness. I won't polish my watches when service is due.

[jimcameron]

Get a Dremel tool and polish it yourself.




just kidding.

[padi56]

Picture below of my own working tool 16600SD I am sure this watch has seen more use and sometimes abuse than todays pampered watches will see in ten life times. Picture taken after last service in Singapore this was its third service and polish by various RSC world wide. Now had 4 services and polish and still looks good today. Having serviced many many watches over the plus 50 odd years of owning ad wearing Rolex watches never ever had a bad service or bad polish from any RSC. But admit I dont have a loupe to expect every minute area of any watch I have ever owned.

[travisb]

For that watch, yes. I'd have RSC polish it and it'll look good as new.

[1st amg]

Ed, I would polish. It will look like new and feel like a new watch after all those years. Realistically, if you were ever to sell this watch, the difference of money you would potentially lose is minimal. It's not like your watch is now worth half. Do it!

[m j b]

Here's a thought: resale doesn't matter if you plan to keep the watch forever.

I'm firmly in the polish camp.

[RolexDave68]

Originally Posted by m j b

Here's a thought: resale doesn't matter if you plan to keep the watch forever.

I'm firmly in the polish camp.

I agree