Polish or no ?

[JSolution]

Yes I’m that guy making that thread

My SD43, my most worn watch by a mile needs a service. It’s running slow and about 8years old now.

It’s currently unpolished. In a reasonable condition no dings no dents obviously completely covered in fine scratches.

I’m unsure whether to have it polished. Usually I just get it done it doesn’t bother me. However, this watch gets worn very hard and I enjoy “not taking care of it” so much as to my other watches.

If I had it polished, I might be inclined to be a bit more careful with it. However it would be nice to have it looking new I guess.

Of course the other concern is the luck of the draw compared to companies such as rolliworks which seem to be flawless 100 per cent of the time.

Thoughts please!!!

Have a good day everybody :)

[Bazil]

My thought is flip a coin ..

[omar10213245]

Originally Posted by Bazil

My thought is flip a coin ..

a polished coin?? because i gotta tell ya, this quarter in my pocket is covered in fine scratches. ..

[Rebel]

Originally Posted by Bazil

My thought is flip a coin ..

This.

[travisb]

I'd have it polished and continue wearing it as you currently do.

[Jackie Daytona]

Originally Posted by travisb

I'd have it polished and continue wearing it as you currently do.

Exactly my thoughts as well.

[Stan Cooper]

Originally Posted by travisb

I'd have it polished and continue wearing it as you currently do.

This is what I'd do too.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by JSolution

Yes I’m that guy making that thread

My SD43, my most worn watch by a mile needs a service. It’s running slow and about 8years old now.

It’s currently unpolished. In a reasonable condition no dings no dents obviously completely covered in fine scratches.

I’m unsure whether to have it polished. Usually I just get it done it doesn’t bother me. However, this watch gets worn very hard and I enjoy “not taking care of it” so much as to my other watches.

If I had it polished, I might be inclined to be a bit more careful with it. However it would be nice to have it looking new I guess.

Of course the other concern is the luck of the draw compared to companies such as rolliworks which seem to be flawless 100 per cent of the time.

Thoughts please!!!

Have a good day everybody :)

Today there is a anti polish syndrome god knows why as long as its done at normal routine RSC service NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER.

[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by padi56

Today there is a anti polish syndrome god knows why as long as its done at normal routine RSC service NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER.

Or....sorry, Padi....there is nothing wrong with liking those factory sharp edges and points, and not wanting to get it polished. Its a tool watch for crying out loud. If you are asking, I vote for no polish with the service.

[Tools]

When you get the insides all cleaned and tidied, there is nothing wrong with having the outside reflect a fresh new look too.

For those who are polishphobic, then you certainly don't need to take that step and lose sleep at night.

[karleone]

Originally Posted by No SUBctitute

Or....sorry, Padi....there is nothing wrong with liking those factory sharp edges and points, and not wanting to get it polished. Its a tool watch for crying out loud. If you are asking, I vote for no polish with the service.

Don’t be sorry. Padi loves his watches to be polished and can’t understand some people don’t share his views

[BroncoOne]

Originally Posted by padi56

Today there is a anti polish syndrome god knows why as long as its done at normal routine RSC service NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER.

Agreed. Make it look like new. Nothing worng with letting it show some wear, but why if you are even considering restoring it?

[AK797]

I'd do it and then be careful for a month like its a new watch and then wear it as per usual as its a SD.

[1st amg]

Do it. There was a video or long ago posted in YouTube of someone doing a comparison from a RSC before and after polish. There is a very negligible difference of removal of metal. It’s so fine that the weight of the watch before and after were almost identical.


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[thesharkfactor]

If it’s a daily tool, I’d keep it as such.

[swish77]

NO! Once it's polished there's no going back.

Unless the case is a mess, why bother? And why would you want it looking like new anyway? It's supposed to be a tool watch. Let it age naturally.

[Jimmy 1665]

Just got my Sub 114060 back from RSC UK Service, bought in 2015.
Well worth the full refurb & Polish. They even managed to (unfortunately) not thin the lugs.

Get your SD polished on Service, well worth it.

[7enderbender]

Have it polished and learn to take better care of it. You can wear a watch daily without scratching it up.

[Phil8352]

It’s simply not worth risking, in my opinion Do the RSCs turn out some beautiful polishes? Yes. Do they also ruin watches? Yes. Only you can decide for yourself if that’s a risk worth taking.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Phil8352

Yes. Do they also ruin watches? Yes. Only you can decide for yourself if that’s a risk worth taking.

Show me some prove that Rolex have ruined watches with a normal routine Polish at normal service time they must service a million plus watches over a ten year service period.

[JSolution]

Originally Posted by padi56

Show me some prove that Rolex have ruined watches with a normal routine Polish at normal service time they must service a million plus watches over a ten year service period.

There have been many many examples of bad RSC work in my limited time on the forum respectfully :)

I’ve had watches polished with no issues. But it is a risk.

[CaptT]

Originally Posted by JSolution

There have been many many examples of bad RSC work in my limited time on the forum respectfully :)

I’ve had watches polished with no issues. But it is a risk.

Agreed, it is a risk. And here’s an example, or proof as has been requested. The crown guards on the left have been overly polished down by RSC Dallas (~2018). The crown guards on the right is how the watch looked prior to servicing and polishing.

My sense is this is an anomaly, and RSC Dallas acknowledged and corrected the situation by replacing the case at no cost (helps to have before pics!). Vast majority of the time it will come out great from an RSC.

For the OP - in light of how you wear your watch, I would pass on the polishing. I don’t suffer from “anti polish syndrome”, and I’m not a member of the “pro polish police”, though I do believe the choice is personal and situational and not that big of a deal either way.

Love the 126600, congrats!

[Scottyboy]

Originally Posted by CaptT

Agreed, it is a risk. And here’s an example, or proof as has been requested. The crown guards on the left have been overly polished down by RSC Dallas (~2018). The crown guards on the right is how the watch looked prior to servicing and polishing.

My sense is this is an anomaly, and RSC Dallas acknowledged and corrected the situation by replacing the case at no cost (helps to have before pics!). Vast majority of the time it will come out great from an RSC.

For the OP - in light of how you wear your watch, I would pass on the polishing. I don’t suffer from “anti polish syndrome”, and I’m not a member of the “pro polish police”, though I do believe the choice is personal and situational and not that big of a deal either way.

Love the 126600, congrats!

Well Padi, here is the proof you requested...

Time to top trump all this silly talk with pictures of your workhorse SD, which has spent many years under water and counting, you can even tell us the story again about when you realised the crown was open underwater when responsible for a crew of divers...

[Luap1976]

Originally Posted by CaptT

Agreed, it is a risk. And here’s an example, or proof as has been requested. The crown guards on the left have been overly polished down by RSC Dallas (~2018). The crown guards on the right is how the watch looked prior to servicing and polishing.

My sense is this is an anomaly, and RSC Dallas acknowledged and corrected the situation by replacing the case at no cost (helps to have before pics!). Vast majority of the time it will come out great from an RSC.

For the OP - in light of how you wear your watch, I would pass on the polishing. I don’t suffer from “anti polish syndrome”, and I’m not a member of the “pro polish police”, though I do believe the choice is personal and situational and not that big of a deal either way.

Love the 126600, congrats!

This is why I would never risk polishing plus I like my scratches

[scooba]

Originally Posted by padi56

Show me some prove that Rolex have ruined watches with a normal routine Polish at normal service time they must service a million plus watches over a ten year service period.

I am with Peter ,I see a quote once from the Legend that is Mike Wood he sent one of his Milsubs to Rolex letting them work there Magic. I’m sure some people who claim to Polish cases have really messed some up. But surely Rolex have the correct tools and experience

[TBS]

Let RSC polish it since there are no nicks or gouges. Light scratches will polish out easily. You will be getting back a new looking watch.

[brandrea]

In your case I’d leave it be. As you said, you wear it hard, and it’ll pretty much look the same as it does now in a few months

[belutak]

Originally Posted by JSolution

Yes I’m that guy making that thread

My SD43, my most worn watch by a mile needs a service. It’s running slow and about 8years old now.

It’s currently unpolished. In a reasonable condition no dings no dents obviously completely covered in fine scratches.

I’m unsure whether to have it polished. Usually I just get it done it doesn’t bother me. However, this watch gets worn very hard and I enjoy “not taking care of it” so much as to my other watches.

If I had it polished, I might be inclined to be a bit more careful with it. However it would be nice to have it looking new I guess.

Of course the other concern is the luck of the draw compared to companies such as rolliworks which seem to be flawless 100 per cent of the time.

Thoughts please!!!

Have a good day everybody :)

Do not polish it.


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[ts3]

An AD polished my IWC beater of 20+ years against my wish in the course of a repair job. Among other things they added polished bevels on the lugs that that IWC never had (but current ones have). According to IWC the poor watch was polished like a Rolex which some of you may find is a good thing. LOL... And it still didn't work properly. Arggh...

In the end I decided to have IWC sort out the mess. They needed two tries for the movement and tried to correct the AD polish job. Definitely better but clearly not as sharp as before. Whenever I wore the watch I wasn't happy. I just don't see the point of ever polishing a tool watch. It came down to selling vs getting a new midcase. The messed up one was the second one already as the watch (and I) had a climbing mishap years ago. Decided to get the new midcase. Expensive but the right call for me and my beater. The watch looks sharp again and puts a smile on my face as it should be.

[77T]

If you want it to look like new again then you will let Rolex do their regular service per the website.

If not, and you're happy with its current condition then you'll give "no polishing" instructions and the watchmaker gets a longer lunch hour (or two).

My question is whether any of us really like unboxing a brand new Rolex to find it in 5y.o. condition with swirls, scratches, and hazy bright spots. And before you say that's a horse of a different color - it's not. It doesn't matter if I put them there or Rolex did.

Maybe the CPO program should put in their program a "distressed pre-owned" lineup.

Nothing but "no polish" models that are perfect inside and not on outside.


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