Polished Centre Links

[Mick P]

Chaps

I wear an Explorer1 which I think is the best watch in the world and when I originally bought it, I intended to wear it 24/365. The main attraction of the Explorer was the very under stated appearance that did not scream Rolex.

I spend 5 months of the year in Spain as a retiree and one can be a little more daring out there in what one wears. Therefore I have decided to buy a second watch for Spain only

I therefore have decided to buy a time zone watch and it will either be a GMT or an Explorer2.

The Explorer2 is the more practical and cheaper, however I am moving to the GMT.

The only thing that worries me about the GMT is the PCL's, are they really a scratch magnet ?

The Explorer2 has a brushed metal finish and that is durable, are the shinny surface of the PCLs as vunerable has seems to be regularly stated?

Regards

Mick

[padi56]

The PCL can be brushed quite easily and if necessary re-polished, but if service is needed Rolex will service a watch head only. Now if you send bracelet with watch Rolex will put it back to original PLC when servicing.

[Mick P]

Hi Padi

When you say polished quite easily - do you mean by DIY ?

If so, how do you do it ?

Regards

Mick

[Old Expat Beast]

Try a search on here for "scotchbrite".

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Mick P

Hi Padi

When you say polished quite easily - do you mean by DIY ?

If so, how do you do it ?

Regards

Mick

Brushing is easier than polishing have a look at below in forum tutorial tape around the part to brush then just make sure to go in the same one way direction when brushing any PCL.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=111743

[mjclark32]

Yup, just brush the pcl's. A few have done it here on the forums and it looks great

[HL65]

I have mostly PCL watches and personally never have had an issue/problem with them. If you are worried then brush them.

[jjnd08]

I love PCL's. Both of my watches have them, and I wear ons one of the two on a daily basis. They are not scratch magnets.

[Cc1966]

If you do it yourself, read up on all the opinions on which ScotchBrite is the best. I prefer to use maroon #7447 SB, as it matches the factory grain the best IMHO. Good luck.

[mike]

To be honest I think it's how you wear it and your lifestyle. I have PCLs and yes they will show a slight scratch a bit more, but mine have held up well through very active times.

Having said that I know people that can scratch diamonds.

[jay1988]

If the GMT came brushed, I would of chosen it over my sub.

It has PCL's though and brushing it myself wasn't really my thing. The PCLs on my DJII are holding up well but it is not used as much as my sub is.

Surely you would have the same situation? Any scratch magnet situation you could wear the Explorer. As for the Explorer II being more practical, you have a practical watch imho so I'd go for the GMT.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by mike

To be honest I think it's how you wear it and your lifestyle. I have PCLs and yes they will show a slight scratch a bit more, but mine have held up well through very active times.

Having said that I know people that can scratch diamonds.

Agree 100% Mike.

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by mike

To be honest I think it's how you wear it and your lifestyle. I have PCLs and yes they will show a slight scratch a bit more, but mine have held up well through very active times.

Having said that I know people that can scratch diamonds.

Very true.

I have gold PCLs on my TT DJ and they have held up quite nicely.

Still, I prefer brushed on a tool watch, but you can get what you want since, as has been mentioned here, it is no big deal to brush a PCL...

[mmusa]

My blnr is a littile scratch magnit


image.jpg

[mmusa]

My blnr is a littile scratch magnit

image.jpg

[HL65]

Originally Posted by mmusa

My blnr is a littile scratch magnit


Attachment 483860

Wow! I have 6 PCL watches and all are mint....It truly depends on how you wear it and lifestyle. I work in an office every day and my watches are not exposed to a whole lot other than desk duty.

Here is my WG Sub....Only one I took pic of clasp.

[mmusa]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

Wow! I have 6 PCL watches and all are mint....It truly depends on how you wear it and lifestyle. I work in an office every day and my watches are not exposed to a whole lot other than desk duty.

Here is my WG Sub....Only one I took pic of clasp.

In my case it is not my life style I work in office too.
I believe its the way I clean my watch when its get some finger print
I usually use a tissue paper or any kind of clothes

How about you how do you clean your watches

[HL65]

Originally Posted by mmusa

In my case it is not my life style I work in office too.
I believe its the way I clean my watch when its get some finger print
I usually use a tissue paper or any kind of clothes

How about you how do you clean your watches

I use my Patek polish cloth for marks and when I clean I use Veraet.

[GradyPhilpott]

Don't worry about scratches. Polished links don't scratch any more easily than brushed. You might notice them more, but no one else will.

[mmusa]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Don't worry about scratches. Polished links don't scratch any more easily than brushed. You might notice them more, but no one else will.

I will add something here, me myself does not get botherd of the scratches and its not that bad

[mike]

Originally Posted by mmusa

I will add something here, me myself does not get botherd of the scratches and its not that bad

Just send your watch to me. I can polish those out.

[SeaAndSky]

I've had my 116710LN for over a year. The pcls are scratched and scuffed but still look great. I suspect when I reach the five year mark and send it back for service the pcls will have a naturally brushed patina to them. Rolex will send me back a blank canvas to paint again. If the marks bother you then get Cape Cod cloth and polish them twice a year. Plenty of instruction floating around on how to do that. Results look great if you desire to have a watch that looks like it just came out of the box. Personally, I love patina on dials and bracelets and cases. I flew with a guy who had a daily wear Daytona and his pcls where naturally brushed out through wear. It looked great. You can't go wrong whatever you decide.

[Snow-Dweller]

I love the PCLs when wearing my BLNR or Daytona, and I love the brushed when it's the Explorer II.

Don't worry about it. Buy the watch you want, and you'll love the bracelet.

[2ar2c1]

obscure factoid: those center links are made with the mirror finish, and are not actually polished. The dies used for the extrusion are finshed to such a degree that the mirror finish is a by-product of the process.

[kultschar]

Must admit I would love a GMT however the polished links put me off (though can be brushed).

Seem odd having them on a GMT which is in theory a tool watch.

Have a SS Daytona, keep great care of it however I'm sure I got a mark on the polished clasp just by looking at it :)

[Kevin.S]

Originally Posted by 2ar2c1

obscure factoid: those center links are made with the mirror finish, and are not actually polished. The dies used for the extrusion are finshed to such a degree that the mirror finish is a by-product of the process.

Very true.

[RRGHOST1]

Hi Mick,PM sent.

[MortgageGuy]

Originally Posted by mmusa

In my case it is not my life style I work in office too.
I believe its the way I clean my watch when its get some finger print
I usually use a tissue paper or any kind of clothes

How about you how do you clean your watches

Gorgeous Ken! I also have no issues with PCL's. On Gold, TT or SS they seem to hold up perfectly well and I like the look. I have PCL's on every Rolex I own

[HL65]

Originally Posted by MortgageGuy

Gorgeous Ken! I also have no issues with PCL's. On Gold, TT or SS they seem to hold up perfectly well and I like the look. I have PCL's on every Rolex I own

Thanks Adam!

[lmcgbaj]

There are threads of people wanting PCLs on subs and others wanting bushed on GMTs. It's all about prospective. Either way watches WILL scratch. Capecod those PCLs. It will be fine.