The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX


Go Back   Rolex Forums - Rolex Watch Forum > Rolex & Tudor Watch Topics > Rolex General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 14 November 2019, 01:54 AM   #1
GigiS
"TRF" Member
 
GigiS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Leeds
Posts: 3
Will this polish out?

Hi,

Somehow or other I have managed to damage a fixed gold link on my Rolex bracelet. It is a strange one because instead of the damage being inverted it is actually raised - a little like a pimple!

I have no idea how this has happened but was wondering if it could be repaired or possibly simply polished out? Any suggestions?

Thank you in advance.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg rolex03 copy.jpg (238.5 KB, 1144 views)
GigiS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 01:55 AM   #2
Buzzlite
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Ireland
Posts: 322
Very unusual that, how is that even possible
Buzzlite is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 02:19 AM   #3
abelxo
Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Real Name: Gerald Genta
Location: UK
Posts: 165
Looks like a dent. Not sure if it can be polished because it looks like the shape of the link was damaged. Time for the doc to check it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
abelxo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 02:34 AM   #4
envuks
2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 X2 Pledge Member
 
envuks's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: New England
Posts: 3,687
I agree that this seems like an odd one. I’d bet the bump could be polished out, but my bigger concern is where did that material (comprising the bump) come from? It could just be the picture, but it seems the sides of the gold center link may be slightly pulled in (or up) on the damaged link. The gap where the gold meets the SS looks different than on other links
__________________
Current watches: 116718ln, 116500 black dial, 40mm Breitling Chronomat MOP dial

“A man with one watch always knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure.”
envuks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 02:44 AM   #5
GigiS
"TRF" Member
 
GigiS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Leeds
Posts: 3
Thanks for your replies.

Quote:
Originally Posted by envuks View Post
I agree that this seems like an odd one. I’d bet the bump could be polished out, but my bigger concern is where did that material (comprising the bump) come from? It could just be the picture, but it seems the sides of the gold center link may be slightly pulled in (or up) on the damaged link. The gap where the gold meets the SS looks different than on other links
envuks - I see what you nean, but it is just the picture - the gold part of the link matches all the others perfectly, it is only the 'pimple' that looks out of place.
GigiS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 03:04 AM   #6
fsprow
"TRF" Member
 
fsprow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Real Name: Frank
Location: Dallas,NY,Colo.
Watch: Patek 5168, 5170P
Posts: 2,405
Looks bent to me. Not a polish job.
fsprow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 03:09 AM   #7
amh
"TRF" Member
 
amh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Tejas
Watch: Various
Posts: 5,081
Compared to all the other scrapes and scuffs it's not a big deal. Wait till service and they'll take care of it.
amh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 03:17 AM   #8
Ian Macdermott
"TRF" Member
 
Ian Macdermott's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Real Name: Willy.B.Banned
Location: Sheol
Watch: ing the detectives
Posts: 2,721
No what ever you do do not polish your watch it will ruin it, wreck it make it worthless. No one will want to buy it, have you not seen numerous threads bemoaning polishing.






If it really worries you get it done at the next service.
__________________
Welax no one other than wobblers muggers and sad WIS types notices your Wolex. The rest of the populace are way too busy staring at their shiny new iPhone 24s or worrying about paying the gas bill..
Ian Macdermott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 03:18 AM   #9
Tangier11
Banned
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Real Name: Paul
Location: Southern Virginia
Watch: ROLEX
Posts: 2,544
Be easier to replace the link and then have it polished. No, I am not in the OMG it will ruin it if polished crowd
Tangier11 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 03:21 AM   #10
othertbone
Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Florida, USA
Watch: Rolex/AP/Vin Omega
Posts: 1,972
I’d leave it as bracelets do take light damage from time to time. But man you really hit it hard. Better advice is to be more careful.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
othertbone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 04:48 AM   #11
painexpert
2024 Pledge Member
 
painexpert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Lake Titicaca
Posts: 627
Very difficult to get a good polish on the gold.Just leave it alone.
painexpert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 05:05 AM   #12
LandWatch
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: U.K.
Posts: 708
Assuming these are solid links, I can’t begin to imagine how this might have happened?! It looks buckled in some way.
LandWatch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 05:08 AM   #13
Onikage
"TRF" Member
 
Onikage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: England
Watch: 16710, 16628
Posts: 7,758
A goldsmith should be able to tap it out if it bothers you. No problem. Personally I'd leave it.
__________________
GMT II 16710 TRADITIONAL
( D- Serial #)
ROLEXFANBOY P-Club Member #4
Onikage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 05:12 AM   #14
GONZO2LR
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Real Name: Luis
Location: Texas
Watch: SS Submariner Date
Posts: 1,382
if you had it resized when you got the watch, can't you replace with the extra links?
GONZO2LR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 05:42 AM   #15
77T
2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member
 
77T's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Real Name: PaulG
Location: Georgia
Posts: 40,725
Will this polish out?

Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiS View Post
Hi,



Somehow or other I have managed to damage a fixed gold link on my Rolex bracelet. It is a strange one because instead of the damage being inverted it is actually raised - a little like a pimple!



I have no idea how this has happened but was wondering if it could be repaired or possibly simply polished out? Any suggestions?



Thank you in advance.


I have an idea, albeit speculative.

It appears to be a bracelet with hollow gold centerlinks. The bump appears to be along the horizontal axis where the fixed link pin resides underneath the centerlink. I speculate that a small bit of stone or shell or metal entered the bracelet’s centerlink via the open edge.

Were you at the beach recently?
Or did you do some gardening lately?
Welding?

Then just by luck, or misfortune, it rode around inside until it came into contact with the link pin and became bound underneath the centerlink and forced the softer gold upward as it transited across the hardened steel link pin.

Purely speculation...

If you bought this watch preowned, and the previous owner had polished the bracelet several times, the gold could have been thinned out a bit.

If it bothers you then try getting it polished out and buffed like new. The worst case is if that effort fails, and you must have it replaced, check out Rolliworks for a centerlink replacement.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
__________________


Does anyone really know what time it is?
77T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 05:47 AM   #16
locutus49
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2014
Real Name: John
Location: La Jolla, CA
Watch: Platona
Posts: 12,194
Just buy a new link.
locutus49 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 06:26 AM   #17
RolliRolli
"TRF" Member
 
RolliRolli's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 47
I would just replace the link. No extra links?
RolliRolli is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 06:32 AM   #18
sub2011
"TRF" Member
 
sub2011's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Earth
Posts: 158
I'd say 99% sure that link was bent. No way nor sense to fix it. Just replace it.
sub2011 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 11:27 AM   #19
peterpl
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: .
Posts: 6,692
Inverted dent? LOL - not even sure how you managed to do that.
peterpl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 11:34 AM   #20
Seibei
Banned
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: New Zealand
Watch: 114060
Posts: 2,630
Leave it, and at some stage down the road buy a new bracelet.
Seibei is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 11:44 AM   #21
DTap
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Land of the Free
Posts: 506
My guess is you got some grit or debris inside the link And it bulged when it levered against the pin inside. Looking at the wear in between links, I’m guessing you’ve spent time in a machine shop or cement factory?
DTap is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 11:54 AM   #22
fskywalker
2024 Pledge Member
 
fskywalker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Real Name: Francisco
Location: San Juan, PR
Watch: Is Ticking !
Posts: 24,604
Quote:
Originally Posted by locutus49 View Post
Just buy a new link.
__________________
Francisco
♛ 16610 / 116264
Ω 168.022 / 2535.80.00 / 2230.50.00
Zenith 02.470.405
Henry Archer Eclipse

2FA security enabled
fskywalker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 12:05 PM   #23
georgekart
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Earth
Posts: 1,491
Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiS View Post
a fixed gold link
Quote:
Originally Posted by locutus49 View Post
Just buy a new link.
I don't think you can replace a fixed link with a new link you can buy, otherwise it wouldn't be fixed.

To OP, the best way to find out is to send it into RSC or a reputable independent. BTW is this a 5 digit, because I don't know how one'd do this to a 6 digit bracelet. If it is a 5 digit I assume it's easier due to the link being hollow.
georgekart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 12:15 PM   #24
Chewbacca
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2012
Real Name: CJ
Location: Kashyyyk
Watch: Kessel Run Chrono
Posts: 21,113
From all the sand tucked in every spot of that bracelet, I'd say its a pearl trying to break free.
Chewbacca is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 01:48 PM   #25
Fabrice M
2024 Pledge Member
 
Fabrice M's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Denver
Watch: This and that...
Posts: 1,640
It can be repaired.
Fabrice M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 02:06 PM   #26
ironnie7i
"TRF" Member
 
ironnie7i's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Real Name: Ronnie
Location: Miami, FL
Watch: 116710
Posts: 28
I would send it to roll Rolliworks. Those guys do magic when it comes to repairs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
♛ GMT-II 116710LN
♛ Sub-C 116610LN
♛ Sub 16610LN Z Series
ironnie7i is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 03:45 PM   #27
Bizcut1
2024 Pledge Member
 
Bizcut1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Real Name: Ben
Location: Valley of the Sun
Watch: 126331 126610 3861
Posts: 3,235
Quote:
Originally Posted by ironnie7i View Post
i would send it to roll rolliworks. Those guys do magic when it comes to repairs.


Sent from my iphone using tapatalk


+1
Bizcut1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 05:23 PM   #28
GovernorsGovernor
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Westland, MI
Posts: 212
I'd get a nipple dial to go with my nipple bracelet...
GovernorsGovernor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 07:22 PM   #29
jimcameron
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: ByDawns Earlylite
Watch: 16800
Posts: 3,520
Just leave it as is and wear it happily.
jimcameron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 November 2019, 08:55 PM   #30
crowncollection
"TRF" Member
 
crowncollection's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Real Name: David
Location: australia
Posts: 20,157
gold smith can repair it
__________________
watches many
crowncollection is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Asset Appeal

My Watch LLC

OCWatches

DavidSW Watches

Coronet

Takuya Watches

Bobs Watches


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.