Letter to RSC when sending in watch for service. Does this make sense?

[MikeMWatchFan]

Here is the letter I’m planning to put in the box. Essentially don’t want to devalue the watch with a polish if it’s never had one before, but if it has, then it would be nice to see it freshened up.


Hello,

I recently purchased this watch and would like to have it serviced as I noticed it’s running fast and I’m not sure the last time it was serviced.

Can you also let me know if the watch appears to have ever been polished. If it looks original / never-polished then I would like to NOT have it polished during this service. But, if based on your examination, it does appear polished at some point in the past, then I would like to have it freshened up with a very light polish during with extra care taken to retain the definition of the crown on the clasp.

Please contact me with any questions.

Thanks

[cop414]

Mike it makes sense but I’m not sure if they do a light polish, I believe it’s either polish or no polish.

[kieselguhr]

They call you personally before anything is done to the watch. You can specify then polish or no polish.

If it’s a newer watch (6digit mode number) a polish wont devalue the watch.

[MikeMWatchFan]

It’s an early 2000s bluesy. Here is what the clasp currently looks like. Definitely don’t want it looking polished to shit like the vast majority of ones I see up for sale.

Example of a watch being touted as beautifully polished below the pic of mine which is heavily worn but debatably never polished.

[Strad]

Originally Posted by cop414

Mike it makes sense but I’m not sure if they do a light polish, I believe it’s either polish or no polish.

I had my AD send in one of my watches. I asked him if I could have a light polish. He said it was either polish or not polish.

[CFR]

I'd trust the experts here or on the Vintage Forum to tell you if a Rolex c.2000 has ever been polished more than I'd trust a random RSC employee. So I think you should decide polish/no polish before you send it in. Then you're less likely to be disappointed with the result.

Good luck with it!

[Ihatecheese]

Yep as others said there are no degrees when refurbishing one of thousands that come through the door.

It's going to be in a long queue of watches. Each with their own story and idiosyncrasies. Polished by a production line to look like new. Or not !

[Fleetlord]

Have the timing issues sorted out, but don't get it polished in any way, as that will lead to disappointment as your idea of "light" polish and their execution will differ....

Then you will be writing a post about how upset you are..etc.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by MikeMWatchFan

Here is the letter I’m planning to put in the box. Essentially don’t want to devalue the watch with a polish if it’s never had one before, but if it has, then it would be nice to see it freshened up.


Hello,

I recently purchased this watch and would like to have it serviced as I noticed it’s running fast and I’m not sure the last time it was serviced.

Can you also let me know if the watch appears to have ever been polished. If it looks original / never-polished then I would like to NOT have it polished during this service. But, if based on your examination, it does appear polished at some point in the past, then I would like to have it freshened up with a very light polish during with extra care taken to retain the definition of the crown on the clasp.

Please contact me with any questions.

Thanks

Just cannot understand why anyone would think that by having a Rolex watch polished by RSC devalues it, but thats up to you if you dont want it polished just state no polish. But a Rolex watch is like a car its made to be serviced and polished at normal routine service. Today there is more internet generated hype about polishing than the actual watches mostly anti polish god knows why. Below a picture of my own personal working tool watch SD, it was used and many times abused for many years underwater as a real working tool with well over 600 hours underwater. And has been serviced and polished by 3 different RSC world wide, picture taken in Singapore after last service. This real working tool has seen more use that todays mainly pampered watches will see in ten lifetimes. As long as watches are only polished at normal routine RSC service now average 8-10 years should have no problem. What will be a problem like many on forum lately is those wanting to polish every time they see the slightest scratch or even suggest they change the case because of some slight DIY strap change scratches.

[Gab27]

I agree in making the decision beforehand to reduce the chance of a communication mishap. You could ask they call before proceeding, but I would make a choice beforehand in the case that they do not. Additionally, if a watch has been skillfully polished and not over-polished, it's not necessarily going to be very evident that it was polished/brushed. Good high resolution photos here might get you some critical insight though on how crisp the angles are and if the watch looks to have been polished previously.

FWIW, I've had watches polished with good results. Those doing the polishing did NOT attempt to remove the deepest of markings and rather removed the lighter markings and only lessened the appearance of the deeper ones. The end results were excellent without (at least in my opinion) substantial amounts of metal removal.

[Stewart_88]

I'd have it polished. It looks battered and it's not even from your own enjoyment of wearing, it's someone else's. F##k the value, start fresh and enjoy wearing a nice new looking sub for years and years.

[Benzsiam]

If it's mine in that shape, I would have it polish.

[1William]

Rolex does a great job with polishing and I would not hesitate to have it done if that was what I wanted. The value will not be impacted and many buyers do not want a distressed looking watch should you decide to sell it. I would have the polish done and start anew with the watch and put my own scratches and marks on it.

[jimcameron]

Never polished appeals to a small percentage of future buyers, looking like new appeals to a much greater group.

Do what you want for your enjoyment, it's not Paul Newmans Daytona.

[brandrea]

If you want it to look like new again, ask them to polish it. If you want to keep its original character, then no polish it is

[77T]

A wise one once said:
“Polish or polish not. There is no Light.”

And Rolex hired him on the spot...

Now to the concern about potentially poor polishing outcomes...a letter like OP’s can’t hurt, but it is no assurance of the outcome.


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[m j b]

IMHO that watch needs a polish. Or, at least the bracelet does.

I suspect that the person receiving watches at Rolex will read your note, and then when they enter the details into their system, under "work to perform" they will type:

- running fast
- polish

[Tools]

There is never anything wrong with adding a letter of your desires to Rolex when you send your watch off for service.

I'm pretty sure that any watchmaker would understand what you are saying when you specify "light", although it may leave some deeper nicks visible.

As to "devalue with a polish", that is complete nonsense. There has never been a case on the planet where a watch was "devalued" by a proper refinish.

Ham fisted, power buffers are a different story, but this is still rare.

[saxo3]

Originally Posted by MikeMWatchFan

Here is the letter I’m planning to put in the box. Essentially don’t want to devalue the watch with a polish if it’s never had one before, but if it has, then it would be nice to see it freshened up.


Hello,

I recently purchased this watch and would like to have it serviced as I noticed it’s running fast and I’m not sure the last time it was serviced.

Can you also let me know if the watch appears to have ever been polished. If it looks original / never-polished then I would like to NOT have it polished during this service. But, if based on your examination, it does appear polished at some point in the past, then I would like to have it freshened up with a very light polish during with extra care taken to retain the definition of the crown on the clasp.

Please contact me with any questions.

Thanks

Your letter is not clear enough, too many "if".
You have to tell the RSC what the service should include and what they must not do, an arbitrary example:

(1) Full service of the movement
(2) No work on the dial, case, insert, crystal ...
(3) Polish of the bracelet

You will receive an offer which you have to sign.
Make sure that your instructions are all on.
Take some photos before you give your watch away, otherwise you have no proof later if something went wrong.
You can measure rates, amplitudes, beat errors in all movement positions (if you own a timegrapher) and compare the results before/after the service.

You do not devaluate your watch with a polish as long as it's done correctly, which should be no issue for a RSC.

[MikeMWatchFan]

Can someone with a 5 digit sub that has had the watch polished by RSC share a picture of the clasp? I would like to see how much they polish down the crown on the clasp..

I’m just worried it could look like this:

[MikeMWatchFan]

I wonder if RSC would oblige if I asked them to polish the entire watch except the crown on the clasp. That’s the only thing I’m worried about... losing the definition of the crown there.

[CFR]

Originally Posted by MikeMWatchFan

I wonder if RSC would oblige if I asked them to polish the entire watch except the crown on the clasp. That’s the only thing I’m worried about... losing the definition of the crown there.

How disappointed would you be if RSC did more or less than exactly what you wanted?

What you want is more specific than what RSC (and most other major brand service centers) typically provide. To maximize the likelihood that highly specific servicing requests are honored, you need to know the name of the person doing the work (or supervising it) and deal directly with that person. That hasn't happened at RSC, in my experience. You don't get to talk to the watchmakers there.

I'd send it to one of the many watchmakers referred to on these forums who do this sort of thing all the time. Send them pics, call them, tell them exactly what you want, and see what they say.

[Fleetlord]

Originally Posted by MikeMWatchFan

I wonder if RSC would oblige if I asked them to polish the entire watch except the crown on the clasp. That’s the only thing I’m worried about... losing the definition of the crown there.

Your only option here is no polish

[robinmgb]

I wouldn’t send it to RSC
Go to an independent with a good reputation, that way you can talk face to face and get the results you actually want

[richydave99]

Send it to RSC for a more reliable job.

[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

Your only option here is no polish

Agreed. You always risk getting noticeably thinner lugs and a faded crown.


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[GoingPlaces]

Although it needs a polish, sounds like you are pretty sensitive about it so I would skip the polish.

[RichM]

Ask and you shall receive. Here is my wife’s 2000 OP which was serviced at the NYC RSC in 2012. The watch received a full polish and came back looking new.

When it goes in for its next service it will be polished again. Remember, not all results are going to be the same. I’m in the let it be polished and look like new club. Hope this helps.

Let me know if you want any other photos before I lock it back up.

[RichM]

One more. We are the original owners so I know that it’s only been polished once. I did ask if they would change the clasp to a two-tone (which I think happened to that watch around 2002/2004). I thought it made the bracelet look more balanced, but was told “NO”.

[watchmainspring]

^^^^watch looks great but the crown is noticeably faded.


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