A cautionary tale about polishing

[Fanofsteel]

Happy new year, folks. I have a cautionary tale for ya. It will mainly entertain/amuse, but I’m also hoping to pass along some helpful advice. The story begins when I got my first “unacceptable” scratch on the clasp of my new Sub-date 41. I read all the threads warning against using scotch brite, but I just couldn’t help myself. Unsatisfied with the job I did on the clasp, I had a highly regarded Rolex specialist repair shop in Southern CA (which I won’t name) refinish the clasp (first pic). It turns out my refinishing job with scotch brite was much better than what these folks did. I almost sent my watch to another shop, but instead ran into a few posts by a forum member named Mystro. I got inspired by his posts to do it myself, but do it RIGHT. I’m much happier with the results (second pic).

Now here’s the clincher — if I could do it all again, I would listen to the original advice that’s been repeated many times: just leave it alone and let the watch collect scratches, which are inevitable.

- - - -
Edited to add (since it was asked & others might also be wondering): It took a some experimentation with the different grits. The red scotch brite is closer to the factory level of coarseness, while the gray scotch brite is finer than factory, but I personally preferred it.

If I REALLY wanted to get a factory finish back on the clasp, I'd send it to Rik Dietel (http://www.timecareinc.com/ -- this is Mystro's recommendation, and I've seen his work posted on these forums, it's immaculate), even over the RSC.

[geoffreyis]

Pics?

[1665fan]

No polish ever!!!! The first bad job someone gets they will realize

[Emery]

The only silver lining I can think of is that your Sub is still an in-production model, so it can be replaced with a new model if it’s something that will end up gnawing at you every time you look at it.

Imagine if you had done it on an older Sub instead hah!

[Fanofsteel]

Originally Posted by geoffreyis

Pics?

I had the wrong URLs in the code. Should be visible now.

[doozyj]

Idk but the first pic looks better than the second pic. Second pic brushing doesn’t look factory at all.

[Fanofsteel]

Originally Posted by doozyj

Idk but the first pic looks better than the second pic. Second pic brushing doesn’t look factory at all.

To each their own. In my eyes, the first pic is ghastly.

[afmars]

Unfortunately you learned the hard way.

[JC316]

Wow you did a really good job! How much effort did that take?

Life life without regret and in good health!

[SaddleSC]

Where in the heck is the scratch? I don't see it in either picture. The brushing just looks softer in the second image.

[brandrea]

A light polish at routine service interval is all that’s necessary IMO

[Fanofsteel]

Originally Posted by SaddleSC

Where in the heck is the scratch? I don't see it in either picture. The brushing just looks softer in the second image.

The first pic was taken after I had the shop refinish the clasp. The second pic is after I re-did their re-finishing job.

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by brandrea

A light polish at routine service interval is all that’s necessary IMO

Bingo.

Expensive lesson to learn OP but thank you for sharing. Sadly, I fear many won’t learn from it.

[S’portEye]

The first pic is a pretty sloppy job. Nice work on the second pic.

[Al1969]

So who did the work in the first pic?

[Fanofsteel]

Originally Posted by JC316

Wow you did a really good job! How much effort did that take?

Life life without regret and in good health!

It took a some experimentation with the different grits. The red scotch brite is closer to the factory level of coarseness, while the gray scotch brite is finer than factory, but I personally preferred it.

If I REALLY wanted to get a factory finish back on the clasp, I'd send it to Rik Dietel (http://www.timecareinc.com/ -- this is Mystro's recommendation, and I've seen his work posted on these forums, it's immaculate), even over the RSC.

[Mystro]

Well I am so proud. These watches are not hard to take care of and once you get over the fear and learn some basic skills, you will enjoy your watch even more knowing not to fear the everyday scratches. A factory finish is absolutely obtainable.
That said you also learn what “not” to attempt once you master the basic skills and a better understanding where your comfort and skill level is. The biggest and most fundamental to all of this is to even know what a factory finish looks like. It’s not a simple as just looking at a pic but rather reading the grain texture and feeling it with you fingers.

[henrylee]

First pic looks better

[Fanofsteel]

Originally Posted by S’portEye

The first pic is a pretty sloppy job. Nice work on the second pic.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Al1969

So who did the work in the first pic?

I'd rather not say, since some folks might be satisfied with their work, and perhaps my personal standards are too high. Instead, I'd rather just caution folks against getting any polishing done at all.

[Fanofsteel]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Well I am so proud. These watches are not hard to take care of and once you get over the fear and learn some basic skills, you will enjoy your watch even more knowing not to fear the everyday scratches.

Your posts on here are pure gold!

[ogbeans]

How do you wear a watch and avoid scratches on the clasp? That is beyond me

[Fanofsteel]

Originally Posted by brandrea

A light polish at routine service interval is all that’s necessary IMO

Thanks for chiming in. I probably would skip all polishing, haha.

[arcampado]

Second pic looks good!

Mystro, I must have missed your thread with this sage polishing advice!

[cvo]

Very nice results! Thanks for sharing.

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by arcampado

Second pic looks good!

Mystro, I must have missed your thread with this sage polishing advice!

I have done a few years back showing how to obtain a factory brushed finish as well as some basic high polishing with a yellow “Sunshine Cloth”. None of this is hard providing you do the proper prep work and tape off areas you don’t want touched. Very light superficial touch ups. We are worlds away from a full RSC full polish using power buffing wheels. This what TRF was all about years ago before the commodity $$$ investment talk scared owners from even breathing on their watch.

These skills are like knowing how to properly size a bracelet without leaving a tool mark even when not every link wants to cooperate.

For example: Which one link was touch up removing a diagonal scratch and which is a virgin factory finish?

[S52]

picture of the original scratch before the shoddy polish job?

[inadeje]

Originally Posted by Fanofsteel

To each their own. In my eyes, the first pic is ghastly.

Yes, looks terrible

[ArtNouveau]

I have touched up the clasps on watches I have owned for decades. It is always the part of the watch that picks up the most scratches and it’s also replaceable if it’s too far gone. I do not touch the cases where bad polishing can do some real damage.
Using a Cape Cod cloth, Scotchbrite pad, etc, is absolutely nothing like using a powered polishing wheel. The argument that you’re wearing off large amounts of metal using hand methods is laughable.
I’m not sure when and where the extreme anti-polishing brigade started. When I started buying Rolex and other nice watches 30+ years ago it was routine that you had the watch polished at service. I don’t baby my watches but other than clasps they generally stay looking pretty good.
OP, I’m impressed with your job. I have found that the grey Scotch block is also perfect for the brushed clasp of my Speedmaster.

[Laszlo]

Originally Posted by doozyj

Idk but the first pic looks better than the second pic. Second pic brushing doesn’t look factory at all.

Agree the first one looks fine, I’d be more than satisfied with that. The second looks like a bad polish. Sorry.

[Fanofsteel]

Originally Posted by Laszlo

Agree the first one looks fine, I’d be more than satisfied with that. The second looks like a bad polish. Sorry.

You’re entitled to your opinion. To me, my job at least has no diagonal lines. The shop’s job simply hurts my eyes.