Polishing Bad?

[333president]

Hey Guys,
Is polishing my watches every month or two bad?

Over time, does it wear down the metal? How many times can this be done before its an issue, if that's even possible.

I use a Dremmel with the real soft, felt like tip along with some metal polish, on any of the non brushed parts of the watch. It makes the watches look brand new. It takes away all the scratches on the PCL's that make the watches look old/worn.

Thanks guys.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by 333president

Hey Guys,
Is polishing my watches every month or two bad?

Over time, does it wear down the metal? How many times can this be done before its an issue, if that's even possible.

I use a Dremmel with the real soft, felt like tip along with some metal polish, on any of the non brushed parts of the watch. It makes the watches look brand new. It takes away all the scratches on the PCL's that make the watches look old/worn.

Thanks guys.

The only time any Rolex oyster watch needs any sort of polishing is at normal routine service every 5-8 years by the RSC.Scratches are just a fact of wearing but if you want to get a watch polished for very scratch this is what in most cases ruined the watch.

[Puffy]

in my eyes that is vandalism

[333president]

Below

[333president]

Can you guys elaborate on why its a problem? Does it wear down the metal? I guess I don't understand what the issue is.

I've heard of other guys on here talking about using a Dremmel with the soft tip, to polish their watches, so I bought one.

Even my AD said I could bring them in monthly to have them polished for free. But I figured I'd just do it. I am careful and the tip is like felt.

I just don't want them to look junky. The PCL's get so scuffed after a few months.

[HL65]

Wear your watches and enjoy them--scratches are a part of life and give watch character!
So for me--yes not just bad but a bit overboard. I don't ever polish my watches as I like the metal that comes with the case.
I have seen so many watches ruined by polishing it is awful. Just my humble opinion and most would agree with me.

[Monte Cristo]

I'm thinking that if your polishing is getting rid of the scratches, then surely you are taking some metal off the case?

[Mephist]

To remove the scratches you got to polish down the metal to the deepest point of the scratch. So yeah it wear down the metal because you are polishing off the metal to match the dept of the scratch.

[mjclark32]

Takes off a little bit of metal each time, I believe Rolex (read on TRF) says to only have your watch polished 7 or so times

[SUBversive]

Originally Posted by 333president

Can you guys elaborate on why its a problem? Does it wear down the metal? I guess I don't understand what the issue is.

I've heard of other guys on here talking about using a Dremmel with the soft tip, to polish their watches, so I bought one.

Even my AD said I could bring them in monthly to have them polished for free. But I figured I'd just do it. I am careful and the tip is like felt.

I just don't want them to look junky. The PCL's get so scuffed after a few months.

Monthly polishing at ad? Ugh. Think your ad wants you back in the store to temp you to buy something else. Seriously set it and forget it in terms of that. Doesn't need that kind of babying.

[Vincent65]

polishing that often is not healthy for you or the watch

[Puffy]

Originally Posted by 333president

Can you guys elaborate on why its a problem? Does it wear down the metal? I guess I don't understand what the issue is.

I've heard of other guys on here talking about using a Dremmel with the soft tip, to polish their watches, so I bought one.

Even my AD said I could bring them in monthly to have them polished for free. But I figured I'd just do it. I am careful and the tip is like felt.

I just don't want them to look junky. The PCL's get so scuffed after a few months.

polish = removes metal, it'll like soft and lumpy after a while

such a shame. leave it as it is even if it has a few marks

[hijo de la luna]

I was giving a tip on the Cape Code polishing cloths and they work wonderfully. I haven't had any issues with polishing. Particularly with my LB, it works really well but I don't do it too often.

[Brenngun]

Stop this right now! As said above polishing with some kind compound will remove metal. That's what it's designed to do. Add the dremel to the process and you become more efficient at removing even more metal. No way to control this process. The nice soft brush becomes saturated with compound and starts acting like a grinding wheel. Won't take long before you start changing the shape of your lugs, creating small valleys on the case and pcl's etc. If this is your goal then keep going. If not then stop and smell the roses.

[gpfps]

I have a good size dent on my DD right on the corner where the two sides of the case meet. I could have it polished out, but I never will, because like others said ,too much metal ie gold will be ground down to the deepest part of the dent. to make it gone. Dents and the like are going to happen just take it and enjoy wearing the watch.

[VADanno]

I remember walking in to an AD to look at what was in the cases. I laid my Rolex on the case, and he commented about the scratches. "I like to see a Rolex that is being used, not sitting in a safe", he said. "Want me to polish it?" My response? No, thank you. You will polish away five years of patina.

[Kingair]

Could you keep us updated how much your Rolex shrinks each year . . .

Check out some post here on TRF about polishing . . . . to check the end result.

You will be taking some metal of each time . . . and one day she will be over polished . . . result . . . value . . . . . $ 0.00

Just my .02

HAGOne

[masterserg]

Originally Posted by hijo de la luna

I was giving a tip on the Cape Code polishing cloths and they work wonderfully. I haven't had any issues with polishing. Particularly with my LB, it works really well but I don't do it too often.

Take a look at the cloth when you are done with polishing and you'll see it becomes grey ... what do you think that is?

[bayerische]

Your watch will eventually be no more. Don't polish it every two months. Every 7 years sounds smart. If even that.

[Roller07]

Hulk no like polishing.

[77T]

Even a skilled watchmaker would create some unevenness along the bracelet links using a tiny wheel like the Dremel. The same holds true for the polished sides of watchcases. This leads to a poor finish.

As others have said, your watch will get swirls, scuffs, scratches, etc. - and you prolly look more closely and critically at the watch than anyone else - so even the slightest marks are magnified in your consciousness. I agree with the advice that polishing is best left to the pro's during a 5-7 year service.

[slcbbrown]

Clumsy polishing can really affect the look of your watchcase and bezel, and it does it by removing metal-- particularly at edges where the polishing tool can dramatically increase the pressure. You can also screw up the brushed surfaces by shining them up.

[Frogman4me]

Polish? Never! Polishing takes material off the case, something you can never get back.

[financeman]

You are taking a little of the watch away every time you do this. I think it is a little of an overkill to do it that often on a modern watch. When it comes to vintage, I personally think it is a sin to polish them at all.

[P2725TMB]

Have to say I think the majority of the above comments are unreasonable. If you want to carefully polish your watch, its yours so do as you please - if others want to leave theirs with scratches integral that's their prerogative. That said I do agree to be careful using a Dremel as it will wear off the surface rapidly. I myself polish the relevant bits on my DSSD as required, because I both enjoy doing it and prefer to remove scratches. However I only use a Cape Cod cloth which removes only the finest surface scratches, not deeper ones. You'd have to do a lot of rubbing to physically change the shape of the watch using on of those, assuming its a steel cased watch, that is.

[financeman]

Originally Posted by P2725TMB

Have to say I think the majority of the above comments are unreasonable. If you want to carefully polish your watch, its yours so do as you please - if others want to leave theirs with scratches integral that's their prerogative. That said I do agree to be careful using a Dremel as it will wear off the surface rapidly. I myself polish the relevant bits on my DSSD as required, because I both enjoy doing it and prefer to remove scratches. However I only use a Cape Cod cloth which removes only the finest surface scratches, not deeper ones. You'd have to do a lot of rubbing to physically change the shape of the watch using on of those, assuming its a steel cased watch, that is.

How is it being unreasonable stating a fact. The fact is that the reason why scratches come off when you polish a watch is because a little bit of metal comes off the watch. That is a fact. If you do this every month over a period of years, the watch will loose its shape.
This is why a lot of vintage watches have lugs that are very skinny. It happened from being over polished. Research the forum and look at the comments on vintage subs and them being over polished. Nothing unreasonable stating a fact about metal coming off when it is rubbed by an abrasive.

[topjimmi]

Please stop doing this...

[scarab007]

Originally Posted by financeman

How is it being unreasonable stating a fact. The fact is that the reason why scratches come off when you polish a watch is because a little bit of metal comes off the watch. That is a fact. If you do this every month over a period of years, the watch will loose its shape.
This is why a lot of vintage watches have lugs that are very skinny. It happened from being over polished. Research the forum and look at the comments on vintage subs and them being over polished. Nothing unreasonable stating a fact about metal coming off when it is rubbed by an abrasive.

X1..Exactly, not unreasonable to give facts. Also, the OP asked and the forum answered, which he wanted an answer too.

[threemonkeys]

Polishing contributes to global warming and hurts baby polar bears.

Do you want to be the one to tell your children that you hurt baby polar bears?

Just saying.

[Kobin]

Every time you polish the watch, a kitten dies.

No, seriously, scratches happen. Your watch is an object of beauty that you should admire. You can do that at home looking at it sitting in a pretty box or you can do that wearing it and looking at you wrist at least once an hour. At LEAST! You choose. I prefer the latter. And that means scratches.

Polishing the hell out of it is no good.