Polishing out a scratch on a Grand Seiko

[benlee]

Is there any quick fix to get rid of a scratch, or at least make it less obvious on GS watch? My Titanium Grand Seiko SBGR305 has a scratch line at 11o'clock on the bezel. While not glaringly obvious, it draws attention to itself due to the way the watch reflects light and also the case being so immaculately finished.

I can send it back to Seiko for polishing but that means the watch will be gone for months as they can only do it in Japan and the local agent that handles repairs is a PITA fo deal with.

[Kinnakeet]

Here’s something I heard about on the WatchUSeek forum - had a good review.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PJ S]

^
Not on a Grand Seiko.

[CNDguy]

Originally Posted by PJ S

^
Not on a Grand Seiko.

x2

[SearChart]

I wouldn't touch a Grand Seiko / Titanium watch with Cape cod, ever.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by SearChart

I wouldn't touch a Grand Seiko / Titanium watch with Cape cod, ever.

for sure. Second behind touching up your 15202BA with a cape cod

[Bearxj86]

If it is a mirror polish finish I think you will be fine, if its a satin finish or brush finish I would stay clear. Just my 2 cents.

[scarlet knight]

Send it to Seiko and wear another watch. My DIY jobs usually need repair.

[Kinnakeet]

Originally Posted by SearChart

I wouldn't touch a Grand Seiko / Titanium watch with Cape cod, ever.

Thank you Bas! This is good to know.
It’s also great to get important feedback to questions like this !

[tyler1980]

give it a try so we can see the results

however if it was my watch, i wouldn't.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by bearxj86

If it is a mirror polish finish I think you will be fine, if its a satin finish or brush finish I would stay clear. Just my 2 cents.

The watch is titanium, which is a difficult metal for achieving a high shine polish, I'd say impossible to properly touch up with Cape cod. You'll get a cloudy smudge and a less prominent scratch, not the desired result IMO.

[benlee]

Here's a "highlight" of the scratch under fluorescent lighting. It's polished Titanium.

[Largoshark]

Much of the Grand Seiko appeal comes from the incredible factory polish. They use a technique that you simply cannot replicate by DIY. I would leave as is, and have it polished during routine factory service.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by benlee

Here's a "highlight" of the scratch under fluorescent lighting. It's polished Titanium.

minus getting other scratches to even it out i would send it in. seriously it would bug me. My 5524 looked like that with its first scratch and it stuck out terribly. Now ive got that lovely scratch patina all over, so they sort of blend in and the bezels are very similar by the look of it.

on a side note im inching closer and closer to my first GS purchase. For me its the SD diver i keep coming back to.

[dwatcher]

i'ld say don't try this at home. Too much risk to fathom

[SearChart]

Yeah that one is pretty nasty and I can see why you would send it in for that.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by bearxj86

If it is a mirror polish finish I think you will be fine, if its a satin finish or brush finish I would stay clear. Just my 2 cents.

Absolutely right.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by benlee

Here's a "highlight" of the scratch under fluorescent lighting. It's polished Titanium.

There are going to be more scratches. So unless you are okay with sending it every year then I would get use to it and only get fixed at the time of service.

[glamorama]

Is titanium scratching more/less/different than steel? I heard it gets a patina that will make the scratch same colour as original surface after a while. Have a Ti Bulgari Octo but it never scratches (yet).

[daveathall]

I have two stainless steel GS, one a quartz, the other a high beat, the quartz had many fine scratches on the polished parts and looked very dull, I was falling out of love with it tbh, so I gave it a quick wipe over with a cape cod, I was very careful and kept well away from the brushed finishes. It looks fabulous and I am very pleased at the outcome.

I had read somewhere that costs about £500 to send it toJapan to get it properly polished, I would send my High Beat to get a polish when needed because it cost over £5K, my quartz GS cost me £2K, so I thought that the cost to value ratio didn't really warrant it. Would I polish a titanium version with it, no, definitely not.

Did it come out as good as if I sent it to Japan? I have absolutely no doubt that it hasn't, but here's the thing, when I got it new, I was blown away at how shiny and perfect it looked, I remember that feeling, looking at my watch now, thats how I feel again.

Some awful phone pics, as close as I can get, they actually don't do the watch justice.

[Peter99]

If Titanium is so difficult to polish perhaps it’s not the wonder metal for watches afterall.
Looks as if you cannot really beat good old Rolex stainless for watches.
It might scratch easy but, they polish out easy!

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by Peter99

If Titanium is so difficult to polish perhaps it’s not the wonder metal for watches afterall.
Looks as if you cannot really beat good old Rolex stainless for watches.
It might scratch easy but, they polish out easy!

I don't own ant GS Titanium watches, I have handled them, they are beautifully finished, they would (I imagine) scratch just as easily as any Rolex. Would they polish out as easily? I don't know.

For the same reason I wouldn't polish my GS high beat I wouldn't polish my Rolex Sub, they both cost too much and I would be afraid to cock them up. I am sure that if someone is confident enough, they could polish out the polished parts on Titanium as easily as they could the Polished parts on a Rolex. I would be tempted to send it to Japan for their polishing experts (forget the name) to work their magic on that calibre of watch.

I don't know for certain, just an observation.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by Peter99

If Titanium is so difficult to polish perhaps it’s not the wonder metal for watches afterall.
Looks as if you cannot really beat good old Rolex stainless for watches.
It might scratch easy but, they polish out easy!

Not everyone can polish a Rolex correctly either. It has nothing to do with the metal, it has to do with the person doing the polishing.

[Kinnakeet]

Originally Posted by Peter99

If Titanium is so difficult to polish perhaps it’s not the wonder metal for watches afterall.
Looks as if you cannot really beat good old Rolex stainless for watches.
It might scratch easy but, they polish out easy!

From what I’ve read , GS titanium is uncoated therefore it can be re polished;
However if you want to get back that amazing finish that GS is famous for ,
Both titanium and stainless steel watches have to be sent back Japan ; nobody else can do that Zaratsu magic .

I’ve also read that when GS is refinishing a watch, they actually put new buckles on , as to much time can be wasted polishing this most scratched area of a watch.

[pickettt]

After about two years, my titanium Snowflake is flawless. When it does get scratched, I’m not touching it until it’s time to be serviced.

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

Not everyone can polish a Rolex correctly either. It has nothing to do with the metal, it has to do with the person doing the polishing.

Originally Posted by Kinnakeet

From what I’ve read , GS titanium is uncoated therefore it can be re polished;
However if you want to get back that amazing finish that GS is famous for ,
Both titanium and stainless steel watches have to be sent back Japan ; nobody else can do that Zaratsu magic .

I’ve also read that when GS is refinishing a watch, they actually put new buckles on , as to much time can be wasted polishing this most scratched area of a watch.

Originally Posted by pickettt

After about two years, my titanium Snowflake is flawless. When it does get scratched, I’m not touching it until it’s time to be serviced.

I agree with all of these.

[joli160]

My favourite GS, beautiful watch.

I believe the case is hardened Ti, pity that it scratched.
Japan the only solution ? I would ask around a bit more

[sensui]

Scratches suck....but truthfully it's something that must be accepted wearing a watch....bottom line others have said it better than I.....you wear the watch, the watch doesn't wear you. So of course it'll pick up some character over time....should you choose to during a proper service from the guys in Japan, have the zaratsu finish redone. This is part of the charm on these watches IMO, I would never try to polish myself or have others try to polish Grand Seikos.