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D.P.G. · 1 May 2020, 10:27 AM

Has anyone ever had success polishing a very light scratch from the side of a steel case without damaging the highly polished Rolex finish? Please don't start the get over it, or as soon as you fix this one you will get another, or ever scratch is a memory and on and on. I am just curious if it actually can be done?

kieselguhr · 1 May 2020, 11:01 AM

If the area of concern was finished in high polish, there are people who have used polishing clothes like cape cod to varying success.

We have a member, who is quite successful at producing good results consistently. Perhaps he will chime in for you.

chicagowatchman · 1 May 2020, 11:33 AM

DO NOT USE CAPE COD CLOTH on steel it will ruin the mirror finish

Yachtbuoy · 1 May 2020, 11:33 AM

I mean everyone is different, but it also might be better to just leave it and way until more scratches accumulate before getting it polished. The marks are a normal part of wearing it, unfortunately

Tools · 1 May 2020, 11:40 AM

cases are refinished and polished all the time.

worldofoyster · 1 May 2020, 11:42 AM

leave it until your next service

icnbne · 1 May 2020, 11:43 AM

i haven't had success with cape cod, doesn't leave a perfect mirror finish like the RSC. i now just live with scratches until service

lamnyc · 1 May 2020, 12:27 PM

I have used simichrome metal polish. It also depends on the type of cloth you use, so rub very gently.

wrxsti · 1 May 2020, 12:29 PM

leave it! more scratches will eventually show up....nothing remains prestine. Wear and enjoy, scratches are part of the journey!

Yachtbuoy · 1 May 2020, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tools

cases are refinished and polished all the time.

But after every single mark on the polished part of the case?

Tools · 1 May 2020, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yachtbuoy

But after every single mark on the polished part of the case?

That wasn't the original question.

JSolution · 1 May 2020, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tools

That wasn't the original question.

Lol

padi56 · 1 May 2020, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.P.G.

Has anyone ever had success polishing a very light scratch from the side of a steel case without damaging the highly polished Rolex finish? Please don't start the get over it, or as soon as you fix this one you will get another, or ever scratch is a memory and on and on. I am just curious if it actually can be done?

Yes it can be done at normal RSC routine service only its that simple.

brandrea · 1 May 2020, 08:49 PM

I haven’t seen good first hand do it yourself results, but RSC does a fantastic job.

Jim Smyth · 1 May 2020, 09:00 PM

There is no way to re create that perfect mirrored finish without power tools, buffers and rouge. You also need many years of skilled training to not round off corners that need to stay crisp. You can get decent results by hand with say Cape Cod cloth but in certain lighting you will see the crazing results which wont make you happy. Best advice has already been given and its to let a pro do it and RSC is that pro.

MrMercedes · 1 May 2020, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagowatchman

DO NOT USE CAPE COD CLOTH on steel it will ruin the mirror finish

WORD!!! Cape cod works only on gold pcls!!!!!!!! Never use it on steel!!

SaintMatthew · 1 May 2020, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.P.G.

Has anyone ever had success polishing a very light scratch from the side of a steel case without damaging the highly polished Rolex finish? Please don't start the get over it, or as soon as you fix this one you will get another, or ever scratch is a memory and on and on. I am just curious if it actually can be done?

This really comes down to the wearer's idea of "good enough" and their attention to detail. I would wager that the average person who owns a couple nicer watches with no background in jewelry or metalwork would find a Cape Cod cloth great. Any enthusiast or person who has spent countless hours looking at factory perfect finishes however would notice the difference fairly quickly if not immediately and thus wouldn't be very happy with the end result. If you're truly looking to restore it to like new, you need to have your watch professionally serviced which is why you see people advocating for not polishing DIY style.

I don't have enough posts to embed links but if you browse the Rolex subreddit and look at the current top post, it's a before and after of someone who used a Cape Cod cloth to polish out a significant scratch on a GMT Oyster link. If you're not familiar with Reddit, google:

"After some serious contemplation, I decided to use a Cape Cod Cloth on the scratched link (quite sinful to some I’m sure) and was careful to tape off all areas I didn’t want to touch. Pretty damn happy with the results."

Vincent65 · 1 May 2020, 10:57 PM

Cape Cod = ice-rink swirls all over the shop. Do not even try.
Leave it. RSC job. Wear it, enjoy it. If you can...

REFZ · 2 May 2020, 12:15 AM

No, you wouldn't be happy with the result because you will always see "waves" in the mirror finish.

GoingPlaces · 2 May 2020, 12:23 AM

If it's really bothering you, use the cape cod to lighten the scratch. I wouldn't go deep with it and seek perfection. Let RSC do that.

1 May 2020, 10:27 AM	#1
D.P.G. "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Real Name: David Location: Massachusetts Watch: 126710 BLNR (2019) Posts: 272	Polish steel case side Has anyone ever had success polishing a very light scratch from the side of a steel case without damaging the highly polished Rolex finish? Please don't start the get over it, or as soon as you fix this one you will get another, or ever scratch is a memory and on and on. I am just curious if it actually can be done?

1 May 2020, 11:01 AM	#2
kieselguhr "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2013 Real Name: Nick Location: Las Vegas Watch: 1601 Posts: 10,503	Polish steel case side If the area of concern was finished in high polish, there are people who have used polishing clothes like cape cod to varying success. We have a member, who is quite successful at producing good results consistently. Perhaps he will chime in for you.

1 May 2020, 11:33 AM	#3
chicagowatchman "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chicago IL Watch: Platinum DDMasterp Posts: 1,983	DO NOT USE CAPE COD CLOTH on steel it will ruin the mirror finish __________________ Men's Platinum Day Date Masterpiece Men's 18k Day Date Crown Collection Men's Franck Muller 18k Conquistador Cortez Men's SS Cartier Pasha MEMBER # 5534 USA CHICAGO IL

1 May 2020, 11:40 AM	#5
Tools TRF Moderator & 2024 DATE-JUST41 Patron Join Date: May 2007 Real Name: Larry Location: Mojave Desert Watch: GMT's Posts: 43,146	cases are refinished and polished all the time. __________________ (Chill ... It's just a watch Forum.....) NAWCC Member

1 May 2020, 11:43 AM	#7
icnbne "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Real Name: J Location: Brisbane Watch: Rolex Omega Seiko Posts: 1,562	i haven't had success with cape cod, doesn't leave a perfect mirror finish like the RSC. i now just live with scratches until service __________________ https://www.instagram.com/invites/co...ontent=5yeough

1 May 2020, 11:33 AM	#4
Yachtbuoy "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Australia Watch: 1603 Posts: 330	I mean everyone is different, but it also might be better to just leave it and way until more scratches accumulate before getting it polished. The marks are a normal part of wearing it, unfortunately

1 May 2020, 11:42 AM	#6
worldofoyster "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2019 Real Name: Vincent Location: 215 Watch: SS Sub Posts: 1,896	leave it until your next service

1 May 2020, 12:27 PM	#8
lamnyc "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: nyc Posts: 1,754	I have used simichrome metal polish. It also depends on the type of cloth you use, so rub very gently.

1 May 2020, 12:29 PM	#9
wrxsti "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Earth Posts: 1,694	leave it! more scratches will eventually show up....nothing remains prestine. Wear and enjoy, scratches are part of the journey! __________________ PP Geneva

1 May 2020, 08:49 PM	#14
brandrea 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Brian (TBone) Location: canada Watch: es make me smile Posts: 74,336	I haven’t seen good first hand do it yourself results, but RSC does a fantastic job.

1 May 2020, 09:00 PM	#15
Jim Smyth Banned Join Date: Nov 2013 Real Name: Jim Smyth Location: Florida Watch: DD Posts: 1,842	There is no way to re create that perfect mirrored finish without power tools, buffers and rouge. You also need many years of skilled training to not round off corners that need to stay crisp. You can get decent results by hand with say Cape Cod cloth but in certain lighting you will see the crazing results which wont make you happy. Best advice has already been given and its to let a pro do it and RSC is that pro.

1 May 2020, 10:57 PM	#18
Vincent65 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Switzerland Posts: 14,297	Cape Cod = ice-rink swirls all over the shop. Do not even try. Leave it. RSC job. Wear it, enjoy it. If you can... __________________

2 May 2020, 12:15 AM	#19
REFZ "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Real Name: Martin Location: Netherlands Watch: The Rolex Way Posts: 1,471	No, you wouldn't be happy with the result because you will always see "waves" in the mirror finish. __________________ 114060 - 116520 - 126334

2 May 2020, 12:23 AM	#20
GoingPlaces "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 5,343	If it's really bothering you, use the cape cod to lighten the scratch. I wouldn't go deep with it and seek perfection. Let RSC do that.

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