Quick Polishing Jubilee Clasp

[WatchEnthusiast7369]

Hello and I hope everyone has been well. I wear my BLRO daily. I just love this watch. It goes with so many of my outfits and on a Jubilee bracelet, it’s so damn comfortable.

I’m pretty much aware that over polishing a watch is not a good idea and even if I do a decent job polishing the clasp at home, wearing it as much as I do, more than likely, it’s just gonna look scratched up again after several weeks. This would mean I just keep doing the same thing until it’s over polished.

With that said, do any of you do a slight polish on the clasp to keep it looking a little bit more fresh than mine is right now, or just keep rocking it with it’s battle scars until it becomes unbearable that a polish is truly necessary? And if it does become necessary, how would you define that?

One last thing.. it’s not really the scratches that bother me it’s almost like an oxidation or like kind of a fogginess that’s appearing on the sides of the middle part that’s not brushed, but it’s shiny/polished.

I know this is all completely subjective, so I’m really just open to individual opinions as I think that’s what the point of a forum like this is… thanks in advance!

[CarlOver]

The regular friction on clothing is refinishing the clasp in those areas and is resulting in the fog as you call it. The scratches are coming from your belt, desk, pants. Someone will chime in on how they sort out their clasp. How old is the clasp in the photo? To get scratches out you will need to remove the surrounding material down to the level of the bottom of the scratch to make it fully back to polished.

[WatchEnthusiast7369]

Originally Posted by CarlOver

The regular friction on clothing is refinishing the clasp in those areas and is resulting in the fog as you call it. The scratches are coming from your belt, desk, pants. Someone will chime in on how they sort out their clasp. How old is the clasp in the photo? To get scratches out you will need to remove the surrounding material down to the level of the bottom of the scratch to make it fully back to polished.

I bought it used in July 2023. It had a light polish before I purchased it.

[JDsnewwatch]

I know I'm going to catch hate for this one. When I got mine back from the last service, I put a piece of scotch tape on the clasp. no more scratches.

[WatchEnthusiast7369]

Originally Posted by JDsnewwatch

I know I'm going to catch hate for this one. When I got mine back from the last service, I put a piece of scotch tape on the clasp. no more scratches.

Sure I probably wouldn't do that myself but not hate. I think everyone is entitled to what makes them feel happy or better when wearing the watch.

[WatchEnthusiast7369]

I love this watch so much... The clasp is starting to bother me, but I keep telling myself that if you wear it and love it, it's just natural.

[ArtNouveau]

You can tape off the brushed sides and use Cape Cod or Sunshine polishing cloths on the shiny center. It won’t bring back the factory mirror finish but it will improve the look somewhat. You are not removing anywhere near enough metal by hand to alter the shape of the clasp. The only thing I ever see overpolished on a clasp is the crown worn down by a machine. Avoid that and you’ll be fine.
My Jubilee BLRO is over five years old now and the case and bracelet still look almost new, the clasp definitely shows the most wear.

[padi56]

All normal wearing scratches best left to normal routine RSC service only.

[Scottyboy]

It's your call OP. Refinish yourself but realise you will be doing this every few months if you do.

At some point, you will need to make peace with the daily wear on display here, you simply can't refinish the clasp every few months unless you plan on replacing the whole assembly during every routine service.

I was like this when I got my Submariner in 2020, but eventually embraced the daily wear marks which will be addressed when the watch goes to RSC for its first service.

[1st amg]

Cape Cod cloth works wonders for your imperfections.

[1William]

I would just leave it alone and get use to it. Light scratches are part of it and after awhile they will blend in and be part of the clasp. If you choose to get on the hamster wheel and polish it as you see the scratches you will never get off that wheel. Save a polish for the service in a few years. Great watch and one of my favorites.

[WatchEnthusiast7369]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

You can tape off the brushed sides and use Cape Cod or Sunshine polishing cloths on the shiny center. It won’t bring back the factory mirror finish but it will improve the look somewhat. You are not removing anywhere near enough metal by hand to alter the shape of the clasp. The only thing I ever see overpolished on a clasp is the crown worn down by a machine. Avoid that and you’ll be fine.
My Jubilee BLRO is over five years old now and the case and bracelet still look almost new, the clasp definitely shows the most wear.

Good to know. But the cloths I’ll give it a shot. Yeah it makes sense with a daily wearer.

[WatchEnthusiast7369]

Originally Posted by padi56

All normal wearing scratches best left to normal routine RSC service only.

Good advice. I’m feeling the same about it.

[WatchEnthusiast7369]

Originally Posted by 1st amg

Cape Cod cloth works wonders for your imperfections.

Thanks I did purchase it :)

[WatchEnthusiast7369]

Originally Posted by 1William

I would just leave it alone and get use to it. Light scratches are part of it and after awhile they will blend in and be part of the clasp. If you choose to get on the hamster wheel and polish it as you see the scratches you will never get off that wheel. Save a polish for the service in a few years. Great watch and one of my favorites.

Yeah that’s what I was planning to do now at this point…

I’m wearing my Sky Dweller more and even that is starting to get scratched up on the clasp. I buy the watches to wear anyways so I’m happy :)

[tsekh]

I'd just leave it. I polished the clasp of one of my watches which had scratches like yours. But after wearing it almost daily for a few weeks it accumulated enough new scratches and it looks like what it was like before I polished it. Scratches on the clasp are unavoidable unless you don't wear it.

[Dotikolos]

Originally Posted by Alksion

I love this watch so much... The clasp is starting to bother me, but I keep telling myself that if you wear it and love it, it's just natural.

Nice Mercedes

[cdmorenot]

Hey man! Great looking watch.

I've gotten more used to the scratches on the polished areas. I actually think they look great after a while. One thing I have not been able to overcome is my dislike for "scuffs" which leave a shadow on the brushed sections.

For those, I picked up a sanding block for watches. A little tape and I keep my clasps and brushed areas clean. Here is what I'm talking about...

[WiseRat]

I know some people have strong opinions on sticker protection kits, but they work wonders on clasps to keep them looking new. And they are virtually invisible when applied correctly. My BLNR still looks flawless after 9 months of wear, thanks to the protection I applied on the clasp.

[Matty99365]

Ask your AD to put a sticker on it. Should last about a year.

[Dave O]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

You can tape off the brushed sides and use Cape Cod or Sunshine polishing cloths on the shiny center. It won’t bring back the factory mirror finish but it will improve the look somewhat. You are not removing anywhere near enough metal by hand to alter the shape of the clasp. The only thing I ever see overpolished on a clasp is the crown worn down by a machine. Avoid that and you’ll be fine.
My Jubilee BLRO is over five years old now and the case and bracelet still look almost new, the clasp definitely shows the most wear.

Originally Posted by WiseRat

I know some people have strong opinions on sticker protection kits, but they work wonders on clasps to keep them looking new. And they are virtually invisible when applied correctly. My BLNR still looks flawless after 9 months of wear, thanks to the protection I applied on the clasp.

I've used both the Cape Cod and Sunshine with good results. After about two years of daily wear on my bluesy I decided to use a Cape Cod on all of my PCL's and on the polished area of the clasp. HUGE improvement. Removed all of the minor scratches, but not the deep ones.

I have since installed watch protection film on the polished area of the clasp (just the center strip, not the sides) on each new watch I have purchased. I install if right after purchase, before any scratches are on the clasp. That being said, you could polish the clasp and then install some film to protect it from any further damage.

As mentioned above, when properly installed, it is virtually invisible and can only really be seen from a short distance. And even then you can only notice the edges where the film stops. The film itself is invisible. See the photo below. No more scratches.

[vesnyder]

I've created my own protection from 3M self-adhesive tape (like what they use on cars for protection) and it has worked well. I also use polyWatch on my polished areas when they get too scratched and it works good. The protection tape yellows after about a year and I make a new one.

[Michael T]

This is a great tutorial:

https://www.minus4plus6.com/maintenance.php

[WatchEnthusiast7369]

Originally Posted by tsekh

I'd just leave it. I polished the clasp of one of my watches which had scratches like yours. But after wearing it almost daily for a few weeks it accumulated enough new scratches and it looks like what it was like before I polished it. Scratches on the clasp are unavoidable unless you don't wear it.

Well said. Just good to get the feedback from others. Going to wear it with pride and honor.

[WatchEnthusiast7369]

Originally Posted by Dotikolos

Nice Mercedes

Appreciate the kind words. Nice community here. Yeah GLE 53 Coupe. My pride and joy is my M8 though. Can’t get enough of that V8.

[WatchEnthusiast7369]

Originally Posted by cdmorenot

Hey man! Great looking watch.

I've gotten more used to the scratches on the polished areas. I actually think they look great after a while. One thing I have not been able to overcome is my dislike for "scuffs" which leave a shadow on the brushed sections.

For those, I picked up a sanding block for watches. A little tape and I keep my clasps and brushed areas clean. Here is what I'm talking about...

Yeah I’m going to try that just for the shadowing you’re referring to. Scratches I’ll just live :)

[WatchEnthusiast7369]

Originally Posted by WiseRat

I know some people have strong opinions on sticker protection kits, but they work wonders on clasps to keep them looking new. And they are virtually invisible when applied correctly. My BLNR still looks flawless after 9 months of wear, thanks to the protection I applied on the clasp.

Interesting. I just feel weird about covering anything on the watch, but wouldn’t hurt to try it. Could always quickly remove it. Might try that small cover on the Rose Gold clasp of my Daytona Oysterflex picking up at 1 PM tomorrow.

[WatchEnthusiast7369]

Originally Posted by Dave O

I've used both the Cape Cod and Sunshine with good results. After about two years of daily wear on my bluesy I decided to use a Cape Cod on all of my PCL's and on the polished area of the clasp. HUGE improvement. Removed all of the minor scratches, but not the deep ones.

I have since installed watch protection film on the polished area of the clasp (just the center strip, not the sides) on each new watch I have purchased. I install if right after purchase, before any scratches are on the clasp. That being said, you could polish the clasp and then install some film to protect it from any further damage.

As mentioned above, when properly installed, it is virtually invisible and can only really be seen from a short distance. And even then you can only notice the edges where the film stops. The film itself is invisible. See the photo below. No more scratches.

Thanks for the reply I’m picking up two new watches tomorrow. I think this is what I’ll do for those and see how it pans out and if I like it then maybe I’ll try to clean up the class a little bit and apply film. Easy to revert if I don’t like it.

[WatchEnthusiast7369]

Originally Posted by vesnyder

I've created my own protection from 3M self-adhesive tape (like what they use on cars for protection) and it has worked well. I also use polyWatch on my polished areas when they get too scratched and it works good. The protection tape yellows after about a year and I make a new one.

Does the film get choppy or bubbly?

[WatchEnthusiast7369]

Originally Posted by Michael T

This is a great tutorial:

https://www.minus4plus6.com/maintenance.php

Wow that is a detailed tutorial. Thank you for sharing!