A professional watch polisher is capable of delicately removing both light and deep scratches from the surface of your timepiece.
In this post
Can scratches be polished out of watches?
Luckily, most scratches can be easily removed with a bit of polish and a soft buffing cloth. First, determine what type of crystal your watch contains. Then choose a polish appropriate to your type of watch crystal and buff the scratches out in a matter of minutes.
Is it OK to polish a watch?
According to vintage watch dealer Eric Wind, “I advise people to not have their watches polished or buffed since it ends up removing metal and changing the architecture of the case.” Polishing, naturally, removes metal that you can’t really add back.
How can I remove scratches from my watch band?
Brushed Stainless Steel
- To remove fine scratches, use a jewelers cloth.
- For scratches over a small area, use a fiber-glass brush (e.g. the German-made Eurotool sold by watch-tool suppliers).
- For scratches over a large area, use a Styrofoam block made for polishing finger nails (sold in beauty supply store).
Do watches lose value if polished?
If you’re looking to sell your pre-owned watch to Bob’s Watches, we always advise against having it polished beforehand. If it is a model that should be polished, we can always have it done on our end, but polishing the wrong vintage watch can take hundreds or even thousands of dollars off its resale price.
What does polishing a watch do?
When you polish, you naturally remove layers of the material, in order to make the surface smooth and scratch-free. The issue with this is that the watch loses its original shapes and lines, and is no longer the same as it was when it originally left the factory.
Does polishing ruin a watch?
A wristwatch that has undergone polishing may end up with a shinier surface, but it also loses some of its design and build. By cutting some of its metal layers out, the watch can lose some of its attractive bevels and chamfers. This usually results in softened edges, flattened bezels, and rounded lugs.
Do scratches devalue a Rolex?
But, regardless of your position on polishing, as long as no significant metal is removed, your Rolex watch won’t lose its value. We talk more about Rolex and value here. Wearing and using your Rolex watch will result in scratches. However, there are steps you can take to avoid scratching.
Can I polish scratches out of stainless steel watch?
There are, in fact, multiple methods for removing scratches from a watch’s polished surfaces, but a jeweler’s cloth is a good option. It has powder on one side which fills the scratches, while the other side keeps your hand clean and is later used to give the surface a final cleaning.
Can stainless steel watches be polished?
For watch case backs, you can lightly polish them with a rouge cloth but you won’t be able to get the deeper scratches out without removing about 1/8″ or more of the metal and removing the engraved material. The only real way to get rid of deep scratches is to laser weld to fill them and this repair is very costly.
Can you polish scratches out of stainless steel?
You can use mineral oil, vegetable oil, or even olive oil. Rub the cloth against the steel, in the direction of the grain, to polish the metal. Add more oil as necessary. Continue rubbing until the entire surface has been polished.
How many times can I polish my watch?
To keep your watch looking shiny and new, polish it every 3 months. You can easily remove small scratches from the metal with a small amount of elbow grease and patience.
Is it OK to polish a gold watch?
Polishing cloth
Be aware, however, that polishing your gold watch too much can wear down the watch and cause further damage. Stick to once every two to three months to be safe when using a polishing cloth on a gold watch.
How do you get scratches out of a Rolex?
One way to remove scratches is to use a polishing cloth. It works in both stainless and gold surfaces and is easy to use. One of the most recommended cloths are Cape Cod metal polishing cloths that come in a tin of 10. The cloths are roughly textured and soaked in polish.
Can toothpaste remove scratches?
Paste-based toothpaste acts as a mild abrasive that levels out the scratch, removing it or making it less noticeable.
How do you get rid of scratches?
The best (and safest!) way to fix your scratched and scuffed-up iPhone, Android phone, or other mobile device is to replace the screen!
Try this at your own risk.
- Pour polish into a bowl.
- Dip a soft cloth into the polish.
- Rub the cloth up and down the scratch and in circular motions.
Why should you not polish a watch?
The reason is that polishing a watch to remove nicks and scratches will result in much of the original surface area being removed and, in turn, the very architecture of the case, strap, bezel and lugs being irreparably altered.
How much does it cost to buff a Rolex?
It costs around $800 to service a Rolex. A normal Rolex overhaul ranges from $600 to $1000 and will vary depending on your model, its condition and the type of service needed.
Should you wear your Rolex everyday?
One of the best things about owning a Rolex watch is wearing it and enjoying it every day. This daily, constant wear is one of the best ways you can care for your watch. While Rolex watches are famous for their durability and robustness, your Rolex will inevitably gain scratches and dings while you wear them.
How long does it take to polish Rolex?
We are also one of the only service centres in the world who can restore stretch in Rolex bracelets and can even just polish certain parts, such as the clasp, if need be while also waterproof testing where necessary, without needing to service the watch… and all within just two to three days.
Can you remove scratches from watch face?
Toothpaste, Brasso, Displex, and Polywatch are the most commonly endorsed polishing agents. The process is as follows: Cover the bezel with tape for protection during polishing. While using a soft polishing rag (or similar), work a small amount of your chosen substance into the scratch in a circular motion.