Honesty and Integrity always win. The slight openings between the links of metal bracelets are also privy to settling dust and dirt, which can lead to wear or even corrosion. It does work to a certain degree… You do of course deform the case, and there are limits to enticing the material to change its position… Rolex.uk for example doing amazing work on polishing, Omega.uk not too bad as well. The workshop lazered on new metal and made it as good as new and it was cheap too. By naming their company after the great Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, they wanted to celebrate their Polish history and origin.. Again, if the cloth becomes too black, reapply the polish using a clean section. The main and true reason why some workshops don’t want to polish the customers watches is that the polishing is a time consuming process and instead let say 4 services (manual mechanical) a day with no polishing involved it’s possible to complete only 2 with the polishing per watchmaker. 5. Tag Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 01: $5,300 A trip to the watch forums in search of scratch-fix techniques for this crystal type will yield about a dozen different remedies. I’ve been looking at this site as i feel i’ll be needing the watch guys and their skills in the near future. Many watches can be opened up by simply inserting the flat edge of a screwdriver into the edge of the casing and snapping the case open. All you need is a good-quality metal polish. If your watch is made of a precious metal (such as gold), you will want to use either an extra-soft brush, microfiber cloth, or just your hands to avoid damaging the softer material. Rub a small amount of your chosen polish over the case in a circular motion, using a soft polishing rag. Proper case-marks are usually a good indication of gold-content, but gold-testing is advised if you want to be sure. It is also what I find to be one of the most satisfying parts of being a watchmaker. Where else do we keep our memories? I doubt they say that you can polish watch cases forever without any lasting damage. Sad what has happened to the one in your picture though. Using a soft cloth, buff the surface with watch crystal polish, using circular motions until the scratches are no longer visible ; If this does not work, the scratches may be too deep to buff out. Over time, the polished look of a stainless-steel watch can begin to dull. all idea of the good polishing is to keep the original shape/lines of the case and bracelet. 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. Recently I watched a video on watchuseek in the forum that is for vintages watches. Our experienced watch polishing and watch refurbishment department can totally revitalise and rejuvenate your timepiece. Cheers Tom. If you have a mid-priced watch, you’re likely telling time through a mineral crystal. After a minute, remove the watch, and immediately dry it off. The plastic resin of a white Casio G-Shock gets dirty quickly with regular use. New watch glass (plastic) too. We are mainly dealing with vintage watches. It’s a myth that buffing works without any removal of material, but I accept that it’s a lot gentler than polishing. No Material is added or removed, even with deep scratches! Most people who collect vintage watches know that polishing reduces the resale value considerably. When you remove sun block, lotion, or oil, use a soap-free detergent, then rinse and dry your Galaxy Watch thoroughly. Hi. The case is ruined, and with that, the watch is ruined. On the reverse you could see all the circular swirls from the buffing. This can easily be 1/10mm or more… Once that is done, you polish the case, and remove more material. Everyone seems to have the “correct” way of doing it, when, in reality, it’s hard to go wrong as long as you follow directions. For valuable vintage watches, polishing a watch's case is known to potentially decrease its value: it can noticeably alter the case's silhouette and will never be quite the same as the original factory finish anyway. Now that you have the movement and the crystal out of the watch you can clean the case without damaging either. If there are deep scratches, material will be removed. Wash the case with warm soapy water to remove polish residues, as before. If the watch was mine with this horrible unsightly scratch i would hit it directly with a polishing mop to just soften its edges. I couldn’t bear looking it so I sold it. There is no rotating buffing wheel required. The watch came out of the box with a thin transparent soft sheet of plastic wrapped around the case for protection. Rub to remove fingerprints and smudges from the crystal or glass. The watch looks now clean and shiny but there are still some micro abrasives on the surface. ‘there are limits to enticing the material to change its position’ -Christian. To get a satin finish, prepare the watch case with a high polish as described before. Again, if the cloth becomes too black, reapply the polish using a clean section. Surely not? With all respect. Using a polishing cloth or light steel wool, apply the chrome polish to the affected area in a circular motion for a few minutes, topping up the polish top avoid using a dry cloth. If the scratches are still visible, repeat the process. "With a soft, clean cloth, wipe the inside of the band and wipe gently around the case back—this will remove excess moisture and any lotion build-up … There are some good videos on youtube, just look for “buffing and polishing”. Many watches can be opened up by simply inserting the flat edge of a screwdriver into the edge of the casing and snapping the case open. I think you can answer the question yourself. If you choice is not to polish the customers watches please don’t tell that polishing is a bad thing to do. i own a ’68 primered ranchero and don’t polish my watches. Polish the case and remove any scratches; Clean and polish the crystal (or replace, if necessary) What are some signs that you need a watch overhaul? Apply a small amount of the metal polish onto the applicator pad that's provided. Watch Repair UK we pride ourselves on providing an exceptional watch polishing service using state of the art watch polishing and lapping equipment. Maybe that’s why so many others encourage it, as they are looking to “force” another purchase somewhere down the line. My watch and desk and armchair and walking stick and my own skin show the history of time and good use and respectful maintenance. I am sure they have other ways to do this as well. You have a few options here – you can clean with a polishing or lint-free cloth, a soft bristled toothbrush, or a chamois cloth. This will remove most of the dirt and oxidation and make the areas shine where the surface level gold plating is still good. Are all silver-colored watch cases made of silver? To cut the long story good polishing is ART and you can learn it for years. If you own a specialty watch, consult the directions on how to properly do this so you do not break the watch. Rinse the watch case under warm water and dry and polish with your cotton cloth ensuring that all of the paste has been removed If any patina still remains then repeat steps 6-9 again. Removing Mineral Glass Watch Crystal Scratches. Step 2 Hold the stainless steel watch firmly in one hand with the reverse side up. What metals were commonly used to make watch cases? And if it is heat that’s required to ‘move the metal about’ then I doubt he’d still be holding it at the circa 1400 °C melt point of stainless steel – or he has asbestos hands , completely disagree. Finally move to the watch case and bezel itself, careful to avoid the glass. If they would have been polished at every service, nothing would be left of the cases. Most important in a good polishing is to do not loose the shape of the case and bracelet ant to take as less as possible. Rub the cloth back and forth over the link. I wonder if there is any solution other than a whole new case…. These polishers allow you to remove rust from watch cases and watch movements, as well as polish the watch hands and give them a high shine. with these pieces the very healthy idea of organic change has been introduced into appreciation of even not very vintage timepieces. Although there is a difference between mechanical and manual watch movements, they are cleaned quite similarly. Is every gold-colored case watch case made of gold? Please pop in anytime you are in the area. Simichrome works in two different ways: it's both a mild abrasive and a chemical polish. i’d say do neither unless it’s absolutely necessary. Dip the brush in the solution, and gently brush the watch to clean. Wait a few minutes then remove the toothpaste with a moistened soft cloth, using small, circular polishing motions. You can tell pretty quickly whether the scratch is fading or not. That is unquestionably true. Is it ok to have it re-brushed? and many had. The “respect” seem to be new found, and very welcome. If you use the tool, rotate it in circular motions, never pressing too hard in any one spot. Lots of windows, shields, headlight lenses and guards are now made with clear plastic. This type of watch glass commonly found in mid-range watches. I have a steel Omega that has been lightly polished (before I bought it) and I have realised that it should have a brushed finish.