Polish my own watch?

[btisko]

I have a Breitling Crosswinds and it doesn't look as good as I want it to after 5 years. How hard would it be to polish it up? I do have a dremel tool, and I know that I would need a chunk of some kind of rouge, but do you think it is worth me doing? I would rather do it myself if I could learn to do it properly. Any suggestions on how I could learn to do it w/o me hurting it the first time trying?

[Austin]

I would be very careful with a dremel when polishing a watch. It could leave permanent scuff marks. I would use recommend starting with dish soap and a firm toothbrush. Polish it with jewelry polish and a cotton cloth.

[Taz]

I would be very careful with a dremel when polishing a watch. It could leave permanent scuff marks. I would use recommend starting with dish soap and a firm toothbrush. Polish it with jewelry polish and a cotton cloth.

+1 but if it is stainless steel with the right attachments you could get it back to high gloss if you know what you are doing but risky as Austin stated.

[Stauff]

So better 'watch' out... (sorry, couldn't resist :biggrin: )

[GeeQue]

In order to get a high gloss on stainless steel you use the "green stick" polishing compound. It would be a bit cumbersome to do this with the dremel since you should use both hands to guide the watch along the path of the buff. I would not venture into this with a Breitling if you have not done this before. You can damage case parts...the bezel enamel, the crown or other buttons.

The proper way to do it would be:

1. remove the movement and the glass from the case.
2. ultrasonic clean the case/band
3. polish the metal with compound with a large buffing wheel (this will insure a uniform buff)
4. ultrasonic clean again to remove the compound.
5. Dry thoroughly before replacing movement back into case.

As a watchmaker for 20+ years now, I can say that 15% of my business is derived from individuals who venture into projects like this and then frantically go seeking help after the damage has been done.

btisko,
My suggestion to you is to go to a reputable business which has a qualified professional that can do this. If you in fact own a Breitling - protect your investment and don't try to do this yourself. You may end up spending more money than you think.

[btisko]

I would be very careful with a dremel when polishing a watch. It could leave permanent scuff marks. I would use recommend starting with dish soap and a firm toothbrush. Polish it with jewelry polish and a cotton cloth.


I used the soap toothbrush method and here is the result. Thanks so much for the advice..


http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/4482/dsc00439yq2.th.jpg (http://img48.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00439yq2.jpg)


http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/1170/dsc00438gj4.th.jpg (http://img48.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00438gj4.jpg)

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/8094/dsc00432kx0.th.jpg (http://img109.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00432kx0.jpg)


and one of my new stuff:
http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/6355/dsc00436wl2.th.jpg (http://img48.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00436wl2.jpg)

[Austin]

I'm glad it worked out for you. I would add that Gonzalo is also correct about sending your watch for maintenance and cleaning to an authorized dealer. I send my Rolex watches in every 5 years for an overhaul. My watches will be gifted to my children at some point in my life.

[sonvolt10]

Austin,

Can I ask where you send your Rolex and how much it costs for the "overhaul."

I have a 10 year old Submariner that sure could use a good cleaning.

Thanks

[Austin]

Austin,

Can I ask where you send your Rolex and how much it costs for the "overhaul."

I have a 10 year old Submariner that sure could use a good cleaning.

Thanks

The submariner is my favorite. I usually go through my local authorized dealer. In the past they have sent it to New York for maintenance. I think they have a factory trained technicians somewhere in NY. It has taken about 6 weeks to get them back. I watches come back almost like new. Some dealers have authorized factory trained technicians in-house. I would call around and see who services your Rolex.

The cost is variable depending on what is done. My bill usually runs about $500. Good luck.

[Dennis]

There is an excellent company here in Michigan:
http://www.universalwatch.net/index.htm

Dennis

[urr-lord]

just as an aside.i work at a prison and once watched an inmate polish a watch crystal with cigarette ash,toilet paper and toothpaste.started with paste and then used ash .it took him a weekend,but what else did he have to do?when he got through with it the watch crystal looked like a water reflecting pool!i forget what he charged the other inmates for this.

[ratcheer]

I usually just wash my Rolex in the sink with a toothbrush and Dawn, It comes out as shiny as anything.

The store where I bought it used to service mine in-house, but the last time I took it (1999), they sent it to Rolex in Dallas. At that time, it cost about $300.

It is about time to have it serviced, again. Its starting to run slow.

Tim

[vincebell]

Cape Cod Polishing Cloths are the best I've come across. They are made for specfic brands of expensive watches. There is one seller on ebay that carries the full line. Do an ebay search for Cape Cod Polishing Cloths.

[KingSlug]

I have taken many watch courses, apprenticed under watch makers, repaired my own and friends, have a complete shop dedicated to watch repair and micro machining and while I am no master watch maker but let me suggest "Please sent it to a good watch maker".

Your watch is like a car it needs to be serviced to work properly. A watch needs to be serviced every 2 years and if its waterproof it needs to be checked for intergrity (yes waterproof/resistant watches lose this quality over time). Most watches I buy are of 2 categories: neglected and repaired by owner. Neglected: water(rust)dust/lotion intrusion, dropped, wound to tight, worn parts and etc. Repaired: usually just someone adding a drop of triple oil or WD40 gumming up the works.

Please take it to a professional.

BTW: I tried to amaze everyone I was camping with by polishing the base of a soda can with abit of Tolberone and some foil wrapper to a high polish to start a fire. After about 2 hrs I got a piece of paper to light. Nobody cared, except the wife who was pissed I wasted her chocolate.

[rtaylor61]

I love watches. My love affair with them began back in the '60's when my dad won a Seiko in a World Book selling contest. But I have never had any interest in a Rolex. A service job for $500? Wow. No disrespect, but I can pick up a couple of quality Seiko or a Movado for that. Wow. I had no idea. Glad I don't have WAD!

Randy

[Austin]

I love watches. My love affair with them began back in the '60's when my dad won a Seiko in a World Book selling contest. But I have never had any interest in a Rolex. A service job for $500? Wow. No disrespect, but I can pick up a couple of quality Seiko or a Movado for that. Wow. I had no idea. Glad I don't have WAD!

Randy

Randy, the cost for maintenance on Rolex is expensive but Seikos are not heirlooms and do not last 60 years.

[crowdog]

I love watches. My love affair with them began back in the '60's when my dad won a Seiko in a World Book selling contest. But I have never had any interest in a Rolex. A service job for $500? Wow. No disrespect, but I can pick up a couple of quality Seiko or a Movado for that. Wow. I had no idea. Glad I don't have WAD!

Randy

Actually it is WIS. Watch Idiot Savant. I too love the Seiko and Citizens. I have my collection at my office, and guys always check them out.

I love the automatics.

Marty

[ratcheer]

Here is a related question:

As described in an above post, I just wash my Rolex in the kitchen sink with Dawn and a toothbrush. But, I saw my wife's ultrasonic jewelry cleaner the other day and I have been bugging myself wondering if it would be okay to clean my watch in it? Would the sonic waves upset the timing mechanism? Would the vibrations help the liquid work past the waterproof features of the watch and get inside?

It is probably a bad idea, but what do y'all think?

Tim

[rachelgreen]

you can send them to the polish store

[Vestal-man101]

ok so i have a brand new Vestal destroyer watch, its made from stainless but it has like a chrome finish, now i just got some small skratches on it today now i want to get rid of them, how can i do this at home? also i want to buy something that i can put on it and make it harder to get skratches is there anything i can buy for this ?

or can i just go buy polish at a store for it?

thanks

if you want you can just email me at [email protected]

[texquill]

the cost for maintenance on Rolex is expensive but Seikos are not heirlooms and do not last 60 years.

I agree. My 1952 stainless and gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual is still accurate within 1 minute a month, and I've been wearing it daily since the late 1970s. Yes, $500 is a lot of money to spend to have it cleaned and adjusted every 4 or 5 years, but I'm planning to leave the watch to one of my grandsons (hopefully a long time from now!).

[spindlecone]

$500 to have a Rolex serviced? thats extreamly High

[ratcheer]

$500 to have a Rolex serviced? thats extreamly High

The last time I asked, it was closer to $600.

Tim

[Austin]

The last time I asked, it was closer to $600.

Tim

I took my Submariner for service this past summer and was quoted $750. I had my watchmaker do it for $250. The last time I had it serviced in 2005 it was $500.