When Not to Polish Your Watch
There are a lot of people who stand by the side that you should not polish your luxury watch. But why do they say so? There are certain reasons why you should not polish your watch and they are listed as follows.
Vintage or Collector’s Watches with Strong Value
Avoid polishing a vintage watch, especially one with significant historical or collectible value, such as the first reference Rolex Pepsi or an early Royal Oak or Nautilus model. Polishing can remove the original finish and patina, which are often highly valued by collectors. Watches that are considered collectors items often hold better value when they are left unpolished. Besides not being polished before, these watches also need to be maintained in a good condition in order to get a better value in the secondary market.
Watches Made of Gold or Platinum
Watches made of precious metals like gold or platinum should not be polished. The right way to put it is that these watches should not be polished as often as their Stainless Steel counterparts. Polishing removes a very thin layer of the metal each time, which can eventually alter the watch’s shape and reduce its value. So, it is always recommended to take care of these watches, wear them occasionally and only think about polishing them only after they have really been beat down.
Untrusted or Cheap Polishing Services
Polishing has the ability to bring your watch back to its factory condition. Due to this statement, a lot of people just fall for cheap polishing services. Yes, there are people would be willing to do a polishing job for as less as AED 200-300. But these polishing jobs are relatively bad and can result in a poor job that might ruin the watch’s shape and finish. A bad polishing job can significantly decrease the watch’s value in the secondary market. Always choose a reputable and experienced professional for polishing your luxury watch.
The Benefits of Polishing
While there are situations where polishing should be avoided, it’s important to note that polishing does not always ruin a watch. In fact, there are several benefits of watch polishing.
Restores Appearance
Have a wedding or an important event coming up? Instead of getting a new watch, you can choose to get your existing watch a new life by getting it polished. As long as it is not a vintage/collector’s item, you can feel free to get it polished from a reputed service center. Polishing can make your watch look brand new, removing scratches and blemishes that accumulate over time.
Increases Resale Value
Over the years of owning a timepiece, it is evident that it will show signs of usage. At times these signs can be really bad and can even scare off buyers. So, if you are looking to sell your watch and get a good price for it, it is best to polish it rather than list it in poor condition. However, always inform the buyer that the watch has been polished.
Personal Enjoyment
If there is a watch that you wear on a daily basis, you can enjoy it even more by polishing it every 2-3 years. In case it is a precious metal, you can consider a polish every 4-5 years instead. But after every few years, you get to enjoy your watch as much as you did on the very first day your brought it home from the dealership.
Polishing a watch: Is it good or bad?
As stated above, as long as it is not a collector’s piece and you are getting the polishing job done by a professional, there is no harm. By understanding when and how to polish your watch, you can maintain its beauty and value for years to come.
