?Watch Restoration?

[agp423]

This antique watch here is showing many signs of wear and tear along with significant discoloration. Anyone know how I can restore the original color and shine?

[Eddie6th]

Re: ?Watch Restoration?

what material is it made of? Stainless Steel? gold?

Is it plated? It'll say on the case somewhere,possibly where the strap attatches to the case.

what make is it?

[agp423]

Re: ?Watch Restoration?

The straps are made of stainless steel, not sure what the frame of the face is made of. It probably is plated, and it's an old Rolex.

[Murr1525]

Re: ?Watch Restoration?

Well, one key is do you care if you play around, and anything gets worse?

In those pics, is that rust, or is it plating wearing off?

[agp423]

Re: ?Watch Restoration?

I guess I don't mind if it gets worse. I can just peel off the plate on the entire frame? (Just kidding). The brown is not rust, it's places where the platings have come off.

[Murr1525]

Re: ?Watch Restoration?

The only real option is using a little metal polish, or even #105/UC, and going to town. Of course working it too much could wear off more plating ,esp in areas where it is thin.

You cant fix the bad scratches, but can give it some shine back. Even better if you can seperate the links at all to work on it.

Nxt Metal Polish is the mild one if you can find it anywhere, Hot Rims Mag and Aluminum is a bit stronger.

[Eddie6th]

Re: ?Watch Restoration?

I wouldn't have expected any rolex's to have been plated?

Most are either SS,gold or SS and gold.

Can you put up a pic of the face?I think you mean the bezel.

If the strap is steel,there's not really much you can do with it. Has it got sentimental value or are you looking to sell?

Rolex's have good value.

[agp423]

Re: ?Watch Restoration?

I wouldn't have expected any rolex's to have been plated?

Most are either SS,gold or SS and gold.

Can you put up a pic of the face?I think you mean the bezel.

If the strap is steel,there's not really much you can do with it. Has it got sentimental value or are you looking to sell?

Rolex's have good value.

Its financial value isn't really important, I'm going to be keeping this watch for a long long time. And most, if not all, new Rolex watches are pure SS, but some very very old ones - before Rolex became the highly priced Rolex as we know it today - are plated.

[Eddie6th]

Re: ?Watch Restoration?

yeah.I've seen really old rolex's.I wasn't sure if some where plated or not.

I'll tell you what is the best for cleaning watches and jewellery.

First.clean off a lot of the oil residue from handling and by wearing.If you can take off the strap,put it in a dish of soapy water for 10 mins.If you can't,just wipe it the best you can.(I reckon it's water resistant,plus it's age....better not let water get on it,as the seals will be old).

You can use a clean cloth,maybe even a microfibre,dampened with soapy water.Then wipe away the soap residue with another damp cloth.

To clean it up a bit,you'll need to get a 'Blue polishing cloth',sometimes called a silver cloth.The ones I've got are made by 'Goddards'.

What you do is fold the cloth in two and place it on the edge of a table.You can then gently polish the watch against it.The sides and the back of the case you clean on the top of the cloth,and the crevices on the edge of the cloth(does that make sense?)But you'll have to be extra carefull with the plated parts.You don't want to break off any more.

As for the strap,there isn't really anything you can do with it.It looks like it's steel with deep scratches.You can only try and clean it up a little.

[agp423]

Re: ?Watch Restoration?

Is there some type of applicable plating that I can use to cover up those spots with worn-out plating?

[Murr1525]

Re: ?Watch Restoration?

Have to ask a jeweler maybe?

[agp423]

Re: ?Watch Restoration?

It's hard to find one that will even look at a Rolex without charging me...

[Eddie6th]

Re: ?Watch Restoration?

About applying a type of plating?

None to my knowledge.

You would have to speak to a jeweller about plating.

Is the strap original? It's a design I havn't noticed before.

you can ask a jeweller about plating.He doesn't need to charge for that question.

[Murr1525]

Re: ?Watch Restoration?

Yeah, dont even show the watch. Just ask about replating a damaged band, etc.