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A scratched Seamaster taught me the value of hand-polishing
I used to think hand-polishing was a relic from past watchmaking. Always reached for my ultrasonic cleaner and buffing wheels. Then a customer brought in his father's old Omega Seamaster, covered in fine scratches. He asked for a gentle touch to keep its story intact. I decided to try traditional polishing compounds by hand. The process was slow, each stroke deliberate. When done, the case had a warm, even sheen that machines can't replicate. His smile was all the confirmation I needed. This small win reminded me that sometimes the old ways are best for preservation.
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wren5808mo ago
Hand-polishing a Seamaster? Seriously overblown.
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parker1836mo ago
Actually look at it from the metal composition side instead of just the polishing technique. The Seamaster uses 316L steel which has this really thin chromium oxide layer that protects it, and when you hand polish you're essentially stripping that layer off unevenly. So yeah it'll look shiny for a week but now you've got bare metal in spots that's way more reactive to oxygen and moisture, making it scratch and stain faster than the factory finish. Nobody talks about that microscopic protective coating getting ruined.
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tessat998mo ago
My friend had his Seamaster hand-polished, and I gotta say, it was overblown. He said it scratched even easier after, idk, maybe it's just me but that seems counterproductive.
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ryantorres8mo ago
Have you ever had something professionally done only for it to turn out worse? I mean, @tessat99's story about the Seamaster scratching easier after polishing hits close to home. It reminds me of when I paid to have my vintage desk refinished, and the finish ended up feeling tacky and collecting every bit of lint. Idk, maybe some materials just don't take well to certain processes, or the craftsman was having an off day. It's kinda frustrating when you're expecting an upgrade and get the opposite.
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