Watches that are not safely stowed away in their cases or displayed in showcases, but are actually in use, can hardly avoid a scratch or two in the long run. Just one clumsy touch with the wrist and it happens. In many cases, it is possible to fight scratches with a polish, as we offer at Horando. What to look out for and to what extent a watch polish can be considered useful is discussed in the following.

Remember: Polishing removes material.

First of all, it is important to know that polishing removes material from the surface of the watch. In other words, polishing makes the watch a little lighter and the material a little thinner. How much removal is necessary depends largely on the depth of the scratch.
If you polish your watch or have it polished very often, you must also reckon with a visually perceptible deformation of the case. It is therefore important to weigh up whether the watch can be expected to undergo further polishing or whether it would be better to live with a scratch or two in the case.

DIY polish: polishing light scratches out of the watch yourself

If the optical blemish is a light, superficial scratch, you can polish the watch yourself. To prepare for the job, remove the strap from the case and put on disposable gloves. Then polishing cloths, for example Cape Cod polishing cloths for watches, are used to carefully work the surface. Depending on how hard the material of the watch is, it may take a few minutes before the first results become visible.

Heavily scratched watches belong in expert hands

DIY polishing is not advisable for very high-priced luxury watches or if there are deep scratches. Instead, the watch should be placed in the hands of an expert who can professionally machine refurbish it. Unlike the treatment of light scratches with polishing cloths, a lot can go wrong with mechanical watch polishing. For this reason, it is strongly recommended that you do not attempt to polish your watch yourself with sandpaper – it is worth investing in the work of a professional.

Don’ts: Avoidable mistakes when polishing your watch

Be especially careful with watches that have shiny or satin-finished surfaces. Because: polishing ruins the matt elements in no time at all. No matter whether they are polished by machine or with a cloth, the satin-finished surfaces must therefore be taped off or precisely recessed. Polishing gold-plated watches is also difficult. In most cases, the gold plating is very thinly applied, so that polishing quickly reveals the material underneath and no visually desirable result can be expected.

Which watch glasses can be polished?

What do you do if the scratches are not on the case or bracelet, but in the watch glass? Here it depends on the material: While Plexiglas can be polished easily with the help of white polishing paste and cotton pads, polishing hard glasses, such as mineral or sapphire glass, is usually fruitless. In principle, there are a few more serious options for dealing with scratches in the glass, but these are so time-consuming and cost-intensive that it usually makes more sense to simply have the glass replaced.

Decision-making aid: Polishing – yes, please or no, thank you?

Ultimately, every proud watch owner must decide for himself whether he wants to have his watch polished. It should be borne in mind that a polish will be regarded as a deviation from the original condition of the watch when it is sold and will therefore reduce its value. If, on the other hand, a sale is out of the question and the scratches are perceived as a serious flaw, there is nothing to stop the watch from being polished. If you are unsure whether polishing is the best decision in your individual case, you should seek professional advice and not act rashly, but consider the matter carefully.