Community Stories

Caseback cleanup/ polishing

tech396
Posts
128
Likes
525
I recently bought a 125.003 survivor watch, but the caseback has typical marks and I'm considering a cleanup and here's what I'm thinking of doing. Please correct me if I'm going about it the wrong way.
1) Mount the caseback on my 4 jaw jeweler's lathe so the back is 100% exposed.
2) spin the lathe at slow speed
3) using 800 or fiber wet/dry emery cloth mounted to a flat backing foam pad that is somewhat ridged, but will flex slightly.
4) apply light pressure to the caseback by continually moving the wet/dry emery in a circular pattern for less than 10 seconds and gradually turning to 2000 before final polish.

Any experience is appreciated. I'm a experienced collector car restorer but new to this.

PS, the watch is currently in the mail and I don't have it.
Thank you

Screenshot_20250414-102510.webp
 
SOG53
Posts
2,200
Likes
4,397
I would say don’t do it. You will likely remove the Seamonster which is lightly etched on this watch and further mar the watch and reduce its value. And to what end? The Caseback is not visible on your wrist?
 
tech396
Posts
128
Likes
525
SOG53 SOG53
I would say don’t do it. You will likely remove the Seamonster which is lightly etched on this watch and further mar the watch and reduce its value. And to what end? The Caseback is not visible on your wrist?
 
tech396
Posts
128
Likes
525
Thanks SOG53. Surely there must be a way. But I agree 100% regarding the dangers. I'm asking if the professional watchmakers have done this without devaluing, and what the standard process is because I've seen it done. As far as it being hidden when in use goes, , I agree. I only ask if there's a safe way to improve the appearance. Cheers
 
JimInOz
Posts
16,799
Likes
35,202
I agree with @SOG53. The scratches/gouges could be deeper than the engraving (which is very shallow).
Any attempt to polish the scratches out will remove the logo before all of the scratches are gone.
 
Dan S
Posts
21,867
Likes
49,610
I think the scratches are probably deeper than the engraving, or at least similar in depth. So you are going to end up with some remaining scratches and a diminished logo. Preserving the logo is more important by far. Maybe try some hand sanding of the scratches that bother you the most to reduce their visual impact, and follow up with polishing, again by hand.
 
Knudsen1971
Posts
260
Likes
189
Agree, don`t do it, as the stamping is very shallow on this one.
Professionals do this grinding job on a lathe, edge is than polished and final touch if required is again grinding the flat surface to gain the desired finish, usually sunburst.
 
tech396
Posts
128
Likes
525
Knudsen1971 Knudsen1971
Agree, don`t do it, as the stamping is very shallow on this one.
Professionals do this grinding job on a lathe, edge is than polished and final touch if required is again grinding the flat surface to gain the desired finish, usually sunburst.
Thanks for that info.. is Sunburst a common finish. I haven't heard that term, but will look through posts and the Net, now. Cheers
 
tech396
Posts
128
Likes
525
tech396 tech396
@Dan S @JimInOz @SOG53 . Thank you all for your valued options. I'll get the watch this week and reevaluate my gameplan for this one.

New gameplan. I received the watch today and it's better than expected. I'll leave it alone. It's not every day you find something better than the sellers photos, so I'm thrilled. I did a light polish to the caseback, but that's all.

1745199424407.webp PXL_20250416_185504660.webp
Edited:
 
Knudsen1971
Posts
260
Likes
189
tech396 tech396
Thanks for that info.. is Sunburst a common finish. I haven't heard that term, but will look through posts and the Net, now. Cheers
Sunburst, radial, linear. Sunburst is for example on fligtmaster model.
 
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

taworn

Can medallion fade without polishing?

taworn Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Dan S
Dan S
Posts
7
Views
423
B

2538.2000 case polishing

BlairW Modern Omega Watches
B
BlairW
Posts
8
Views
1K
Laneside

Speedmaster 105.002 caseback

Laneside Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Laneside
Laneside
Posts
1
Views
1K
Winston_Smith

DIY polishing for polished cases

Winston_Smith Watchmaking
mseamaster
mseamaster
Posts
4
Views
2K
watch_my_six

Vacheron polishing & papers & customs, oh my!

watch_my_six High-end Watches
Tony C.
Tony C.
Posts
13
Views
3K
SWmania

Pie Pan 168.005 with clean caseback?

SWmania Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
D
DHKNOLA
Posts
5
Views
1K