Will polishing remove scratches and gouges?

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Recently purchased a previously owned Seamaster Diver 300, specifically the 2020 model with the white dial. There are the usual scratches and dings to the bracelet, clasp and case. Will a polishing clear these up? Is it recommended that Omega do it? Any advice is appreciated.
 
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Yes, if done properly by someone who knows what they are doing. Omega generally does a very good job of removing most scratches and scuffs without compromising the contours of the case and bracelet. Many independent watchmakers can do this as well, but make sure that you know who you are dealing with and that they have the requisite skill set. Really deep scratches, gouges and large dings may require laser welding and more extensive refinishing and there are watchmakers who specialize in this kind of work. Just remember that no matter how many scratches, scuffs and dings you have removed, you’re going to get more if you wear the watch. So it’s best to live with marks from ordinary wear and save polishing and refinishing for blemishes that really compromise the appearance of the watch.
 
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If there are only usual scratches i recommend to leave it that way..
 
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Yes, if done properly by someone who knows what they are doing. Omega generally does a very good job of removing most scratches and scuffs without compromising the contours of the case and bracelet. Many independent watchmakers can do this as well, but make sure that you know who you are dealing with and that they have the requisite skill set. Really deep scratches, gouges and large dings may require laser welding and more extensive refinishing and there are watchmakers who specialize in this kind of work. Just remember that no matter how many scratches, scuffs and dings you have removed, you’re going to get more if you wear the watch. So it’s best to live with marks from ordinary wear and save polishing and refinishing for blemishes that really compromise the appearance of the watch.
Thanks so much for the reply! Very helpful.
 
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You might want to wear the watch for a while first. In my experience there are certain watches that are scratch magnets and that property is active in direct proportion to how much you personally value the piece. I have a cross section of nice watches and two of them, the Hamilton Jazzmaster Seaview Chrono (the Protagonist's watch in TENET) and the Omega Silver Snoopy 50th are so afflicted. Every single time I wear either one they get scratched. The Snoopy is the more cursed of the two-when I put a 3861 bracelet on it the sharp edges scratched the case back several times, I managed to spill an entire Solo cup full of Sprite on it and I even ran it into the perennial enemy of watches, a doorway strike plate. I love those watches-the former was a surprise gift from my first wife shortly before her untimely death and the latter a birthday present from my second wife-but damned if I don't turn into a flailing, arm swinging goon every time I put either one of them on.

I also have a White Dial, a Relaunch and a Marstimer. Wear them all the time, haven't scratched any of them once. I picked those up after scratching the above examples so maybe the curse was limited to stock on hand.
 
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And yet you're replying to a thread you just said you aren't monitoring. Your dream is to be a moderator, isn't it? Does your mom know you're on her computer?
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Depends upon the metal... with gold, polishing removes gold... with Titanium, polishing moves the surface metal around, removing very little if any material.
 
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Depends upon the metal... with gold, polishing removes gold... with Titanium, polishing moves the surface metal around, removing very little if any material.

Hmmm... Did not know that.
 
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A light polish can definitely improve the appearance of surface scratches and everyday wear, especially on the bracelet and clasp. Deeper gouges, however, usually require more extensive refinishing and may not disappear completely without removing a noticeable amount of metal. If it's a watch you plan to keep for years, I'd consider waiting until it's due for a full service and having Omega handle the refinishing. They generally do an excellent job of restoring the original brushed and polished finishes while preserving the watch's overall shape.



Bot account.
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