Rolex

So, I’ve been pondering this for a while as I have a vintage 1803 White Gold Day-Date shown below and notice that all the newer Day-Date and Datejusts come with high polished lugs now, as opposed to my brushed lugs. Has anyone considered polishing the lugs? I think the high polish actually looks better and it’s easier in my opinion to keep them in good condition because you can simply use a Sunshine polishing cloth to polish out any hairline scratches whereas it’s harder to use an emory board or sandpaper to brush a finish to make the grain look right if there’s damage. I’ve already had to repair the brush finish on my watch and it took a long time to make it look “right” in my eyes and it would have been much easier if it just was highly polished. What do you guys think? Would you polish the lugs on a vintage Rolex? Pic 1 of my vintage 1803, Pic 2 of a modern President, and 3rd of me fixing a scratch on upper lug of my watch. I am wondering if Rolex started the high polish just because they know it takes longer to get right during a service. 

but simply noooooooooooooooooooooo - don´t I repeat - DO NOT polish the lugs unless you want to destroy the beautiful brushed finish on your watch. The brushing of the upper portion of the lugs is what makes this vintage DDs look so much more refinded and "complex" compared to the "bar of soap" look of the modern ones. 

I see all your points. I will just keep as is then, to retain the originality of the look. I kinda do like the blingy look of the new ones so maybe I’ll just have to get a new one too. 😆

to buy a modern DayDate, thank me later!

..the lugs are brushed so that the diamonds stand out more. Don't polish...

Back then for all their watches at that time. They updated to high polish on the newer ones, and I think that was to give it a more bling factor as well as it being easier to service (as it’s easier to just high polish out hairline scratches than to try to get the brushed grain correct). But yes, probably good to leave as is on my watch to keep it original. 👍

And under no circumstances would I polish the lugs on your President. But at the end of the day it’s your watch.  

Cause I was seriously considering just polishing them out. Now realize that it’s best to just keep original.

(A little, just a little) More seriously I think I would leave the old watch alone.  

I’ll leave it alone and I agree I may need to get a modern generation DD. That vintage one you have looks superb by the way! Love that color dial.

It would ruin the vintage character of the watch and make it look like a frankenstein