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Patek Philippe

You've gotten a lot of advice and without seeing

 

the type of scratches, it's hard to determine if a quick fix is even an option.

The first thing to realize is polishing removes metal... period. Frequent or heavy polishing can reek havoc on a case.

Your white gold case may be rhodium plated and if so, any aggressive polishing may remove the plating leaving bright and darker areas on the surface of the case.

Proper polishing is considered an art within the industry and requires a very skilled individual with the proper equipment and the results can be truly impressive. Sharp edges and original details can retained at the hands of a master.

Your local jeweler typically does not have such an individual who can achieve those kind of results and many pieces have lost their original details.

Slight surface blemishes can be removed fairly easily, more substantial or deeper scratches require a professional hand which I would leave to Patek.




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9 Comments view entire thread 

Scratched case - how to fix?

 
By: AucklandKiwi : September 10th, 2011-18:52
Hi there, I neglected to put my Patek Calatrava in a safe place out of reach of my toddler, and I found him running around with it, placing the case in his mouth etc etc. On closer examination, there are some abrasions to the white gold case that weren't ... 

White gold... Maybe it is rodhied white gold.

 
By: amanico : September 10th, 2011-23:36
You should indeed send it to PP to polish it for you. One advice: Enjoy your watch as it is, first, as hairlines are unavaoidable, and dings, too. Then, when you service it, it will be polished. It is never too good to over polish a watch. Best. Nicolas T... 

+1 Try to...

 
By: mac_omega : September 11th, 2011-00:43
Hi, Try to ignore the scratches... I know this is hard in the beginning! And have it polished when it is serviced next. If you send it in just for polishing it will be waste of money! regards Erich

Wait

 
By: autowind : September 11th, 2011-06:56
in a few years when your toddler is grown up you will probably cherish the memory of this incident and will post asking how to send the watch in for polishing but leave the marks made when he was a toddler.

Never polish

 
By: watch-er : September 11th, 2011-17:36
The best advice is to never ever polish a watch case. There are hallmarks which get buffed off but beyond that the look of a well worn watch is a tribute to it character. I know PP ofters polishing but it is for the fussy who immediate scratch the piece a... 

You've gotten a lot of advice and without seeing

 
By: whit : September 13th, 2011-11:35
the type of scratches, it's hard to determine if a quick fix is even an option. The first thing to realize is polishing removes metal... period. Frequent or heavy polishing can reek havoc on a case. Your white gold case may be rhodium plated and if so, an... 

Thank you to all for advice

 
By: AucklandKiwi : September 15th, 2011-03:41
There have been two suggestions of note: 1. Send to Patek Philippe for servicing and a polish. 2. Accept the fact that you have a scratch, and with it, a story to go with the watch. In both cases, excellent advice. Thank you all.