How to Polish a Watch Case and Bracelet at Home

Every watch picks up scratches: the clasp that rubs on a desk, the case edge that catches a door frame. On a stainless steel watch, many of these can be removed at home with small felts, mops and the right compounds.

Before you start

• Know your finishes. Most watches mix mirror-polished surfaces with brushed (satin) ones. They need different treatment, and polishing a brushed area makes it shiny.
• Protect the crystal and bezel. Cover them with low-tack tape.
• Think about value. Collectors often prefer unpolished cases on vintage or valuable watches, because polishing removes metal and softens edges. If in doubt, leave it to a professional.
• Plated and gold watches need extra care. Plating is thin and wears through easily.

What you need

• A watch polishing kit for polished surfaces
• A satin finishing kit for brushed surfaces
• A rotary tool or pendant motor with a 2.35mm collet
• Low-tack tape and a soft cloth

Polished surfaces

1. Mask everything you don’t want to touch.
2. Load a felt with cutting compound and work lightly over the scratch, keeping it moving.
3. Change to a clean felt or mop with finishing compound for the final shine.
4. Keep edges and chamfers crisp by working along them, not over them.

Brushed surfaces

Mask the polished areas next to them, then use a satin finishing tool in straight lines in the same direction as the original grain until the scratches blend in.

More in our jewellery and watch polishing guide.

Questions

Can I polish out deep scratches on a watch?

Deep scratches mean removing more metal, which can soften the case shape. Light scratches are ideal for home polishing.

Will polishing affect water resistance?

Polishing the outside of the case doesn’t, but never take a watch apart unless you know what you are doing.

Can I polish a sapphire crystal?

No. Sapphire is far too hard for these tools. Always mask the crystal.