First off, lemme say, polishing a rep is kinda like giving your Honda Civic a Ferrari paint job. I mean, it *can* look good, but at the end of the day, it’s still a Civic, ya know? But hey, no judgement here! If you wanna rock that polished rep with confidence, go for it!
Now, prices… that’s the tricky part. The thing is, a lot of places that advertise “watch polishing” in NYC – like the ones mentioned in the search results, Swiss Precision Watchmaking, Kathe’s Jewelry (lol, never heard of them for watches), etc. – they’re usually thinking about *real* Rolexes, Omegas, the whole shebang. Polishing those babies is a different ballgame because the materials, the tolerances, everything’s different.
You *might* be able to walk into one of those places and ask, “Hey, can you polish this… uh… ‘fashion watch’?” And they might say yes. BUT! I gotta warn ya, they might also look at you funny or straight up refuse. Some places are super snooty about working on anything that isn’t the genuine article.
And even if they *do* agree, they might charge you an arm and a leg because they’re not used to dealing with the… let’s just say, “unique” materials and construction found in replica watches. Think like, instead of paying like 500 bucks or so for a real rolex, it is like $75.
So, what are your options? Well, you could try finding a smaller, more independent watch repair guy (or gal) who’s a bit more… “flexible” with their clientele. Look for places that advertise “general watch repair” or “battery replacements.” They might be more willing to take on the job, and hopefully, charge a more reasonable price. Think Yelp, Google Maps, just scour the internet and maybe find someone willing to do it.
Another option? DIY! There’s a ton of videos on YouTube showing how to polish watch cases. You can buy polishing cloths, compounds, and even Dremel tools (use with EXTREME caution, I’m talking like, nuclear-level caution!) and try to do it yourself. This is definitely the cheapest option, but also the riskiest. You could easily screw up the finish, round off the edges, or even damage the movement if you’re not careful. It’s like… trying to cut your own hair. Sometimes it works, sometimes you end up looking like a lawnmower went over your head.
The key thing is, *ask* before you commit. Call around, explain what you have (maybe don’t mention it’s a straight-up replica), and get a price quote. Also, ask about their experience polishing… less-than-genuine watches. See if they seem comfortable with the job. If they sound hesitant or try to upsell you on a full “overhaul” (which is totally unnecessary for a simple polish), move on.
