Oyster bracelet polished middle link

[vantri]

Is a polished middle link on the oyster bracelets a gen attribute or do modern oyster bracelets come either way?
I would imagine that this would be quite a PIA when it came time for a tune-up. How would you get the middle ones polished without hitting the outter links?

 

[Camris]

Hey there!

Best way I have found to do this, with out taking the bracelet apart, is to mask off the sides using a heavy weight tape.

You can also mask off the inside link to brush the outer ones.

This is how we refinish dual finish bracelets in our shop if we can't break the bracelet down.

Calix

 

[vantri]

Thanks, makes sense to mask off ends. Not sure I could cut the tape perfectly to the width of middle link. Seems easier to use the factory edge of the tape to mask off end links.

So does that mean a oyster bracelet with brushed SS middle links is a dead give away or do gens come with all three rows brushed?

 

[treeman]

I'm assuming we are talking about SS bracelets here? Polished center links on oyster bracelets do exist on gens but it depends on the model. As far as I know there is no gen SS Submariner with polished center links...the gen Yachtmaster SS/Platinum version for example, does have polished center links.

 

[kmj2318]

It depends on the watch that the oyster band is on. The Submariner, Seadweller, Explorer, etc SS models have a brushed band. Datejusts, Daydates, Yachtmasters, Daytonas in SS have the middle links polished. Check the Rolex website, they have good pics.