Polishing a Titanium AW

[mavis]

So I posted some pics of this in the 'show off your watch' thread, but I wanted to share more detailed instructions for anyone who's interested in doing this.

After owning nothing but stainless steel AWs since launch day in 2015, I decided to go with Natural Ti for the S7. While I think the brushed finish looks classy, I really missed the polished look of the stainless steel models. So I decided to polish my watch to a mirror finish to see how it would look. It turned out pretty good!

On my first attempt, I used a CapeCod cleaning cloth, and followed up with a Blitz polishing cloth (both from Amazon) and it looked decent:

I noticed some very faint striations in the metal, though, and decided to use a heavier-duty polish - Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish, with a Dremel Micro. Basically, I cut a Q-Tip in half, and use it with the Dremel to polish the watch. I then switch to a polishing disc and use that to buff it out. The entire process took about ten minutes, but it made a big difference. Here it is with a Nike Blue Orbit / Gamma Blue band:

and with a black leather link:

Very shiny! Lol ... My Titanium Apple Watch looks like a stainless steel model now, but I think the polished finish looks much better than the brushed finish. If you want to polish your Titanium watch as well, it only take a few minutes!

 

[jz0309]

It does look nice, could you post some pics from the side where the crown is please?

 

[Graham Caracas]

That's going to look awesome in the landfill.

 

[mavis]

It does look nice, could you post some pics from the side where the crown is please?

Here's a quick snapshot - I'll try to take some decent pictures later. The button/crown side looks ok, but there's a .5mm area around the crown that I can't get to, to polish. Not actually noticeable unless you take a picture and zoom in.

edit: sorry, just realized that I wasn't wearing a shirt in that pic and you can clearly see a nipple. 😂 I'll post pictures later.

edit2: here ya go. No nipples visible. lol

That's going to look awesome in the landfill.

Just like whatever device you used to post that message, I suppose. In the meantime, I get to enjoy using a unique Apple Watch that looks exactly how I want it to look, because I took the time to customize it. 👍🏻

 

[jz0309]

That's going to look awesome in the landfill

Why don’t you start your own post and tell us how you feel about the AW - do you even own one?

 

[jz0309]

Here's a quick snapshot - I'll try to take some decent pictures later. The button/crown side looks ok, but there's a .5mm area around the crown that I can't get to, to polish. Not actually noticeable unless you take a picture and zoom in.

edit: sorry, just realized that I wasn't wearing a shirt in that pic and you can clearly see a nipple. 😂 I'll post pictures later.

edit2: here ya go. No nipples visible. lol

View attachment 2034997



Just like whatever device you used to post that message, I suppose. In the meantime, I get to enjoy using a unique Apple Watch that looks exactly how I want it to look, because I took the time to customize it. 👍🏻

you did a real nice job, and yes, I was wondering about the area around the crown since you can’t pull that out.
It looks from the pic that the side button is shiny too, so that must be Ti then. I honestly can’t tell from looking at mine if it is or it’s a nice fake one

 

[mavis]

you did a real nice job, and yes, I was wondering about the area around the crown since you can’t pull that out.
It looks from the pic that the side button is shiny too, so that must be Ti then. I honestly can’t tell from looking at mine if it is or it’s a nice fake one

Thanks. 👍🏻

Yeah, the button seems to be titanium after all. At first I didn't think it was, because it didn't seem to polish as nicely/quickly as the rest of the watch, but after trying again with my rotary tool (not a real Dremel Micro, just a cheap knock-off) it ended up polishing well. Anyway, I'll try to post some additional pictures later today or tomorrow.

 

[jav6454]

This polishing gives me nice idea when I get my new Ti AW.

 

[dmccombs]

I want to thank Mavis for posting this write-up. I saw this post and decided to buy a S7 nTI to try this polished look with. So I bought a S7 nTI and it had a few scratches on it. This made the decision to polish it even easier.

I finished the first pass today, and I'm happy to report that the scratches are gone, and I now have a shiny titanium finish. I had to stop for today because the watch kept turning on and bad passcodes were being entered as I polished. I almost got permanently locked out. LOL

Tomorrow I have a clean-up and fine tuning to do, but the watch looks terrific already.

Thanks Mavis!!!

 

[daveathall]

I think it looks fabulous and agree, it looks better than the original Titanium. Many congratulations, wear that beauty in the very best of health.

 

[JiggyJaggy]

Sorry if it sounds obvious but how comes you did this instead of getting a Stainless Steel one?

 

[Dguitarnut]

Please update us how the shiny finish holds up compared to Stainless steel which scratches so easy.
Is it easier to buff out scratches than SS? Great experiment! Thanks

 

[dmccombs]

Sorry if it sounds obvious but how comes you did this instead of getting a Stainless Steel one?

The Titanium watch is lighter and more durable than the Stainless, and the Titanium watches come with AppleCare+. The used watch I got still has 2.3 years of Applecare+.

 

[mavis]

Please update us how the shiny finish holds up compared to Stainless steel which scratches so easy.
Is it easier to buff out scratches than SS? Great experiment! Thanks

In the three+ months since I first polished my nTi, it's held up really well. I finally noticed a couple of minor scuffs a few days ago - they buffed right out. I think it takes a little longer to polish than SS, because of the hardness of the metal. But it also seems to be more resistant to scratches and scuffs, for the same reason.

 

[mavis]

I want to thank Mavis for posting this write-up. I saw this post and decided to buy a S7 nTI to try this polished look with. So I bought a S7 nTI and it had a few scratches on it. This made the decision to polish it even easier.

I finished the first pass today, and I'm happy to report that the scratches are gone, and I now have a shiny titanium finish. I had to stop for today because the watch kept turning on and bad passcodes were being entered as I polished. I almost got permanently locked out. LOL

Tomorrow I have a clean-up and fine tuning to do, but the watch looks terrific already.

Thanks Mavis!!!

You bet - I'm glad the instructions were helpful and more importantly, that you're pleased with the way it turned out! 👍🏻 I still notice it sometimes, when it catches the light or something, and think to myself - that's a damn fine watch! 🤣

I still love the polished finish, and I think it looks so much better than stock. I get the look of SS with the durability and light weight of titanium, plus a warranty that expires in 11/2024. Win, win!

 

[Dguitarnut]

I used the Cape Cod polishing cloth on my natural Ti S7 and love the look. I did NOT get it to the stainless steel state of polish. I want to do my Ultra next but I don’t think I want an extreme shine on it. The starting point is quite different for the Ultra compared to the Nat Ti S7. Anyone have pics of a lightly done Ultra? Like a brushed instead of mirror finish?
Thanks in advanced

 

[tranceking26]

Looks very nice! I appreciate the effort too, I would be too lazy to keep polishing scuffs.

 

[mavis]

Looks very nice! I appreciate the effort too, I would be too lazy to keep polishing scuffs.

Thank you! I've found it much easier to maintain a polished Ti finish than a brushed finish. I've touched it up once since last summer (no obvious scratches or scuffs, I was just bored one afternoon) and it still looks perfect. 👍🏻

 

[Jackbequickly]

Ti is soft compared to stainless and will polish easily.

 

[mavis]

Ti is soft compared to stainless and will polish easily.

Actually, Apple uses Ti-6Al-4V titanium (also called Grade 5) for the Apple Watch. It's significantly harder than 316L stainless steel, but the only matweb data sheets I can find on the alloy just show the Vickers and Brinell scales, which AFAICT just have to do more with deformation of the metal under pressure, rather than surface imperfections like scratching.

It has been my experience after polishing the Ti watch that it is much more resistant to scratches than any silver SS Apple Watch I've owned (S0, S3, S4, and S6). 👍🏻

 

[Jackbequickly]

Actually, Apple uses Ti-6Al-4V titanium (also called Grade 5) for the Apple Watch. It's significantly harder than 316L stainless steel, but the only matweb data sheets I can find on the alloy just show the Vickers and Brinell scales, which AFAICT just have to do more with deformation of the metal under pressure, rather than surface imperfections like scratching.

It has been my experience after polishing the Ti watch that it is much more resistant to scratches than any silver SS Apple Watch I've owned (S0, S3, S4, and S6). 👍🏻

Actually it is easier to polish the softer Ti than the stainless. Actually.

 

[mavis]

Actually it is easier to polish the softer Ti than the stainless. Actually.

According to the matlab data sheets (you know, actual science) Ti-6Al-4V titanium is significantly harder than 316L stainless steel. This is probably part of the reason (besides the lighter weight) that titanium is favored by the aerospace industry ... 😉 Also, as someone who has polished both, numerous times, I can assure you it's much easier to polish stainless steel. Maybe you should try it yourself, before regurgitating erroneous info. 👍🏻

 

[Dguitarnut]

My S7 Nat Ti is still in immaculate condition after polishing…..my old stainless S6 would be scratched after a weeks use.
I’m still trying to get the nerve to do my Ultra…….waiting for my first scratch which hasn’t happened since I got it last September. ……..not entirely crazy about it’s matte finish.

 

[Jackbequickly]

According to the matlab data sheets (you know, actual science) Ti-6Al-4V titanium is significantly harder than 316L stainless steel. This is probably part of the reason (besides the lighter weight) that titanium is favored by the aerospace industry ... 😉 Also, as someone who has polished both, numerous times, I can assure you it's much easier to polish stainless steel. Maybe you should try it yourself, before regurgitating erroneous info. 👍🏻

‘I have, without a doubt tried it and disagree with you, if that’s ok. We do not agree

 

[mavis]

‘I have, without a doubt tried it and disagree with you, if that’s ok. We do not agree

You make it sound as if the metallurgical data I referenced was merely an opinion of mine. 🤣