What are your thoughts on brushed vs highly polished case finishing?

I prefer a mix of brushed and polished.  I also don’t need any sort of super duper polish.  Once it’s shiny, it’s good enough because I’m going to get little micro scratches on it simply by wearing it.  

I wonder how well the GS Zaratsu polishing holds up to micro scratches? I own a 5 year old Ti GS and it seems to have mostly survived ok (although it's only been in my possession for the last few months!)

One more vote for a balance of polish and brush.  Sparkle sparkles better when you contrast it with the brushed area right beside it 👍

High polishing makes a dress watch.  I think a mix of brushed and polished surfaces as Dave mentioned looks great on a GADA watch.  Tool watches can look good in all brushed or a matt finish.  I am just glad that I don't have to hand finish any of them.  I do not have the patience for polishing.

Haha! I second that... I most definitely don't have the skill or patience for polishing! Where would you put most GS watches on the scale? My limited experience with GS puts them on that shiny/ dressier side, but I know they are popular GADA watches for many people.  

Very true! 

My wife wears the GS SBGW289, and people are constantly asking her what that is on her wrist.

The thing reflects light from every conceivable angle.  So, people sitting 20 feet away, who couldn't care less about watches, are getting blinded by shafts of reflected and refracted rays into their eyeballs, are just wondering what in the world that thing on her wrist is that is putting their eye out.

Polished edges brushed sides on a daily wearer. Tool watches all brushed. Dress watches high polished. For me personally I prefer all brushed or satin finishing. Hide’s little scratches and daily wear marks well. My Sinn is still great and looks like new and well the submarine steel like my Damasko DS30 is made of, even better, 2 years I’ve owned this watch, wear it to work, everywhere and still not a mark on it 👍
 

This is as much high polish I like on a watch.

See shiny, buy shiny. 

See brushed, buy brushed ;)

For me, if it's highly polished, that's a dress watch. If its a mixture or all brushed, it's pretty much potentially an any occasion watch

Don’t even get me started on ceramic cases and bracelets.  They simply end the discussion of scratches and wear. 

Many watches have been ruled out due to too much polish. I prefer not to draw attention, and to keep things subtle. The fancier the watch, the more out of place it looks on me.

I like a mix of both, but with more brushed than polished. Just enough to provide a nice shiny contrast

Haha! I love that little beauty! What a cracking size too!! 

Sadly I think I’m coming to a similar conclusion! I love so many watches that have ended up being just a little bit too sparkly for my lifestyle

Where would you put GS on the spectrum? Many of their designs say daily wearer, but the zaratsu finish lends its self to be a bit more dressy. I think it was GS that got me thinking as to whether there’s been a bit of a shift towards dressier everyday watches, that blur the lines a bit. 

Totally agree! Part of me wishes I had more opportunities to wear dressier watches, so I could justify owning a few more 😂. 

I really think it depends on the watch. And I'm a fan of all three. Yes I said three. 

I like the highly polished like a Navitimer, 

the dual polishing like an Omega SMP 300, 

or brushed like a Panerai Submersible

All awesome watches!! 

Definitely like a mix of both. I like subtle hints as well. One of my favorite things about Tudors Black Bay lineup in the polished beveled edges on the case. 
 

but for dress watches I say the more polishing the better! Just can be tough if you forget to take it off and give it some pin striping 😅 

The BB really does the mix well. Doesn’t feel too ostentatious but has a nice lux feel at the same time! 
 

Have to agree with everyone here, I like a mix, but happy to have watches that are both highly polished as well as bushed or titanium. I feel more comfortable wearing brushed as there is less to worry about. 

For me, it's a brushed or blasted finish if I have a choice. Not really a bling lover

“What, this old thing?”

Many as well. 

I am firmly in the camp of Scratch-o-phobics Anonymous. As beautiful as Zaratsu and Sallaz polishing is on wrist and across the room, it would only cost me more in therapy.  

All about the watch. The finish fits the watch. Same thing for firearms,  cars and motorcycles. I guess we could toss boats and personal aircraft in there... A Glock in stainless wouldn't look good IMO like a 1911 can. Some Harleys or Indians look awesome blacked out 1%er ready ( Rest Easy Sonny Barger BTW) the same bikes might look awesome all chromed out. I just sold a Snowflake and picked up a SBGA463.  Both are Titanium. The Snowflake just was too perfect for every day or often wear. I had a Pelagos that was flat black dial and completely tool. Sad I sold it. It looked incredible.  Another version of a Titanium watch that would make the SBGA463 look too shiny. The watch makes the fit n finish.  I'm addicted so I have all kinds of finish watches. I love my RESCO with a cerakote finish that looks killer. Who knows if any of those finishes will hold up. I try my best and live with the dings 

That 556 of yours is such a stunning watch! I just acquired the exact 556 a few days ago. Definitely a keeper! 🍻

Your wife has good taste 👍🍻!

Same here, definitely a keeper 💯

I’ve found some great straps for mine recently. The ones with the curved ends look excellent 👍

I have another that I picked up from Strapify which are located in Australia, it’s all black with a deployment clasp.