Scratches! Scratches! Scratches!

[timetravel125]

I always read about scratches as a big concern for most of WIS. When do scratches really matter and when not?

I had read threads about how bracelets and watch cases get scratched up to the point that watch owners lose sleep and irritated.

When I first bought my GMT Master and Old Navitimer many moons ago, I didn't worry about scratches.

Now, that I had read so many postings about scratches I have started worrying about it.

IMHO, we should not worry, because watches can be refinished. Having scratches are part of watch ownership. What do you guys think?

Cheers.

Louie

[nikhsub1]

If you wear a watch it gets scratches. Watches are meant to be worn. I wear my watches. I do not worry about scratches.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by timetravel125

I always read about scratches as a big concern for most of WIS. When do scratches really matter and when not?

I had read threads about how bracelets and watch cases get scratched up to the point that watch owners lose sleep and irritated.

When I first bought my GMT Master and Old Navitimer many moons ago, I didn't worry about scratches.

Now, that I had read so many postings about scratches I have started worrying about it.

IMHO, we should not worry, because watches can be refinished. Having scratches are part of watch ownership. What do you guys think?

Cheers.

Louie

Spot on!

I am very much a perfectionist, especially when it comes to my belongings. But you are right. Sometimes one has to look at it a bit from above and see what we have here.......a watch.......it's meant to be used!

I am not wealthy, and what I have I have worked hard for to have.

Patek Philippe has a saying about its watches, it goes something like this: "You never "own" a Patek Philippe.........you are merely KEEPING it for the next generation".

Sometimes I halt and think about it.....am I so worried about scratches etc. because I do not like the look of a "battered" Rolex? Or am I - in my back head - keeping it so well as possible to re-sell it at a better price than if it were battered?

I mean: If you are loaded with money, would you give a damn if it were scratched? You'd just give it away if it annoyed you or sell it, not minding what price you get and buy a new one.

Maybe it's just me? I must admit that I have "flipped" a LOT of Rolex watches since 1989 when I got my first one (16234 Datejust). But look at the (genuine) Rolex watches on eBay. If the watch is well treated, or even NIB with tags, sticker etc. intact, you will get a better price. For me it does play a role if I am to flip my next Rolex (which I probably will not do, I must add).

[JJ Irani]

I worry more when I get scratches on my back from my sheep.....then I have to answer to Zemina!!

[Ronnie Rolex]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

I worry more when I get scratches on my back from my sheep.....then I have to answer to Zemina!!

JJ,

I hope you get that ewe a nice Rollie for her, ere... "services?"

[RT]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

I worry more when I get scratches on my back from my sheep.....then I have to answer to Zemina!!

Don't worry, sheep probably won't go near a Persian like dogs won't come close to me. Ummm yum, yum!

[Steven79]

my new 1 week old Sub now has scratches on the bracelet just from normal rubbing while sitting at a desk all day. Very very light scratches on the "longer" side of the bracelet.

eh, it's not a virgin anymore. It's all part of building that relationship with your new watch. =)

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Steven79

...it's not a virgin anymore. It's all part of building that relationship with your new watch. =)

Too much information, Steven!!

[Tombstone]

I am somewhat OCD, yes the soup cans all face one direction in my home. I hate scratches but I also know this is a fact of life. SS bands are not that expensive (yet) that you have to sell your first born to get a replacement. I feel one should just wear the living H - - - out of their watch, have an RSC do a service on it then in time replace the band. If you like and you know for fact that you are going to keep the watch buy a replacement band now (to avoid the price increases) and save it for the future.

[JPSUB]

I have had my frist Rolex for about 3 weeks now. I have came to the same conclusions as all of you it is impossible to avoid scratches unless you dont wear it. I wear mine 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I try to be careful but still have some scratches on the the band near the clasp. I have no idea how they got there but as long as there is nothing to significant the RSC can buff them out right? I did not pay 5 grand for a watch I was not going to enjoy wearing, so I will continue wearing with pride.
James

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by JPSUB

I have had my frist Rolex for about 3 weeks now. I have came to the same conclusions as all of you it is impossible to avoid scratches unless you dont wear it. I wear mine 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I try to be careful but still have some scratches on the the band near the clasp. I have no idea how they got there but as long as there is nothing to significant the RSC can buff them out right? I did not pay 5 grand for a watch I was not going to enjoy wearing, so I will continue wearing with pride.
James

Well said, Bond.....James Bond!!

[wandyprawira]

Interesting topic

Sometimes when we buy something and it's the first one after so long waited opportunity and it's the only one for the time being, we might put our attention to it more than anything else. This is where the problem lies. We then notice every single changes to it.

Let's take an example, I'm sure everyone has had the opportunity to buy a new pair of sport shoes. When we got home with those, we'd really look forward to the next weekend where we're gonna try those on. After we have a joy for one or two hours of exercise, I'm sure that we look at the shoes and sometimes we'll clean them so they'll look like as new again. Basically it happens to most things that we newly bought, cheap or expensive, simply to extend the period of our appreciation to the new stuffs. It's the same feeling when we got our first car, computer, and so on. We might want to make them look like brand new longer so that our happy feeling stays longer. IMO

After some time whether we want it or not, that feeling will diminish by itself. It could be caused by whether we have something else new or even our daily activities put lots of tensions that we simply forget about it and time goes on and we don't even notice anymore to the scratches or anything else.

I would call it a New Stuff Syndrome and the way we react to it really depends on how much we sacrifice for the stuff. If it's expensive, like Rolex, we might put attention to it even more and got more disappointed if anything goes wrong with it.

I have had an experience like I explained above with my previous watch before Rolex which I had for around 7 years. The new stuff feeling has long gone after 2 years of ownership and I started to use it normally and I kept telling myself that a buff from an authorized service centre would bring it back to like brand new. I then brought the watch to SC a few months ago and had them to polish it but even it's properly done, the result is not the same as when it's out from the factory. It's the same thing when you crash your car and then have the panel beater to fix it. Any panel beaters will use polyurethane paint which was baked in the oven at around 60-70 degree C instead of the stoving paint from the factory which was baked at around 160-180 degree C which is more durable, shines longer, and much more beautiful finish due to a more homogeneous paint sprayed together to the whole body. We can't have that stoving paint anymore once the car was out of factory. I surely drive my 2 year old car carefully until now just to keep the stoving paint original and I will certainly do that to any car that I had or will have whatever the price is. I am not that wealthy chap that could easily flipped the old Rolex and get a new one, but that kind of New Stuff Syndrome and the thought that factory finish will never be replaceable which made me did that, of course I needed to wipe off a few items on my wish list.

[montecristo]

Scratch it, send it in to RSC every 5-10 years, comes out new again.

repeat.

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by montecristo

Scratch it, send it in to RSC every 5-10 years, comes out new again.

repeat.

There ya go, simple as that.

After all, it's a watch, not the Holy Grail.

[Tombstone]

Wandyprawira very well said good points of view.

[mikey]

All you need is a Cape Cod cloth and you ain't got to worrry about scratches anymore.

[Steven79]

Originally Posted by mikey

All you need is a Cape Cod cloth and you ain't got to worrry about scratches anymore.

and what is this Cape Cod cloth you speak of????

will this stuff hurt the metal?

[Angela23060]

Ditto... what is it?

[wandyprawira]

Bo, it's your turn to explain what Cape Cod is! Just make sure not to incorrectly pronounce it Shape Odd this time though!

[JPSUB]

Id like to know about it as well.

[Steven79]

i did a search on google and some more research.. its good if you have scratches on "mirror" polished stainless steel or gold.

it is not for removing scratches on "brushed" stainless. if you use it, it will polish it to a high luster shiney look.


http://www.capecodpolish.ca/

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by Steven79

i did a search on google and some more research.. its good if you have scratches on "mirror" polished stainless steel or gold.

it is not for removing scratches on "brushed" stainless. if you use it, it will polish it to a high luster shiney look.


http://www.capecodpolish.ca/

Got the address wrong, man. It's www. shape_odd_polish.ca/weap/buy-a-newone

[Gaijin]

I was thinking about selling my TT Sub to somebody. They said, "I won't buy it unless its perfect." Well, I've worn it. It has a few very minor and barely noticible scratches. Come on. Its inevitable.

If you want a "perfect" watch buy one new at full price from an AD. An hour after you wear it, if there is any gold on it, it is not going to be "perfect" anymore.

[Blue Bull]

Originally Posted by KansaiVet

I was thinking about selling my TT Sub to somebody. They said, "I won't buy it unless its perfect." Well, I've worn it. It has a few very minor and barely noticible scratches. Come on. Its inevitable.

If you want a "perfect" watch buy one new at full price from an AD. An hour after you wear it, if there is any gold on it, it is not going to be "perfect" anymore.

I used WENOL metal polish on the gold of the bracelet.Its excellent for removing the fine scratches and scuffs from the gold.Just a tiny bit to form a fine layer.applied by a soft cloth.Rub clean immediately.Then soft toothbrush,with soap and then foamy aerosol jewelry cleaner.Rinse off well.I was amazed by the result.I will do this every 6 months or so.

[mikey]

What you can do with a Cape Cod cloth is polish it to a high luster which will remove the scratches then get a Brillo Pad and rub in the direction to give you a PERFECT brushed steel appearance then you are done!

[s7horton]

If you wear a Rolex (it's a novel idea to wear a watch, I know) it's gonna get scratches. I bought a Rolex because I knew it could withstand most anything.