904L Pitting?

[DateJust74]

I have this 904L 114270 Explorer from 2009, and I was noticing something weird on the outer side of the lugs. I’m posting an Imgur link with some pictures. Does it look like pitting or are they just scratches?
Thanks in advance!

https://imgur.com/a/t8QN7AW

[haven_seeker]

Just looks like scratches to me.

A professional refinish at RSC at time of servicing will bring this back to brand new in no time.

[schoolboy]

Looks like a bunch of little dings to me.

How did they get there?

[DateJust74]

Originally Posted by schoolboy

Looks like a bunch of little dings to me.

How did they get there?

I have no idea, but this is my daily wearer. I don’t wear the DJ, the Sky Dweller, the Sub, and the GMT a lot, but I wear the Explorer almost everyday. I’ve worn it to hiking, waterfalls, stays on my country house, horse riding, plane piloting, and all than you can think of. Those marks are concentrated on that lug though, although I can find them all around the case. This watch has been serviced, but never polished. I’ve just noticed these marks today, as I don’t notice scratches and dings a lot. The only ding I’ve ever noticed before was a bigger one to the tip of another lug, which isn’t too bad.

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by DateJust74

I have no idea, but this is my daily wearer. I don’t wear the DJ, the Sky Dweller, the Sub, and the GMT a lot, but I wear the Explorer almost everyday. I’ve worn it to hiking, waterfalls, stays on my country house, horse riding, plane piloting, and all than you can think of. Those marks are concentrated on that lug though, although I can find them all around the case. This watch has been serviced, but never polished. I’ve just noticed these marks today, as I don’t notice scratches and dings a lot. The only ding I’ve ever noticed before was a bigger one to the tip of another lug, which isn’t too bad.

Definitely interesting. Why don’t you have an AD or RSC take a look at it ?

[Rori]

pitting yes, this is how it looks like. Should be checked and fixed by an RSC but now they are closed I imagine :-(

[173rdabn]

Scratches from daily wear. Can be fixed at next service.

[GMT Aviator]

Scratches and dings I think. Not pitting.

[Nauti]

Do you wear a bracelet next to it looks like micro dinks

[DateJust74]

Originally Posted by Nauti

Do you wear a bracelet next to it looks like micro dinks

Nope. The only bracelet I wear, I wear on the opposite wrist.

[JCF81]

bezel also appears to show some signs? is it on the bezel and case, on both sides of the crown?

[DateJust74]

Originally Posted by JCF81

bezel also appears to show some signs? is it on the bezel and case, on both sides of the crown?

Bezel has a tiny wee bit of them at that rim( you can see where on the pics), and the other side of the case has similar markings, but WAY LESS. Even the other lug on this side has them, but at a lesser quantity. Case back and the underside of the lugs has no such markings, and the space in between lugs also doesn’t have them. They are only on the sides of the case, specially concentrated on the side of the right top lug.

[JCF81]

was wondering if it resulted from the way the watch is wound... i.e. the thumb consistently rubs across that part of the case and bezel, when the crown is held. corrosion from sweaty thumbs?

in any case, i hope it gets fixed before becoming any worse.

[DateJust74]

Originally Posted by JCF81

was wondering if it resulted from the way the watch is wound... i.e. the thumb consistently rubs across that part of the case and bezel, when the crown is held. corrosion from sweaty thumbs?

in any case, i hope it gets fixed before becoming any worse.

I thought that could be a possibility, but that’s not very likely, as I wind this watch maybe once a week, and I usually at least dry my hands or even wash them before handling the crown.

[DateJust74]

Some more pics
https://imgur.com/a/rFoNyZQ

[DateJust74]

Even more (and I believe better) pics.
https://imgur.com/a/SIccJ56

[swatty]

Originally Posted by DateJust74

Even more (and I believe better) pics.
https://imgur.com/a/SIccJ56

And you never wore your bracelet next to your watch ?

[DateJust74]

Originally Posted by swatty

And you never wore your bracelet next to your watch ?

I haven’t, but the previous owner might have. All this damage is hard to see with the naked eye, and I’ve only got this at 2011. Maybe the other owner wore a bracelet next to it from 2009 to the time I bought it.

[DLRIDES]

Seriously looks like bracelet damage.

[Verdi]

It looks pitted to me.....

[DateJust74]

Originally Posted by Verdi

It looks pitted to me.....

Any ideas on how to fix it?

[Verdi]

Originally Posted by DateJust74

Any ideas on how to fix it?

The only way to fix is to do laser welding and polish. Search rolliworks.
Another option is to go for a new case....

[Muxi]

I agree, it is pitting indeed.

[jimcameron]

Previous owner? Has this watch ever been checked by a RSC?

[Mac-427]

Stainless steel will pit if not polished correctly.

[Rori]

Also the crown looks weird.

[DateJust74]

Originally Posted by Rori

Also the crown looks weird.

I believe the weirdness of the crown is due to the interaction of the light of the jeweller loupe and the iPhone camera. When looking through the loupe, but not using the camera, it looks fine.

[garyk]

Looks to me like you live in a humid climate, correct?

[DateJust74]

Originally Posted by garyk

Looks to me like you live in a humid climate, correct?

Yes, I live in a humid and warm place unfortunately. Summers here, for example, exhibit the terrible 90% humidity. For this and many other reasons, I hate that my parents moved here from Portugal before I was even born. I can’t even send my watches to Rolliworks because of the stupid import tax law that will charge me as if I was buying a watch from the USA even if I send it for repair (tax being 60% of the value of the product+shipping, and an additional tax of 25% of the value of the product+shipping). For those taxes I could almost buy another Rolex.

[garyk]

Originally Posted by DateJust74

Yes, I live in a humid and warm place unfortunately. Summers here, for example, exhibit the terrible 90% humidity. For this and many other reasons, I hate that my parents moved here from Portugal before I was even born. I can’t even send my watches to Rolliworks because of the stupid import tax law that will charge me as if I was buying a watch from the USA even if I send it for repair (tax being 60% of the value of the product+shipping, and an additional tax of 25% of the value of the product+shipping). For those taxes I could almost buy another Rolex.

That's crazy for repairs. I guess just find a local talented watch smith? Or can you send your watch to a friend in the states who in turn could have it repaired and send it back to you? I have never been to your country but Portugal is one of our favorite places in the world for sure. Good luck to you!! Just read your other reply, if you are visiting the states, problem solved i guess...