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DaveN · 19 August 2007, 09:36 PM

I've read multiple threads recently about scratches, especially first scratches occurring to newly acquired Rollies with trepidation. My new GMT II TT would eventually suffer the same fate although I dreaded the day.

Yesterday I was walking on the beach with friends who are spending the weekend with us. The tide was coming in and we had to be careful as we threaded a narrow path along the water's edge. Suddenly, a larger than usual wave arrived and we jumped away to keep ourselves dry. I felt Lisa colliding with my left arm and my Rolex taking a hit. Unfortunately she was wearing several diamonds on her hand and I realized that my poor GMT was doomed. The dreaded moment had arrived.

Lisa felt bad and asked me if she had scratched my watch. I looked down and quickly surveyed for damage. I didn't see any scratches or gouges and re-assured her that all was fine. I was surprised but I didn't want to make her feel bad by making an issue of the collision so I decided to wait until the walk was finished to truly assess the damage.

I suffered through the miles left wondering where the scratch was and how bad it would look. When we finished I privately examined my Rollie and found no scratch! Unbelieving I looked in better light and convinced myself that there may be a slight defect on the outer bezel edge around the 0100 mark at the black/gold interface. Where's JJ and his loupe when you need him?

Needless to say, I was amazed at the ceramic's resilience. I can consider this my first scratch and be done with it. If I have to look this hard to see something I'm quite lucky. I would post a photo but I don't think that my lens will magnify enough to demonstrate what I'm writing about.

Love my Rolex, love the ceramic bezel. The old GMT would be toast after such an encounter. Beware the dangers of diamonds lurking out there.

pegase747 · 19 August 2007, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveN

Where's JJ and his loupe when you need him?
...
Love my Rolex, love the ceramic bezel. The old GMT would be toast after such an encounter. Beware the dangers of diamonds lurking out there.

JJ's loop is at the RSC, getting upgraded to a microscope

If you had an old style GMT, you may have had a scratch, but you would have add character to it I guess. I saw a beaten up GMT-II the other day, with the numbers almost impossible to read on the pepsi bezel, and a really scratches case, I found it looked gorgeous !!

The steel case of you rnew GMT will have scratches somedays I think...
Cheers / Pierre

Atomant · 19 August 2007, 10:49 PM

Seems like diaminds and rings are one of Rollie's worst enemies! N they don't lurk around at beaches too, look o ut for them in the cozy of your room on couches while you're chillin out with your partner. It happens during the most unexpected moments!!!

Dan Pierce · 19 August 2007, 11:00 PM

Quote:

The old GMT would be toast after such an encounter.

Well maybe, but it would have only cost about $60 to $70 to bring it back to new. Might take more to scratch a ceramic bezel but much more scratch to replace it.

Glad to hear yours was ok.

dP

SPACE-DWELLER · 19 August 2007, 11:05 PM

I am glad that your Rolex did not get scratched, Dave

I have experienced a thing like this before when I was working i an office. It was a busy day and suddenly one of my colleagues reached his arm over my desk to fetch something, and at the same moment it was reaching out for the phone!

CLING!

The cyclops on my SS Sub Date (not the one I own now!) got a scratch! And that scratch showed very clearly every time I was looking at the date!

That was then I realized that the CYCLOPS IS IN FACT NOT MADE OF SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL, but of MINERAL glass unlike the rest of the crystal (my AD verified this).

I never got a new loupe/crystal on my Sub and flipped in soon afterwards.

Lol-x · 19 August 2007, 11:25 PM

Sometimes you can just be lucky, other time not, seems like today was your lucky day

frostie · 21 August 2007, 01:42 AM

Yeap you were lucky

Destroy · 27 August 2007, 10:21 PM

What a shame Rolex use mineral for the cyclops. Is this true of the new line as well?

My rolex education is advancing in LEAPS and BOUNDS on this forum.

frostie · 27 August 2007, 11:18 PM

I think that they still use Mineral crystal for cyclops but it has antireflective material. So it is much easier to look at the date

Bama · 28 August 2007, 12:10 AM

Funny story

I'm glad things turned out the way they did - could have been a lot worse.

19 August 2007, 09:36 PM	#1
DaveN "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NC Watch: GMT II TT 116713 Posts: 133	How I Came to Love Ceramic or my first scratch.... I've read multiple threads recently about scratches, especially first scratches occurring to newly acquired Rollies with trepidation. My new GMT II TT would eventually suffer the same fate although I dreaded the day. Yesterday I was walking on the beach with friends who are spending the weekend with us. The tide was coming in and we had to be careful as we threaded a narrow path along the water's edge. Suddenly, a larger than usual wave arrived and we jumped away to keep ourselves dry. I felt Lisa colliding with my left arm and my Rolex taking a hit. Unfortunately she was wearing several diamonds on her hand and I realized that my poor GMT was doomed. The dreaded moment had arrived. Lisa felt bad and asked me if she had scratched my watch. I looked down and quickly surveyed for damage. I didn't see any scratches or gouges and re-assured her that all was fine. I was surprised but I didn't want to make her feel bad by making an issue of the collision so I decided to wait until the walk was finished to truly assess the damage. I suffered through the miles left wondering where the scratch was and how bad it would look. When we finished I privately examined my Rollie and found no scratch! Unbelieving I looked in better light and convinced myself that there may be a slight defect on the outer bezel edge around the 0100 mark at the black/gold interface. Where's JJ and his loupe when you need him? Needless to say, I was amazed at the ceramic's resilience. I can consider this my first scratch and be done with it. If I have to look this hard to see something I'm quite lucky. I would post a photo but I don't think that my lens will magnify enough to demonstrate what I'm writing about. Love my Rolex, love the ceramic bezel. The old GMT would be toast after such an encounter. Beware the dangers of diamonds lurking out there.

19 August 2007, 11:05 PM	#5
SPACE-DWELLER "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Real Name: Bo Location: Denmark Watch: Rolex, of course! Posts: 22,436	I am glad that your Rolex did not get scratched, Dave I have experienced a thing like this before when I was working i an office. It was a busy day and suddenly one of my colleagues reached his arm over my desk to fetch something, and at the same moment it was reaching out for the phone! CLING! The cyclops on my SS Sub Date (not the one I own now!) got a scratch! And that scratch showed very clearly every time I was looking at the date! That was then I realized that the CYCLOPS IS IN FACT NOT MADE OF SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL, but of MINERAL glass unlike the rest of the crystal (my AD verified this). I never got a new loupe/crystal on my Sub and flipped in soon afterwards. __________________ With kind regards, Bo LocTite 221: The Taming Of The Screw...

19 August 2007, 10:49 PM	#3
Atomant "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Fernwood Posts: 3,455	Seems like diaminds and rings are one of Rollie's worst enemies! N they don't lurk around at beaches too, look o ut for them in the cozy of your room on couches while you're chillin out with your partner. It happens during the most unexpected moments!!!

19 August 2007, 11:25 PM	#6
Lol-x Facilitator Join Date: Nov 2005 Real Name: Steve Location: Omnipresent Posts: 33,590	Sometimes you can just be lucky, other time not, seems like today was your lucky day

21 August 2007, 01:42 AM	#7
frostie 1,000,000th PostMember Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Earth Posts: 14,048	Yeap you were lucky

27 August 2007, 10:21 PM	#8
Destroy Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Real Name: AJ Location: Australia Posts: 732	What a shame Rolex use mineral for the cyclops. Is this true of the new line as well? My rolex education is advancing in LEAPS and BOUNDS on this forum.

27 August 2007, 11:18 PM	#9
frostie 1,000,000th PostMember Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Earth Posts: 14,048	I think that they still use Mineral crystal for cyclops but it has antireflective material. So it is much easier to look at the date

28 August 2007, 12:10 AM	#10
Bama "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Real Name: John Location: Washington, DC Posts: 1,150	Funny story I'm glad things turned out the way they did - could have been a lot worse.

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