My Scratches Don't Tell A Story

[Easy E]

Just go full Walter Mitty and imagine that you have conquered Everest with that watch on.

[Mystro]

Scratches and dings don’t have to happen to a daily Rolex. Wearing habits and regular upkeep can keep a Rolex surprisingly in great shape. It’s all how you take care of them and what you want. I will say a brushed finish is significantly easier to keep new looking over PCL.

[MRBolton]

I’ll never understand those who have the scratch fetish. I look at my watch like a car enthusiast does a fine sports car. No one slaps their buddy on the back and tells them how awesome the scratches all over their Ferrari looks.
Maybe a classic truck or jeep can look arguably good with some scars, but a luxury watch isn’t an equivalent of exactly that in this day and age. Or at least—it should be highly excusable when it’s not viewed as that.
So many people in the watch community get offended over others not preferring to keep their watches looking as best as they can!

[Krash]

Originally Posted by MRBolton

I’ll never understand those who have the scratch fetish. I look at my watch like a car enthusiast does a fine sports car. No one slaps their buddy on the back and tells them how awesome the scratches all over their Ferrari looks.
Maybe a classic truck or jeep can look arguably good with some scars, but a luxury watch isn’t an equivalent of exactly that in this day and age. Or at least—it should be highly excusable when it’s not viewed as that.
So many people in the watch community get offended over others not preferring to keep their watches looking as best as they can!

I agree. Also, I don’t know why people post something like, “I actually wear my watches.” And then post a picture of a scratched up Rolex.

I wear my watches too. In fact, everyday I wear a watch. We all do.

But my watches are pretty pristine. Probably because I have multiple watches in rotation, so that preserves them.

I think the “one watch” guys are probably likely to have a watch that is much more banged up. It gets used daily and just gets more wear and tear.


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[ArtNouveau]

Scratches are just random I guess. All of my Rolex have been mountainbiking with me and for the most part they’re still pretty pristine. I hear the term “wrist awareness,” I guess I have it.

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

Scratches are just random I guess. All of my Rolex have been mountainbiking with me and for the most part they’re still pretty pristine. I hear the term “wrist awareness,” I guess I have it.

Wrist awareness is the gateway drug to wrist bubble wrap

[brandrea]

I'm not sure about the car analogy ... of course scratches and dings on a Ferrari aren't cool

I think watches are more akin to leather jackets (I know ).

Some folks think a little wear actually enhances the appearance



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[Chiboy]

Yeah, I wear my Daytona every day and it doesn't look new seven years later. I don't gaze fondly at some scratch or nick and rhapsodize about the romantic notion I banged it. Of course, I don't recall how each micro scratch or nick gets on the watch either. But it's part of enjoying the watch. Stuff happens. Either you keep a watch looking brand new, or you wear it. Especially with PCLs.

TBH, I also don't understand the "I got married in this watch. I'll never sell it." sentiment. I don't know. Maybe stuff is just stuff and I don't love things the way I love people?

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Chiboy

…
TBH, I also don't understand the "I got married in this watch. I'll never sell it." sentiment. I don't know. Maybe stuff is just stuff and I don't love things the way I love people?

You sound like Marty Bryd

Some of us form a sentimental bond with “things”, it’s just part of the enjoyment of the hobby.

I agree about the scratches, I don’t remember each one, where it happened, how it happened etc., but I sure can tell you what watch I was wearing on my last trip, or to my wedding, or my kids graduation etc.

To me, wearing a watch isn’t just a practical tool to tell the time. It’s more than that, and emotional / sentimental connections are made. YMMV

No right or wrong my friend, just a difference of opinion on the sentimental topic.

[Lash L]

A new shiny watch looks like it has no stories worth telling.

[rcwatchcollector]

I’m slightly ocd so I rotate watches. And I get scratches fixed.


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[piratfisk]

I don't voluntarily slam my wrist into the door jamb, but I don't think I'm overly cautious. I do have this "wrist awareness" phenomena, but the "gateway drug to bubble wrap" is hilarious :D I love that.

[EPK]

I wear my 116000 3,6,9 OP for lots of activities with only a few exceptions. I don't ride my dirt bike or mountain bike with it. I have a GShock for that. Otherwise, it's been snorkeling in 3 different oceans, dipped in streams in the Rockies and Appalachians while fly fishing and I've worn it surfing. It has lots of small scratches that aren't noticeable until you really look closely.

I don't care. I don't abuse it but I never understood placing something in a watchbox and being super careful not to ever let it get scratched or scuffed. I can appreciate that others do so which is why we all like different things. It simply isn't me.

[relix63]

OP here. I'm not rough on my watches on purpose but things just seem to happen when wearing them. The scratches on the clasp make perfect sense to me and are basically unavoidable if you ever type on a laptop.

The way scratches are sometimes romanticized make me wish my bezel dings happened while running with the bulls or something else exciting. Instead they seemingly materialized out of thin air. Oh well.

[piratfisk]

Originally Posted by relix63

The way scratches are sometimes romanticized make me wish my bezel dings happened while running with the bulls or something else exciting. Instead they seemingly materialized out of thin air. Oh well.

The scratches & dents in my motorcycle tank from a cooler morning & not warming up tires is more memorable/romantic/exciting than a hairline on a bezel.

Don't sweat the small stuff. Nothing stays pristine forever & if it does, I don't think you're using it for its intended purposes, ya know? The sun will still rise tomorrow even if you didn't get gored in Pamplona.

[TimeLord2]

Yea, I received a 1973 GMT Master from my Dad. Pretty much beat to hell and he said as much. I think the story the scratches tell is that he pretty much beat the watch to hell. Aside from that, it's hard to interpret… Still trying to decide on refinishing but the cost is pretty horrifying too for something so small. Hahahahah!

[dukie748]

I like to put on a clean white shirt and then squirt ketchup down the front of it.

Personally, I'll never understand the 'scratches are a badge of honor' type sentiment.

[boltz]

This is prone to happen when it is being worn all the time, i enjoy the scares on mine for sure.

[NiJaRo1225]

Yeah, any scratches on my watches tell me a story about how much said scratches irritate me. Nothing more nothing less.


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[csaltphoto]

IDK... I've worn my sub everyday for the last 5 years. Yeah, when I look at closely I can tons of micro-scratches. But they are invisible from more than a foot away. I honestly thing the sleeve polishing on the brushed parts bother me more, but not enough to do anything about it. That first scratch did hurt though and I can still remember it...

[Roddypeepa]

I can remember three scratches on my datejust.

1 dinged clasp on back of a chair at work.

2 scratched bezel putting hand into a pocket with a zipper

3 dinged bezel on another watch having just picked it up from a service.

So hardly glamorous, exciting or memorable. Wish I hadn’t done any of them ideally.


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[Driver8]

Scratches on watches tell us one of two "stories" -

1. You've been unlucky
2. You're careless

Nothing more.

All this romanticising of what is simply damage caused by wear and tear is all a bit daft IMO.

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by Driver8

Scratches on watches tell us one of two "stories" -

1. You've been unlucky
2. You're careless

Nothing more.

All this romanticising of what is simply damage caused by wear and tear is all a bit daft IMO.

Yea, I think this recent viewpoint is a way to cope with an unfortunate event. Even racing 930’s back in the day I never could tolerate dents on my race cars. You damage them, you fix them. Everyone did this as a beat up track car looked like you could not drive.

I have gone decades without any deep scratches or dings on my Rolex watches. It’s all how you wear them. Even gouging up a bracelet link or pin looks like you don’t have the right screwdriver or your skill is seriously lacking.

[Driver8]

Originally Posted by Mystro

I have gone decades without any deep scratches or dings on my Rolex watches. It’s all how you wear them. Even gouging up a bracelet link or pin looks like you don’t have the right screwdriver or your skill is seriously lacking.

Same, and agreed.

[DoctorsOrders]

Rolex's are made to be worn!! The small scratches are signs that you are using the watch for what its made to do!

[geoach]

I have one dent on my PP aqua. Dove down five feet to check out some a small cave in a reef st barts when I looked in a trigger fish rushed at me I quickly backed away hitting my watch on coral. Great memory many years ago.