Scratched bracelet on my new SS daytona - gutted!!

[Craigejm]

Hi guys, I'm pretty new to both Rolex and the TRF having bought my first Rolex a couple of months ago. I got a white face SS Daytona and have been loving it! However, I've just noticed I've somehow managed to get really deep scratches on the bracelet, not sure if you can tell from the pictures...

I'm really gutted as I always take care of my watches and haven't got a clue how I did it.

Any advice on whether it could be fixed or whether I need a new bracelet would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers

[psv]

If you become "gutted" by having a scratch on your sport watch then perhaps you should not wear one...

You can certainly get a Cape Cod cloth to work on the polished center links and a Bergeon pad for the brushed ones. More on that http://www.minus4plus6.com/maintenance.htm

I'd say just enjoy your watch.

[Craigejm]

Thanks for your advice. I have plenty of scratches on my other watches but none that are this deep. I buy watches to wear not leave in a safe, but that doesn't mean I don't look after them.

[BmwA5H]

Originally Posted by Craigejm

Thanks for your advice. I have plenty of scratches on my other watches but none that are this deep. I buy watches to wear not leave in a safe, but that doesn't mean I don't look after them.

Ahh sorry Man! I know how it feels! They're pretty bad! almost like you've scrapped it against something by mistake? Take it to be re-polished!

[gmh1013]

Originally Posted by BmwA5H

Ahh sorry Man! I know how it feels! They're pretty bad! almost like you've scrapped it against something by mistake? Take it to be re-polished!

X2 ...some AD's can do this without having to send to a RSC and wait 4-6 weeks

[psv]

The polished center links on a stainless steel watch are going to share wear pretty easily. I'd clean the up as best you can but leave any polishing to when it comes time for service. And I know what you mean, I don't think any of us are reckless with our pieces but unintentional signs of wear do occur, I view it as patina! :-)

[Runnin' Rebel]

It looks nice to me.

I didn't have my TT Oyster GMT Serti Root Beer 36 hours before I scratch the hell out of it. Can't find an after pic.

Before:

[77T]

I suppose you could go the DIY route with the CC cloth and a brush pen but you may not get things done evenly and eventually pay a watchmaker to spruce it up. But if it were me I'd have it done by a trusted watchmaker.

[Dr.Brian]

Originally Posted by psv

If you become "gutted" by having a scratch on your sport watch then perhaps you should not wear one...

You can certainly get a Cape Cod cloth to work on the polished center links and a Bergeon pad for the brushed ones. More on that http://www.minus4plus6.com/maintenance.htm

I'd say just enjoy your watch.

X1000!
It's a watch man. They take some hits.
Get the bracelet brushed and forget about it.

[Grissom]

Originally Posted by Dr.Brian

X1000!
It's a watch man. They take some hits.
Get the bracelet brushed and forget about it.

That they do......as you can see, my GMTIIc gets it's fair share, and periodically, I carefully polish them all out.....

Wear it and enjoy it, indeed! (Don't LET this stuff drive you nuts)

Before....


After 5 minutes of a very light, quick polish touch up.....

[LTM]

Bad news: it happens....

Good news: it can be fixed!

[roadcarver]

It happens unfortunately. On your next service just have it buffed out.

[TSW]

Nothing to be gutted for, This is more then a scratch....

[ScottP]

I'm going through a little bit of this madness right now with my new GMT IIc too. I bought it to be a daily wear watch but was amazed at how beautiful the finish is and have tried really hard not to scratch it to no avail. The painful conclusion is to wear it, take care of it and let it age gracefully... like ME!?!?

[caryyee]

Originally Posted by TSW

Nothing to be gutted for, This is more then a scratch....

Holy cr*p what happened there? Looks like it was torn from your wrist??? I need to ask, was your hand / wrist that it was attached to, come out ok??

[caryyee]

Originally Posted by ScottP

I'm going through a little bit of this madness right now with my new GMT IIc too. I bought it to be a daily wear watch but was amazed at how beautiful the finish is and have tried really hard not to scratch it to no avail. The painful conclusion is to wear it, take care of it and let it age gracefully... like ME!?!?

Small scratches are part and parcel of wearing a any watch with a shiny bracelet. If the watch was only worth a couple of hundred $, we wouldn't worry about it, but unfortunately, when it's worth $10k, any scratch seems to stress some of us! That's psychology of the mind at work, the more we've saved / spent on an item, the more we value keeping it in pristine condition. It's just like the first scratch on a brand new car - we go OMG!!! Then after the 2nd and third or after a few months, we go meh, it's not so bad.

Small scratches from gentle use gradually create a nice patina of fine scratches that are quite acceptable, but a deep gouge can never be blended into something attractive IMO. If I deep scratched mine, I'm happy to take it to a good watchmaker that will gently and expertly polish it out. The emphasis is on a GOOD watchmaker, there are many that overpolish and do the watch more harm than good.

[Andad]

Hi Craig,

Yeah, that is a downer and I would be pretty annoyed about it but it's not the end of days.

You could tape off the brushed links and have a go at polishing the centre links just to see how deep the scratches are. I'd use Solvol Autosol because you will need a little cutting power to fix those scratches. Then tape off the polished links and brush the rest. Only a RSC or a good watchmaker could bring it back to original and I would just fix it as best as I could or leave it until a service is needed.

AND BE MORE CAREFUL IN FUTURE!!

Don't pay too much attention to Patrick - those DC Metro guys are a tough crowd.

[colpol]

That would bother me too. I wear my SD near enough everyday & don't have anything near like those scratches.

I'd go into your local AD & see what he can do

[dddrees]

I can see why those scratches might bother you especially since it's fairly new


I'd go into your local AD & see what he can do for you if you don't do the DYI method.



However scratches will occur and I wouldn't worry so much about polishing it in the future until it's time for another service.

[patrike]

Originally Posted by TSW

Nothing to be gutted for, This is more then a scratch....

Varit ute och brottats på Stureplan?

[TSW]

Originally Posted by patrike

Varit ute och brottats på Stureplan?

I thought it was a toolwatch

[bgriz]

Craig,
Since the majority of the scratches are on the PCL's, why not try a cape cod cloth and see if you can make it where you don't feel so "gutted". What do you have to lose?

[Mantooth]

I would personally brush the center links like I did on my GMTIIc. They show a lot less scratches than PCLs.

It's a sporty watch.

[landroverking]

That's par for the course. All my bracelets take more hits on the left(same as yours).
You can deal with it or wait for service where it will come back looking new.
This is the reason I like brushed on SS.

[chillviper]

Needs a trip to your AD or to a RSC. I've scratched up my GV clasp pretty good and misc swirlies on my SS Daytona, including the bezel.

[LightOnAHill]

Bet you're glad you didn't get gold! That scratch would have been "way" worse!


sorry for the damage, but as others have said, you can fix it yourself or have it fixed, but more scratches are in the future, so maybe just let 'em all build up and every two years get it polished or something, and enjoy the scratches in the mean time.

[Beelzy]

Now you know why the Daytona is nick-named the Scratch Magnet.

I took mine off the bracelet and wore it on a strap, as I knew I would flip it one day and folks hate buying second hand Daytonas with buggered up bracelets.

[jimbones43]

Those seem deep and plsntiful to not remember how you got them. Small stuff doesnt bother me but those would.

I usually preach to leave them until service but those I might have to address immediately.

Good luck!
'
Jim

[nauticajoe]

Sorry to hear. Worse case, send it in to RSC if it bothers you that much.

Good luck!

[bewithabob]

Ouch! Surely you can get it polished by RSC if it bothers you…and it will look just like new.