My Submariner is 1 Year Old Today...How am I doing?

[PureClass]

I can't remember the birthdays of some of my loved ones, but that is not the case for my beloved Submariner! One year ago today, I bought my 116610 in Dallas, Texas on the way home from a weekend trip with my wife to Nashville, TN. Not a day has passed that I haven't glanced at my wrist and beamed with pride at its' beauty. I'm so proud of it!

On that day a year ago, I told you all that this would one day be my son's watch. He was two years old when I bought it and we have since found out that baby #3 is on the way. I'm hoping for a boy, as that would mean another Rolex with no pushback from the wife. Here's the picture that I took of my son and I one year ago today, when I arrived home and let him try on the watch that will be his one day:



So, now what I'm wondering is "how good of a job have I done of caring for my watch in its' first year?" Despite wearing my Submariner everyday and in all activities that I participate, I try very hard to keep it safe, clean and free of scratches. I've done a good job of not getting any scratches on the crystal or bezel. No drops or any major trauma of any kind, thankfully. The bracelet definitely shows where I have worn it, set it on surfaces, such as my desk, and acquired light scrapes throughout the last year. I wondered if you might look at the pictures below and give me your thoughts on its condition. Is the wear and tear that my watch has experienced normal or is mine taking an above average beating? Do you have any tips for me to reduce the look of these scratches or prevent them in the future? I appreciate this community and very much enjoy my timepiece and the brotherhood here!













...and lastly, the birthday wrist shot:

[versatile1]

Looks awful
Beyond repair.
I will give you 3500 for it today and you can thank me later

Seriously though, if you keep wearing it the way you are you will be lucky to get 120 yrs out of it

[sea-dweller]

Looks fine!

[bridgs]

It looks fine. By the time your son gets it, it will have many more scratches and possibly some dings. Enjoy the watch and the wear. It will mean more to him in the end I think. You just can't avoid much of that stuff you are trying to avoid.

[samsmart]

Congrats! Great story.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[samsmart]

Watch looks great!! Normal wear.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[WatchFeen]

adds character, i think your son will appreciate it more. I know i did ;) enjoy!

[bde]

Looks fine!

[mjclark32]

Looking good!

[joe100]

It's a Rolex.

A Rolex without scratches is wasted

[PureClass]

Thanks guys! I'm not completely eaten up with keeping it scratch free, but I was eager to hear if my wear was normal, and I'm thrilled that it is. Thanks for the kind words.

[N_Architect]

Originally Posted by joe100

It's a Rolex.

A Rolex without scratches is wasted

My sentiments exactly...

[Annan]

Looks very normal to me, my friend. Great watch and here's hoping for many more years of enjoyment.

[eric23]

Nice!

[impalass]

Looks like you're getting your moneys worth.

[Cc1966]

Congrats ... Looks par for the course!

[GradyPhilpott]

[ec51]

Originally Posted by versatile1

Looks awful
Beyond repair.
I will give you 3500 for it today and you can thank me later

Seriously though, if you keep wearing it the way you are you will be lucky to get 120 yrs out of it

Looks great!! ...as a well worn watch SHOULD look!

Only advice I can give is to keep wearing it as you have!

In another 5-6 years, have it serviced and it will look new again!

[azguy]

scratches make it yours and become part of its charm

[ZDsam]

Looks fine

[Bangel]

Your watch has reached all the developmental milestones of a one year old watch that has been worn everyday.

In other words, it looks fine!

[Vincent65]

Looks quite worn for one year, to me. Nothing wrong with that, though.

[TSW]

[aeon888]

Nice and I like how your crown is almost perfectly points upwards like how Rolex shows their presentation watch models in their site lol

[SUBversive]

This is a happy birthday thread I can get behind.

[nick c]

Congrats

[Pleximannen]

Used but not abused. Perfect. Keep it up and don't ever have it polished ;)

[Billywiz]

Looks great...funnily enough Ive found after the initial 'scratch in' they don't seem to get worse...great pic.

[bayerische]

Looks like a year of normal scratches! Scratches are good!

[cop414]

Looks great, happy birthday to your Sub! One thing that I don't do which seems to really minimize scartches is to never wipe the watch when it's dirty. It's hard to do sometimes, but dirt is abrasive. I'll rinse it under water before I run any type of cloth on it. Mine is coming up on the six month point and all I have are a few scratches on the bracelet and clasp. Also when I do dry it after it's been cleaned I alwayd dry the bracelat and clasp "with the grain" of the brushing.
Not that these watches need any babying. Yours looks just like it should in my opinion. Don't forget that if you so desire at service time those scratch memories can all be removed.