Big Scratch!

[Watchdog]

Washed my watch last night, left it on a towel to dry by the bathroom sink.

This morning, I hear kuuuusssh, and my son yells, "Daddy!"

My little boy was standing at the sink, toothbrush in hand. He had brushed his teeth and used the hand towel to dry off--makes good sense since towels like this are usually used for such purposes, not Rolex watch winding.

So, I look in the sink and there's my Rollie, among toothpaste and spit. I pull it out, and it has a sizeable scratch.

"Sorry, Dad," my son said. "So sorry!"

"Not your fault," I promised, hugging him.

Felt lucky he didn't rip the towel hard enough to send the watch to the floor--we all know about those ceramic bezels.

Cleaned it up and sure enough, it had a nice scratch right on the case. I had preached to others about the value of scratches . . . they "humanize" the watch, give it "character," I'd written in some of my posts.

But here, this was MY watch, a different beast entirely. This scratch was considerable, and it wasn't coming off.

After a few more seconds of turmoil, I suddenly felt soooooo . . . . . . . . . .







AT PEACE.





Honestly, it almost made me feel relieved to get my first good one. Epiphany that yes, even MY watches will get scratches, part of the experience as I had told others.

More will come, of this I am certain. And Rolex will take care of them in five years.

[Gold Crown]

Originally Posted by kingkongkelley

Washed my watch last night, left it on a towel to dry by the bathroom sink.

This morning, I hear kuuuusssh, and my son yells, "Daddy!"

My little boy was standing at the sink, toothbrush in hand. He had brushed his teeth and used the hand towel to dry off--makes good sense since towels like this are usually used for such purposes, not Rolex watch winding.

So, I look in the sink and there's my Rollie, among toothpaste and spit. I pull it out, and it has a sizeable scratch.

"Sorry, Dad," my son said. "So sorry!"

"Not your fault," I promised, hugging him.

Felt lucky he didn't rip the towel hard enough to send the watch to the floor--we all know about those ceramic bezels.

Cleaned it up and sure enough, it had a nice scratch right on the case. I had preached to others about the value of scratches . . . they "humanize" the watch, give it "character," I'd written in some of my posts.

But here, this was MY watch, a different beast entirely. This scratch was considerable, and it wasn't coming off.

After a few more seconds of turmoil, I suddenly felt soooooo . . . . . . . . . .







AT PEACE.





Honestly, it almost made me feel relieved to get my first good one. Epiphany that yes, even MY watches will get scratches, part of the experience as I had told others.

More will come, of this I am certain. And Rolex will take care of them in five years.

Leave it there it has meaning, 10 years from now take a look at that scratch and remember how it happened and try not to shed a tear! You and your son will have something to look back at. Thats a special scratch indeed!

[meloncap78]

Oh man. Well you are very right my friend. Scratches will come and Rolex will take care of them. I remember catching my 7 o'clock lug on a metal hooked door handle. Nice big dent. I don't know if Rolex will be able to entirely take it out but I know how you must have felt. Sorry to hear it but at the same time I am glad you found something good out of it.

[kyle L]

At least you don't have a dent!

[bodybump]

oh boy lucky it didnt went to the toilet....

[Mwing]

just 1 more story to tell when looking at your watch

[grex]

Originally Posted by kyle L

At least you don't have a dent!

Hey mate, just clocked a dent on my expy 2 yesterday. Really felt the pain.. We are on the same boat now. Thot of flipping it previously, but think the expy 2 will be here to stay....

[folexhater]

Originally Posted by Gold Crown

Leave it there it has meaning, 10 years from now take a look at that scratch and remember how it happened and try not to shed a tear! You and your son will have something to look back at. Thats a special scratch indeed!

x2

[rocco1109]

you can tell him the story. He'll love it.

Congrats on your first scratch

[LocoNBroko]

As the father of two young sons... I can relate! And I am very pleased to hear how well you handled it. I am also one who doesnt let scratches on my watches get to me.
And if you are like me, you can just tell Jr. that when he gets the watch he will know how the scratch got there!

[onkyo]

Your son is lucky to have a great dad like yourself.

[vipergts66]

1st scratch is always the worst! glad your first reaction was to reassure your son everything was ok. great dad!

[Essar]

Nice to see that you have genuinely been able to take such a positive outlook and clearly see it as the sink is half full, ooops I meant glass is half full ....

It could have been a lot worse, as a wise man once said:

'Man who drops watch in toilet, sure to have sh!tty time'...

[GMTJOHNNY]

I have similar stories. They will be remembered when you pass that watch down to him. Enjoy them and thanks for sharing!

[Rolex116520]

That will teach you letting your watch lingering anywhere , my son at 18 months got hold of my daytona I had left next to me whilst having a sunday afternoon"siesta"nap in the garden. When I realized that he was runing around with it I went up to him and said to hand it over , do not know what the little man understood at that time he but decided to spinbowl the watch onto the gravel driveway . That credited the watch with a serious amount of scratches on the bracelet and bezel . I told him that he will be sorry about that when he will inherit the thing . He wasn't impressed...
He was right , I have since sold that watch and at the moment it has been replaced with a brandnew 116520 , which he will most probably inherit anyway.

[2th Dr]

Great story, but more importantly, GREAT OUTLOOK!!! Thanks for sharing. You're one of the good ones!

[B. Doggy]

Makes sense you me.....doesn't mean that I won't get PO'd when I scratch mine though!

[Wooddog44]

Originally Posted by 2th DR

Great story, but more importantly, GREAT OUTLOOK!!! Thanks for sharing. You're one of the good ones!

Not really yours until you put a scratch on it, big ups to you for making sure that your son didn't feel you blamed him or were angry with him!

Might seem minor but something like that could stay with him until he becomes a father and is faced with a similar situation. The compassion and understanding you showed could/will shape how he handles that.

[NJSub]

What a great story! You will love that scratch even more as your son grows up.

[worktolivelife]

quote 'at peace' that's a cool state of mind!

steve

[seedgun]

Great story and great attitude. I always try to keep in mind that on my last day on earth I won't be thinking " gee I wish I'd gotten fewer scratches on my watches" But rather" wow I should have had more fun and gotten more scratches"

A pretty simple goal, but one that's hard to live.
Andy

[Gold Crown]

Originally Posted by seedgun

Great story and great attitude. I always try to keep in mind that on my last day on earth I won't be thinking " gee I wish I'd gotten fewer scratches on my watches" But rather" wow I should have had more fun and gotten more scratches"

A pretty simple goal, but one that's hard to live.
Andy

Isn't that the truth.

[GoldenBear]

I was wrestling with my 12 year old Lab...He is like my kid. He put a scratch on my watch. I will never buff that out and will always look back fondly on it.

[Watchdog]

Originally Posted by Gold Crown

Leave it there it has meaning, 10 years from now take a look at that scratch and remember how it happened and try not to shed a tear! You and your son will have something to look back at. Thats a special scratch indeed!

When I read your post, I liked your idea. Always have the story!

Originally Posted by meloncap78

Oh man. Well you are very right my friend. Scratches will come and Rolex will take care of them. I remember catching my 7 o'clock lug on a metal hooked door handle. Nice big dent. I don't know if Rolex will be able to entirely take it out but I know how you must have felt. Sorry to hear it but at the same time I am glad you found something good out of it.

Originally Posted by kyle L

At least you don't have a dent!

No doubt, Kyle.

Originally Posted by bodybump

oh boy lucky it didnt went to the toilet....

Originally Posted by Mwing

just 1 more story to tell when looking at your watch

Originally Posted by grex

Hey mate, just clocked a dent on my expy 2 yesterday. Really felt the pain.. We are on the same boat now. Thot of flipping it previously, but think the expy 2 will be here to stay....

Originally Posted by folexhater

x2

Originally Posted by rocco1109

you can tell him the story. He'll love it.

Congrats on your first scratch

Originally Posted by LocoNBroko

As the father of two young sons... I can relate! And I am very pleased to hear how well you handled it. I am also one who doesnt let scratches on my watches get to me.
And if you are like me, you can just tell Jr. that when he gets the watch he will know how the scratch got there!

Thank you very much. I will definitely tell him the story.

Originally Posted by onkyo

Your son is lucky to have a great dad like yourself.

That meant a lot to me.

Originally Posted by vipergts66

1st scratch is always the worst! glad your first reaction was to reassure your son everything was ok. great dad!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Essar

Nice to see that you have genuinely been able to take such a positive outlook and clearly see it as the sink is half full, ooops I meant glass is half full ....

It could have been a lot worse, as a wise man once said:

'Man who drops watch in toilet, sure to have sh!tty time'...

Originally Posted by GMTJOHNNY

I have similar stories. They will be remembered when you pass that watch down to him. Enjoy them and thanks for sharing!

Originally Posted by Rolex116520

That will teach you letting your watch lingering anywhere , my son at 18 months got hold of my daytona I had left next to me whilst having a sunday afternoon"siesta"nap in the garden. When I realized that he was runing around with it I went up to him and said to hand it over , do not know what the little man understood at that time he but decided to spinbowl the watch onto the gravel driveway . That credited the watch with a serious amount of scratches on the bracelet and bezel . I told him that he will be sorry about that when he will inherit the thing . He wasn't impressed...
He was right , I have since sold that watch and at the moment it has been replaced with a brandnew 116520 , which he will most probably inherit anyway.

Wow! Your experience was far more traumatic. Glad he's getting the brand new one.

Originally Posted by 2th DR

Great story, but more importantly, GREAT OUTLOOK!!! Thanks for sharing. You're one of the good ones!

Thanks very much!

Originally Posted by B. Doggy

Makes sense you me.....doesn't mean that I won't get PO'd when I scratch mine though!

Yeah, my first internal reaction wasn't exactly peaches and cream!

Originally Posted by Wooddog44

Not really yours until you put a scratch on it, big ups to you for making sure that your son didn't feel you blamed him or were angry with him!

Might seem minor but something like that could stay with him until he becomes a father and is faced with a similar situation. The compassion and understanding you showed could/will shape how he handles that.

Thanks for your very kind words. I think you're right about the potential for future problems. But they were avoided.

Originally Posted by NJSub

What a great story! You will love that scratch even more as your son grows up.

Originally Posted by worktolivelife

quote 'at peace' that's a cool state of mind!

steve

Well, I've never responded to EVERY response before, but I really enjoyed your posts and wanted to thank you all for you kind words and thoughts.

Have no fear . . . there is no trauma for my son. Last night he was telling the story to anyone who would listen about how he "Sent daddy's watch flying through the air . . . really, really, really, really high and then it landed with a CRASH in disgusting spit." Then he'd give a hearty laugh.

By the time he told the story for the final time, it sounded as if the watch had almost entered space before its fatal fall.

[Gold Crown]

Originally Posted by kingkongkelley

When I read your post, I liked your idea. Always have the story!







No doubt, Kyle.























Thank you very much. I will definitely tell him the story.



That meant a lot to me.



Thanks!











Wow! Your experience was far more traumatic. Glad he's getting the brand new one.



Thanks very much!



Yeah, my first internal reaction wasn't exactly peaches and cream!



Thanks for your very kind words. I think you're right about the potential for future problems. But they were avoided.












Well, I've never responded to EVERY response before, but I really enjoyed your posts and wanted to thank you all for you kind words and thoughts.

Have no fear . . . there is no trauma for my son. Last night he was telling the story to anyone who would listen about how he "Sent daddy's watch flying through the air . . . really, really, really, really high and then it landed with a CRASH in disgusting spit." Then he'd give a hearty laugh.

By the time he told the story for the final time, it sounded as if the watch had almost entered space before its fatal fall.

A story to share in 10 years for sure.

[rcher]

Welcome to the real world of daily wear. My first scratch about killed me....for about 2 minutes.

Then I came to the same realization you did and settled into a comfortable acceptance of character marks.

"Safe queens" are fine, but I bought my Air King to wear and enjoy as an integral part of my daily life.

And I still smile inside EVERY time I look at it....scratches, rubs and all.

[cmr]

at least it was your watch. last night my wife comes in and tells me her sister just opened the car door into the side of my brand new car. thats right, in my own damn garage, a big door dent in the middle of my left rear door. a scratch in a watch will polish out. polish isn't an option for me.

[Lion]

I'm glad to hear that you didn't yell at your son for your mistake of leaving the watch in the bathroom where accidents can happen. Your attitude about your watch is commendable even though you must have had a collective sigh over the first marking of the watch. You and your son have a great story to tell and he doesn't feel hurt or guilty over the incident!!!

[rkb]

Some years ago my father ordered a new Polar Expy2 but was out of town so he had it delivered to my house. Of course I had to take it and look it over, this was when the SEL bracelets first came out and curiosity go the best of me. Wanting to know how it was put together I removed the bracelet. But when it came time to refit the bracelet back on the watch I ran into difficulty. Not having either skills or correct tools it took me forever to get it back on, and in the end there was a scratch on the top of one of the lugs. After pure adrenaline overload I calmed down, found a piece of course grain sand paper and carefully- very carefully refinished the brushed finish on the lug.

[Jones]

Originally Posted by rkb

Some years ago my father ordered a new Polar Expy2 but was out of town so he had it delivered to my house. Of course I had to take it and look it over, this was when the SEL bracelets first came out and curiosity go the best of me. Wanting to know how it was put together I removed the bracelet. But when it came time to refit the bracelet back on the watch I ran into difficulty. Not having either skills or correct tools it took me forever to get it back on, and in the end there was a scratch on the top of one of the lugs. After pure adrenaline overload I calmed down, found a piece of course grain sand paper and carefully- very carefully refinished the brushed finish on the lug.

Did you tell him??