how to avoid clasp getting scratched?

[improviz]

Originally Posted by George Ab

I use a second mouse pad, and lay it under my left hand. Easy, and work well.

Nice to see someone giving a polite, helpful response instead of joining in the inevitable dogpile implying the OP is some sort of weirdo for trying to prevent a beautiful timepiece from getting excessively scratched up.

People would do well to remember that subjective opinions are not laws written in stone, and that one man's "character scratches" are another man's eyesores. If one can prevent excessive scratching by doing what George does, what's the harm?

[Higham5]

I use a small piece of 3M helicopter tape on my 14060m strap works for me and no one can see it.

[mikkolopez]

Only way to avoid scratches on your watch and clasp is not to wear them ... meaning scratches will be unavoidable when you wear your watches. For me i just wear my watches and enjoy them. At least when the watch goes for service, the scratches will buff out.

[TSW]

Facepalm

[Andad]

[nim]

Stick some 3m magic tape on the clasp
Or keep it in a safe

[jatco]

...Not that noticable with a full jubilee...!!!!!!!

[Watch Fan]

I hate to admit it, but I'm a little OCD about scratches on my clasps as well. What I use is clear 3M tape from any hardware store and then just cut it like the factory sticker. Works well for a couple of weeks and then needs replaced. It only takes a couple of minutes to do. I don't have any scratches on any of my clasps. The 3M tape is actually a "plastic vinyl" material that forms well to the clasp. It is invisible when applied correctly. Very easy to do.

[MortgageGuy]

Then do not wear it IMO... I do not worry about scratches... It is just a watch after all and is meant to be worn and enjoyed. If you are unable to enjoy it I suggest not wearing it... Serious

[Dr. Robert]

I use a laptop pc & my watch bracelet doesn't touch the pc body, and if it did, the pc body is plastic.....no scratches.

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by MortgageGuy

Then do not wear it IMO... I do not worry about scratches... It is just a watch after all and is meant to be worn and enjoyed. If you are unable to enjoy it I suggest not wearing it... Serious

B I N G O !

HANW all

[herbalt]

My SubC has the great adjustable bracelet, so I just open it to a wider setting when working at the computer. I push it up my wrist, into forearm territory. I realize this is a function of the bracelet on the sub c though.

[Le Chef]

There's more to life than a few scratches on a watch clasp, but if that's how you choose to live your life I would go on eBay and look for some immaculate original stickers from Rolex. Someone out there must have some.

[DiamondJack]

These threads are quite enlightening and evidence three main approaches to Rolex ownership.

On the one hand you have people that love and adore their Rolex watches....... I am pretty sure that covers all of us...... So that's the first box ticked

Next you have the people that bought their watches to wear and enjoy and to live and experience everyday with a fantastic piece of iconic engineering on their wrist ....... I would hope that covers most of us but it appears we have another group of people .........

The third group, for some reason, constantly worry about the visible appearance and condition of their watch. This appears, at least from a third party perspective, to be quite a negative factor of Rolex ownership and must surely impact on enjoyment........ How can you enjoy something with a constant worry factor hanging over your head........

I know which group I'm in.......... which, in turn, makes me wonder why the third group worry so much....... I can only think that they are thinking "residual value" day in day out ...... 24 hrs a day potentially, although most probably, to the detriment of their actual enjoyment of their watch........

Why would they do this......

Now I hope I'm wrong but pleeeeeease......... Surely people aren't thinking of resale flipping values as they first strap on their beloved Rolex...... but it would certainly appear that way........

[improviz]

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

These threads are quite enlightening and evidence three main approaches to Rolex ownership.

On the one hand you have people that love and adore their Rolex watches....... I am pretty sure that covers all of us...... So that's the first box ticked

Next you have the people that bought their watches to wear and enjoy and to live and experience everyday with a fantastic piece of iconic engineering on their wrist ....... I would hope that covers most of us but it appears we have another group of people .........

The third group, for some reason, constantly worry about the visible appearance and condition of their watch. This appears, at least from a third party perspective, to be quite a negative factor of Rolex ownership and must surely impact on enjoyment........ How can you enjoy something with a constant worry factor hanging over your head........

I know which group I'm in.......... which, in turn, makes me wonder why the third group worry so much....... I can only think that they are thinking "residual value" day in day out ...... 24 hrs a day potentially, although most probably, to the detriment of their actual enjoyment of their watch........

Why would they do this......

Now I hope I'm wrong but pleeeeeease......... Surely people aren't thinking of resale flipping values as they first strap on their beloved Rolex...... but it would certainly appear that way........

Thanks for the armchair psychoanalysis, but I can assure you that not only is it off the mark, it's really uncalled for.

I find it odd that people always have this tendency to look down on and ridicule people who don't think about things exactly the way they do, but this is a human characteristic I suppose...but rest assured, even though I (gasp!) take a few subtle precautions (an-gasp!-extra mouse pad like George at work, and-horror of horrors!!-I arch my wrist when I rest my arm on a table), I enjoy my watches to the fullest.

It's just that I just enjoy it more when it looks like new and isn't all banged/scratched up, and I really don't see anything wrong with this, nor do I make it my business to get up in someone's face who bangs and scratches up their watch, analyze their behavior, or subject them to ridicule, because you know what? For one, I'd never be presumptious enough to do something like that, and for two, I respect the fact that it's their property, and they are free to do with it as they wish.

In the same vein, I suppose that people who never wash and wax their cars and park them next to full-sized pickup trucks or under pigeon nests can enjoy the resultant faded paint, door dings and creases, and pigeon poop all over their cars, but some of us like to take care of our things. And why not? I worked hard to attain my stuff, value it, and try to take care of it. Sorry if this offends you...

Yes, things happen, and when they do, I take them in stride; I don't run around screaming "My resale! My resale!!", nor do I wail, gnash my teeth, etc...I just try to minimize the number of the buggers somewhat by taking a few simple steps, and at the end of the day I'm rewarded with a watch that looks like new years after I've purchased it.

Here are a few pics of my four year old Daytona (which I'm enjoying right now, on my wrist) and my three year old Sub, both of which are unpolished and nice and minty. Enjoy your scratches!

[experimentjon]

Originally Posted by improviz

Thanks for the armchair psychoanalysis, but I can assure you that not only is it off the mark, it's really uncalled for.

I find it odd that people always have this tendency to look down on and ridicule people who don't think about things exactly the way they do, but this is a human characteristic I suppose...but rest assured, even though I (gasp!) take a few subtle precautions (an-gasp!-extra mouse pad like George at work, and-horror of horrors!!-I arch my wrist when I rest my arm on a table), I enjoy my watches to the fullest.

It's just that I just enjoy it more when it looks like new and isn't all banged/scratched up, and I really don't see anything wrong with this, nor do I make it my business to get up in someone's face who bangs and scratches up their watch, analyze their behavior, or subject them to ridicule, because you know what? For one, I'd never be presumptious enough to do something like that, and for two, I respect the fact that it's their property, and they are free to do with it as they wish.

I don't think he was trying to be antagonistic, but was just making a comment relevant to the discussion.... (And personally I think it's very nice that you've kept your watches in such excellent shape.)

But anyway, as for myself, I have no idea how people keep their watches looking so good after wearing them. For me, I'm at a computer all day long too...and within one week of wearing a new watch, it'll become significantly scratched on the bottom of the clasp. For that reason, I much prefer to simply buy used. Some of those sellers have worn them a dozen or two dozen times, and somehow, the watch still looks better than when I wear a new one for a just a few days! Impressive.

If only they invented an attractive coating like PVD for the watch clasp to slow the wear and tear on it for us desk divers...

[astrazen]

Originally Posted by improviz

Thanks for the armchair psychoanalysis, but I can assure you that not only is it off the mark, it's really uncalled for.

I find it odd that people always have this tendency to look down on and ridicule people who don't think about things exactly the way they do, but this is a human characteristic I suppose...but rest assured, even though I (gasp!) take a few subtle precautions (an-gasp!-extra mouse pad like George at work, and-horror of horrors!!-I arch my wrist when I rest my arm on a table), I enjoy my watches to the fullest.

It's just that I just enjoy it more when it looks like new and isn't all banged/scratched up, and I really don't see anything wrong with this, nor do I make it my business to get up in someone's face who bangs and scratches up their watch, analyze their behavior, or subject them to ridicule, because you know what? For one, I'd never be presumptious enough to do something like that, and for two, I respect the fact that it's their property, and they are free to do with it as they wish.

In the same vein, I suppose that people who never wash and wax their cars and park them next to full-sized pickup trucks or under pigeon nests can enjoy the resultant faded paint, door dings and creases, and pigeon poop all over their cars, but some of us like to take care of our things. And why not? I worked hard to attain my stuff, value it, and try to take care of it. Sorry if this offends you...

Yes, things happen, and when they do, I take them in stride; I don't run around screaming "My resale! My resale!!", nor do I wail, gnash my teeth, etc...I just try to minimize the number of the buggers somewhat by taking a few simple steps, and at the end of the day I'm rewarded with a watch that looks like new years after I've purchased it.

Here are a few pics of my four year old Daytona (which I'm enjoying right now, on my wrist) and my three year old Sub, both of which are unpolished and nice and minty. Enjoy your scratches!

Bit of an OTT reaction mate. He was only offering his view on things which I didnt see as antagonistic.

Nice watches by the way

[DiamondJack]

Wow that's quite a response improviz ........ I've obviously touched a bit of a nerve there which, given the topic, is quite interesting in itself......

First, and just to be clear, any discussion relating to the way people behave will by definition involve psychoanalysis to a certain degree..... So to criticise me for thinking about the topic in question and responding with my opinions is rather odd..... But hey......

Secondly, you are free to do whatever you want with your watches whether that be leaving them in their original boxes to retain absolutely pristine condition or to wear them doing manual work. Each to their own and I would never criticise anyone for the approach they take with their own property.

What I am, however, also free to comment on is my opinion as to the mind set behind each approach and I believe that to overly worry about condition of anything whether it be your watch or car or whatever will inevitably lead to an increased level of care and attention required to maintain that pristine condition. You perhaps have become accustomed to this constant care and attention and it may be more natural to you than others. However, no matter how you defend this, it cannot be healthy long term to obsess about everything to the degree required to even avoid swirls/marks on your watch clasp.

I own quite a lot of watches both new and vintage and they are all in excellent condition but luckily I work in an office and so the chance of serious damage is pretty slim..... However clasp swirls and marks are inevitable and I would rather live with them than change my life and everyday thought process to try and avoid them.

Nobody is ever going to be examining them that closely to notice other than if I was selling them.......hence my comment about resale value......simple as that......But I believe in enjoying all my watches and whilst I am always careful, I do not obsess about them.....and if I get scratches then I will live with them...... and clearly I can always send to Rolex for a service or even buy new and replace if I want to.

But even my vintage pieces that have spent most of their lives in a safe prior to my ownership and are in perfect condition and cannot be replaced easily, I still wear on a regular basis as my enjoyment factor ...... And this is perhaps where we differ, comes from wearing them not from looking at them like museum pieces......

But life would be very boring if we were all the same and no offence intended either .........

[improviz]

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

Wow that's quite a response improviz ........ I've obviously touched a bit of a nerve there which, given the topic, is quite interesting in itself......

Not really...for example, I would submit that if someone started a thread asking "What's the best way to scratch my watch", and people were to go into it and criticize people for scratching their watches, and in so doing engage in speculation as to their mental state, you might just take exception to this.

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

First, and just to be clear, any discussion relating to the way people behave will by definition involve psychoanalysis to a certain degree..... So to criticise me for thinking about the topic in question and responding with my opinions is rather odd..... But hey......

Not particularly, given that you don't know me from the proverbial Adam and thus are in no real position to posit reasons for my going to the amazing amount of trouble of putting a mouse pad on my desk at work or arching my wrist when I set it down on a rough surface, any more than I'm in a position to posit reasons for your engaging in any particular behavior.

Further, unless you are a Psychologist, you're really outside your field, yes?

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

Secondly, you are free to do whatever you want with your watches whether that be leaving them in their original boxes to retain absolutely pristine condition or to wear them doing manual work. Each to their own and I would never criticise anyone for the approach they take with their own property.

Which is, of course, followed up by a heaping serving of criticism of me personally...

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

What I am, however, also free to comment on is my opinion as to the mind set behind each approach and I believe

You're free to speculate as to anything, but it's pure speculation and supposition, about person(s) whom you've never met and of whom you know absolutely nothing.

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

that to overly worry about condition of anything whether it be your watch or car or whatever will inevitably lead to an increased level of care and attention required to maintain that pristine condition.

Which, again, is nothing more than pure supposition about a person of whom you know absolutely nothing, which is what I take exception to. You simply are not in any position to make statements like that about people whom you do not know, and frankly it's rather incredulous that you'd classify putting a pad on my desk to avoid scratching up a beautiful watch as "obsessive".

I think it's the reverse: it seems to me that you're the one who's "obsessing" about the motivations and mental state of others here. I simply made an observation that everyone dogpiling on the OP for simply enquiring about a way to protect his watch from getting all scratched up by his computer was rather uncalled for, and in response I get psychoanalyzed by a non-psychologist, which is sort of like the guy who mows my lawn giving me advice about my PC. Thanks but no thanks...

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

You perhaps have become accustomed to this constant care and attention and it may be more natural to you than others. However, no matter how you defend this, it cannot be healthy long term to obsess about everything to the degree required to even avoid swirls/marks on your watch clasp.

This is just quite over the top, friend. You have no idea what I do, or don't do, on a daily basis, and are simply in no position to criticize me for things about which you know absolutely nothing, let alone to speculate about my mental health or state of affairs. I would say that if you qualify putting a mouse pad on my desk as "obsessive", then perhaps you should examine OCD and what constitutes it, as again you're very far off the mark here.

Perhaps you should stop obsessing about others, eh?

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

I own quite a lot of watches both new and vintage and they are all in excellent condition but luckily I work in an office and so the chance of serious damage is pretty slim..... However clasp swirls and marks are inevitable and I would rather live with them than change my life and everyday thought process to try and avoid them.

How is putting a mouse pad on one's desk or arching one's wrist when one sets one's arm on a table "changing my life"? I mean, seriously...this is really quite odd. There is no obsession. There is really no effort, other than opening up a drawer one time and throwing a mouse pad on a desk. Sheesh...it's like saying if I wear a sweater to keep from getting cold, I'm obsessed about the weather. Sheesh...

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

Nobody is ever going to be examining them that closely to notice other than if I was selling them.......hence my comment about resale value......simple as that......But I believe in enjoying all my watches and whilst I am always careful, I do not obsess about them.....and if I get scratches then I will live with them...... and clearly I can always send to Rolex for a service or even buy new and replace if I want to.

As you are free to do. And I'm not "obsessing' about it any more than someone who parks their car in a garage is "obsessing" about the state of their car. You seem to be obsessing that because I have a diffferent thought process about this matter than you, I'm somehow OCD, which is kind of bizarre, but whatever floats your boat I guess....

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

But even my vintage pieces that have spent most of their lives in a safe prior to my ownership and are in perfect condition and cannot be replaced easily, I still wear on a regular basis as my enjoyment factor ...... And this is perhaps where we differ, comes from wearing them not from looking at them like museum pieces......

Again, you are simply far off the mark, not to mention extremely condescending and imo rather rude. You know nothing about me, and are in no position whatsoever to issue statements like this about me.

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

But life would be very boring if we were all the same and no offence intended either .........

Offence taken.

[WhatTheDeuce]

Originally Posted by George Ab

I use a second mouse pad, and lay it under my left hand. Easy, and work well.

I do this. I don't like the feeling or sound of metal banging against the desk every time I go for the keyboard.

[Thurnau]

I was OCD about scratches on mine too. I ended up becoming less sensitive to the scratches and now I don't really care so much. The light thin hairline scratches buff right out at my AD. Mine usually cost about $125 to buff/restore. Every watch I sent to my AD made it look factory new again. Do not trust any Jewelry store to polish it either. A popular local one really made mine worse and I had to send it to my AD to make it look great again.

Those scratches are inevitable, I do have a keyboard pad and gelly thick mouse pad, a leather desk pad, etc. But I can't seem to slow it down.

I bet there are an overwhelming amount of people stating to wear the watch and enjoy it. Don't be too mad at them for negative contribution. I was told the same thing years ago by Padi or JJ. Just wear your watch and enjoy it. I learned it was for the best years ago. The only way to keep it brand new looking is to keep it in the box with tape still attached and leave it at home. Or if you have success with clear tape please photograph and share and teach us something new. But how soft clear tape is I feel like it may look worse than the tiny scratches you will get over time.

[AJMarcus]

I have the solution. No really I do. It is simple and easy and everyone can do it. Just don't wear your watch. Keep it locked away in a safe somewhere as far away from a human wrist as possible. But I for one gotta wear my Rolex everyday so I just learn to enjoy life and live with it. That for me is a whole lot more enjoyable! !

[Joey_V]

Who cares if someone is over-protective of their watch? They spent their hard earned money and they want to keep the watch as good looking as when they first bought it. Keeping it clean and shiny against the odds is something these guys find enjoyable as well.

As to the answer to the OP's question of how to protect the clasp - use tape.

How do I do it? I just make sure I wear my Sub to work because that's my work watch. My other 3 are the ones I'm more careful with.

[Balded]

Same game and same pain.
The watches will scratch and there is nothing you can do about it - unless not wearing it is an option.
You will soon be passing on the advice to someone else not to sweat the scratches and enjoy the watch (and the many others that will come).

[Aspirin]

It could help!

[Welshwatchman]

Let's organise a tug-o-war.

Get the wear and scratch guys on the left and the keep watch mint guys on the right and .....

.... or not, maybe. It's not that big an issue, either way.

[Andelain]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

Let's organise a tug-o-war.

Get the wear and scratch guys on the left and the keep watch mint guys on the right and .....

.... or not, maybe. It's not that big an issue, either way.

I took my sub off tonight to protect the bracelet from scratching for the first time ever. I was on a bridge with concrete rails getting ready to shoot video of the dancing fountain of Dubai. I know I'd be pressing my forearms against the concrete pretty hard to steady my camera, so I dropped my Sub in my pocket before it started. In this case I'm glad I did, I'd have scarred it badly from the way I rubbed my arms on the rails.

[DoxaDavid]

Originally Posted by Andelain

I took my sub off tonight to protect the bracelet from scratching for the first time ever. I was on a bridge with concrete rails getting ready to shoot video of the dancing fountain of Dubai. I know I'd be pressing my forearms against the concrete pretty hard to steady my camera, so I dropped my Sub in my pocket before it started. In this case I'm glad I did, I'd have scarred it badly from the way I rubbed my arms on the rails.

Now that is an entirely different matter than being concerned about getting any marks on your clasp. You were afraid of causing DAMAGE, not just normal swirlies which appear from everyday use which makes total sense to take the watch off as a preventive measure. I have taken off my watches in numerous occasions where I felt there was a chance for a serious scratch so I applaud your common sense!

[mountbaldy]

put on see through tape or find out the area where you rest your clasp and put
a soft cushiony cloth there- I mean tape the cloth there. No scratches ever again!

[DiamondJack]

Improviz...... I don't know why you took my first post to be an attack on you?

If you read it again, you will see that I am simply speculating as to why people (in general - so not you personally) take more care than I would suggest was the norm and what some people (so not necessarily psychoanalysts) might suggest was obsessing over the ongoing condition of their watches. I have never mentioned OCD.

But you clearly have taken my comments and pure and very general speculation on why someone (not you personally) would go to extra (no matter how simple) lengths to avoid everyday marks on their watch clasps, to be an attack on your own habits and lifestyle.

Quite frankly, I really do not care what you do or don't do and you can take whatever precautions you like to preserve the original finish on your watch.

Alll I am saying is that in my opinion (and again pure speculation on my part as I have no data either way), I do not believe it's the norm to be so over protective with your watch. You then jumped on my case as if I was somehow querying your mental state because I don't believe it to be the norm and I don't follow the same preservation techniques that you do.

But I'm out and about (potentially scratching one of my watches) at the moment so am unable to debate this more fully with you.

But please accept my apologies if you feel I have somehow offended you.... Never my intention....