Pro’s & Con’s of Protective Stickers

[swils8610]

There are no pros of protective stickers.


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[Scapegoat]

Nah... Not for me as I am active, moving about and sweating. Lots of swimming for me too with my watch.

I clean watches regularly with soap and water, so would imagine the tape falling off really quick.

Lastly, I like to wear my watch and see it age naturally with wear and scratches.

Ultimately, your watch your choice.

[Dr.Stu]

Originally Posted by Dave O

I install high quality protection on the clasp only, when the raised section of the clasp is polished. I do not install protection on the clasp if it is brushed. I do this because the clasp can get pretty beat up, but not worried about the rest of the watch.

The protection that I use can only be seen very close up, and cannot be seen from a foot away. The pic below is after a year being on the wrist.

I do exactly the same thing (clasp only) and change the tape if the edges start to pull up- perhaps once every year or two. (It never yellows.) No one would ever notice & my OCD is not triggered by having to look at clasp dings and scratches (which I am the only one who would ever see anyway).

[Jesto]

any additional pictures on how they look on a watch?

[Kevin of Larchmont]

I take care of my watches but I wear them. They’re my watches now and I don’t sweat the scratches. If I can’t afford to scratch my watch then I’m wearing too much watch, and I’m not. And not only do stickers seem like too much work they seem a little dishonest to me, like I’m just borrowing the watch from the next owner. Nope, it’s my watch.

[INC]

Do not stop here!

PROTECT THE ENTIRE YOU!



Gosh, you wear your watch most of the time under the sleeves... what could a plastic protector do there?!

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Dr.Stu

I do exactly the same thing (clasp only) and change the tape if the edges start to pull up- perhaps once every year or two. (It never yellows.) No one would ever notice & my OCD is not triggered by having to look at clasp dings and scratches (which I am the only one who would ever see anyway).

I have also added a small piece of clear tape to the first link next to the clasp on my Daytona.

Allowing the clasp to mark the top of the polished link was a design fault by Rolex.

[Dave O]

I could care less if you decide to use film or not. But what I find funny are those that knock it without any experience with it. Like PPF for a car, there is good film, bad film, good installers and bad installers. If you get a good quality film, and install it properly you can not see it from a few inches to a foot away. It doesn't peel, it doesn't come off in water and it doesn't yellow. Now I'm talking about the PCL clasp only. I would never do an entire watch. That to me would be ridiculous. But I learned with my Bluesy that I have a tendency to scratch the heck out of the clasp. And I'm not just talking micro scratches. So this is why I install it on the clasp only.

Again, to each there own but the products out there today are awesome. Again, attached pic is blown up and has been there for over a year. As mentioned, can't be seen a foot away.

[Marcjvr]

Also firmly in the just say no to stickers camp

[Watchdoyouwant?]

I don't. But I wouldn't begrudge someone who puts a protective sticker just on a PCL clasp. I

Right or wrong, I also would be inclined to assume if I saw someone with a fully stickered watch that the watch was more than they could afford, and they need to protect their "investment" rather than enjoy the watch.

[djona]

I have purchased watches on the grey market with protective stickers already applied. In these cases, I've kept them on but plan on removing them when they start to get grimy. I would otherwise not use protective stickers.

[kritameth]

I’m coming around on them. It does take away from the looks slightly, which bothered me for the longest time, but after trying them it does make me slightly less worried, especially on more expensive pieces and PMs, which translates to more enjoyment for me. Sure, the bigots may say that means the watch is beyond my means, or I ought to grow some chest hair, and perhaps they’re right, but, without getting into it, everyone is different. If it doesn’t bother you to see the film here and there, and it makes the wearing experience more enjoyable, why not.

[art1810]

I have found that a clasp only sticker set on a PCL Oyster has resulted in exactly zero scratches after 18 months of near daily use.

The sticker has been replaced once due to some lifting at a corner, which was probably the result of sub standard installation.

The stickers have shown zero propensity to yellow. The stickers are essentially invisible if installed correctly, at least in this application.

If you are applying these stickers, liberally wet down the clasp, and, the adhesive side of the sticker, to allow for the required amount and duration of slippage, to ensure perfect alignment.

[Norbert]

If it’s good enough for the Rolex factory, it’s good enough for me.

[Gazoak]

I'm not a fan. It's like all the Porsche owners who spend a fortune on paint to sample and then smother their cars in Paint Protection Film! Enjoy it and let it tell a story.

[gamingdoctor]

Big no.

If you're enjoying the watch, let it take some wear.

If you're concerned about the scratches harming its value, then buy a cheaper watch and put the rest in your savings.

[fsprow]

Originally Posted by Dave O

I could care less if you decide to use film or not. But what I find funny are those that knock it without any experience with it. Like PPF for a car, there is good film, bad film, good installers and bad installers. If you get a good quality film, and install it properly you can not see it from a few inches to a foot away. It doesn't peel, it doesn't come off in water and it doesn't yellow. Now I'm talking about the PCL clasp only. I would never do an entire watch. That to me would be ridiculous. But I learned with my Bluesy that I have a tendency to scratch the heck out of the clasp. And I'm not just talking micro scratches. So this is why I install it on the clasp only.

Again, to each there own but the products out there today are awesome. Again, attached pic is blown up and has been there for over a year. As mentioned, can't be seen a foot away.

Your choice but I would say the film in the photo is extremely easy to see. Especially at the ends and around the crown.


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[ltmgeller]

No stickers for me. I love that I've earned every scratch and ding on my watches.

[Tbird]

Earned cratches? Could you explain this english way of speaking? I dont mean any sarcasm at all here. Is it bec you saved up for, earned this watch, and so enjoy it?

[Norbert]

Originally Posted by Gazoak

I'm not a fan. It's like all the Porsche owners who spend a fortune on paint to sample and then smother their cars in Paint Protection Film! Enjoy it and let it tell a story.

Sure all Porsche owners love showing off their scratched up cars. Lol.

[SS Oyster]

I use on only polished surfaces of clasp, case sides and lugs. Thank me later.


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[Dave O]

Originally Posted by fsprow

Your choice but I would say the film in the photo is extremely easy to see. Especially at the ends and around the crown.


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Of course you can see it in the pic. It's blown up around 10x normal size. But as I stated in my post, from a 6" to a foot away it is not visible.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by Andad

I have also added a small piece of clear tape to the first link next to the clasp on my Daytona.

Allowing the clasp to mark the top of the polished link was a design fault by Rolex.

I just got a Rolex watch with this type of bracelet, and I am putting my finger there to block the contact when I remove, so I do not get all the marks in that area as I have in the past on other similar watches. I agree it is a design defect.

[N0trub]

I have stickers protecting my clasp and where the fold over clasp lock hits the bracelet just on my 6 digit.….seems about the same as putting a screen protector on my phone and about as obvious. Differences make the world go round i bought invisi shield lab. Expensive but my clasp has no scratches.

[Potawatomi]

Originally Posted by N0trub

I have stickers protecting my clasp and where the fold over clasp lock hits the bracelet just on my 6 digit.….seems about the same as putting a screen protector on my phone and about as obvious. Differences make the world go round i bought invisi shield lab. Expensive but my clasp has no scratches.

I've never scratched a gorilla glass screen on a phone. I don't even have any form of case on it. I drop it a lot too.

[Afterglow]

OCD issue.
It's not a Faberge egg.

[NAUI1982]

Originally Posted by OG1982

This thread should be renamed ‘The cons & cons of protective stickers’.

I’ll give you some.

1. They look awful.
2. They accumulate grime and germs.
3. They look awful.


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1000% wrong. Watches need to be cleaned. Covered in protective film or not. They don’t accumulate anything. If you’re more than a foot away, you can’t see them at all. They preserve the beauty of the watch. I have several of mine protected and swear by them.

[OG1982]

Originally Posted by NAUI1982

1000% wrong. Watches need to be cleaned. Covered in protective film or not. They don’t accumulate anything. If you’re more than a foot away, you can’t see them at all. They preserve the beauty of the watch. I have several of mine protected and swear by them.

This 1000% does not surprise me. The sort of man who gets upset that his AD forgets his wedding anniversary is exactly the sort of man who puts plastic on his watches to protect them….


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[INC]

Originally Posted by Potawatomi

I've never scratched a gorilla glass screen on a phone. I don't even have any form of case on it. I drop it a lot too.

Let me add something to your comment!

As I don't think many people would put a protective film on their phones case, so I think, if we take what the OP says what he said seriously, then he thinks, that the protective film should be put on the sapphire crystal.

[TheWatchmen]

I’ve owned several Rolex and used stickers on a few of them. If it’s a piece you don’t wear a whole lot, stickers will keep hairlines scratches off. No harm done IMO. If you do wear it a lot, understand that you’ll have to replace the stickers every few months, and no matter what eventually it will show signs of wear. I got sick of it, and took them off, only leaving a sticker on the polished clasp of a Daytona.

Depending on the ones you get, they aren’t noticeable unless you look closely.

Having said that, do what you want with your watch. NO ONE cares.