PM big scratch, what gives

[AHG]

Okay, to start, I’m not afraid of scratches. They happen but it’s a sign of usage. And those who say they don’t get them...good for you.
So I’ve barely owned my YG Daytona for a week (worn maybe 3 days). I’ve only laid it on its side on a soft material and once on a wooden credenza. I didn’t notice any big issues. I went to have it sized at the AD today and when I got home noticed a large area of scratches/swirls that look like 10years worth of wear to me. I called the AD to see how they handled the watch. They claim they were extra careful and used a pad etc. Who knows with these things how they happen. So the point is there is this area that appears dull due to the scratches. It’s obviously noticeable in only certain lights and if I’m looking for
it.
Just curious though, is the YG that soft that it can get this scratched this easily? Would anyone even consider a gentle polish of the area if this does seem extremely premature?

PS this picture really accentuates the defect. It’s not this bad in most lighting conditions.


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[MichaelFlash]

If it was not there when you dropped the watch off at the AD then it doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to figure who scratched it. Yellow gold should not scratch ridiculously easy, but obviously softer than steel.

[JodyHighroller]

18K gold is very soft and has low scratch resistance. You’ll hear people say a softer material can’t scratch gold, but that’s inaccurate. I’ve scratched one of mine accidentally with a fingernail.

Which side did you lay the watch down on when you rested it on the wooden credenza? Can you elaborate on the “soft material”? Was the soft material dirty at all?

I’d think your AD is intelligent enough to use a proper surface when swapping the OF bracelet out.

[AHG]

Originally Posted by JodyHighroller

18K gold is very soft and has low scratch resistance. You’ll hear people say a softer material can’t scratch gold, but that’s inaccurate. I’ve scratched one of mine accidentally with a fingernail.

Which side did you lay the watch down on when you rested it on the wooden credenza? Can you elaborate on the “soft material”? Was the soft material dirty at all?

I’d think your AD is intelligent enough to use a proper surface when swapping the OF bracelet out.

I laid it on the side you see scratched. And the credenza top is smooth. Soft material was the iPad case (the soft one from Apple).


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[Frank McKay]

Those are deeper scratches, not the finer scratches you would normally see after long period of use. Looks like someone mishandled the watch or even dropped it.

[Al1969]

OP,

Did you look at the watch before you dropped it off for sizing? Typically lugs are the ones ‘butchered’ by some ADs during sizing. I think the credenza may be the culprit.

I wouldn’t get it polished, just wait till the first required service.

[Brich436]

I would take the watch back to the AD and see what they can do for you. If they have a Rolex certified watch maker he can give you some options. I boogered up my Sub pretty good and they were able to polish my bracelet right out. Be advised that when you polish you remove a small portion of the metal. Gold scratches very easily - I have a white gold wedding band that looks exactly like your watch.


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[major75]

I can't speak for the gold on your watch but gold in general is very soft...especially 18k
As pointed by JodyHighroller, It can definitely be scratched by softer materials.

[JodyHighroller]

Originally Posted by Al1969

OP,

Did you look at the watch before you dropped it off for sizing? Typically lugs are the ones ‘butchered’ by some ADs during sizing. I think the credenza may be the culprit.

I wouldn’t get it polished, just wait till the first required service.

+1 I have to agree with it being the credenza. Usually the damage from a OF bracelet swap would be isolated to the lugs (front/back side).

I bought one of the green marble stands from The Watch Stand to help avoid incidents like this.

I highly doubt it was dropped. There’s no dent or dings on this 9 o’clock side.

[David5807]

Youch! I'm sorry this happened, if I were in your shoes then I may consider a very light polish and stringently practice more caution with you PM piece moving forward. Wearing and owning PM watches is an entirely different experience and responsibility.

[Chester01]

I wouldn't worry about it. My dad wore his all gold DD doing anything and everything (was in construction/excavating field) and it was a tank. He never serviced it and it ran 25 plus years or so. Yes, it had battle scars, but those told stories my friend and your will too.

[lamnyc]

Your shirt cuffs can also scratched your PM watch. But that looks like it was dragged across something, multiple times.

[AHG]

Originally Posted by Frank McKay

Those are deeper scratches, not the finer scratches you would normally see after long period of use. Looks like someone mishandled the watch or even dropped it.

Are they really deep or just a coalesced area of superficial ones? It feels pretty smooth.


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[Alan111]

Gold is soft but not that much different than SS. That side looks like it was dragged against 100 grit sandpaper or concrete. Definitely not on a soft pad. Also, that would not happen from just laying on a credenza - even after 5 years daily.

[JodyHighroller]

Originally Posted by lamnyc

Your shirt cuffs can also scratched your PM watch.

Yes! I forgot to mention that. Good catch.

Could explain why it’s concentrated all across highest portion on the 9 o’clock side. OP, do you wear a lot of long sleeve shirts?

[AHG]

Originally Posted by Al1969

OP,

Did you look at the watch before you dropped it off for sizing? Typically lugs are the ones ‘butchered’ by some ADs during sizing. I think the credenza may be the culprit.

I wouldn’t get it polished, just wait till the first required service.

No I did not and that’s why I don’t want to automatically blame the AD. What made me examine it closely is that she took and brought the watch back by hand as opposed to usually taking it in the soft tray. It just made me think that maybe for a moment it was placed on a not so soft surface.


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[AHG]

Originally Posted by Alan111

Gold is soft but not that much different than SS. That side looks like it was dragged against 100 grit sandpaper or concrete. Definitely not on a soft pad. Also, that would not happen from just laying on a credenza - even after 5 years daily.

This was my point. It’s like someone did something repetitive on it.


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[Al1969]

Originally Posted by AHG

No I did not and that’s why I don’t want to automatically blame the AD. What made me examine it closely is that she took and brought the watch back by hand as opposed to usually taking it in the soft tray. It just made me think that maybe for a moment it was placed on a not so soft surface.


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Also, almost looks like someone tried wiping it ‘clean’ against or with something(shirt, rough rag).

[AHG]

Originally Posted by JodyHighroller

Yes! I forgot to mention that. Good catch.

Could explain why it’s concentrated all across highest portion on the 9 o’clock side. OP, do you wear a lot of long sleeve shirts?

I wore it with sweatshirts. But I’d expect it to also scratch the top of the polished lugs which it hasn’t. If sweatshirts will do this then so be it, but it still seems excessive.

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[zion_rasta]

That watch was scratched by the AD.

[AHG]

Originally Posted by zion_rasta

That watch was scratched by the AD.

That's my suspicion. I guess it's done now but the bigger question is if I should do anything about it.


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[brandrea]

Breath on a Rolex polished surfaces and they start to wear

[1995akcoop]

Looks really bad to me after just 3 days of use. I wear a Daydate daily and gold isnt that soft as some make it to be. Someone definitely did something to that!


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[AHG]

Is cape cod cloth a crazy idea?


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[mafoofan]

Originally Posted by AHG

Is cape cod cloth a crazy idea?


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Yes! Don’t do it! You might make the scratches go away, but the resulting shine will be dimpled/wavy and inconsistent with the factory polish.

[peterpl]

I've been wearing my gold pieces for 7+ years now and NONE of them have that.

That to me looks like its been brushed up against a rough surface to create all those scratches.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by MichaelFlash

If it was not there when you dropped the watch off at the AD then it doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to figure who scratched it. Yellow gold should not scratch ridiculously easy, but obviously softer than steel.

Elementary my dear Watson. It was the AD.

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

Yes! Don’t do it! You might make the scratches go away, but the resulting shine will be dimpled/wavy and inconsistent with the factory polish.

No it certainly does not. A cape cod cloth erases fine scratches and swirl marks leaving a factory finish. The OP just needs a few minutes of lite rubbing over those marks. My favorite is a “Sunshine cloth”. I use it on Rolex 904l, Yellow 18k, Everose gold. Gold is the easiest to get a perfect factory finish. Just start with a clean watch before rubbing over the marks.

https://www.amazon.com/Sunshine-Poli...s%2C192&sr=8-5


15 years of wearing a TT Sub and using a polishing cloth. Show me any signs this 15 year old watch doesn’t look factory fresh from using a polishing cloth for all those years.

[EEpro]

AD scratched it. The pad was probably dusty. The good news is a gold polish cloth (not cape cod necessarily) will make it right. Don't let AD buff it!

[Gab27]

Originally Posted by AHG

Is cape cod cloth a crazy idea?


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If you are not practicing on a less expensive watch, a little.

As this is a PM watch, this is a different situation, but do you have anything else in 18k gold you are willing to scratch up and experiment with? If you don't like the way the Cape Cod finishes, you would ideally want to learn that on something other than that beautiful and hard to get watch IMO... (If you had a bracelet you could try the inside of it (same way you first try a compound on a part of the car's paint that is less conspicuous should you not like the outcome), but I assume that isn't an option given it is an Oysterflex.)