Opinions on Protective film for watch/clasp?

[Ferrari-F430]

I have never done this before, but I do have PPF on most of my cars and I know that protective film can be amazing as long as the quality is there.

I'm curious to hear what other watch owners who have done it or have thought about using protective film on the clasp to protect from scratches? Now I know that some have done the whole watch as I've seen them on Youtube, but that is definitely not for me.. just the clasp and preventing it from getting the normal scratches is what I am thinking of doing.

Any feedback would be great! This would be for a late model Submariner clasp FYI, if that matters.

Thanks!

[1William]

Not for me and get ready for some amazing comments.

[brandrea]

Not for me either but it’s your watch

[INC]

Is it safe to wear a plastic protector?

[padi56]

Not for me just cannot see any point, wearing any watch it will get scratched that's a simple fact.But all normal wearing scratches easily rectified at normal routine RSC service.

[Tools]

[Easy E]

It’s trailer park

[fozzyf18]

I was wearing my recently acquired JC DSSD and realized that there was a small piece of protective film on the band that the AD had missed removing. I immediately removed the film and carried on. But that is just me. I do not mind scratches.

[Dave O]

I do on any watch that has a polished center on the clasp. And I only do the polished center strip and associated polished pieces on the clasp clip. Can't even notice unless you get very close to it (as long as you are using a quality product and do a quality install). Without it, the polished center strip looks really bad really quickly. It's the part on the watch that gets the most wear so why not.

Note: The attached pic is at a high magnification. From a foot away you can't even notice it.

[hojlund]

I don't use any protection, those dings and scratches are just part of the rolex experience that you better learn to live with. those stickers also ruin the beauty of the rolexes, it's a shame.

[Bazil]

I can see both sides, my WG Daytona has quickly racked up some hairline scratches, ok they will come I get it, but it does bug me .. I don’t want to pay £29,000 on a watch and look scratched up, but that’s just me ..

[talkingbollox]

I don't like scratches on clasps so I use 'invisible shield" phone screen film that have been superceded by glass screens. I measure, cut and apply to the clasps using the supplied liquid spray. Here's an example on a BB58:



I replace them when they fray and peel off at the corners.

[Dave O]

Originally Posted by Bazil

I can see both sides, my WG Daytona has quickly racked up some hairline scratches, ok they will come I get it, but it does bug me .. I don’t want to pay £29,000 on a watch and look scratched up, but that’s just me ..

Agree. It bugs me as well, which is why I do it on polished clasps. As I mentioned above, if done right, you can't even see it - and no more scratches as you can tell by my pic above.

I would never do an entire watch. I only do the center strip on a polished clasp as this gets the most wear and is just a scratch magnet.

People will PPF the entire front of their vehicle to protect their investment but for some reason balking at this.

Note: I only use film purchased from Standingo Ultimate Watch Protection on eBay. Simply the best. Can cut you anything you need. Never had any edges peel etc.

[Bazil]

I’m very tempted to on mine .. that’s where I’m noticing most of the scratches ..

[johnsonsxusfrt]

Originally Posted by Ferrari-F430

I have never done this before, but I do have PPF on most of my cars and I know that protective film can be amazing as long as the quality is there.

I'm curious to hear what other watch owners who have done it or have thought about using protective film on the clasp to protect from scratches? Now I know that some have done the whole watch as I've seen them on Youtube, but that is definitely not for me.. just the clasp and preventing it from getting the normal scratches is what I am thinking of doing.

Any feedback would be great! This would be for a late model Submariner clasp FYI, if that matters.

Thanks!

I recommend it on any clasp that is polished. I've seen watches that are completely covered and they look dull, the shine is gone. But worth it for the polished clasps found on GMT and gold models. It's just one piece so not noticeable.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Tools

Attachment 1451134

Sure brings back memories of grandmas house

[Bozzie1982]

Think I'd just sell off my watches if scratches annoyed me.
....knowing they'll come back like new after a service is good enough for me......

[oysterfisher]

Most of the protection cover producers dont even know the reference, where the protectors fit. A friend of mine used a "universal" Daytona kit from protectyourwatch on his PM Daytona and they were way too short.
The oyster bracelet center link protectors havent even been straight / symmetric. This kits mostly cost between 70 and 150 Dollars and suppose to be all from a alibaba factory just with different packagings, mostly you can see the same black plastic tweezers.

Better take care of your watch than wasting money and nerves with those shops and their products. Just my personal opinion.

[ajw45]

This is nothing at all like ppf on a car which has soft paint exposed to the elements at high speeds. This is way more like your grandmas couch encased in plastic. Even if you just do the seat cushions that doesn't make it less lame.

[swiss_seth]

so dumb, yuck

[Harry-57]

It's your watch and you should do as you see fit. Personally, I hardly ever see the clasp and I don't think to check it for scratches. Damage to the lugs or bezel would bother me more but not to the point of wanting to address it, as my bashed up BLRO will attest.

[Hkspwrsche]

I’m not opposed to it on a polished clasp and I would bet no one would ever be able to tell.

What I am annoyed with is how much they charge for it when you could cut up ppf or the old style phone screen film yourself for pennies on the dollar. Which several folks have done.

[PenDelicate]

I've no experience with them, but I presume they'll certainly protect surfaces from at least swirls and minor scratches.

Do let us know after a few months if you're happy with them!

[Calatrava r]

You should be fine without stickers on the brushed surface of the Sub's clasp. It does not show scratches as much.

[Dave O]

Originally Posted by oysterfisher

Most of the protection cover producers dont even know the reference, where the protectors fit. A friend of mine used a "universal" Daytona kit from protectyourwatch on his PM Daytona and they were way too short.
The oyster bracelet center link protectors havent even been straight / symmetric. This kits mostly cost between 70 and 150 Dollars and suppose to be all from a alibaba factory just with different packagings, mostly you can see the same black plastic tweezers.

Better take care of your watch than wasting money and nerves with those shops and their products. Just my personal opinion.

Originally Posted by ajw45

This is nothing at all like ppf on a car which has soft paint exposed to the elements at high speeds. This is way more like your grandmas couch encased in plastic. Even if you just do the seat cushions that doesn't make it less lame.

Originally Posted by Hkspwrsche

I’m not opposed to it on a polished clasp and I would bet no one would ever be able to tell.

What I am annoyed with is how much they charge for it when you could cut up ppf or the old style phone screen film yourself for pennies on the dollar. Which several folks have done.

Again, take a look at my post #9 above. That's what the center strip looks like after a year of wear. No scratches, no swirls, nothing (and as I stated above, I only do this for the center of polished clasps). From a foot away you can't even see it's there.

I get mine from Standingo Ultimate Watch Protection on eBay. He has templates for just about anything. I've ordered them for Datejust's, GMT's, Subs and Tudors. Always a perfect fit. And if he doesn't have a template for a watch you have, he will custom make it for you.

He uses military grade" Zagg® HD Clear Invisible Shield vinyl. And he's does this right here in the USA. I just ordered 4 center strips for my Tudor T-fit clasp (posished center) for only $30. Great guy, great to do business with.

[Krash]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

You should be fine without stickers on the brushed surface of the Sub's clasp. It does not show scratches as much.

Truth. I’ve worn my Submariner way more than my DJ41 and GMT BLNR. But the polished clasps on my DJ41 and GMT are much more scratched up. Or at least it appears that way.

Ironically, I feel like I baby my DJ41 than any watch I have, but the clasp on that is more beat up than the clasps on all my other watches.


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[123Blueface]

Never have, never will.
A watch, regardless of cost, is meant to be worn and not the watch wear you.

[oysterfisher]

Originally Posted by Dave O

Again, take a look at my post #9 above. That's what the center strip looks like after a year of wear. No scratches, no swirls, nothing (and as I stated above, I only do this for the center of polished clasps). From a foot away you can't even see it's there.

I get mine from Standingo Ultimate Watch Protection on eBay. He has templates for just about anything. I've ordered them for Datejust's, GMT's, Subs and Tudors. Always a perfect fit. And if he doesn't have a template for a watch you have, he will custom make it for you.

He uses military grade" Zagg® HD Clear Invisible Shield vinyl. And he's does this right here in the USA. I just ordered 4 center strips for my Tudor T-fit clasp (posished center) for only $30. Great guy, great to do business with.

I do think totally different. Here are images of such protection skins (after 3 weeks wear daily) on a 100k watch. Looks disgusting (just my humble opinion).

[S.Explorer]

I'd rather just be as careful as possible (no resting watch on hard surfaces), and accept if I do scratch / ding it, it can be fixed, e.g. fibreglass pen or welding.

[oysterfisher]

Originally Posted by S.Explorer

I'd rather just be as careful as possible (no resting watch on hard surfaces), and accept if I do scratch / ding it, it can be fixed, e.g. fibreglass pen or welding.

Definitely.

And tbh, as a vintage lover I would rather have a scratched watch than glueing those rubish on my watches ... It starts to peel off at the surroundings and opens further and further.