Bummer - scuff on Batman

[HiBoost]

Originally Posted by Nutbeem

So I've worn this watch maybe 5 times in the last 6 months, and I look down today to see a good size scuff on the right side of the case (see pic).

Would any high end jeweler be able to buff that out, and would it affect resale since it's been "polished"?

Also, how the hell does this happen when the roughest thing I do during the workday is type aggressively.....

Apologies for the mocking responses some have given. Some minds cannot comprehend that people buy items for different purposes. Some people buy a luxury watch to have it look pristine and enjoy the wow factor of the high polish. Let's cut the BS and not pretend that a modern era Rolex is designed as tool watch (your exact reference is marketed as the "cosmopolitan" watch). I really don't understand why so many are so inconsistent on how a watch "must" be treated.

If you saw a guy with a new 911 and the rims were scratched to hell, would you think "oh yeah, this guy really knows how to live"? No, you'd think jesus man, that's embarrassing, get that fixed.

If you saw a guy with a 7000 square foot house off a golf course that had paint peeling off the siding, would you think "oh yeah, that place really looks like it has some stories to tell"? No, you'd think "glad I don't live next to this bum".

And on and on...

But somehow, for some reason, the one luxury item you absolutely MUST NOT give a damn about is a watch. Beat the living hell out of it or just turn in your man card!!

Anyway, I once had a Swiss born master watchmaker check the timing on my Pepsi. This guy was formerly the head of all service for Rolex N.A. and later for Audemars. Seemed to have some pretty good credentials so I felt I could hand the watch over to him. He brought it back 10 minutes later saying that he had adjusted the time and made it "perfect". He also said he could tell the movement had not been touched since the factory because most watchmakers were "butchers" and left telltale signs on the screw heads. This comment left me thinking "ok, this guy gets me, this is who I want working on my watches".

I thanked him for his care and service and proceeded to leave the store. As I stepped outside I noticed 2 vertical scratches on the case side, presumably from the timing machine itself. I was crushed. I went back in, hat in hand, and said I don't mean to be a pain, but it looks like this got scratched during the timing check, is there anything you can do? "No problem" he said and took it to the back. He brought it back out 10 minutes later and it looked like it was gone so I thanked him and left again.

Once I got outside I saw that the two defined scratches on the otherwise perfect side were now replaced by a slightly cloudy surface over the entire area. Ugh. At home I tried a Cape Code but it didn't improve. It always maintained that slightly milky appearance. Nobody but me would ever notice it, but man did I notice it. I just learned to deal with it but it is something that I have thought about for many years now. It is truly a curse at times to have a detailed eye and to care about the condition of your things. I actually think the ideal situation for me personally is to buy used watches that already have some marks, so there is never a chance of "keeping them perfect" in the first place.

In any case, you can always polish this thing down the road. And it's not going to take any more effort or cost any more money to remove 3, or 30, scuffs from the side than to remove 1. So just wear it for a while. See if you can adapt. Don't get into that feedback loop of thinking every scratch has to be immediately remedied. If for no reason other than that you may very well end up with a worse result after the "fix" just depending on the hands it is in.

Good luck and enjoy!

[dnd2984]

Wear it and enjoy it. Once I stopped caring about scratches I started to enjoy.

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by Seddyspaghetti

Use cape cod if you must.

Yes. If it is minor it will make it disappear. If it snags the cloth just stop and let a pro do it.

I'm sure you didn't come here to be told to ignore it, not sure why people insist on that line of response.

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[amh]

We just had a thread on this - like last week.

You can protect that GMT against future damage!

[dubins930]

I can’t believe people still make these posts… have we not figured out what the responses are going to be by this point

[Driver8]

Originally Posted by HiBoost

Apologies for the mocking responses some have given. Some minds cannot comprehend that people buy items for different purposes. Some people buy a luxury watch to have it look pristine and enjoy the wow factor of the high polish. Let's cut the BS and not pretend that a modern era Rolex is designed as tool watch (your exact reference is marketed as the "cosmopolitan" watch). I really don't understand why so many are so inconsistent on how a watch "must" be treated.

If you saw a guy with a new 911 and the rims were scratched to hell, would you think "oh yeah, this guy really knows how to live"? No, you'd think jesus man, that's embarrassing, get that fixed.

If you saw a guy with a 7000 square foot house off a golf course that had paint peeling off the siding, would you think "oh yeah, that place really looks like it has some stories to tell"? No, you'd think "glad I don't live next to this bum".

And on and on...

But somehow, for some reason, the one luxury item you absolutely MUST NOT give a damn about is a watch. Beat the living hell out of it or just turn in your man card!!

Anyway, I once had a Swiss born master watchmaker check the timing on my Pepsi. This guy was formerly the head of all service for Rolex N.A. and later for Audemars. Seemed to have some pretty good credentials so I felt I could hand the watch over to him. He brought it back 10 minutes later saying that he had adjusted the time and made it "perfect". He also said he could tell the movement had not been touched since the factory because most watchmakers were "butchers" and left telltale signs on the screw heads. This comment left me thinking "ok, this guy gets me, this is who I want working on my watches".

I thanked him for his care and service and proceeded to leave the store. As I stepped outside I noticed 2 vertical scratches on the case side, presumably from the timing machine itself. I was crushed. I went back in, hat in hand, and said I don't mean to be a pain, but it looks like this got scratched during the timing check, is there anything you can do? "No problem" he said and took it to the back. He brought it back out 10 minutes later and it looked like it was gone so I thanked him and left again.

Once I got outside I saw that the two defined scratches on the otherwise perfect side were now replaced by a slightly cloudy surface over the entire area. Ugh. At home I tried a Cape Code but it didn't improve. It always maintained that slightly milky appearance. Nobody but me would ever notice it, but man did I notice it. I just learned to deal with it but it is something that I have thought about for many years now. It is truly a curse at times to have a detailed eye and to care about the condition of your things. I actually think the ideal situation for me personally is to buy used watches that already have some marks, so there is never a chance of "keeping them perfect" in the first place.

In any case, you can always polish this thing down the road. And it's not going to take any more effort or cost any more money to remove 3, or 30, scuffs from the side than to remove 1. So just wear it for a while. See if you can adapt. Don't get into that feedback loop of thinking every scratch has to be immediately remedied. If for no reason other than that you may very well end up with a worse result after the "fix" just depending on the hands it is in.

Good luck and enjoy!

Good post.

I too never understand this weirdly perpetuated idea that there are only two ways to own a watch - either you must wear it for absolutely everything like mixing concrete and car maintenance and not give a damn about it as (apparently) "every scratch tells a tale" , OR you must be wrapping it up in bubble wrap and keeping it in a safe. There's apparently no middle ground at all.

Personally I wear my all my watches regularly and in rotation, but I'm not an idiot with them either. Just like I wouldn't drive my M4 over a ploughed field or through gorse bushes, I feel absolutely no need to wear any of my watches (other than a G-Shock) in situations where they will be unnecessarily scratched.

To the OP - assuming you don't feel compelled to prove your manliness by wearing your watch in every situation known to man, normal wear and tear just happens and that includes minor surface abrasions like this. As (some) others have said, you'll disappear down a rabbit hole if you chase every single scratch and scuff, plus if you start messing around with Cape Cods every time, you'll end up messing up the finish even more. I'd advocate leaving it until service time and then let Rolex take care of it.

Just wear your watch and enjoy it in a sensible way.... and try to forget about "resale value" - you'll enjoy the ownership experience far more if you do.

[amh]

Originally Posted by dubins930

I can’t believe people still make these posts… have we not figured out what the responses are going to be by this point

Right?

The other extreme is when guys take their brand new watches and rub them into sand for a quick break-in (yes it's really a thing)

[Seamaster59]

Who cares

[sudo_root]

It’s something you literally wear on your wrist and made of a material that easily scratches, it blows my mind how some people get so bent out of shape around dings and scratches. Also, you don’t wear a car or house on your person do you? Absurd comparisons in this thread as well.

[1995akcoop]

That sucks


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[zengineer]

Originally Posted by sudo_root

It’s something you literally wear on your wrist and made of a material that easily scratches, it blows my mind how some people get so bent out of shape around dings and scratches. Also, you don’t wear a car or house on your person do you? Absurd comparisons in this thread as well.

How did you determine that the OP was "bent out of shape". I do see responders pretty wound up...OP just asked a simple question.

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[rickysixx6]

Nothing wrong with wanting to keep a Watch, a Car, or a wife looking pretty and not all used up.

[LC23]

Originally Posted by Nutbeem

So I've worn this watch maybe 5 times in the last 6 months, and I look down today to see a good size scuff on the right side of the case (see pic).

Would any high end jeweler be able to buff that out, and would it affect resale since it's been "polished"?

Also, how the hell does this happen when the roughest thing I do during the workday is type aggressively.....

check my post with cape cod tbh 90% of scratches and dings on your watch can only be seen by you

[LC23]

Originally Posted by amh

Right?

The other extreme is when guys take their brand new watches and rub them into sand for a quick break-in (yes it's really a thing)

LOL wow

[rickysixx6]

Sensational...

Originally Posted by amh

We just had a thread on this - like last week.

You can protect that GMT against future damage!

[904VT]

Originally Posted by amh

Right?

The other extreme is when guys take their brand new watches and rub them into sand for a quick break-in (yes it's really a thing)

It takes a rather um high IQ to do something like that

[Chester01]

Is this what it comes to. Worry more about scuffs on you. That watch will see you off to the grave.

[Smurf_75]

It's a bummer, but you need to get over it otherwise you wont enjoy your watch. Look at it as a bit of history.

[MHB]

Call 911

[Laostuh]

I find that the more mindful you are of trying not to damage your watch, something always happens. When you wear your watch care free, nothing usually happens. YMMV.

[CarlOver]

Wear it more frequently. That scuff won’t be as obvious.

[Greglaw]

Love these original posts. Not.

[Duke10]

Originally Posted by amh

Right?

The other extreme is when guys take their brand new watches and rub them into sand for a quick break-in (yes it's really a thing)

That’s the absolute dumbest thing I have ever seen. I mean I wear my watches, but I hope to keep them as close to new all the while enjoying them and wearing them whenever I like. This is just ridiculous lol


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[danwang0520]

don't think it's much as big issue......there will be more to come

[2loaded]

Originally Posted by MHB

Call 911

HaHa ! ~
I hope OP is a joker.

[MRBolton]

Glad to see the OP getting some support on this. People get so insecure that others get more enjoyment from their watches when they’re in better condition.
Someone can wear their Sub and bang it against a brick wall for pleasure. That doesn’t mean that someone else has to like it. It’s like eating raw oysters. It’s okay to not be okay with eating that.
Yeah, I know my Rolexes can take a lot of abuse and are made to withstand more than I’ll probably ever throw at them.
However, I take comfort in knowing the capability. It’s similar to having a watch with a crazy depth rating: you’ll never ever come close to needing to test that limit. It’s just cool to know it’s there.

For me, my watches are luxury purchases that I sacrificed to make. I treat them kindly and like for them to look new. If I had a Sub that looked like what many on here are proud of (happy for them), I wouldn’t enjoy the watch as much, and I would feel wrong about it.

It’s ridiculous to be borderline offended that others aren’t using/enjoying their watches the same as you do.

That all said, I still wear my watches and enjoy them. But I avoid wearing them where I think there’s a high probability of cosmetic damage. That’s what a beater watch is for.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Duke10

That’s the absolute dumbest thing I have ever seen. I mean I wear my watches, but I hope to keep them as close to new all the while enjoying them and wearing them whenever I like. This is just ridiculous lol


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Agree!


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[Dabbadon8]

Originally Posted by MRBolton

Glad to see the OP getting some support on this. People get so insecure that others get more enjoyment from their watches when they’re in better condition.
Someone can wear their Sub and bang it against a brick wall for pleasure. That doesn’t mean that someone else has to like it. It’s like eating raw oysters. It’s okay to not be okay with eating that.
Yeah, I know my Rolexes can take a lot of abuse and are made to withstand more than I’ll probably ever throw at them.
However, I take comfort in knowing the capability. It’s similar to having a watch with a crazy depth rating: you’ll never ever come close to needing to test that limit. It’s just cool to know it’s there.

For me, my watches are luxury purchases that I sacrificed to make. I treat them kindly and like for them to look new. If I had a Sub that looked like what many on here are proud of (happy for them), I wouldn’t enjoy the watch as much, and I would feel wrong about it.

It’s ridiculous to be borderline offended that others aren’t using/enjoying their watches the same as you do.

That all said, I still wear my watches and enjoy them. But I avoid wearing them where I think there’s a high probability of cosmetic damage. That’s what a beater watch is for.

I don’t think it’s about judging those who like their watches to look new. Most here probably don’t actively enjoy damaging their watch. I think most posts are just pointing out the reality that wearing a piece of stainless steel on your wrist regularly will result in it showing wear. If someone wants to frame their watches and look at them through a glass case that’s their business. I think most posters are presuming OP bought his watch to wear regularly, however, so they are trying to encourage the OP not to fret over the implications of regular use. If OP had said that he plans to sell and was asking how to remove the mark prior to a sale or wanted to make his gmt a pristine safe-queen, I think he would have elicited different responses. Only my take.

[woof]

Beauty mark...it sucks ..I know.

[JacksonRain]

Originally Posted by alex.cicollo

My car is completely scratched and I love it. Every scratch gives me a reminder of how much fun I had when the car was new or when some idiot scratched it. I don’t worry as I can have them polished off in my next service. Cars are to be enjoyed and not fussed over. It’s a tool to take me from A to B.

Alex, my man!

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