The Breitling Watch Source Forums

What is the best way to remove minor scratches/scuffs on Breitling BlackSteel Watches? Thanks.

A search may have revealed a cape cod cloth.

Scratches cannot be removed from the blacksteel(DLC) coated Breitlings

Correct. Nothing you can do about Blacksteel scratches. You could possibly pay Breitling or a 3rd party to recoat the case but that's not going to be a cheap option.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

And whatever you do, don't use cape cod! No idea what it would do to Blacksteel, but it wouldn't be good.

Cape Cod!!! Almost as bad as trying a Sharpie!!!

Think of the scratches as a rite of passage...

D

Sorry did not realize it was a watch with a DLC Coating (I guess I should have clued in to "blacksteel"). Occasionally, I have tried black enamal paint with a fine brush which worked OK but not perfect. After a month (when it was totally cured), I wet sanded it lightly with 2000 grit sandpaper (after masking off the area around it) until it blended into the the DLC coating a bit better. Very fine work as in no time you are back to the silver stainless steel if you take too much off. You then buff it up lightly with a car polish on a cue tip (if it is a shiny finish). Worked fairly well on the caseback of my Oris watch. It has remained on about 5 months now. At first glance all looks normal until you inspect closely but for me it is better than seeing the silver scratch.

The coting can be removed cemicaly by unstablehydroperoxide (dangerous)
And then the scuff marks taken out as the steel is softer than the DLC it's the only way
After that a recote of the DLC

it's not the most expencive fix and it's farly easy thing to do
I know as I work on those machine that cote DLC

Regards Jonas straka

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Originally I was going to get the Chronospace Blacksteel but discussions with others on scratching made me change my mind.

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Current:
Chronospace Silver, Black Ocean Racer
Navi World Silver, Aero Classic
Chronomatic 1461 Bronze, Bronze DP-1
SA White, Diamonds, Pro 2 Diamonds
SA Black, Bentley Rubber
Navi 1461 LE, Black DP-1
Chronomat GMT Silver, Pilot

Thanks everyone. I've read from another forum on using a Sharpie pen or black nail polish to cover the small scratches but I guess not.

I trust more the opinions of the experts and members in here more than anywhere else.

You can use either of those as they wont cause any harm, but its not a permanent solution.

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-RJ

an old thread but i was shocked upon reading it. for those who end up here i am posting something on this.

i real feel saddened that someone would get a high end watch and then use magic markers or sharpies on it to fill in wear or marks on what is a black coating. it's totally bush league. as any one familiar with the term 'tropical dial' knows, the wear that a luxury or high end watch takes over its lifetime is part of the watch and to try to get rid of that natural aging destroys the value. hence tropical dials on rolex being worth much more than a dial that has not aged.

getting a black coated watch is a choice that involves knowledge it will eventually incur wear through the black, especially on edges, where the metal will show through. even without abuse (hopefully without abuse) just natural use of the watch, either PVD black and even DLC black eventually, will wear through at some point. obviously DLC much much less than PVD, but it will.

rather than patching that up with magic markers or other absurdities, please check out the value of old heuer PVD watches where the black has come off through natural wear. not only do they look beautiful, akin to a rolex tropical dial, the value can even be considered to be enhanced with the edges and high relief areas getting lighter. it's a classic look, and even getting a DLC watch, will someday come.

it would be blindness to get one of these pieces and expect to keep it pristine. like getting a pair of cowboy boots or levi jeans and trying to keep them from having wear, which is what eventually makes them more valued and more admired in appearance.

let your DLC, or PVD watch age. this does not mean abuse it. smashed up watches are not what i'm talking about. but let it age and wear...the use enhances it. this is the future compared to when this thread started, but now we even have 'pre-duressed' watches on the market. some costing a decent amount...these are automatic pieces, usually divers, with 'tropicalization' applied to the case and entire watch. the look is so cool it's now being done purposely.

if you're lucky enough to have a breitling, rolex or other high end tool watch, the natural wear (again, not abuse) will enhance it over time. embrace it, don't hide it futiley with sharpies and such. please.

These are the questions why I always prefer steel (brushed or polished) over any coated material. If I wanna go black I just buy ceramic.

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Current: Breitling Chronomat 41, Steelfish Chrono BEB dials, CSO I. Japan Limited, Grand Premiers both dials, Aerospace Avantage, IWC Aquatimer 3719 3767, Fliegerchrono 3705, Sinn 103 St plexy

I do agree.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Breitling will change the case/ bezel on an exchange basis I.e you will not get the originals back. Needless to say I asked.