The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I know it's probably irrational, as light scratches on a bracelet that's worn daily are inevitable, but the ones on my two month old Seawolf drive me mad. I hate to lose the newness and perfection of the shiny piece of steel I brought home a short few weeks ago. Anyone else feel my pain?

I know exactly how you feel but scratches on a daily worn watch are inevitable as you point out.

Usually you only pay attention to the first, then you get used to it. Only way to avoid this is to keep your watch in its box and not on your wrist. But that's not why you bought it.

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.

i hate them too. i try to keep my watch as pristine as possible. but with the daily wear its bound to take some scratches.

It's called PATINA!

There are 3 ways to deal with PATINA - (1) recognize it's merely patina; (2) hit the bracelet with Cape Cod or Sunshine cloths every couple months (if polished) or use the Scotchbrite method for a brushed bracelet like your Seawolf has; or (3) WEAR STRAPS.

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SHARKMAN

Cape Cod Cloths will get rid of small swirls/scratches and will keep a watch looking like new on any POLISHED parts. Half a hour spent polishing and cleaning will have you happy again. Do a search here for more details...

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Breanach78

A Few Breitlings.

Cape cod clothes are great. My shiny Pilot bracelet looks almost new.

For deeper scratches I have been very successful in sanding it with 800 grit, then 1000 grit, 1500 and finally 2000 grit. sandpaper. All going in the same direction (only lenghtwise). Then hitting it with the cape cod cloth to bring back the final luster. Harder to do on the small pilot links but if I had to, I would take it apart and do each the effected link separately. Easy to do on the clasp. If you have a brushed finish, chances are one of those grits of sandpaper will match the brushed finish so it can look like new as well. Test on a spare link if you have one to see what grit matches the finish.

I would caution that you can get fanatical about keeping your watch looking like new. Knowing that I can fix most scratches makes me more tolerant when they do occur. I will wait until there are numerous scratches, take the bracelet off the watch and do them all at once and then not worry about it for a few months. I also have a rubber strap and two leather straps for my Chrono Cockpit which I like to alternate so my steel strap only gets worn about a third of the time.

I felt the same way initially about my BlackBird; however, having owned it for about 3 years now, I realize that when I get new watches, I stare at them constantly and notice every single blemish and that's where my focus is - I'm focusing on the blemish instead of the beauty of the entire piece. But the reality is that on a day to day basis, I'm not noticing it and I doubt others are as well. I may get the watch buffed and cleaned and polished someday - my AD is only going to charge me $100 to buff out the bracelet and any small blemishes on the bezel - so in my opinion - it's a small expense if you really think about it.

Watches are like women - love them for why you chose them in the first place and realize that a blemish here or there should be overlooked considering what you get in return

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PAM359, Omega PO Big Size, 1951 Omega Seamaster, Rolex Sea Dweller

I used to be a klutz when it come to my watches. Once I got my first "expensive" watch I became aware of my wrist at every moment. I won't rest my wrist on a desk or counter anymore for example. It's always propped up a bit so that the clasp doesn't touch down.

When I put my watches down at night, I only place them down on a polishing cloth. - never on it's case back if the watch is on a bracelet. Photos on here of watches on stones or rocks make me cringe. I'm so anal that my AD thought my Motors T was brand new even though it's about 2 years old now. -- And I do wear it.

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Regards,

Peter

BREITLING for Bentley Motors T & Mark VI, Aerospace
ROLEX Submariner Ceramic116610LN
OMEGA Plantet Ocean 8500 42mm Orange arabics
OCEAN7 LM-3

Those pics make me feel like this (if one of the eyes were twitching) LOL!

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Chronomat B01

I'm with Sharkman on this. Wear the watch then every 4-5 years it goes infor a full service and presto New Watch.

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

Most of my watches look like new. If I get marks on it I try and refinish it at some point, but not necessarily right away. For me, part of the fun of owning watches is keeping them in pristine condition with buffing or by re-doing the brushed look. If I do get a ding that is not fixable without taking off to much material then c'est la vie. I'm pissed at the time, but I get over it fairly quickly. If it really makes the watch look ugly, for example a big deep scratch on the crystal, I would not hesitate to have it repaired as long as I still was really fond of the watch. So I know I am anal about the appearance of my watches, but because I find it relatively easy to make it look like new again, I am no longer that fanatical about it (like I used to be).

Love it!!!!!

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Marc

Current rotation:

2011 Oris Great Barrier Reef LE
2010 Omega Planet Ocean Big Size
2010 Breitling Avenger Seawolf SS
2008 Baume Mercier Classima
2007 Breitling SuperOcean Heritage 46

Its the bracelet that gets it the most, and if that bothers you take it off and its far easier to polish swirls and light scratches out that way rather than risk scratching the watch itself.
I use a UK product called Brasso if i get any deeper scratches than swirls etc but just a rub around the bracelet with the Brasso cloth every week keeps it looking good....it is an abrasive product but not too bad.......the top one though if you can get some is Autosol its for cars really, but polished stainless steel is what its made to clean ......and polish.......not too harsh either....

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SUPER AVENGER 563 AIRFORCE BLUE
WHITE SUBS, PRO11 BRACELET

I can't say that I do. I think that if you are going to pay several thousand dollars for a watch, you should be able to wear it. I think that scratches and cosmetic blemishes give the piece character. A nice watch will still look nice even when it is covered in scratches and dings.

Very true. I wear my watches, and then every few months polish a bit and presto