The Breitling Watch Source Forums

the day I realized that the scuffs and scrapes and scratches on my daily worn Steelfish (w pro2)... didnt matter anymore. They are now a badge of honor from a DAILY WORN watch!

I few weeks ago I was browsing here and someone posted a picture of thier new Steelfish on Pro2 (exactly like mine) and while staring at his watch I started to stare back at the one on my wrist. I noticed the scuffs, scrapes and scratches from daily wear and decided.....who cares. It was liberating to just let go of the "oh no I see a scuff/scratch and I need to resurface the watch back to factory fresh". No longer am I constantly worried about the occational brush up against something.

Now dont get me wrong, if I am going to be doing something I know might scratch the watch.. I remove it prior to this activity. But instead of constantly worrying about it I am just enjoying my watch more and more each day.

Everyone should have a watch for this purpose (preferably Breitling) so you can stop the obsession with scuff marks and just ENJOY your purchase.

That being said I will not tollerate scuffs on my other watches, but they arent my daily worn watches and I concider them my dressy watches.

Scott

_________________
Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

100% agree with you. Tool watches like the Steelfish or a Submariner were designed to withstand the rigours of deep sea diving rather than desk diving and I think a battered diving watch looks great!

It's a bit like guitars. I look after my guitars but view dings and chips simply as road wear which make it uniquely mine rather than one in a showroom. Taken to the extreme, Rory Gallagher's Strat finished up with barely a lick of paint on it but looked (imho) wonderful.

Wear it well

Made a pretty cool album cover subject too, against the grain.

_________________
"Per Ardua Ad Lingi"

Agree completely! The first scratch or ding is always the hardest! Once that has happened - it's like & your watch you are not strangers anymore - you are now officially partners!
Pretty much like a new car as well!
Having said that - I clean my watches once a month with warm soapy water and I love the squeaky, shiny look they get after that.

I agree as well....I bought a yellow dial seawolf for just that reason. My wife and I will be in Jamica for a long vacation and I plan on diving, jet skiing and you name it with my 'seawolf' on my wrist. With the rubber strap on it I really can't wait to test this baby out. Pictures will be posted after the trip with it in the water.....I have other lings for dinner and going out. You need one Breitling to just have fun with!

_________________
YOU CAN'T HAVE A GREAT TIME WITHOUT A GREAT WATCH.........MAKE IT A BREITLING

Could not agree with you more! When I got my SuperOcean in 1997, I started to enjoy it even more after I got the first scratch! That watch was on my wrist - literally - every single day for over 10 years, until it got traded for a nice discount on my new Blacksteel. I loved it even more after it got that worn-in look. I used to give it a bath, faithfully, every week in Sunlight dish detergent and warm water. It really sparkled after that, even the scratches showed up better! So, I have a couple of nicks in the Blacksteel already, but none has managed to get through the black steel coating to the metal underneath. It really is a pretty tough coating. It gets the same treat to a Sunlight bath, and even though it's black, it has it's own little sparkle. According to my AD, my Steelfish is going to finally get it's Ocean Racer strap within a couple of weeks. That watch does not get as much wrist time, and has no scratches yet, but I feel like a million bucks when I wear it. Eventually, the scratches will appear, and I will love it even more. Thanks for the great thread! It shows up a lot of the emotions and truisms invlolved when one is really attached to his/her watch(es).

Cheers,
Carl

_________________
'63 Omega Seamaster, 2014 Omega Speedmaster MarkII

"Those who possess a sense of entitlement are seldom satisfied"

I agree as well. Although our watches need "care" it is tough to really not get them that stratched up etc, which is why I am also considering picking up a "beater" breitling piece as well.

_________________
Breitling for Bentley Motors
Breitling Navitimer World
Breitling Super Avenger Black Steel LE 3000
Breitling for Bentley GMT Midnight Carbon Black Steel LE 1000
Hublot Big Bang Aero Bang Steel
"You gotta pay to play..."

Amen to all the above. If I buy something functional, I want it to function, not gather dust!

_________________
Superocean Steelfish
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust
Omega Seamaster Cosmic

i totally agree as well.

Some watches look best beat up a little. It depends on the model and its intended design. Take the navitimer off if your working on your cars engine! The Mont Brillant Legende will look at home under a collared shirt. A steelfish or a chrono avenger will have more character with the battle wounds of adventures unknown.

Much like a pick up truck looks better with dirt on it.

However i still baby my AS because she is too pretty

I baby all of my pieces, and they are cleaned every other day and polished once a month.

~Brian

_________________
Breitling Super Avenger
Fortis Flieger Chronograph
Rolex Submariner Date

I'm with you on this one Brian.

I wear all my watches and enjoy them, but I also do all I can not to scratch them.

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

Man BroncoSport, I can't believe you brought up this subject this week as I have also had an "epiphany" recently. I have always been one of the many who after acquiring something nice, such as a Breitling, cannot help but baby and constantly polish the item for fear of losing the newness it once had. Although it has helped some with other Breitling owners stating "don't worry about scratches and scuffs, it just adds character" it has still been hard for me to wrap my mind around that idea and JUST LET IT GO. Finally as of last week I jumped that hurdle of guilt and now resign myself to that theory. Its like a load has been lifted off my shoulders. Mind you, I still might thrash someone if an inadvertent bang or stratch may be inflicted..................but hey, BABY STEPS, BABY STEPS.

_________________
Never deny anyone hope..........it may be all they have.

I wouldn't say I baby all my peices, but I don't like scratches on them either. There are certain watches that I suppose I bump into stuff with more often than others (namely big ones like the super avenger). When I am worried I am going to bump into something I hide the watch under my cuff.. that is going to be harder with summer rolling along here.

I do have some watches that have scuffs and scratches here and there and they don't really bother me unless they are scratches or chips in the crystal...

_________________
BreitlingSource Admin
http://www.breitlingsource.com - http://blog.breitlingsource.com

I hear you! That's basically my take on it too.

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

I love my airwolf, all my scratches/scuffs are personal characteristics of my watch. It still looks awesome, & is a well worn & loved part of my life.