how do you deal with scratches on your watches?

[Cincinnati]

no, it's not about vintage watches.. one is an omega rep and another is a Hamilton. I've had hamilton for 2 an' a half years, omega 4 half a year.... I thought the scratches were a defect in wstces, I didn't know they 'd have a certain value.... now that I read ur comments, I see things a little differently perspectives... though, the hamilton suffered a lot. if omega knockoff looks acceptable with scratches, at hamilton, the situation is worse, barely can see the disl througbh the scratched xtal

 

[Skorsese]

I recommend FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE the individual polishing ONLY IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE EXPERIENCE WITH THE PROCESS!!! otherwise, the procedure will generate total trash... in the absence of experience, leave the watch as it is until the opportunity arises to take it to a craftsman

 

[Greg_B]

that case when a rep watch resisted scratches better than an authentic one...

 

[DomPerignon]

that case when a rep watch resisted scratches better than an authentic one...

and where does such a conclusion come from, bag ur pardon???? he just said that hamilton is over 2 years old, the rep is only half a yer... normally, in 2 years the watch becomes by default more tired and wears off even without having taken to the beach...

 

[Cincinnati]

and where does such a conclusion come from, bag ur pardon???? he just said that hamilton is over 2 years old, the rep is only half a yer... normally, in 2 years the watch becomes by default more tired and wears off even without having taken to the beach...

actually, I didn't really wear the Hamilton for 2 years, more - occasionally. during half a year, I exploited omega rep more than hamilton in 2 years....so, it's a little true in what @Greg_B says

 

[MinervuS]

I wouldn't polish them, unless you say that it's impossible to see the dial because of the scratches... after polishing, I get anxious and tense up at every contact of the watch with any surface...

I like watches with scratches on steel, there is something charming about this. I don't even draw attention to them, as if that's how it should be... so I'm also in favor of leaving them as they are... just an opinion...

 

[WatchOut]

it's not a simple question actually.... on the one hand, polishing by hand is a welcome solution in home conditions. the problem is that the process takes forever and you'll probably give up before getting a decent effect... however, this technique is the most rational of all because the watch is not exposed to side effects... ont he other hand, professional polishig is hassle-free, you leave it and come back after some time to get your watch like new... but, for sure, you are left without the top layer of stainless steel.....


conclusion: to avoid polishing and to keep the watch as it is

 

[Eddie]

sorry. @Cincinnati 🫣🫣,
I am also against polishing, only if it is impossible to look at the dial.
and even with the dial scratched, you could only polish the xtal, leaving the stainless stee as it is...
I'm more of an old-school guy...
even the omega rep that u have, doesn't need u to polish it even if it's only half of year..
first of all, you don't get rid of sctratches. these will form again right after you polish it.
secondly, polishing brings more disadvantages than benefits... think long-term...
in addition, even if you start doing the process by yourself, the watch can have very deep scratches, which you can't get rid of, and the process will suffocate y morally. ....
either way, whatever u decide, I only recommend that you do't hurry) wear the watches as they are for a little while) maybe you get used to them) if not, then always opt for hand polishing and do not accept other methods

 

[EuGeniuS]

it seems to me that the thread has turned into one of debates about polishing or not... but @Cincinnati asked HOW to polish, and not IF polish or not polished.....

given it's not vintage watches, you have every right to polish them... you already know the disadvantages, but being the first polishing in their life, there will be no side effects at all... the thinning of stainless steel is observed after frequent polishing, and I don't think you intend to do it frequently...

an alternative solution is Dialux. its s set of polishing materials in different grades and for various metal surfaces. it's very affordsble by the way

 

[CosmoS]

wy dont u jst brush it? and all solved

alternatively, I know of a solution that is not exactly abrasive and could work for the first try

 

[FleurDeLis]

I would polish them both. both are relatively "fresh", one 2 years old and the other half a year old. both still deserve to look in their best condition like new, just like they are... the watches will have all the time in the world to look old, vintage, scratched... but for too little time they have shown that new condition, as already become old school. I think that polishing would have been the first thing I would have done immediately after returning from vacation

 

[CuriousGeorge]

I have never polished my watches and I never will.
I don't intentionally aim for them to get scratches, but let them "mature" and "age" at their natural pace. so I don't fanatically preserve their initial condition, nor do I run after the patina... it forms as it does by itself... if scratches appear, I look at them as an irreversible and natural process

 

[DoctorWHO]

I've never done this, and how many details you have to take into account, I think I won't do it either... you have to choose the right material, you have to avoid certain areas, you have to know how to avoid the xtal.... ... no, I'd better wait and go for a specialist when there's a chance....

 

[dancerINTHEdark]

"how do you deal with scratches on your watches?"- noway, literally))) why do scratches on your watch affect you so much? they speak of time, of resistance, and of the value they have acquired for the owner. when I see an old man with an equally old watch with many scratches, I realize how much this man adores his watch. And I realize how dedicated and faithful the man is to his watch. so it's about relationship and connection. no new watch, no matter how expensive or complicated, can transmit what a scratched watch transmits....

technically speaking, you can remove the scratches with different solutions. but are you sure that the effect will last? and if so, for how long? you just won't process the watch every week to keep it like new... love your accessories as they are, because they show the time and the passage of time through them

 

[Encantadore59935]

I admire the sabi vabi philosophy, it is about a philosophy that finds beauty in everything that is imperfect. and I think it is extremely profound and correct to adopt this position, because beauty can truly be in anything that is far from perfection....
I think you can intuit then what is my attitude towards watch strachthes,,, this speaks about its resistance over time, about its full functionality over years and about the emotional connection with the one who wears it. I don't mind these minor stratches at all, they have a special value that is understood by those with a more philosophical spirit) the opinion of others leaves me indifferent)

 

[Wassert]

for me is the worst thing that can happen to a watch.
I remember myself at the beginning when i was not aware of a lot of stuff and i was mad about not knowing what to do and how to work on it.
This is the first post that I was interested in here and all of this turn to be super interesting as now I know more and thanks to you i can make some changes to my old watches.

it is super annoying that i stopped wearing my old watches just because they were not that cool looking because of scratches. fingers on to make it work thanks to all the stuff here.

 

[Evecusbaby]

polishing and always polishing. i know that you can always buy a good kit for it but i like the way my watchmaker is dealing with it.
actually, i have tried to do it on my own some time ago but it wasn't the way i actually wanted it to be. Seems like the watchmakers know how to do their work. The way a professional is dealing with it, you can't even compare to self-managing.

 

[BenStone]

simply, I clean my watch from dirt once in a while. as for the sctratches, it doesn't bother me at all. watches are accessories worn daily, they are useful tools and not just accessories of beauty and style. as such, the appearance of scratches is nothing more than the result of functionality and daily assistance for the owner. why should it bother me?!

 

[RoyaInk]

don't deal at all

I am one of those who admire them. I think that the scratches are a sign that the watch resists well to all the challenges of time and that it still continues to work, despite many impacts. It's clear that I wouldn't wear a very scratched watch where you can't look at how ugly it is. But if these are small, I leave them untreated and just clean the watch without drawing much attention to these small imperfections.

A scratched watch has no place at a special event, obviously. For such occasions, I have accessories in optimal condition. However, for daily use, I don't see any problem with the small imperfections

 

[StevenOhio]

just take the watch to the repair shop where it's treated professionally. the guys there know how to remove the sctractes with the latest solutions of which i have no idea. so don't complicate too much about it. if a sctratch can't be removed - well, that's it. i'm ok with minor straches as these look like the watch servicing me reliable... what's more important is the watch to be cleaned once in a while so i don't see dirt on it. the rest is forgettable and forgivable