[nat210790]

I'm in two minds whether or not scratches or marks on an expensive watch gives it added character or just makes it look, well, beaten up.

Just wondering if anyone has any pictures of when nice watches - expensive or otherwise - get damaged....and wants to tell us how...?

I wear my watches quite loosely, so I'm always knocking them on walls, door frames or desks....this one example did get my quite annoyed with myself. Luckily I was only wearing a Fossil, bought for about £100 when I did this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lct1DIgw9Q on a night out.

It's usually the clasps of my watches that get beaten up.
So....any damaged watches you wish you could put back to their original state? Or does it make yours individual and add character?

Pictures and/or explanation.

I guess people who wear their watches loosely like me would have the most damage? Do heavy, chunky watches suffer more?

 

[foghorn]

If you weear your watch ,even on a semi regular basis, it will get scratched and at some point dinged.
Nature of the beast-we may not like it but it's a fact.


This oft posted Zodiac (I bought it in the early 70's-my first good watch. A daily wearer for over 20 years in all imagineable conditions.
Only serviced once and still keeps great time.
I have no interest in getting it redialed or restored in any way,shape or form.
If I did that it wouldn't tell the stories.

And here is what happens to high polished bezels when they are allowed to be worn without fear.

I take care of all my watches but I bought them to enjoy and I can't do that if they are sitting in a box.
Over time they will show the wear that I consider normal.
I can drive down to the AD to look at pristine watches.

 

[J. Fish]

Foggy, I LOVE the way the dial on that Zodiac looks. People would pay some major bread for a look like that!

Also, that Fendi is a pretty cool watch!! Automatic? Thats wild!

 

[J. Fish]

Oh, and the closest thing I have is, my dog chewing off my Strap.

Also, I went to a Gogol Bordello show, ended up in the mosh-pit and bent a link in a bracelet watch. That was a bummer, but a quick fix.

 

[GradyPhilpott]

That was a pretty blurry video, but the worst of it seemed to be a smashed crystal.

At the current rate of exchange, 100 British Pounds is about $200USD.

I'd think that'd be worth the price of a new crystal.

I wear my watches pretty loosely, but I've never considered that to be a factor in damage and I can be pretty rough on watches.

In the last couple of years, I've been training myself to be cautious when operating in close quarters to avoid unnecessary damage.

I guess all my watches show signs of wear, including a scratched crystal here and there, but I don't sweat the small stuff and of course it depends of the watch.

The scratch on the acrylic crystal of my $30 Casio Waveceptor doesn't bother me in the least. It's a beater and a novelty, but I love as much as the others.

The gash in my Invicta 8926 cyclops was a different story, even though it's a pretty cheap watch, too. Fortunately, I was able to fix that myself.

So, how did you do that?

 

[nat210790]

That was a pretty blurry video, but the worst of it seemed to be a smashed crystal.

At the current rate of exchange, 100 British Pounds is about $200USD.

I'd think that'd be worth the price of a new crystal.

I wear my watches pretty loosely, but I've never considered that to be a factor in damage and I can be pretty rough on watches.

In the last couple of years, I've been training myself to be cautious when operating in close quarters to avoid unnecessary damage.

I guess all my watches show signs of wear, including a scratched crystal here and there, but I don't sweat the small stuff and of course it depends of the watch.

The scratch on the acrylic crystal of my $30 Casio Waveceptor doesn't bother me in the least. It's a beater and a novelty, but I love as much as the others.

The gash in my Invicta 8926 cyclops was a different story, even though it's a pretty cheap watch, too. Fortunately, I was able to fix that myself.

So, how did you do that?

Yea, sorry about video quality - not really 100% sure why I filmed it really! :001_unsure: ... Basically, I was just out one night and the face had slipped round so the clasp was on top, I wasn;t really aware of what I was doing, and slammed my hand on the top of a brick wall....I twisted it back round again, fell over and my friend thought it would be funny to drag me around on the pavement...the next morning the clasp was scratched up really badly and the crystal half smashed with the case dented. Like you say, it might well be worth getting a new crystal....it could of course be the perfect excuse to splash out on a new watch!! :thumbup:

 

[GradyPhilpott]

I never wear my watches loose enough that they will slip in that fashion and perhaps that did lead to the damage to your watch, although that does sound like pretty rough play.

As you describe it, it really does seem like it's time to get a new watch that is properly sized.

 

[alwaysfreewilly]

Hmm....I think if the watch is meant to look rugged, the more scratches it has, it should look good..
but if not, then I think my heart will ACHE!!! afterall, it is EXPENSIVE!!!!

speaking of beat-up watches, what about a rusty-looking watch??? hahaha.....will you buy that?

remember this one?

 

[misfitx]

I'm reminded of the picture of a Rolex that was in a motorcycle accident and a Sub that was on the wrist of a fisherman/sailor for many years. Lets just say they weren't showroom condition

 

[ama11441]

This ain't no fine watch but it was beat up. Who ever had it also must of had a high maintence beat up old pick up too. I got this on ebay less the band for 12 bucks last fall to learn about automatics. The seller said it ran but he failed to tell me that the no. 9 marker was loose inside. I cleaned the case, polished the crystal and spot painted the bezel. Later I removed the back and got it running within 8 sec/ day. I believe it to be an 8237. For me a great find and a keeper that will see service under my truck.