Anyone's Pelagos Look Like This?

[r.palace]

I've noticed what looks like chipping of the titanium on the inner lugs on the 6 and 12 sides of my Pelagos and I'd like to know if any of you have dealt with this and may have an idea of what causes it.

Thanks in advance.

[Old Expat Beast]

It can happen (with steel watches too) when changing bracelets, if not done carefully.

[Thatguy]

How often have you removed the bracelet?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[r.palace]

Originally Posted by Thatguy

How often have you removed the bracelet?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A handful of times and surely never enough to cause the chipping shown in the pictures; I've been too careful for that.

[Shichinin]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

It can happen (with steel watches too) when changing bracelets, if not done carefully.

This seems to be the reason.

[Reinhard in SA]

Originally Posted by Shichinin

This seems to be the reason.

Always remove the bracelet with dial down, pussing the end links away from the lugs towards the case back. This way when the spring bars pop out, any damage will be limited to the bottom of the lugs.

When installing straps, tape the lugs, so that when/if the spring bars go through your lugs arent damaged.

It's weird, the steel on my black bay seems softer than the Omegas I have had. It is the first time I have seen a spring bar leave marks on bracelet removal (bottom of the lugs). Doesn't matter how carefully I worked.

[Onikage]

As said this happens when the spring bars pop out on the front. Watch face down and lifting the bracelet from the back, then taking care when positioning trying to find the lug hole with the compressed bar during reinstalation stops this happening. It's easily done. Taping can help..but not always.

[Pongster]

That's why I've never even attempted to change straps. Even once. Except for my Philipp Stein.

For my PAM, I asked boutique to do it when I purchased it.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Onikage

As said this happens when the spring bars pop out on the front. Watch face down and lifting the bracelet from the back, then taking care when positioning trying to find the lug hole with the compressed bar during reinstalation stops this happening. It's easily done. Taping can help..but not always.

Yes, it can happen during installation if the endlink goes too far and out the other side and he springbars pop out and snag on the topside inside-edge of the lugs, like in the OP's photos. I've done it once or twice.

[Ragna]

Im gonna need you to put the loupe down slowly and kick it in my direction.


A light and quick refinish will make that go away.

After you do that just enjoy your watch without inspecting it all the time.


; )

[RKTudor]

I own 3 of 4 Pelagos variations, and I change bracelet/straps way too often and have never experienced damage like this. As other have said I'd think it's from removing spring bars dial up.

There's always the chance though that there is some kind of flaw with the titanium... but I've never seen or heard about this happening to any Pelagos.

My advice: dial down and tape the lugs!!!

[Ragna]

Originally Posted by RKTudor

There's always the chance though that there is some kind of flaw with the titanium...

If thats the case.. then its a rare thing indeed. They would have to replace the piece. But might be challenging to prove it.

[slide13]

Yep, what everyone else says, from springbars during bracelet/strap removal.

I find these show up way more on Rolex/Tudor not because of any problem with the watch but because of how finely they're finished to a perfect 90* edge there. Many other watches tend to soften that edge a little which I believe makes them easier to finish because the lines need not be quite so precise but it also has a tendency to minimize thsee sorts of marks.

[tifosi]

Yup. Looks like spring bar damage as others have stated.

[r.palace]

Thanks for the replies, all. I've never removed the spring bars from the front on this watch, let alone any watch. Never even heard of that until I just read it now. It never occurred to me that someone would actually remove spring bars through the front instead of the correct and traditional way of through the back.

This is still my favorite watch and these marks in no way bar me from enjoying it as I'm aware a quick refinish will remedy them but was curious to see others opinions as I haven't seen marks like these on any other Pelagos before.

I just assumed it was wear from the bracelet on the softer titanium but now who knows.

[Tomas Eriksson]

You will get marks like this if when you unhooking the bracelet and pulling it out "sideways".
Doing it like the guy in this video will make marks like your in the long run:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_mdv6v0A6s
To avoid visible marks on the top of the lugs you wan't to lift the bracelet straight up towards yourself instead

[capote]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

It can happen (with steel watches too) when changing bracelets, if not done carefully.

Agreed, I learnt that the hard way.

[josephvman]

I've found that my Tudors are exceptionally difficult to change bracelets on. It's probably the only thing I don't like about them.

[KBM]

Originally Posted by Ragna

Im gonna need you to put the loupe down slowly and kick it in my direction.

[r.palace]

Originally Posted by Ragna

Im gonna need you to put the loupe down slowly and kick it in my direction.

Would be accurate if it wasn't plainly visible.

Only watch I've owned that still looks good with wear

[Rocket_Man]

I use a tweezer type Bergeron tool and make sure the springbars are fully compressed when you pull the endlink out. Also, I keep the dial down and remove the watch head from the bracelet rather then the bracelet from the head

[1431222a]

Can this be polished?

[Yess]

Originally Posted by 1431222a

Can this be polished?

I think you should be able to polish this out easily enough.