Watch beaters, why do you do it?

[SudiYunus]

Originally Posted by jdp12199

People don't purposely beat up their watches. It is just something that happens over time from wearing it. Take a Submariner for example. A watch built like a tank and is considered a tool watch. It wasn't designed to be babied and kept in a safe.

I have a friend who is a mechanic and never takes his sub off. It has a few dings and scratches but is 100% functional and he has been using it for years.

I think your point of view is a bit skewed. You make it seem like people purposely beat there watches up. This isn't the case. It is something that is pretty much unavoidable if you wear your watch. Some people do believe that dings and scratches give a watch some character but that is different from purposely beating it up.

EXACTLY !!!

[SudiYunus]

Originally Posted by LVx2

I've long been fascinated with people who seem very proud that they've managed to destroy the finish of their luxury watch. Why? Why be proud that you've carelessly treated a very expensive object, one who's initial value is related to its finish? Just curious.

[cryptowalkway]

Originally Posted by LVx2

Haha, here we go! Yikes!

That thing looks knackered as hell

[cryptowalkway]

I think the OP is right - lots of people on here who get a strange kick out of showing their beat up Rolex. The same people complain about flex culture but perhaps they’re doing exactly that…

[George58]

Go back to 1980 man walks in to Rolex AD buys yellow gold DD because he always wanted one and his business was doing well. p
Puts it on his wrist and wears it never taking off for 30 years and ENJOYING it from suits weddings and funerals to snorkeling in the ocean all over the world. Then passes away at 90 years old after a good life and passes it down to his son who's doing the same as his father did. I think he would be happy that his watch is being ENJOYED living life. Scratches ie honest wear never worried about. I'm 64 now been wearing for almost 20 years. Thanks dad

[Krash]

Not really sure, but I think it’s the “one watch” guys that wear it everyday no matter what the occasion is.

It seems like they never consider that many of us have multiple watches in our collection.

For example, if you have 4 or more watches in your regular rotation, then typically you’ll have less scratches per watch. Over a 5 year period of time, you’re basically wearing a specific watch 75% less than a one watch guy. That amounts to a lot less wear and tear.

But it is odd when someone basically posts, “hey everyone, my watch is all banged up, and so should yours be.” Seems shortsighted to me…


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[axelbaws]

I have a 114060 sub which after 10 years have a finish you probably would consider ”ruined”. When I bought it I didn’t think of it as a ”luxury watch”. The market sentiment was different back then. My thought was that if the boys in the SBS and at Comex did crazy shit with their subs, so could I – and I did. Pretentious? Probably.

If I really want to I can always send it to Rolex and have it restored. In the mean time I enjoy the scratches as I don’t have to worry about the first ones anymore.

I recently bought a 116500 Daytona. That one, and in the current day, I see as a luxury watch for sure. I’m yet to scratch it and I hope that I never will.

[911991]

IMHO, to each their own. A pristine Rolex to its owner doesn't mean anymore then a beater Rolex to its owner if you plan to keep the watch. I think the trend to keep watches perfect is based on people flipping their watches. This is a good friends watch that he wore back in the seventies, he rebuilt his 1968 Pontiac Ram Air Firebird wearing that watch and said it kept perfect time, so every time he looks at that watch it reminds him of his muscle car days. Oh by they way, he sold that Firebird about 1 year ago for over $80k he paid $1,800 for it (so I'm sure he could by another Sub)

[Jackie Daytona]

I don’t scratch it on purpose, just wear them as I would any watch. I don’t let the watch wear me, it’s on my wrist and serves it’s purpose. Maybe the Ivan Drago watch mentality, but “if it scratches.. it scratches”. Bothers me when it does but I get over it fairly quickly and carry on.

[jets]

Originally Posted by LVx2

I've long been fascinated with people who seem very proud that they've managed to destroy the finish of their luxury watch. Why?

That's like saying a woman is too beautiful to have sex with; just to look at really...

[gerry100]

are you still beating your watch?

[Eric88]

I don't overly protect my watches and have worn all of them for most anything. I do tend to keep the Milgauss a little bit more "out of the elements" of things like digging and pruning and working on patio projects, as the PCLs and polished bits seem to show more wear than something like a Sub or Explorer. That said, I have worn my Milgauss in some rougher climates and it is just fine.

Back in the earlier days of watch collecting, I would test myself with the "one watch, one year" type of thing and have written plenty of threads about it. I had a 16600 that was all I wore for a few years and never took it off for anything. It had some scuffs and scratches that blended in just fine once you get past the early ones.

I also wore a 114060 exclusively for about five years and it showed it, though took nothing away from its value or functionality.

[yorkzilla]

Originally Posted by Paul H

Around 1989 I bought my first Rolex, a 10 year old Sea Dweller. I have worn it every day, all day for over 30 years taking if off only when I sleep. I have serviced it regularly and it keeps easily within COSC specifications but now it has become so valuable that I am probably going to sell it. Then I can buy another newer Rolex to "beat up". I'm happy with that.

Impressed. Pix, please!

[LVx2]

Originally Posted by KathleenL

I have a Rolex not to impress anyone, but because I know that Rolex makes a great watch, and I really love the look of mine (279171-0001). Prior to getting the Rolex, I wore a Tag Heuer, which I got in 2005. I wore the Tag 24/7, removing it when I took a shower (yes, it is safe in water up to twice as deep as my Rolex). And every day I wore a diamond tennis bracelet next to my Tag. So, I had the bracelet on when I put on my Rolex while at the AD. He said that he had to "warn" me that if I continued to wear the bracelet next to the Rolex, that the Rolex would end up with scratches. Yes, the smooth bezel and left side of the Tag did have some scratches from the bracelet, but they never really bothered me... I did take the bracelet off once we got back home and have not worn it since. Not necessarily because I don't want my Rolex to get scratched by it, but because it is a yellow gold bracelet and my Rolex is a TT Everose. Maybe I should have my brother-in-law (Certified Master Bench Jeweler) reset the diamonds into a rose gold bracelet because it bothers me more that I'm not wearing it. It was a gift from my brother because I was his caregiver before he died from AIDS.

But getting "things" whether those things are pieces of jewelery, timepieces, or clothes, and then being super careful of them rather than using/wearing them because you don't want them to shown signs of wear/use makes no sense to me. My younger sister does this all the time and it drives me effing nuts. When my nephew was a toddler I got him the cutest pullover sweater but he never ever wore it because my sister wouldn't put it on him - she wanted to "keep it nice." It was machine washable and machine dryable. One year she asked me to knit her a shawl and I spent hours and hours and hours knitting one (for which I had created the pattern). I gave it to her for Christmas that year. Everyone raved about it and commented on how the color of the yarn matched the blue of her eyes. That was 2016. She's never worn it because she "doesn't want it to get dirty." It's machine washable and dryable.

Live your life, people. Don't sweat the small stuff and don't worry about a few scratches on your watches!

Thank you, your reply says so much. About our watches, jewelry and the deep personal meaning they can carry. It illustrates that for some, like your sister, keeping things that are very special, as I’m sure she considers your gifts, “nice” is a way of honouring their importance. You’d rather see them put to use, as you point out, they’re designed for it. Each approach shows a respect but in a different way.

We as people are in a sense “machine washable and dryable”, able to live and learn, with the possibility to dust ourselves off, regroup and get a fresh start. So you’re right, we should live our lives! Thanks again for sharing.

[marc12]

my skydweller is absolutely mangled but only because i wore it every day for two years; 8 countries; 30 flights; hundreds of bottles of wine. nothing a service won't fix. but until then, i enjoy wearing it and not worrying about it at all

[KathleenL]

Originally Posted by LVx2

Thank you, your reply says so much. About our watches, jewelry and the deep personal meaning they can carry. It illustrates that for some, like your sister, keeping things that are very special, as I’m sure she considers your gifts, “nice” is a way of honouring their importance. You’d rather see them put to use, as you point out, they’re designed for it. Each approach shows a respect but in a different way.

We as people are in a sense “machine washable and dryable”, able to live and learn, with the possibility to dust ourselves off, regroup and get a fresh start. So you’re right, we should live our lives! Thanks again for sharing.

My nephew was two or three when I got that pullover sweater for him. And kids have a tendency to grow and then no longer fit into the clothes they got when they were smaller. So, saving the sweater to "keep it nice" was a total waste of the sweater because he soon was too big to fit into it.

And my sister specifically asked me in November 2016 to knit a shawl for her, to keep her warm. I designed it, and spent a lot of time knitting it, and gave it to her for Christmas in December 2016. It is now February 2022. SHE HAS NEVER ONCE WORN THE SHAWL. She "doesn't want it to get dirty." She does wear clothes, and they need to be washed because they get dirty, so it's baffling why she would be so worried about the shawl getting dirty. It's not like I decided out of the blue to knit a shawl for her -- which would mean that perhaps it's not something she wanted or needed. She specifically ASKED for it. And blue is her favorite color, so I used blue yarn. About a year ago she gave the shawl -- still in the tissue paper inside the box in which I had given it to her -- to our other sister for "safekeeping." No, she's not "honoring the importance" of the sweater and/or the shawl.

[shaunylw]

I don’t really care either way. I prefer not to beat on my watches, but when they get banged up it’s fine. If I’m wearing a patek under a dress shirt, i might a little upset if i bang it up. I don’t really view a submariner as this luxurious item i must preserve. If i wear it for 10 years and it looks like hell, whatever. I’m going to wear something, might as well be what i want to wear.

The Instagram crowd is far too worried about stickers and maintaining the value of their watches. If an AD sells me a JM Daytona, or platona, sure. I get it. But we have people worried about their stainless GMTs and Subs like they are these priceless pieces that can’t be replaced. They are built to be beat on. If you wear it like a normal person, they are going to be just fine, and look great for a lot of years. If you want to preserve the integrity of stainless Rolex, just leave them in the box and sell them in 30 years.

[Dr.Brian]

I don’t obsess about scratches on my watches and jewelry. They’re items that are used and find themselves in harms way, it’s going to get marks. The only reason they all look alright is that there are a bunch in rotation, and I swaps straps, NATOs, etc.
I don’t view my collection as a bunch of valuable gear or investments, they’re little machines that have a job. It’s just not something I worry about.
I may be jaded by my financial situation though. I’d never have to sell a watch, so some lost value is irrelevant.
If you need to be scratch and smudge free, good luck. Especially if you have polished center links!

[Al1969]

Originally Posted by Easy E

You are going to give Padi a coronary.

Cue Padi.

[Jack T]

Originally Posted by Jocke

I feel it is nice to have a great watch at work when it can take it.

Yes, but you’ll transform this in to a piece that looks like the AD just peeled off the stickers.

[1sttimerolex]

I don't think ppl are intentionally running their watches through the lawnmower, but I'm in the camp of it's just a watch and enjoy wearing it doing the mundane things of life (like working in the office to taking out the trash or doing the dishes) to those exciting adventures you plan for (sky/scuba diving, skiing, camping, deep sea fishing, etc).

My sub date looks pretty new for 3 years old only because it went into my sock drawer after i got my other watch (which came only 7 months after the sub), which has collected quite a few scratches all over it's bezel that it looks almost brushed

[donq]

Do what? Wear a watch without covering it in sticky tape and bubble wrap?

If you wear a watch like a normal person it’s going to get scratched.
Just like wearing shoes wears out the heels.

I wear the watch, not the other way around.

[DCheeta]

I wear my watches all the time with little or no regard for keeping them pristine, but somehow they manage to stay pretty new looking. Probably just because I have a desk job and wear G-Shocks for hard duty. I personally don’t mind scratches at all.

I don’t subscribe to the adage that “if you don’t scratch it you can’t afford it.” My cheap quartz watches aren’t scratched up either, and I can certainly afford them many times over. Some people just naturally scratch their watches and some people don’t. My wife, for example, has a Datejust that looks like it’s been through WWIII. I don’t know how she does it, she doesn’t exactly do manual labor or anything.

[thesharkfactor]

I wear my BLRO daily, I bought it to wear. It has marks and scratches, get over it.

[twalt77]

Here’s a pic of old GMT 16710; I put it on every day for 12 years. I just wore it and wore it, never missed a beat. Planning on doing the same with my new Explorer 124270. I feel like sports watches like this are made to be to be used (not abused though obviously).



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[twalt77]

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[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by digitalR

The only way to be “careful” is to never take it out the box… at which pt why buy one?

Totally unrealistic to expect something on your wrist daily to be magically shielded from the environment around… got nothing to do with carelessness.

Not really true, imho. Wearing a watch carefully can be done but it takes some awareness of where you are and what your hazards are. I find my watches get very light scarring even after years of wear and nothing comparable to the wear that some boast of.

[travisb]

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

There’s a middle ground between admiring your protective stickered safe queen in a glass box and purposely running your watch through the Indiana Jones gauntlet.

It’s simply called wearing your watch and I believe the majority falls within this middle ground.

Wearing a watch inevitably leads to minor scuffs and dings, even with proactive defensive watch wearing habits. Sometimes accidents happen and majors scratches and dents occur.

Most members simply advise to enjoy the watch rather than constantly strive to maintain a pristine condition because that defeats the purpose and induces stress rather than enjoyment.

This.
It's about the enjoyment of ownership.

[zengineer]

I think an individual's experience with wear/damage and attitude about caring for his watches are obviously all over the map.

I also think it has a lot to do with lifestyle. I see people posting that their Patek is their beater followed by a picture of a pristine watch, which only tells me their idea of activity is playing with their cat.

If I am going to do something where damaging my watch is not just possible but almost inevitable then I am going to strap on a Timex, not a Rolex. It's no different than not wearing a white dress shirt to change the oil in my car or not wear leather sole dress shoes to shovel wet snow.

I'm not bothered by honest wear on a watch but I am also not as impressed by it as some seem to hope.

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[dannyp]

Originally Posted by jdp12199

Take a Submariner for example. A watch built like a tank and is considered a tool watch. It wasn't designed to be babied and kept in a safe.

If used as intended, it's a tool watch. If babied and pampered, it's a tool's watch.

My watches have always fallen into the latter category