What do people do to their watches???

[Clay]

Now I have been wearing a Rolex everyday, all day for almost 30 years. The exact same watch for the first 20 or so...And although I'm not a commercial diver, I worked with my hands and not at a desk all of those years.
But I have to ask myself, what do some of these people do to their watches???
I have recently seen a couple of examples that looked as if someone had put them in a dryer with a pile of rocks and run the dryer for about a week???
How do these watches get like that???

[ndb80]

For me once there are few scratches that are visible it gets downgraded to 'battle watch' which means i will wear it to do anything and everyhting...from paintball to diving to diy...this is why i love plexi's....

[MonBK]

A pile of rocks in your dryer will do that.

[Vincent65]

Imagine the state of their suits, or the heels of their shoes, Clay!

[pdoukas]

I prefer steel marbles in my dryer

[storm66]

I'm a builder and wear my Sub through thick n thin.... I plaster walls/ceilings build bathrooms kitchens and paint with it on my wrist...
Otherwise how will I know when it's time for a tea break!.....however I will take
It off when I'm knocking down walls!

Just a bit too risky

[Guy h]

My grandfather bought this 6150 in early 1953, he was a cobbler and wore it all day, everyday for 25 years banging in nails and repairing shoes. On his days off he swam in it, went fishing in it, worked in his garden in it. I understand from my mother that he broke the bracelet in the late 60's and bought a replacement which it still has. I was given it last year and following a sympathetic movement service, replacement crystal, and bracelet de-gunking it now runs perfectly, has a good power reserve and keeps perfect time. I now wear it, alternating with my 1987 Datejust, which like my grandfather, wear for work, swimming etc. My grandfather bought his Explorer to wear every day, which he did, and I know it gave him a lot of pleasure. I know it puts a smile on my face when I wear it!

[vintagewaferthin]

I have to say that i baby my vintages. I mean yes, i will wear them without worry, however iam aware that they are on my wrist and i am careful. I do however beat the crap out of my cheapie quartz orange Armitron, but thats what its for.

[vintagewaferthin]

I have to say that i baby my vintages. I mean yes, i will wear them without worry, however iam aware that they are on my wrist and i am careful. I do however beat the crap out of my cheapie quartz orange Armitron, but thats what its for.

[vintagewaferthin]

Oops, I double posted. Sorry.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Clay

Now I have been wearing a Rolex everyday, all day for almost 30 years. The exact same watch for the first 20 or so...And although I'm not a commercial diver, I worked with my hands and not at a desk all of those years.
But I have to ask myself, what do some of these people do to their watches???
I have recently seen a couple of examples that looked as if someone had put them in a dryer with a pile of rocks and run the dryer for about a week???
How do these watches get like that???

it's whats in vogue,
the new stone washed DIY, rolex+rocks+dryer, to get that beat the crap out of look.




im with you, have worn mine for hard for years, yet the most dramatic alterations to the watch have been the unwanted/unrequested RSC polishings etc.

[drockadam]

Haha thank god someone said it!

I treat all of my watches with 100% respect, always aware of smacks. Not so much on my dads part...

[vkychoo]

Maybe they are trying to accelerate the "vintage" process of their loved watches by beating them up? A bit like how they season new jeans to look and wear like old jeans?

[SUBversive]

Originally Posted by pdoukas

I prefer steel marbles in my dryer

I usually climb inside with my watch on. It's scared of the dark

[vkychoo]

That actually makes sense :) get the watch and jeans and yourself seasoned with that patina look we enjoy

[DrLindaPhD]

I loved this story - the cobbler and his rolex!

Regarding my vintage watches, every watchmaster has told me NOT to wear them around water. Of course, one is a tudor sub and even that AD told me not to wear it in water and my oyster is supposed to be water proof but that has been advised against. the rest are old ladies watches and should not be put in water so they don't even go near the shower as I am concerned about the moisture with these old "jewelry" type watches.

I would not push my luck if I even had a nice vintage Sub.

[Stoner319]

I bought a more modern sub mainly to stop beating the crap out of my vintage watches. I used to wear only vintage Omegas but kept replacing or buffing crystals. Now they are more for dress up and the more modern watch is for daily wear as I have a harder time beating the crap out of it.

Don't ask me what I do to them. Smack them on door frames, wear them for yard/house work, etc. One time fell asleep with a vintage seamaster on and woke up with a cracked crystal. What the hell happened there I haven't a clue.

And how I fell asleep with all my clothes and watch on is another story....

[vintagewaferthin]

Originally Posted by DrLindaPhD

I loved this story - the cobbler and his rolex!

Regarding my vintage watches, every watchmaster has told me NOT to wear them around water. Of course, one is a tudor sub and even that AD told me not to wear it in water and my oyster is supposed to be water proof but that has been advised against. the rest are old ladies watches and should not be put in water so they don't even go near the shower as I am concerned about the moisture with these old "jewelry" type watches.

I would not push my luck if I even had a nice vintage Sub.

Your watchmaker is very right. I never get my vintages near water. thats what my $35.00 orange plastic Armitron is for.

[motoikkyu]

Did it ever occur to you fine people that some of us are, well, clumsy? We don't mean to be, it just happens.

[JohnBoy]

Modern or vintage, same-o, same-o. That is, they work on cars, shoe mules, catch big fish, assemble furniture, drive nails, mend shoes....just to mention a few reported activities from the last couple of days on TRF. And accidents happen - its still a tough world out there! If ya got 'em, wear 'em.

[Dr. Robert]

no pride of ownership

[bscepter]

this is my father-in-law's '66 GMT (prior to a bob ridley spa treatment). he was a lineman for the power company. he wore it every day, climbing light poles, etc. once, he thought he'd lost the watch, only to find it underneath the tire of one of their trucks. when we finally sent it in for service two years ago, it was still keeping COSC time (last serviced in 1980).

[theloxmyth]

Originally Posted by storm66

I'm a builder and wear my Sub through thick n thin.... I plaster walls/ceilings build bathrooms kitchens and paint with it on my wrist...
Otherwise how will I know when it's time for a tea break!.....however I will take
It off when I'm knocking down walls!

Just a bit too risky

Oh, come on!

(I would too! )