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Hi Matt
wear and enjoy :D
Hi all,
5 days into owning my first Sub 14060M, I'm amazed at the number of slight marks it has already picked up.
None that you can feel, but can see them (the clasp seems highly prone to picking them up too)
I've not hit it on anything so assume they are easy to remove, which brings me onto the question.....
What should I be buying or using to remove them on a regular basis?
Know it's never going to remain pristine, but patina in the first week isn't what I was after!
I've had butter harder than the bracelet seems to be, especially vs my Omega Constellation 1502.30.00
Thanks in advance!
Matt
Hi Matt
wear and enjoy :D
+1
Damn both of you, was expecting a gem of an answer!
I do have an element of OCD, you should see my car after 10 hours cleaning & polishing.....watches are just a little new to my cleaning regime, or should that be excessive regime!?
Given I have read Rolex will only polish 5 times, I might be buying a new 'life' watch every year as there will just be a few sturdier shards of metal left. Know I need to get on with life, but just genuinely shocked at how quickly it happened.
Omega currently having a TLC session, so will no doubt see that lose its showroom tarnish upon receiving it back.
Ho hum!
Matt
Try light brushing lengthways with a green scourer - the one normally attached to a sponge for washing up, NOT the metal type. This works a treat on those really light, fine marks that the clasp will inevitably pick up.
For heavier scratches the finest sandpaper you can find used in the same way, but VERY, VERY lightly will do the trick. If you can find the sponge-backed abrasive pads in your local DIY store, they are what my local watchmaker uses to refine a brushed finish.
The Rolex bracelet has a very fine brushed finish that's really lots of tiny and long scratches all in the same direction. The above techniques just re-align any scratches that are out of line :wink:
Ant
Learn to love them, if it's any consolation, the 'Bond' style Omega SMP bracelet is a helluva lot worse owing to all the convex shiny/matt surfaces. Seriously, as others have said, a 'Scotchbrite' pad would be your best bet, its relatively easy to do on a 93150-style bracelet owing to most of the surfaces being flat-ish.
Garryflex medium (120 grit) abrasive cleaning block. It'll make a nicer more consistent job of it than a pad. Wrap the watch in a cloth, leave the clasp exposed. Brush block slowly in one long stroke along the length of the clasp. One direction only, working from left to right. Make sure you 'blow' off the excess grit. With typical desk diving marks it'll come up like new.
Thanks guys, will look at those options. The most annoying one is on the 1st link away from the case.
God knows what caused that abrasion given its mostly under a shirt cuff, maybe a twisted cuff & relocated cufflink?
Trying to eliminate the cause now, how sad!? If my wife was reading this......oh dear!
Matt
Will that work on the main bracelet, or is it too abrasive?Originally Posted by fornowagain
Thanks
Matt
DO NOT try and brush these out on a week old watch - you will cause more wear will any cloth or pad!
I am amazed that you noticed marks on the Rolex oyster bracelet so quickly, In my experience they wear better and show less marks than any other bracelets (bar the polished versions) than any other bracelets I have ever used. Omega on the other hand are scratch magnets!!!
If you really can't cope and want to sell it off cheap, given all those unsightly marks then I'll take it off your hands ;)
It's just a matter of time...
Think I must just be too retentive, or expecting too much - it needs to be looked for, almost as though the brushed has become 'less' brushed a finish in very small couple of areas IYKWIM?
Reading posts of owners I was almost under the impression that it would have been more robust as a tool watch, perhaps I need to treat my tool watch as a box queen, or man up & accept that it will never look brand new 100% of the time and live with loving the watch......love the tick noise, just stunning.
Although from your kind offer of purchase, the imminent price increase & the fact the watch already owes me the national debt of Greece, maybe £50k including me delivering it to your good self via a world cruise? It can be with you in 3 months!
Matt
I would say just ignore the scratches, you notice the first ones then they blend with the normal brushed finish and you don't notice them. I've sent mine in for service and requested they don't polish it because - unless you've got big gouges it's a waste of time IMHO. The thing I like about Rolex is they seem to look better with a few marks and scratches, where a lot of watches eg Omega Seamasters just seem to look knackered!
:lol:
Think I must just be too retentive, or expecting too much - it needs to be looked for, almost as though the brushed has become 'less' brushed a finish in very small couple of areas IYKWIM?
Reading posts of owners I was almost under the impression that it would have been more robust as a tool watch, perhaps I need to treat my tool watch as a box queen, or man up & accept that it will never look brand new 100% of the time and live with loving the watch......love the tick noise, just stunning.
Although from your kind offer of purchase, the imminent price increase & the fact the watch already owes me the national debt of Greece, maybe £50k including me delivering it to your good self via a world cruise? It can be with you in 3 months!
Matt
Try wearing a Planet Ocean or an SMP and see how quickly the clasps mark up in comparison, you'd be very surprised. I've worn one of mine only 5 times in as many years and it looks more worn than a Sub I wear on a monthly basis!
It's just a matter of time...
No it's fine. I'd wait until it's good and marked, once/twice a year give it a good tidy up and clean. Tbh, and I'm not keen on marks either, I'd either learn to live with the scratches or swap it out for something that won't mark like a nato.
I rebrush mine all the time. Ask the folk who have bought my watches if the straps have any marks.
Marks annoy me as well
Pm me your addy and I'll send you a sheet of what I use
Quite simple, fit a NATO :lol:
John
Controversial, I know, but just can't feel the love for a NATO, not sure why - think its me referring back to kahuna watches, or whatever they were called from years ago.
Hoping I haven't just offended anyone with my watch knowledge!
Matt
Not sure if I need minimum posts to PM, as getting error message; will try tomorrow to check.
Appreciate the offer
Thanks
Matt
I too never really got the NATO thing until pretty recently. They work better once worn in a bit, and all Naxos are NOT the same! I have a Timefactors one and some of the better ones from Watchgecko which I really rate.
My Sea-Dweller's on the bracelet and my 14060 is on a NATO. The Speedy looks cracking on a NATO too :)
Ant
Try wearing a Planet Ocean or an SMP and see how quickly the clasps mark up in comparison, you'd be very surprised. I've worn one of mine only 5 times in as many years and it looks more worn than a Sub I wear on a monthly basis![/quote]
Wow, sounds like my idea of hell, am sure that will reset my opinions on the sub; perhaps my view of tool watch is that tool = indestructible!
Maybe next week I will have moved on, far more worrying things going on in the world vs a watch bracelet. It was genuinely shocked when I saw them.
.....also extremely aware from a car owners club that I may now be flagged as 'slightly strange' by many members.....!
Matt
I too never really got the NATO thing until pretty recently. They work better once worn in a bit, and all Naxos are NOT the same! I have a Timefactors one and some of the better ones from Watchgecko which I really rate.
My Sea-Dweller's on the bracelet and my 14060 is on a NATO. The Speedy looks cracking on a NATO too :)
Ant[/quote]
Ant,
Interested to see your photos if you have the time
Matt
A three or four grand Rolex and you want to touch it up with a pot scrubber :shock: not the sharpest knife in the drawer are you :lol: :lol:
I don't like these garyflex blocks, they are fine for rusty wheel arches on an old Ford Escort but imho not flexible enough for refurbishing a bracelet, the links and clasp have a slight curve and the garyflex blocks just won't do a decent job.
I would prefer to use 3M but the place where I work are cheapskates :lol: :lol:
Trim a small piece close to the width of the bracelet, the emery paper is only for a heavily scratched job.
Check the finish before and after :lol: :lol:
Failing that wear it for a few years then send it back to Rolex and it will come back like a new thing :D
Wow, that's exactly the sort of thing I am after. Without being stupid, what is it called?
Thanks
Matt
Never touched up a rolex bracelet myself - if it came scratched its now more scratched, if it came re-finished it now has scratches. I can live with it :) oh - apart from my safe queen sea dweller which has never been worn, whoops - just when I thought I was bringing a bit of sanity to this thread
It's similar to a Scotchbrite pad.
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I could take offence to that comment, but I know better than to rise to inflammatory statements on a forum.A three or four grand Rolex and you want to touch it up with a pot scrubber :shock: not the sharpest knife in the drawer are you :lol: :lol:
The plastic scourer realigns minor swirls and removes no metal, unlike more severe abrasives. Any one of the buyers of my watches will attest that the bracelets are immaculate :wink:
Ant
Should really starting buying Nato's myself i hate clasp scratches now!
Here's the Rolex pair albeit the SD's on a NATO and the 14060 is on its braceletAnt,
Interested to see your photos if you have the time
Matt
And some of my Speedy on a NATO
Very nice selection there, Ant!
Thanks for posting - the strap does look good.
Would I just remove the metal bracelet, put the bars back in & thread the strap through? Prob a daft newbie question there!
Assume if so, then it would be quick to reverse it & 'dress' the watch up again? Or is changing straps too often bad?
Matt
Yep, that's it.
Again yes.
14060M? So drilled lugs, makes it oh so easy. Bad? No, positively encouraged.
Great, thanks!
Although given my skinny wrists the NATO will need a trim.
Is there a 'NATO' brand, or is it a style? Any recommended sources?
Final question - I assume I just push a small metal pin into the drilled lug to take the bracelet off?
Feels like so many obvious questions but don't want to destroy my p&j
It's a style. Try Eddies. http://www.timefactors.com/nato.htm
Well yes, but a strap tool is useful. I like this one for the through lugs.
Perfect, thanks.
Seems to be just you & I on here currently!
The fit of your NATO looked spot on, can you let me know what width that was please?
You're going to need 20mm straps.
Off to spend some cash very shortly, thanks for your help - really appreciated
Before you fit a NATO band, bear in mind the back of the watch will develop very fine scratches - 'Nato rash' to those in the know. Doesn't bother me but you seem very concerned over scratches etc so worth pointing out. Bear in mind there is absolutely no way you can avoid scratches without sealing it in the box and never wearing it. My current Sub is 4 years old and looks no different now to it did when it was 6 months old. Even Sapphire crystals can pick up scratches in everyday use, but bear in mind when you send it in for a service in 5 years or so it will look like new. If you keep polishing and brushing it, it will look like a sucked toffee. My brother wears his sub date like I wear a G-shock, all kinds if scratches on it but he prefers it that way. I think you will enjoy it more when you just stop worrying!
I previously used a scotchbrite pad to restore the satin finish after I had polished a scratch too much
making the bracelet shiny.
the trick was to not go at it like a crazed fool :)
I don't own a Rolex, unfortunately, but your model is a watch that gains character over the years, I would not worry about
it too much.
If you do need advise, visit http://www.watchbandrenew.com
These brushing cloths work like a charm, read the instructions.
Have ordered them many times already, fast shipping and excellent service.
Good luck!
Thanks guys, never heard of NATO rash, so good to know!
I'm sure I will relax soon, in a way I prefer it worn in as doesn't make me look like I just purchased it etc but it's the first one or two scratches that count, then it's a lot easier to live with.
Will have a look at those cloths in a minute, makes sense to have something just in case.....and then send it off every 5 years to get it done properly.
Matt
hi
Enjoy the watch dont worry about the scratches easlily polished out
I am not a Sub expert, but agree with you re Omega Constellation 1502.30.00 bracelet though prone to scratches is fairly robust. I am not sure if it is because the bracelet is quite thin so easier to slide under shirt cuffs etc and therefore less prone to damage. I owned one for seven years before selling it on yesterday.
Sound advise indeed, I used to be a bit anal about marks and scratches even now I'm fairly careful about what I'm doing while wearing my watches, but at the end of the day I bought them to wear not to sit in a box and look at.
I think in the future when I send them off for service I shall leave them unpolished
Wow Leon, thought that's based on here I was the only person with that Omega or that it was very unpopular! Any chance you could PM me an idea of what it went for?
Fitted the NATO this evening, after about 10 mins it was off & the bracelet back on. Without offending, and each to their own, I felt like I had just dropped a £10 strap on a much more expensive watch....even the good lady who rarely comments on such matters asked what the #### I was thinking (so that's me told!)
Getting better at the marks building & feeling happier about them, but still one mark on the polished section I want to remove; let a friend try it on, which he did so without removing his watch (I failed to notice that), his crown marked my shiny bit! Having got used to my marks building on the case or strap, someone else's mark is just too much!
Was going to give it a little rub with a cape cod just to blend it back in - it won't be a regular thing I use on the case before anyone's might flames me for it!
Still loving it, and smile whenever I look at my wrist, but want to add more and that will start to cost me! Damn all of you with your watch collections tempting me; quite like the idea of adding the new constellation to joint the one I bought myself on my 21st, but might wait for my 40th for that as 'same' watch, different milestone in life.
Strangely everyone who has seen it thinks it's a fake which is good if I ever get mugged, but a little weird having spent a fair bit of cash on it; is this a normal assumption from people who don't know or like watches?
Watch those Cape Cods on highly polished faces like case sides. It's ever so easy to leave light scratches in the direction you polish. The material they use is a little too abrasive. Look for Sunshine Polishing Cloths, a little less aggressive.
Thanks mate, so many different views; will order a Sunshine Cloth too before I do anything & start with the lightest option.
Believe me, am nervous enough at trying anything on what is, excluding car & house my most expensive purchase ever!
I know where you're coming from, like you my Sub was my "precious" when I bought it four years ago. It can be difficult to relax with such a beautiful piece, especially if it's been long sought after and you've saved hard for it. You want to protect it and cherish it.
Can I suggest taking it easy for a while (a couple of months) wearing and enjoying the watch, before rushing out and buying all sorts of polishing and cleaning products. There's only one time in the future when it's going to look like new, that's when it returns Rolex following a service. Even then a polishing is optional. How would you feel if you mucked up the finish after going at it with a pad or some polish?
I do take a scourer to my bracelet once in a while, but I leave the case alone. It's only got one noticeable scratch and that was from removing a recalcitrant bra. 8) That's history and it makes the watch yours.
Enjoy your watch and chill. 8)
David
Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations
Cracking bra story!
It is nice to keep a new thing looking like a new thing, but it is a shame not to enjoy it out of fear of ruining it.
I have been there myself, I tried to have a Rolex subC as my only watch but there is just no way!
It spends most of its life in its original box and only getting worn for a few days every month or so.
I was wearing my newly aquired Grand Seiko whilst cooking tea earlier, I had to take it off as the oil was spitting on it!!! Man I need to get a friggin' grip :?
I change to my old glasses to cook in as frankly hate the risk of rubbing some dirt / grease into them too much so hear you there!
I'll get used to it, just need some proper stories behind the marks rather than them just happening! My Omega had its battle scars & loved it looking that way, so will love the sub as it slowly wears in. Will be weird when the Omega comes back from a service in the new year all scratch free!
Agree on what you say about wearing daily, but can't get my head around having it sitting at home in a box, however as the collection grows......
Matt
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