The Breitling Watch Source Forums

After hardly two years I discovered the first real scratch on my SOCII. What a shame. Although it's my everyday wearer I'm always very careful with it. I'm not sure how it happened but I suspect it took place when I put my jacket over my left arm, the zipper must have scratched the watch...

And of course wife and daughter only shook their heads and said "no one will ever notice it". That's why I just had to post here. I'm sure you'll understand and give me a little comfort.

I have a weird reaction to scratches. I go out of my way to avoid them, constantly swinging my wrist well away from danger, tucking the watch under the cuff etc; yet when it gets a little scratch there's some part of me that feels secretly relieved, as if to say, oh good, now it's really mine, and has a story...

They just don't understand do they? My sincere commiserations, a tragic day and I share your pain...............................but hey there'll be plenty more to come!

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Breitling B-1 1999
Breitling Chrono Superocean 2004
Casio G Shock
Citizen Eco Drive AT4000-02E (for gardening)
Seiko 5 SNZG15J1
Hamilton X Wind LE

Get a can of Cape Cod polishing cloths plus a jar of elbow grease and an hour or two later you will not be able to notice either.

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"It is just a matter of time!"

You made it 2 years on a daily driver, that's not bad at all. I couldn't count the scratches on mine.

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NAVITIMER WORLD (SILVER)
PATEK PHILIPPE 5980 (BLACK)

I was going to say one scratch in two years? I got two scratches on my Chronomat in the first week! Well, at least now you popped your scratch cherry the next one won't be so bad

Scratches are part of the journey. I say wear them with pride, they just show that you are wearing the watch and enjoying it. I felt the same way when the first scratch on my SA appeared, after the first one the others don't feel as bad.

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White Dial Super Avenger with Batons
Grey Dial Breitling Bentley 6.75

Past:
Black Dial Super Avenger with Numerals
Countless "high priced" cheapos

I don't feel as bad as when I get one on the crystal. Since I service all my watches every 2 years, I always get them polished as well. But new crystal ($630 on my World and 1461) is a real pain. Had them replaced twice already on my two Worlds.

Ah, I feel better now. Thank you for the sympathy.
I knew this was the only place where my lamenting would be heard wholeheartedly.

There are support groups for this (at least there should be!).

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SHARKMAN

Better that you scratch it in the normal course of the watch's duties, than a watchmaker, sales clerk, coworker, or family member deface it as a result of a careless assault.

In Feb., I took delivery of my new (factory ordered, all bells and whistles) 2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk (the off-road capable, Trail Rated version). Within 10 days we were off road, wet & muddy, scratched skid plates, a nicked wheel rim, debris in the radiator fins and the nice cherry red paint job was sporting "Arizona Pin Stripes" from our thorny desert plants. It's better that the first use marks were done by me in the course of using the vehicle as intended, rather than some inconsiderate jerk dinging the paint in a mall parking lot!!!

Now you can relax a bit and enjoy your SOCII.

Desert Hiker

Ouch. Sorry to see that happen. The scratch looks too deep to polish by hand though. You might get some coverage with polish, but. ...... It needs something a little heavier.

You could leave it and say its a birthmark but it would annoy me as it is. Although it's confused with a lot of change of angle around it so perhaps your wife & daughter are right.

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Jim

"You have Control".

I feel your pain as well as I am OCD when it comes to my watches looking like new. That is why I have researched and now quite comfortable in removing most blemishes that i lhave caused. That scratch looks like it can be removed fairly easily using 1000 then 2000 grit sandpaper. Then if polished, some heavy duty polishing with a cape cod cloth.

I always wonder how scratches in the safire are possible. I never had a scratch in any of my watches with safire. ( I've worn a Sector watch for 12 years that I used in rock-climbing and renovating my house...) I do have micro scratches in the ati-reflective coating however.

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Breitling Navitimer 01 46mm, Chris Ward C11 MSL auto, Lüm-Tec Combat B16 auto

We're currently evaluating wether to integrate the first scratch support group into the rider tab caught in and ruined new sweater support group.