After browsing through forums, it seems quite common for scratches to appear on the outer AR coating on SMP 300's?
My concern now is that I bought this watch to wear everyday, however I am regularly in quite dusty environments.
I always wear gloves and generally these cover the watch but I now have concern that this could be worse with the gloves constantly rubbing against the crystal, more than likely with a fine layer of dust in between!
If I do encounter a scratch, what is the best way of removing the AR coating and has anyone experienced this watch without it?

 

You can remove it with polywatch and some effort. That being said, the AR coating is tougher than you might think. My SMPC is my daily wearer. I've had it for several years, banged it on door frames and a few other mishaps, but the watch and the AR coating still both look new. When you clean the crystal, make sure to use a dampened soft cloth. I use an eyeglass lens cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth.

 

I have obviously seen the posts from unlucky consequences?
As with most things in life, we tend to only hear about misfortune as no one is bothered if nothing has happened.
Thank you gbesq, you have given me a little more faith.

 

Just be reminded that if you wear it long enough, you're going to get a scratch, dent, or ding somewhere on the watch. LIke the song says, the first cut is the deepest. After that, you realize that it's all about the watch gaining some character during its lifetime.

 

Already started on the steel!

 

It’s a problem on the ones that seem to have a blue tint to anti reflective coating.

 

I have a gnarly scrape on one of the scalloped edges. We live and learn right? Honestly, I'm just happy with the Ceramic bezel insert on my diver 300m so that thing is rock solid.

 

Wear it and enjoy it. Any marks that bother you can be rectified during a service anyway.

 

A Tag Chronograph and Sinn U2 of mine both had noticeable blemishes in the outer AR coating. I used Polywatch with a Dremel (and the flat polishing pad) to completely remove the AR. If you are careful, you can stay away from the bezel pretty easily. It took less than 15 minutes in each case and the results were fine to my (OCD trained) eyes.

 

It took around 15 minutes with a Dremel to remove the outer AR coating? Really? Damn it, I was thinking of doing it on my X-33 G2 by hand.

Is there anyone else who has intentionally removed their outer AR coating? Was it really that much effort? I read many years ago that a Cape Cod cloth also works?

The outer AR on my X-33 G2 looks awful and it would be much better off without it. It was a known weakness (too soft) in that model and year.

EDIT: Typo.

 

Diamond paste is far more efficient than Polywatch...

0.5 micron works fine.

 

So does Omega recoat the AR coating during a service or do they recommend the crystal be replaced when the issue is a scratched AR coating?

 

New crystal I would think, but I’m just guessing.

 

They would replace it.

 

Thanks