First scratch on my first watch. Need your opinions please.

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Hahaha this is funny. I'm very careful with my watch. I don't know where the ding came from.
Many of us never realize where scratches or dings come from, we just know they happen. That thread is an interesting read of things to 'watch out for', in a fun way.
 
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I got a fairly gnarly scratch and dent on the lug of my Apollo 15 40th Anniversary after a big night out a few years ago (yes, silly I know!), I took it back to the Omega Boutique that I bought it from and they polished most of it out free of charge. I hate getting scratches on my watches, but it's all part of owning the watch, I've come to accept that it's better to wear them and enjoy them rather than save them for the next owner!
 
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Scratches create character! And are part of your story with the watch. As long as they’re not super deep or deface the watch take pride in them its all part of owning and actually wearing these tools 🙄
 
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Impossible to wear and keep a polished watch mint! Buying pre-owned helps; first owner already took the hit of the "first scratch" moment for you 😁
 
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Sell the watch to me, at a significant discount.

Buy a Rolex, their steel is 904L and it won’t get scratched or dinged up. Or so they claim it is stronger, so they claim.
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Honestly if you're that picky about a tiny ding, wait until you get the watch back from a polish and notice the slight unevenness of the polished surfaces and facets throughout the entire case..
I vote never get it polished unless you take a large chunk out of it.
 
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I got a fairly gnarly scratch and dent on the lug of my Apollo 15 40th Anniversary after a big night out a few years ago (yes, silly I know!), I took it back to the Omega Boutique that I bought it from and they polished most of it out free of charge. I hate getting scratches on my watches, but it's all part of owning the watch, I've come to accept that it's better to wear them and enjoy them rather than save them for the next owner!
That's awesome, free of charge? How well did they do? Where they able to remove the dents?
 
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Honestly if you're that picky about a tiny ding, wait until you get the watch back from a polish and notice the slight unevenness of the polished surfaces and facets throughout the entire case..
I vote never get it polished unless you take a large chunk out of it.
Are the uneveness really that obvious after a polish? Will I notice it even with a small scratch like this?
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Buy a Rolex, their steel is 904L and it won’t get scratched or dinged up. Or so they claim it is stronger, so they claim.

Well they arent truly right in that claim. Both 316L and 904L are low carbon (hence the L) austenitic stainless steels. Both have a Rockwell hardness of less than 95. Both are alloyed with Cromium, Nickel and Molybdenium. But the 904L have near dubble the amount of Nickel, Cromium and Molybdenium in addition to containing 2-4% Copper.

The reason for using 904L is higher corrotion resistance in saltwater specialy against pitting.
I dont think this have any importance in the watch industy. What do matter is that 904L is easier to maschine and is a little whiter because of the higher alloy content. I dont remeber if its Chromium or Nickel, but one gives a yellow hue and the other a whiter hue.

If you want a harder watch case make it of Martensitic hardenabel steel like the 440 series of steels with are used in knives among other things.

I love metals, so thanks for the oportunity for a little rant!
 
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hen hen
Well they arent truly right in that claim. Both 316L and 904L are low carbon (hence the L) austenitic stainless steels. Both have a Rockwell hardness of less than 95. Both are alloyed with Cromium, Nickel and Molybdenium. But the 904L have near dubble the amount of Nickel, Cromium and Molybdenium in addition to containing 2-4% Copper.

The reason for using 904L is higher corrotion resistance in saltwater specialy against pitting.
I dont think this have any importance in the watch industy. What do matter is that 904L is easier to maschine and is a little whiter because of the higher alloy content. I dont remeber if its Chromium or Nickel, but one gives a yellow hue and the other a whiter hue.

If you want a harder watch case make it of Martensitic hardenabel steel like the 440 series of steels with are used in knives among other things.

I love metals, so thanks for the oportunity for a little rant!
Hi
hen hen
Well they arent truly right in that claim. Both 316L and 904L are low carbon (hence the L) austenitic stainless steels. Both have a Rockwell hardness of less than 95. Both are alloyed with Cromium, Nickel and Molybdenium. But the 904L have near dubble the amount of Nickel, Cromium and Molybdenium in addition to containing 2-4% Copper.

The reason for using 904L is higher corrotion resistance in saltwater specialy against pitting.
I dont think this have any importance in the watch industy. What do matter is that 904L is easier to maschine and is a little whiter because of the higher alloy content. I dont remeber if its Chromium or Nickel, but one gives a yellow hue and the other a whiter hue.

If you want a harder watch case make it of Martensitic hardenabel steel like the 440 series of steels with are used in knives among other things.

I love metals, so thanks for the oportunity for a little rant!
Hi since you love metals, maybe you can help me? Is there anything I can do to fix the scratch on my watch?
 
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Agreed, my DJ2 I used to have got more dinged and scratched than my Seiko at the time. Rolex are great at marketing.
 
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Hi

Hi since you love metals, maybe you can help me? Is there anything I can do to fix the scratch on my watch?

If you absolute can't live with the scratch/ding then get it polished. There is also another solution, get it micro welded and polished by a pro. I guess you wont notice anything afterwards and then you keep the profile better than just polish the scratch away.

But as all others mentions, this scratch will not be the last unless you put the watch away
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Hi

Hi since you love metals, maybe you can help me? Is there anything I can do to fix the scratch on my watch?

Hi Edgardo I all ready advised you to leav it alone. A scratch is bad, a botched repair job is much much worse, bacause it is your fault! 🙁
 
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hen hen
Well they arent truly right in that claim. Both 316L and 904L are low carbon (hence the L) austenitic stainless steels. Both have a Rockwell hardness of less than 95. Both are alloyed with Cromium, Nickel and Molybdenium. But the 904L have near dubble the amount of Nickel, Cromium and Molybdenium in addition to containing 2-4% Copper.

The reason for using 904L is higher corrotion resistance in saltwater specialy against pitting.
I dont think this have any importance in the watch industy. What do matter is that 904L is easier to maschine and is a little whiter because of the higher alloy content. I dont remeber if its Chromium or Nickel, but one gives a yellow hue and the other a whiter hue.

If you want a harder watch case make it of Martensitic hardenabel steel like the 440 series of steels with are used in knives among other things.

I love metals, so thanks for the oportunity for a little rant!
You mean to say that Rolex has exaggerated the scratch resistance of its proprietary, made in its own foundry (by elves, no doubt) 904L steel? It WILL scratch? OMG!!! I hope this doesn’t get out to the public. It could result in Rolex stainless steel sports watches being readily available at - GASP - retail price!!! Angels and ministers of grace, defend us! 🙄
 
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Every watch tells a story, every mark, scratch, chip, graze.... Its what makes a watch unique and forms its history.

I remember dinging the bezel on my Apollo-Soyuz sat with my dad having a coffee... little. did I know less than a year later he would be no longer present in my life, just present in my memories! Now when I look at that very watch, I think of my dad.

Thats history! Sure I could replace the bezel, but then I've replaced that memory. Enjoy the watch, wear it, create your own story.
 
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hen hen
Well they arent truly right in that claim. Both 316L and 904L are low carbon (hence the L) austenitic stainless steels. Both have a Rockwell hardness of less than 95. Both are alloyed with Cromium, Nickel and Molybdenium. But the 904L have near dubble the amount of Nickel, Cromium and Molybdenium in addition to containing 2-4% Copper.

The reason for using 904L is higher corrotion resistance in saltwater specialy against pitting.
I dont think this have any importance in the watch industy. What do matter is that 904L is easier to maschine and is a little whiter because of the higher alloy content. I dont remeber if its Chromium or Nickel, but one gives a yellow hue and the other a whiter hue.

If you want a harder watch case make it of Martensitic hardenabel steel like the 440 series of steels with are used in knives among other things.

I love metals, so thanks for the oportunity for a little rant!

No one makes knives out of 440 steel anymore 😉

Double the Nickel but only a smidge more Chromium and Molybdenum

And both are commonly used as Vats or pipes at food or beauty product factories.

https://www.keepthetime.com/blog/316l-vs-904l-stainless-steel-in-watches/



316L VS 904L Steel Composition:
We’re watch enthusiasts, not metallurgists, but the chart below sums up the main property differences between 316L and 904L steel:

316L Steel. 904L Steel
Carbon
0.035% max 0.2% max
Chromium 16-18% 19-23%
Copper 0 1-2%
Iron Balance Balance
Molybdenum 2-3% 4-5%
Manganese 2% max 2% max
Nickel 10-12% 23-28%
Phosphorus 0.45% 0.03% max
Silicon .75% max 1% max
Hardness (Rockwell)
95 70-90
Hardness (Brinell)
217 150


You mean to say that Rolex has exaggerated the scratch resistance of its proprietary, made in its own foundry (by elves, no doubt) 904L steel? It WILL scratch? OMG!!! I hope this doesn’t get out to the public. It could result in Rolex stainless steel sports watches being readily available at - GASP - retail price!!! Angels and ministers of grace, defend us! 🙄

See link above for a laugh at Rolex exaggerations
 
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At this rate OP will reach 200 posts ranting and worrying about a tiny scratch/dent on his watch. OP, you will just have to live with it.
 
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At this rate OP will reach 200 posts ranting and worrying about a tiny scratch/dent on his watch. OP, you will just have to live with it.

LOL
 
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At this rate OP will reach 200 posts ranting and worrying about a tiny scratch/dent on his watch. OP, you will just have to live with it.
Haha I'm sorry for nagging about the dent. It's all I look at now when I wind my watch. Hairline scratches, I wouldnt mind. But because it is a dent on the corner I just can't unsee it. Might just try to blend it with cape cod very carefully. If nothing happens after slight application, I will stop and give up.