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Lug back scratches with strap changes: piss you off, or not?

M'Bob
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Just curious what most of you watch folk feel about this. Does it infuriate you, or you couldn’t care less because you don’t see it with wearing the watch?
 
Speed2Sea
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I guess it depends on the severity and who scratched it, but I certainly would not be happy about it.

I’ve always had excellent luck with my local boutique and AD, but anyone who follows this forum knows the people at the counter aren’t always proficient at changing straps and bracelets and have mucked up lugs.
Edited:
 
MRC
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M'Bob M'Bob
Just curious what most of you watch folk feel about this. Does it infuriate you, or you couldn’t care less because you don’t see it with wearing the watch?
Well, as 97% of the damage done to my watches is by my own fault, both visible and out of sight, I have learned to live with it. I have one that I bought with parts missing from the movement (not mentioned by vendor) but rescued by a good watchmaker, and I can live with that too.

Here's the 3% I didn't do....
P8200596m.webp
 
M'Bob
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If I get a watch with them already, I’m ok with it. If I do it, I’m annoyed.
 
Evitzee
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One should never be satisfied with scratches on the lugs by changing straps. But no matter how careful one is taping the lugs, using a good tool and good light it is still possible to put a small scratch on the lug. That's just how life works. But I see some lugs that are totally scratched and messed up by repeated strap changes. That bothers me.
 
MRC
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MRC MRC
Well, as 97% of the damage done to my watches is by my own fault
Here's some of the damage I have done in the 56 years of owning and abusing this watch.
bitmapfff.webp

Now what do you think of little scratches from strap changing?
 
blufinz52
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It bugs me when it happens, but I get over it pretty quickly.
 
hen
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I use a homemade bronze spring bar tool, it wont scratch steel. I dont understand why spring bar tools are steel.

The many other dings and scratches I give my watch does not piss me off anymore. I have learned to live with my self.
 
pierre3
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This is the kind of detail I really don't like on a watch.

Sometimes, particularly on military watches or toolwatches it's difficult to avoid it.

If I buy a recent watch I can't support having scratches under the lugs.
If we cannot change a strap properly we should have someone we trust do it for us.
 
Jimmy Pesto
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M'Bob M'Bob
If I get a watch with them already, I’m ok with it. If I do it, I’m annoyed.
Mainly this, though they have to be very minor for me to purchase a watch with scratched lugs. I’m weird I suppose, but scratches from normal wear don’t seem to bother me. But, damage from working on them really does. The worst for me is the caseback damage from people trying to remove them - swirl gouges on screw backs or edge damage on snappers. The swirl gouges from tools slipping on screw backs make me loony. These are not lug nuts that need tightened until the 3rd vein on your forearm pops up. Just enough to let the gasket do its job. I see some really nice watches with completely boogered backs, and just can’t comprehend it.

Worst one, EVER, was a totally gouged, scratched, chiseled back on a US military issue watch. Punchline: it was a front-loader. 😵‍💫
 
STANDY
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Been changing a strap on my Speedmaster probably monthly for 15 years. Don’t even look if there is any scratches.
Just checked hardly any scratches. (Used a 10x loupe yep scratched as.)

Mostly change straps and bracelets regularly on divers and my Speedmaster.
 
M'Bob
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hen hen
I use a homemade bronze spring bar tool, it wont scratch steel. I dont understand why spring bar tools are steel.

The many other dings and scratches I give my watch does not piss me off anymore. I have learned to live with my self.
I have to agree with you, why they don’t make a spring bar tool tip out of some very hard, non-scratching polymer, even if it’s only good for a few changes before breaking down, is beyond me.
 
pierre3
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With normal use, a watch won't have scratches under the lugs, also for the back.
The problem comes from people who want to do by themselves and are not good with one's hands.
 
Donn Chambers
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M'Bob M'Bob
Just curious what most of you watch folk feel about this. Does it infuriate you, or you couldn’t care less because you don’t see it with wearing the watch?
If it bothered me, I’d be in trouble. Im sure the back of the lugs on all my watches would give some members here fits!
 
bsowers34
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It would drive me nuts, which is why I do not change them. I like them on the bracelets they came with.
 
Ron_W
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They scratch anyway from 50+ years of wear, not a problem for me

20261020_142746.webp
 
Duracuir1
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IMG_9458.webp IMG_9459.webp


You guys need to be more careful. Look. Not a scratch. Sometimes I do hear a crackle or a pop though.
 
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