Battle scars

Ketoohs

How do (if you do) repair battle scars on the bezel? I have a 1cm scratch on the side of my all black and the silver line bothers me as I wear the watch 24/7.

I tried a permanent black marker and my wifes black nail polish, but nothing lasts.

I know it should not bother me, just my OCD acting up.

Mauerwegler

I thought you wanted to start a thread where we show off our used watches!

As I am worried about your scenario as well I would go for „unpainted“ bezels next time. I know that does not help you … but my Spartan Ultra Stealth Ti looks like on its first day, despite rock contact in the Alps. I don’t know what they have done with its Ti bezel, it is dark grey so it is not blank Ti. Could it be some PVD coating that they only use on Ti models? I’m wildly speculating.

Egika

@Mauerwegler Ti surfaces are usually anodized to make them harder and more inert to chemicals.
But this does not help the TO either…

Just the hint, that maybe more scars will make the first one less important. So be proud of it! you used your watch in adventures and not only in the office

BrunoH

@Ketoohs I watch a lot of restoration videos in YouTube and the only way those skillful people fix the scars in metal is by sanding the edges, applying hard filler, sanding it down and finally giving a few layers of paint. This would of course require complete disassembly…

Mauerwegler

@Egika Exactly. Maybe this helps the TO:

I was a bit sad when I had to bin a pair of hiking full leather boots (B/C level according to Meindl nomenclature) after about 10 years. They had scars all over the leather which I was proud of. With the new boots I looked like a rookie!
I know someone with a very used looking Bergans hardshell. That jacket looks awesome to me!

So to summarize: ~~collect~~ earn more scratches.

Dimitrios Kanellopoulos

I love them. When I repair my bike it usually gets an extra scar. Looks better imo. Imagine me with a suit for work and a watch that shows like I just fought a beast

Mauerwegler

@Dimitrios-Kanellopoulos said in Battle scars:

When I repair my bike it usually gets an extra scar. Looks better imo.

But it’s important that you (the owner) created the scar, isn’t it? You don’t want someone else (shudder 🫣) to scar your bike.

Imagine me with a suit for work and a watch that shows like I just fought a beast

That‘s the right spirit!

Dimitrios Kanellopoulos

@Mauerwegler said in Battle scars:

But it’s important that you (the owner) created the scar, isn’t it? You don’t want someone else (shudder) to scar your bike.

Sorry, I was talking about me rerpairing my bike and scratching my watch. Sure if I gave my watch to someone else (or bike) and scratched it I would maybe not like it. If he was a buddy I would not mind. I would be more human to thing that this cool guy did it. If it was the bike shop or watch support no I would not like it.

Mauerwegler

@Dimitrios-Kanellopoulos I understood you, I should have added a smiley. Will do now.

I personally don’t mind scratches. It shows I am using it and imho it gives the watch a “personality”. Same like with leather…

fluca

@MauerweglerfFor what I can tell my SV TI scratched as easily as my S9PP black and all watches I have owned.
But… every scratch is a beautiful memory and I use scratches to come back to those moments (which I do this also with body scares). For instance, my SV got scratched during my first adventure in the Tunisian desert while helping friends to come out of the sand and I love it…
more scratches=more fun

freeheeler

usually after the first scratch life becomes relaxing again …and we can use our product as intended.

every scratch tells an adventurous story!!
ok, maybe not always… “ran into the bathroom door…”

@Ketoohs I prefer scars on me to remember… watches come and go

Greennorth

@Ketoohs I have not done this yet myself, but I have read that car touch up paint or toy modelling paint can work.