Do expensive watches scratch less easily?

gopunk

Lifer
Jul 7, 2001
29,239
2
0
i have a fossil blue (tho the face is black) and the metal links and the watch face are all scratched up. the watch works fine and everything, it just doesn't look good cosmetically if you look at it for more than a second. if i get a nicer watch, will it scratch just as easily? because i don't want to spring 300 for a watch just to have it get scratched up like this one....

thanks!
 

Walleye

Banned
Dec 1, 2002
7,939
0
0
nope.

and i do the same thing.. :(

but you can get a new crystal for the watch for fairly cheap... like 20 bucks or so.
 

pyonir

Lifer
Dec 18, 2001
40,855
319
126
I got mine for ~$300 and i don't think there is a noticable scratch on it. Some of the gold has worn off of the bottom of it though. But the face is still perfect.
 

amnesiac

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
15,781
1
71
Nope. I have a Sector watch I got from italy (~$400) and it scratched just as easily.

That's the good thing about Fossil though. They look great and are "expendable" to an extent :p
 

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
"expensive" watches have sapphire faces. They do not scratch. Really high rockwell rating.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
34
91
The metal will scratch just as easily, especially if it's gold since gold is a soft metal. However, the plating will be thicker on a more expensive watch (probably a rolled plate instead of the thinner electroplating) so there is less chance of the plating wearing off. The crystal on a more expensive watch, however, will be significantly more scratch-resistant.

ZV
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,039
18,350
146
Buy titanium, stainless or solid gold. If it gets scratched, have a jeweler buff it out for you.

I could never understand why people would pay big money for a plated watch.
 
Feb 10, 2000
30,029
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Originally posted by: sygyzy
"expensive" watches have sapphire faces. They do not scratch. Really high rockwell rating.
This is true, though sapphire can and does scratch. It is definitely much tougher than acrylic or mineral crystal, however.

 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,344
126
Originally posted by: Amused
Buy titanium, stainless or solid gold. If it gets scratched, have a jeweler buff it out for you.

I could never understand why people would pay big money for a plated watch.

Yep. Titanium is where it's at. I've got at titanium watch from Citizen that is pretty much scratch free. A few scuffs on the bottom where my wrist would rest on tables and such, but you can buff it out. The face on it is free from scratches as well. My watch is three years old and worn daily.
 

bcterps

Platinum Member
Aug 31, 2000
2,795
0
76
Like other's have said here, the face of an expensive watch won't scratch very easily since it's made from sapphire crystal. However any metal band will scratch (titanium, stainless steel, etc.), but you can get a jeweler to polish the watch and that should take out most of the scratches.

If you were to get an expensive watch, I would suggest titanium as opposed to stainless steel. Titanium is much lighter, although I am now used to my stainless steel watch. It felt pretty heavy though when I first got it.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
23,168
0
71
Originally posted by: gopunk
i have a fossil blue (tho the face is black) and the metal links and the watch face are all scratched up. the watch works fine and everything, it just doesn't look good cosmetically if you look at it for more than a second. if i get a nicer watch, will it scratch just as easily? because i don't want to spring 300 for a watch just to have it get scratched up like this one....

thanks!

my uncle repairs Rolexes for a living. the crystals on a rolex will go for about $500.00 but it is worth it, they do not scratch. they will crack before they scratch. they are very very hard.

edit.

i just saw it in the thread, sapphire crystals.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
I have a $650 titanium watch. The faceplate is kind of scratched a little. The band is, but it's titanium....not exactly a shiny metal the way they buffed it. I went to a dealer for the brand and they said I could send the watch in and have the face replaced for a nominal fee. You can't do that with many cheaper watches....