"I scratched my watch"
Advice from a watchmaker
How many times have I heard the words ‘I’ve scratched my watch’?
Scratches and scuffs happen to everyone. In fact, these little marks are part of the life of your watch, telling its unique story. Whether you’re a keen collector or simply someone who appreciates the precision and beauty of a well-crafted watch, it’s inevitable that your watch will suffer a few scratches over time.
The Inevitability of Scratches: A Reality to Accept
Avoiding scratches on a watch is virtually impossible. Every time you move your wrist, every time you wear it, your watch is exposed to the elements and objects in your environment. Even if you are extremely careful, a scratch can occur at any time. The only good advice I can give you to avoid scratches is, quite simply: ‘remember that you are wearing your watch’.
I sincerely prefer someone who wears their watch, lives with it and risks scratching it, rather than someone who doesn’t wear it for fear of damaging it. As a watchmaker, I create these watches to see them live on your wrist.
Repolishing a watch
Repolishing a watch is an art in itself. It is possible to completely refinish your watch. But is it really what you want? Is it worth the cost?
And there are some parts that cannot be repolished.
Here’s how it works in our workshop:
Initial Assessment: We start by examining the watch to assess the extent of the scratches and damage. This allows us to determine which parts we will repolish and which we will change if you wish.
Dismantling: The watch is carefully dismantled to gain access to all the parts requiring polishing. The case and clasp are completely dismantled. The mechanical movement is carefully preserved and protected from the ambient air and dust.
Polishing: Each component is polished by hand using different abrasives and specialised tools. This stage is crucial and must be carried out with extreme precision to avoid any excessive loss of material, which could alter the proportions of the watch.
Exceptions: There are some parts that we cannot repolish. For example, on our Thunderbird, Phénix and Alicanto models, the black bezels and backs have a surface treatment that we will remove if we polish them. In this case, if the part is badly damaged, it will be replaced by a new one. Sapphire crystals are also parts that we cannot touch up. Although scratch-resistant, they are not unbreakable, and an impact may chip the surface of the glass, in which case it will have to be replaced.
In all cases, we will be at your side to estimate the work that needs to be done on your watch.
Inspection: After polishing, each part is carefully inspected to ensure that any scratches have been removed without compromising the integrity of the watch.
Reassembly and Final Check: Once all the parts have been polished, the watch is reassembled and tested to ensure that it is working properly. We also carry out a final technical check (power adjustment, water-resistance test, 5-day checks) to guarantee a perfect result.
Polishing your watch during a service
As you know, if you own one of our watches, I recommend that you return it every 5 years for a full service, which includes :
Cleaning the case and bracelet
A change of seals (crown and case back)
Checking the movement and adjusting it if necessary
Sharpening* your watch (case, crown, clasp, etc.)
A check of the running, water-resistance and winding after the watch has been reassembled.
*Polishing: Polishing is an operation designed to restore shine to surfaces. It is a light polishing. The term applies to polished, brushed, satin-finished or micro-beaded surfaces.
Conclusion
In short, scratching or breaking your watch is a common misfortune that should not alarm you. With the right care and regular maintenance, your watch can retain its beauty and functionality for many years. Don’t be afraid to say ‘I’ve scratched my watch’, my workshop is here to help you through this process, offering you high-quality services to ensure that your watch remains a precious jewel on your wrist.
In any case, don’t try to repair your watch yourself, as this would invalidate the warranty and, despite your watchmaking skills, could cause irreversible damage.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any repairs, polishing or simply advice on how to look after your watch. Each watch has its own history, and we are here to help you preserve it.