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A ton of microscrathes on Stainless Steel after only a week!
- Thread starter FrankySavvy
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I've been wearing stainless steel watches for about 20 years. I think the micro scratches give the item its distinct character. Your individual story is kind of 'told' through them. You can polish it up every once in a while to get some of the smaller ones, but you should expect such a shiny finish on a SS item to get scratched. I went with a sport only because it's a gen1 device and don't want to feel bad about forking out $1100 for the gen2 black w/link bracelet 
as a longtime watch lover, with lots of SS watches, I have learned that microscratches are a part of life.
just be careful, and use the cape cod cloth occassionally, or if there is a bad scratch.
otherwise just enjoy the watch.
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it has been said that fewer people wear watches these days.
I think that this thread confirms it.
people whom wear watches regularly already know that micro scratches,( and MACRO scratches if not careful) are a part of watch life.
just be careful, and use the cape cod cloth occassionally, or if there is a bad scratch.
otherwise just enjoy the watch.
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it has been said that fewer people wear watches these days.
I think that this thread confirms it.
people whom wear watches regularly already know that micro scratches,( and MACRO scratches if not careful) are a part of watch life.
Dad
Mom
Daughter
No pics, they didn't happen.
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A Microfiber Cloth is only as good as how clean it is.
Yeah, my watch spent the weekend on my wrist as I worked out in the yard and did the usual indoor chores. I've not babied the watch at all. I was wearing leather work gloves whose cuffs protected my watch from scrapes against hardscape materials like retaining walls made of stacked slate. But the watch was still exposed to dirt and grit.
I rinsed it under the tap with plain water and dried with a soft towel and with a paper towel on one occasion. It looks like it was just taken out of the box. Well the watch itself does.
The black sport band has shiny spots on the matte finish where the one part of the band closes into the other part.
I think micro abrasive polishing cloth use should be kept to a minimum, myself. They take off a bit of the finish each time so I'd save that for a finish that's pretty old. I wouldn't do that to a new watch that's still building up patina.
p.s. I'm left-handed and wearing the watch on my right hand with an adjusted orientation. OP, you're not wearing your Apple Watch on your dominant hand, are you?
It's called patina. It gives it character. Don't sweat it, it's not a museum piece, and it's not a negative, unlike a too-long sport coat or wrinkled shirt.
I think I let the OCD get the best of me. I am not going to the Genius bar strictly for the scratches, my haptic feedback seems to have gotten weaker since I received the watch, also, sometimes it doesn't notify me at all.
Like I said before though, not using the microfiber cloth anymore.
Like I said before though, not using the microfiber cloth anymore.
It will do both, polishing removes a very thin layer of the metal where the micro scratches are. It won't remove deep scratches, that is something you must bring to a jeweler with a buffing tool.
To be fair, I don't think the OP is complaining that SS scratches... Only that it scratched within a week, and other people are saying theirs looks pristine. Can other ppl with the SS chime in? How do they holdup in general? Is the OP's experience typical, or can we generally expect a bit longer before "it begins"?
My case arrives a week after the watch, will that already be too late ?
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No such thing! OCD all the way, dude!
My case arrives a week after the watch, will that already be too late
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No such thing! OCD all the way, dude!
I have been babying my Apple Watch SS for just over a week now. I have only wiped it down with a micro-fiber cloth used for glasses and when I look under a desk lamp, the polished stainless steel is already full of micro scratches. It looks like I have been wearing the watch for a year.
Pics attached
Very bummed.
I guess it truly is like the SS on the back of an iPod. Can just imagine how dull the polished finish is gonna look in a year
Anyone else notice this on their SS? Its a beautiful watch, i really want a sapphire display too so the sport is kind of not an option
Lol this will happen to any stainless steel. Take your OCD meds and relax.
To be fair, I don't think the OP is complaining that SS scratches... Only that it scratched within a week, and other people are saying theirs looks pristine. Can other ppl with the SS chime in? How do they holdup in general? Is the OP's experience typical, or can we generally expect a bit longer before "it begins"?
My case arrives a week after the watch, will that already be too late
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No such thing! OCD all the way, dude!
Exactly, I knew it would scratch just was surprised how quick the scratches became so prevalent.
I have been babying my Apple Watch SS for just over a week now. I have only wiped it down with a micro-fiber cloth used for glasses and when I look under a desk lamp, the polished stainless steel is already full of micro scratches. It looks like I have been wearing the watch for a year.
Anyone else notice this on their SS? Its a beautiful watch, i really want a sapphire display too so the sport is kind of not an option
Stainless steel scratches. It's the same with any watch. I'm sure mine has scratches, too, but I don't look at it under bright lights with a magnifying glass. After a few months, try polishing them out if it's really bad.
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If the haptic feedback isn't working, try toggling Bluetooth on your phone off and on. Also try resetting the Watch (hold down both buttons on the side until the Apple logo appears). I did that yesterday and it reset the notifications.
can we stop pretending that the SS (or chrome plated) back of the iPods is the same steel they use for the SS Apple Watch ?
I mean it's very doubtful they used cold forged 316L hardened steel for the back of the iPods - because that would be pretty expensive and not needed.
For the exact same reason the aluminum frame of the iPad is not made out of 7000 series alloy like the sport watch is made out of....
and no - I've had my SS BSB now for nearly a week and haven't treated it special... if it's sweaty after working out I give it a quick rinse and then rub dry with my towel or t-shirt ... and I have found zero "micro-scratches" to obsess about
but then... I don't look at my watch under a desk-lamp with a magnifying glass. for what it's worth... my IWC Portofino (polished SS) has very very few scratches after 5 years and none of them bothers me. I'm sure the SS will fair equally well
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You obviously haven't seen the scratch test someone did then.
(think it got posted on the SB SS thread).Here it is again for your convenience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02LAMOpEVq4
(sorry to the SS guys, but if Apple does the DLC properly, it'll be pretty tough).
yeah... and the back of that iPod was made out of 316L SS in a cold forging process to increase hardness? right?
for all it's worth it's most likely a completely different SS alloy or even chrome plated. A quality SS watch does not scratch like that iPod...
The beauty of stainless steel is that the micro scratches eventually give your watch its own unique finish. You should feel secure in knowing that the screen itself will probably never see a single scratch on it. And when you look at your own watch is 95% screen to you.
Classic Buckle
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SMH, my $4500 TAG is worse than that. Enjoy your watch dude, not gonna get away from SS micro-scratches.
Oh wait, wire brush it! Then you won't be able to tell
yea, but after how long did it look like that?
Why would you expect it to NOT scratch??
All stainless watches will scratch. I have my Breitling bracelets machine polished every year. They come out almost new.
All stainless watches will scratch. I have my Breitling bracelets machine polished every year. They come out almost new.