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Scratched titanium link bracelet

Halbrand

Halbrand

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Loving my natural titanium S11 watch + natural titanium link bracelet - but got a scratch on the clasp today. It's difficult to find any info on it. I've heard scratches oxidizing and healing, I'm not sure if that's true. I know it can't be polished away because of the coating. I also wonder if there's any chance Apple would fix it for a fee.
 
Scratches are not covered under AppleCare+ and as far as I am aware, Apple does not fix scratches for a fee. You might try going to a fine jeweler.
 
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Howard2k said:
Titanium scratches pretty easily. I'd let it go and get used to it, you're likely to get more.
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You are very correct. I just bought a natural titanium ultra 3 on April 2nd to use only when I go for walks so I don't need to lug my 17 pro max along. In 6 days I have two small marks on the watch. I also have a Rolex Submariner I bought brand new in 2013 and wear it almost every day since, its traveled all over the globe. There is not a SINGLE mark on my Submariner anywhere!! Titanium Apple watches are NOT the rugged durability Apples misleading marketing team would like us to believe.
 
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Winterpark said:
You are very correct. I just bought a natural titanium ultra 3 on April 2nd to use only when I go for walks so I don't need to lug my 17 pro max along. In 6 days I have two small marks on the watch. I also have a Rolex Submariner I bought brand new in 2013 and wear it almost every day since, its traveled all over the globe. There is not a SINGLE mark on my Submariner anywhere!! Titanium Apple watches are NOT the rugged durability Apples misleading marketing team would like us to believe.
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I didn't realize that the Submariner was also titanium.
 
Winterpark said:
You are very correct. I just bought a natural titanium ultra 3 on April 2nd to use only when I go for walks so I don't need to lug my 17 pro max along. In 6 days I have two small marks on the watch. I also have a Rolex Submariner I bought brand new in 2013 and wear it almost every day since, its traveled all over the globe. There is not a SINGLE mark on my Submariner anywhere!! Titanium Apple watches are NOT the rugged durability Apples misleading marketing team would like us to believe.
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Are you really comparing an apple watch to a rolex? They are quite different in design, purpose and price. 😆
 
Nekronos said:
Are you really comparing an apple watch to a rolex? They are quite different in design, purpose and price. 😆
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I'm comparing the fact that 13 years later my Submariner does not have a single mark on it, but a week later my natural titanium Ultra 3 has two marks albeit small, but its marked up already. Would love to see this Ultra 3 watch 13 years later. It would look like a 1927 NYC trash can.
 

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Taco1933 said:
I’ve got a stainless Tag that I’ve had for over a decade and it has some nicks and scratches in it. Anything you wear on your wrist is eventually going to show some wear unless you are completely sedentary. Once you get your first scratch, you can stop worrying about it.
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Same. My Tag is remarkably beaten up after quite a few years of use. The glass is still pristine but the metal is quite brushed and scratched.
 
Winterpark said:
I'm comparing the fact that 13 years later my Submariner does not have a single mark on it, but a week later my natural titanium Ultra 3 has two marks albeit small, but its marked up already. Would love to see this Ultra 3 watch 13 years later. It would look like a 1927 NYC trash can.
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I know exactly what you are comparing, however it doesn't seem like you digested what I wrote.

Point is your comparison is not apples to apples, your expectations are misaligned.
 
Nekronos said:
I know exactly what you are comparing, however it doesn't seem like you digested what I wrote.

Point is your comparison is not apples to apples, your expectations are misaligned.
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Hi,
Why I'm having a hard time digesting the comparison between my Rolex and a disposable Ultra watch is quite possibly due to Apple's history of marketing that can often be misleading. They market the Ultra as this rugged watch made out of titanium, ceramic and sapphire yet it is highly prone to wear. Again, my Ultra 3 is a week old and VERY carefully worn, I wouldn't even pull my shirt sleeve over it, I put the shirt on first, then the watch. Here is another picture of the clasp on my Rolex which is a part on many watches that shows a lot of wear, mine after 13 years is flawless.
 

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Winterpark said:
Hi,
Why I'm having a hard time digesting the comparison between my Rolex and a disposable Ultra watch is quite possibly due to Apple's history of marketing that can often be misleading. They market the Ultra as this rugged watch made out of titanium, ceramic and sapphire yet it is highly prone to wear. Again, my Ultra 3 is a week old and VERY carefully worn, I wouldn't even pull my shirt sleeve over it, I put the shirt on first, then the watch. Here is another picture of the clasp on my Rolex which is a part on many watches that shows a lot of wear, mine after 13 years is flawless.
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I've had Ultra 1 when it released and Ultra 2 when it released, never gone "easy" on my AWs, and not a single "blemish", and I hit my watch regularly on door knobs and other obstacles.
Does marketing the Ultra as "rugged" mean it will never ever scratch? hardly ...

Thing is, an AW is a tool, a Rolex is a piece of jewelry. Treat them apropriately.
 
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titanium has a hardness of about 6 on the mohs scale, quartz has a hardness of 7 (diamond is 10) so don't be surprised when it scratches - high tensile strength and high scores on one hardness scale etc does imply hardness on another scale. - good luck with it
 
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Winterpark said:
I'm comparing the fact that 13 years later my Submariner does not have a single mark on it, but a week later my natural titanium Ultra 3 has two marks albeit small, but its marked up already. Would love to see this Ultra 3 watch 13 years later. It would look like a 1927 NYC trash can.
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My guess is it is mostly how hard one looks for tiny dings. I beat on my AW Ultra v1 hard since day one and I see no scratches. Others find "two marks albeit small, but its marked up already..."

YMMV
 
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Winterpark said:
Hi,
Why I'm having a hard time digesting the comparison between my Rolex and a disposable Ultra watch is quite possibly due to Apple's history of marketing that can often be misleading. They market the Ultra as this rugged watch made out of titanium, ceramic and sapphire yet it is highly prone to wear. Again, my Ultra 3 is a week old and VERY carefully worn, I wouldn't even pull my shirt sleeve over it, I put the shirt on first, then the watch. Here is another picture of the clasp on my Rolex which is a part on many watches that shows a lot of wear, mine after 13 years is flawless.
Click to expand...
Apple's history of marketing has little relevance here, many companies over hype their products - some level of responsibility falls to you as a consumer to differentiate between hype and realistic expectations. As I mentioned before, you are comparing apples to oranges, if you can't realize that you are obviously going to have hard time reconciling.

For a polished looking smartwatch it is rugged, certainly not Garmin or Gshock rugged but those are designed for a different purpose.

I wouldn't call it misleading, it is titanium, not titanium alloy or steel or plastic. And they advertise the case as being titanium which is durable but that's not even the majority of surface material. If you want a really rugged watch that is unlikely to scratch, i wouldn't suggest buying an apple watch or rolex, though if those are your choices, stainless steel versions will be better.
 
My Day 1 purchase AW Ultra with titanium band (purchased much later, when Ultra 3 was announced) has only recently got its first dings. And they’re tiny. But they do impact how the watch looks, at certain angles, in certain light. I notice when I’m hunting for it, and only then.

I have no idea how, or when, the dings arrived. But I never do. I’ve lost watches in the past, stainless steel with “tough” glass that shattered. And not once was it evident to me how it happened. That’s why I bought the Ultra: if anything can survive The Ignorant Ox™ that I lumbering be, then that. And, with three and a half years under its belt, it has lasted nigh flawlessly. If the Ultra 4 has some new toys this OG watch will find a new home.
 
Halbrand said:
Loving my natural titanium S11 watch + natural titanium link bracelet - but got a scratch on the clasp today. It's difficult to find any info on it. I've heard scratches oxidizing and healing, I'm not sure if that's true. I know it can't be polished away because of the coating. I also wonder if there's any chance Apple would fix it for a fee.
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I know nothing about the titanium on the Apple watch and if coated (bad news) or fully titanium (good news).

But in the watch world (barring a deep scratch) you remove scatches with an eraser (the blue bit) or look on ebay (they are often called in the wrist watch world: Titanium Refinishing & Scratch Removal Pad).

1776019332617.png
 
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