As soon as I got my first luxury watch ever, I was overly obsessed with the scratches on my timepieces. Even after wearing my watch for just a couple of days, I saw very faint scratches on the watch crystal and band, which frustrated me. Nonetheless, I’ve definitely changed since then and I came to find out that the faint scratches on my watches were hairline.
Hairline scratches on a watch are faint abrasions that appear on the crystal, case, and band of a timepiece after light wear. Hairline scratches are normal and are visible with a magnifying glass or under a bright lamp.
In the rest of the article, I will go more in-depth on whether hairline scratches are normal for watches, the best way to get rid of them, and my thoughts about hairline scratches.
Are Hairline Scratches Normal On Watches?
Hairline scratches on a watch that’s worn regularly are normal. Hairline scratches can show on a timepiece in as little as a few days of light wear.
I experienced the accumulation of hairline scratches on my watch in the first couple of days of wearing my own luxury watches.
Once I got my Panerai Luminor Chrono, I was so excited to wear it and show my new passion/hobby for watches. However, I was looking down at my wrist probably every ten minutes because I was so paranoid about getting scratches. I was so careful whenever I wore the watch out and was very careful about my wrist movement because I wanted to keep it in the best condition possible.
However, even when I was trying my hardest to keep it in the best condition possible, I noticed some very faint abrasions on the watch crystal, band, and clasp and I got frustrated because I didn’t want any scratches at all on my watch. However, that’s the exact moment I realized that hairline scratches on watches are completely normal and unavoidable if you wear your watch.
I was trying so hard to avoid scratches on my Panerai, but they accumulated on the watch crystal anyway, which just shows that finding hairline scratches on your watch is just a part of the process of wearing a watch.
What’s The Best Way To Get Rid Of Hairline Scratches?
The best way to get rid of hairline scratches on a watch is through servicing the timepiece with a professional. When you service a watch with a trained professional, they can help clear hairline scratches and other abrasions off of your watch.
I found that this is personally the best way to get rid of hairline scratches or scratches off your watch in general. After trying other DIY methods at home to try and get scratches out, I got anxious because I didn’t want to ruin my expensive watches, which is why I found going to a watch professional is the best move: you can get the hairline scratches off of your watch without the worry of ruining your timepiece.
When I just got into my hobby for watches and visited my local watch servicing store “Gold Creations” to get my Panerai fixed, which is inside one of the most popular malls near me, I asked them about the scratches and abrasions on my watch and asked if they can fix it.
The professionals in Gold Creations said to me,
“We can definitely help you get the hairline scratches and other scratches off your watch. Just leave the watch with us, and we’ll contact you as soon as we’re finished.”
Gold Creations
Once they said these words to me, I let out a massive sigh of relief because all of the pent-up anxiety I had about hairline scratches and abrasions just completely left me.
The only other option I had to fix the hairline scratches on my watch was to do my own research at home and find ways to get rid of them, which worried me because I didn’t want to completely ruin my watch since I’m not a trained professional.
My example shows that going to a watch specialist to clean up your watch is the best option because it relieves you from the stress of trying to fix the watch yourself.
Hairline Scratches: My Thoughts
In my personal opinion, hairline scratches are the type of abrasions that are the least of my worries now. Back when I was first getting started with my hobby and love for watches, I was so insecure about the scratches on my timepieces and it often bothered me because I wanted to look presentable, classy, and stylish: I thought that the little scratches on the watch would make me worsen my appearance.
But, over time I realized that hairline scratches are hardly visible to the naked eye. And on top of that, I learned and realized that they’re completely normal and it’s the price you have to pay for wearing a watch.
Because they’re so hard to see, I do not get my timepieces fixed just because of hairline scratches, and I only bring my watch in to get fixed if there’s something wrong with the internal movement or if there’s major blemished on the watch that is easily visible.
Whether you are someone just getting started in your luxury watch hobby and are afraid of hairline scratches or a well-versed enthusiast who still gets frustrated about hairline scratches, know that they’re completely normal and are just part of wearing a luxury watch out.
I implore you to not get discouraged and wear your watch less if you are afraid of accumulating scratches. If you are someone who loves wearing their watch often, then finding scratches on your watch will become unavoidable.
Besides, the benefits of wearing a luxury watch far outweigh the costs of hairline scratches and servicing. If you have ever wondered about the benefits of wearing a luxury watch, you can check out the full article I wrote breaking down the nine benefits I found when wearing a luxury watch by clicking here.