Journal ·
Daily wear in the Gulf: what actually marks a watch
Desks, door frames, car doors and clasps do more damage than adventure. Where scratches come from and which parts to cover first.
Most marks on a luxury watch do not come from sport or travel. They come from ordinary contact: a laptop palm rest, a marble counter, a car door frame, the metal edge of a desk.
The surfaces that mark first
- The clasp, which rests on the desk every time you type.
- The polished lug tops and case flanks, which meet door frames and bag zips.
- The bezel edge, on watches where it stands proud of the case.
- The outer bracelet links nearest the case.
Polished against brushed
Polished steel shows fine scratches as bright lines. Brushed steel hides light marks but shows heavier ones as breaks in the grain. Gold is softer than steel and marks more easily. Film is clear, so it protects both finishes without changing them.
Heat and sand
Summer heat in Dubai softens adhesives in general, and fine sand acts like a polishing paste on any surface it is rubbed across. Clean the watch before fitting film so no grit is trapped underneath, and fit it indoors at room temperature.
A sensible order
If you only cover part of the watch, start with the clasp and the case, then the bracelet. The crystal on most luxury watches is sapphire and very hard; its piece is there for scuffs and smudges rather than deep scratches.