Dealer scratching watch while removing link

[Edfrozen]

Has anyone had the experience of having the dealer take your new watch to the back to remove links and when you get home and inspect the watch ( unfortunately didn’t at the store) you find slight scratches ? I have had this happen a couple of times . 100% positive I didn’t do it.
Please don't call me an idiot for not thoroughly checking the watch out before i left the dealer . I mistakenly assume they treated the watch with kid gloves

[Gab27]

There are quite a few threads on it. I think it is more common with Rolex because they use Loctite on the screws, and if you aren't heating them up, it can sometimes necessitate a lot of force to break that bond. Someone who is rushing, especially if they aren't using the right tools, could easily slip and scratch the finish.

[MTBer]

Yep, happened on a watch I bought grey market a long time ago. Fortunately, the sales associate butchered links that were removable and could be replaced with ones that were clean. They were a well-established mom-and-pop place that closed long ago, but at the time they were a Rolex dealer. They charged me $30 for the service, so I naively assumed they knew what they were doing.

Took another watch to a jewelry store in the mall to be sized. They did it for free with no damage, and I ended up buying three watches from them before they closed too.

[denmanproject]

Even worse is the dreaded Oysterflex lug knick, hasn't happened to me but would drive me crazy to no end!

As far as bracelet sizing goes, I always say buy the right screwdriver and do it yourself

[EEpro]

Very common.

Thankfully I need a fully linked bracelet so I won't have this happen again. Especially on my gold sub where SA practically insisted on taking a link out despite it being too tight with glide lock all the way in.

Last time I made this mistake was with a new PO bracelet at omega boutique. She lulled me into acceptance and then used a Bergeon spring bar tool (not tweezer) to release each side slightly and then pull until the bar pops out.

[BNA/LION]

Bummer... It happens easily and often. Call them up and let them know just so they are aware. They might be able to lightly polish it of replace it if it is really bad.

[MTBer]

Originally Posted by EEpro

...

Thankfully I need a fully linked bracelet so I won't have this happen again. Especially on my gold sub where SA practically insisted on taking a link out despite it being too tight with glide lock all the way in...

What was their rationale for wanting to remove a link when the watch was already too tight? That’s just bizarre.

[Bozack90]

yup, and it really chapped my ass for a long time, but then I got over it as my watch has loads of scratches and dents now.

That lesson for me was either learn to do it myself, and still possibly mess something up, or just be prepared for them to scratch it or do something I don't like.

Luckily the size it is from the factory is the right size for me now, other watches I just take to them and hold my breath and hope they don't mess them up too bad.

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by MTBer

What was their rationale for wanting to remove a link when the watch was already too tight? That’s just bizarre.

They "prefer it to be centered in the glide lock" vs on position 1-2 where it fit me snug but correct for a watch of its weight.

I think they are paranoid about "not sizing" like it's similar to leaving stickers on maybe.

[ks58]

It's brutal to hear that dealers are causing scratches on these watches. It's their job to do anything without scratches. It's my job as the watch owner to wear it as I please, but I don't expect others to cause the wear.

[ArtNouveau]

Call me lucky I guess but my last three Rolex have all been sized at the dealer without incident. Pretty sure it’s always the same guy, not a full on tech but he is not on the sales floor, handles sizing and the paperwork.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by ks58

It's brutal to hear that dealers are causing scratches on these watches. It's their job to do anything without scratches. It's my job as the watch owner to wear it as I please, but I don't expect others to cause the wear.

Well in the real world just cannot understand why the owners cannot do this simple task themselves. Its not rocket science all you need is a correct blade screw driver to unscrew and re-screw a screw.