wrote:
I got an Omega Seamaster Chrono Diver 300M about a month and a half
ago, and I have a couple questions and comments about my experience
with it:

-Some parts of the watch case and bracelet are rhodium plated. I
noticed after a couple days that there were ultra-fine 'scratches',
more like 'rainbow reflections' on the rhodium plating. Then after a
few weeks, they multiplied into hundreds of very fine scratches, some
sort of big, all over the rhodium. They are usually only visible at
certain angles, but since there are so many, it really dulls the
appearance of the rhodium. I have no idea where the scratches are
coming from. I clean the watch weekly in a tub of warm water and mild
car wash soap, and a soft toothbrush, followed by drying with cotton
terry towels. Why is Rhodium and Stainless Steel (the SS also has MANY
scuff marks and scratches) so easy to scratch? The watch almost never
touches my clothes or anything else.

Both Rhodium and Stainless Steel are a lot softer than the particles in
regular dust. The fact that the watch "almost never" touches anything
is not good enough. How about that "soft" toothbrush? That scratches
it like hell. That's why jewelers use an ultrasonic machine or a
steamer to clean jewelry and not a "soft" toothbrush. And how about
those cotton terry towels, do you also call that "never touches anything
else"? Even rubbing it with your fingers will scratch it.

My point is, you are doing a fine job scratching your watch with your
tooth brush, the terry cloth, your fingers and anything else that you
touch the watch with. And I do mean anything.


-How can I get the rhodium looking like new again?

Have it repolished. This is rather difficult and time consuming (read
costly), because of the way the bracelet is constructed. The watch
needs to be taken apart to do this properly.

Take a look at http://www.unitedwatchservices.com/. Click on
"services". Then click on "see sample" under "Renew and Repolishing"
Then click on "Men's Omega" Does this watch look familiar to you?

I strongly advice you, that until your watch looks as scratched and
abused as the one in the picture do not bother with having it repolished.

BTW, United Watch Services is my next door neighbor, so I am rather
familiar with the process.

? Is replating
possible if the watch is not ALL rhodium plated? Some parts of the case
are rhodium plated, most is bare stainless steel. Also, the bracelet
links have little rhodium parts in them. Is this replatable somehow?

Sure, just show me the money. We love customers like you. Actually we
do not, because after a few weeks you'll be back complaining that the
watch is scratched again even though "almost nothing ever touches it".
Except your tooth brush and those terry cloth towels of course.

Does the rhodium get attracted only to other bits of rhodium during the
electroplating process?

-What is the best way to prevent scratches

Place the watch in a dust proof case, and never take it out. Never
touch it with anything at all. Just look at it. Treat it as if it were
in a museum. Most definitely, do not wear it. Wearing it is the surest
way to scratch it.

and clean the watch?


I would
have no problem using some kind of ultrasound cleaner or what have you.

Pointless if you decide to wear the watch.

Can ultrasound cleaners be used on mechanical movement watches like
this one?

Sure, go ahead.

This watch also has a sapphire crystal, would it shatter if
exposed to ultrasound?

That would have to be one hell of an ultrasonic cleaner.


-The stainless steel has many scuff marks, can these be buffed out?

Yes.

Part of the bracelet, the clasp, has what looks like laser engraved
writing, would buffing it wear down the edges of the writing and make
it look softer?

Yes, especially if you do this often enough.


-Is there some way I could buff the rhodium and the stainless steel
myself and remove the scratches?

Sure, we love guys like you. Then when you fail, we make more money
trying to fix what you screwed up.

In all seriousness, you can do this yourself. Just make sure that you
get the proper equipment first, as well as the proper training to gain
the knowledge how to polish stainless steel, as well as how to do this
without destroying your watch.

Maybe a dremel like tool or something
with some kind of abrasive compound?

Dremel tool? That is not the proper equipment I was talking about.
Abrasive compound? I thought you wanted to remove the scratches.


Thanks everyone!

You're welcome.

One piece of advice. Just wear and enjoy your new watch and get over
it, that it is getting scratched. That is perfectly normal. The only
substance in the world that does not get scratched is a diamond.
Everything else gets scratched. Just get over it.

Abrasha
http://www.abrasha.com