So do you " baby " your watches or do you wear them and bugger the consequences?

I don’t baby them. No item should costs you your peace of mind.

If a watch is so expensive or precious that normal wear and tear would stress me out, I’d rather not own it.

I felt like that for a while, but now I'm wearing and enjoying them.

I do not baby them. I love toolwatches. Yes there is something “beating” inside but not a really living creature. So it needs to be worn in any conditions. The first scratch is always difficult… Buy your watch and make your scratches. Every scratch tells a story 😉

Watches are made for wearing them. Anything else ridicules their purpose (and that’s why I can’t and won’t understand the „put it in a safe“ mentality)

I wear all of mine and when/if they get a scratch or ding, well, it is what it is 👍

Different watches for different occasions/purposes …but goddam right , I bought them to wear not polish

I just divide my collection into 2, 1) Collector/investment grade and 2) Everyday.

For my every day, i just set a budget and just wear the hell out of the watches, obviously I don't go out of my way to batter them or anything but i wear it to the gym, do dishes whatever. These are watches like my Rolex or Blancpain, grand seiko. For my investment/collection watches, i generally keep them in the safe or wear them on special watch events.

I just wear them.

But I do switch to my g shock for really tough work.

And to a garbage watch if I'm gonna be painting the house.

When I've tried to baby mine I've ended up damaging them more so I just go with it.

And your name, why the we hell broccoli?

In my opinion, if you buy a watch is for yourself. It's meant to be used, not to be treated like an exhibition on your wrist. Whenever I've acquired a new watch at the beginning I tend to avoid any scratches but after some time I just let go with the flow of daily use and say: well, it is what it is. It's also because I don't own any excessively expensive watch and tend to look for affordable yet durable and reliable pieces.

I wear them and enjoy them

I don’t go out of my way to ding them either though

But in saying that after a piece is about 2 weeks old it’s just part of the rotation and I don’t think about damaging it when it’s on the wrist

I scratched my Reverso when my spring bar tool slipped while i was trying to replace the strap. It bothered me for a full five minutes but I got over it. I stopped trying to replace the strap though.

Depends on the situation. I wear my watches most of the day, at home or at work. I take of my watch in the gym or if I'm doing any home fixing or gardening work.

I wear most of my watches at work, even my grail Shunbun. I am a nurse, so leather bands and low WR stay at home. When I buy my Cartier Tank Must I will not wear it to work. Just wear it to date night or nonwork days.

I agree with you. I wear the watch regardless of that fear of something happens to it. High end watches term is a subjective term, but I too do not own any because I do not want to baby my watch. I want to enjoy my watches.

For us in the blue collar trades, there's a difference in what we mean when we say "beater."

I would destroy a rolex or any mechanical watch in short order wearing it on a construction site.

In that case, it isn't just about getting it scratched, but more about repeated impacts and vibrations that would break the movement.

So, I'm not babying a watch if I want it to avoid that environment, I'm saving it from destruction.

Outside of work though, I'm not worried about scratches. However, if I had a polished dress watch, I probably would be.

I want to “baby” my watches as much as I practically can but my son’s violin beat me to it. Second week owning and wearing it, my son knocked my watch with his violin (which rested on his shoulder, hand free, when he was flipping through music sheets) by accident. 🙅🏻‍♂️😣😱😳😳🍺🤦🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

I bugger the consequences

The same thing I put in a previous answer. If you cannot use your watches with complete peace of mind for fear of damaging them, you cannot afford it and you should consider something more in line with your reality that you can enjoy in peace and without fear.

If I buy a watch I'm wearing it.

This.

I also note you didn't say go out of your way to smash it up 😂...👀🤏🏻.

If it picks up some nicks, dings, etc while being used, such is life.

If for some reason I'm welding, grinding, sanding, jackhammering, and tarring all at once, I'll take my watch off, cuz why go out of my to purposefully damage the watch.

Based off the massive numbers of scratch posts, this must be a hot ticket for discussion right now.

Just my .02¢, pristine condition, protective coated watches make me a lil bit sad(🤏🏻). Just like when I see a nice Staccato 2011 or Sog Legion X5 with ZERO wear marks on the barrel/slide. I mean only by using/wearing it does one get to enjoy it right?

If that's what peeps want and like, more power and God bless. That's your thing and it was your money.

I usually drive them like I stole them bwahahahaha 😝.

I don't know anyone that goes out of their way to smash them up lol. I wear them in the course of everyday life. They definitely aren't locked in a safe!

Exactly. 💯.

Both sides of this argument always think the other is in the extreme end.

Those that don't mind scratches obviously LOVE to go out of their way to get as much wabi sabi "patina" as possible.

And those that don't like scratches obviously take them out of the display case for a quick #wruw and then put them back.

Truth is prolly somewhere in the middle. As in most things in life.

Depends on the ⌚.

I wear and don’t care. Lately I’ve been using a Stirling Campbell which is pretty robust and built like a tank.

Guy behind the brand is a serving in the UK army and - if the marketing is to be believed- wanted a watch that could withstand the situations he may find himself in. Certainly works for me in an office environment 😂

Like I always tell my friends, just wear the damn watch. You buy it and wear it. If it gets a couple dings in there, who cares. If you care too much about it getting messed up, then don't buy an expensive watch. Get a cheap casio and be done with it.

This guy and the violin ding 🤣

It’s me.

I know man!