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How to remove a deep scratch on PO ceramic bezel

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MrTW

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi there,

I somehow managed to scratch up the ceramic bezel on my Planet Ocean. I have no idea how that happened as I do not recall banging the watch on anything.

Now, I am trying to mitigate the damage and would like to understand:

1. How can I remove the scratch myself
2. How much would it cost me to replace the ceramic bezel

As I was under the impression that the ceramic is really quite tough, I am very surprised and disappointed about those two large scratches.

Any advise, particularly on #1 above, would be highly appreciated.
 

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#2 ·
I doubt that they are true scratches. What you are seeing is probably the residue from the other surface that is stuck on the ceramic bezel. Try using a soft pencil eraser to see if it comes off. Don't press too hard as the eraser can also leave residue on the bezel.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Sleepycat3 said:
I doubt that they are true scratches. What you are seeing is probably the residue from the other surface that is stuck on the ceramic bezel. Try using a soft pencil eraser to see if it comes off. Don't press too hard as the eraser can also leave residue on the bezel.
Click to expand...
I tried the eraser already, hoping it would come off but it didn't.

I would like to agree that these are not actual scratches as i did not realize banging the watch on anything hard or even soft. However, the marks are not coming off.

Other than the eraser, what can be done except a bezel replacement?
 
#7 ·
If they are scratches and not transfers, you can't just "buff them out." (Or, something similar.)

Replace the bezel or try to live with the marks. Sorry, but the basic nature of ceramics, even advanced formula ceramics, means that you don't have many options concerning actual scratches. Just the nature of the beast. Another example why I'm surprised at the popularity concerning ceramic bezels. Just not an appropriate material for use in making bezels.
 
#9 ·
Monocrom said:
Sorry, but the basic nature of ceramics, even advanced formula ceramics, means that you don't have many options concerning actual scratches. Just the nature of the beast. Another example why I'm surprised at the popularity concerning ceramic bezels. Just not an appropriate material for use in making bezels.
Click to expand...
And steel or aluminum is better?
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Monocrom said:
If they are scratches and not transfers, you can't just "buff them out." (Or, something similar.)

Replace the bezel or try to live with the marks. Sorry, but the basic nature of ceramics, even advanced formula ceramics, means that you don't have many options concerning actual scratches. Just the nature of the beast. Another example why I'm surprised at the popularity concerning ceramic bezels. Just not an appropriate material for use in making bezels.
Click to expand...
I am starting to get used to the idea of having to just accept the scratches unless someone has that golden answer I'm searching for.

I think a replacement is not wise as this will happen again I'm sure.

Seems like I understood the ceramic bezel as a much tougher and durable element.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Try one of those Mr Clean magic eraser sponges (the white ones). They should be able to remove the transfer mark from the ceramic bezel without harming it. They need to be moist or wet to work.

I've used them for a number of other things, from cleaning up a white Macbook and it's power cord to make them bright white again, to wiping black shoe heel marks off the floor, and freshening up an Apple iPad smart cover to polishing aluminum.

EDIT - they really look like transfer marks not scratches that cut into the ceramic - it's just too hard for that. If you can't feel them with a fingernail running over them, then it's not missing any ceramic.

If the Mr Clean magic eraser sponge doesn't work, you can also try polishing the bezel with a "Cape Cod" polishing cloth.
 
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Discussion starter · #13 ·
larryganz said:
Try one of those Mr Clean magic eraser sponges (the white ones). They should be able to remove the transfer mark from the ceramic bezel without harming it. They need to be moist or wet to work.

I've used them for a number of other things, from cleaning up a white Macbook and it's power cord to make them bright white again, to wiping black shoe heel marks off the floor, and freshening up an Apple iPad smart cover to polishing aluminum.

EDIT - they really look like transfer marks not scratches that cut into the ceramic - it's just too hard for that. If you can't feel them with a fingernail running over them, then it's not missing any ceramic.

If the Mr Clean magic eraser sponge doesn't work, you can also try polishing the bezel with a "Cape Cod" polishing cloth.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the tips.

Would the magic eraser or cape cod not harm a layer of the ceramic itself?

I'm concerned that i would make things worse and have a discolored bezel.
 
#14 · (Edited)
Alex_TA said:
And steel or aluminum is better?
Click to expand...
For that application.... Yes.

I've posted this before. I have experience with the most advanced ceramic formulas out there. And they're not even used in the watch industry. Those formulas are used in the body armour industry. Even the most advanced ceramics have absolutely no "give" to them whatsoever. None! Yes, they can be made tougher in order to make it harder to break them. But there's no advanced formula out there that makes ceramics more "flexible" (for lack of a better term).

An aluminum bezel can get scratched up. You can even put a gouge in it. However, those scratches, if they're deep enough; aren't going to migrate into full blown cracks. Just the nature of aluminum. That's not the case with ceramics. Think of your car's windshield. A pebble flies up and puts a little puker-mark of a scratch into it. Just a tiny little, somewhat round mark. If you leave that scratch there and don't get it taken care of, it can migrate to a much deeper and longer scratch that goes right across your windshield. Now you have to pay to replace the whole windshield. Same issue with ceramic bezels that genuinely develop scratches. Each one can migrate into a deeper, longer, larger crack. That simply does not happen with aluminum. A gouge sure is ugly. But it's not going anywhere. It's not going to migrate across an aluminum bezel.

With steel, you get a tougher material than aluminum. In terms of practical value, yes; both aluminum and steel are better since both are far more appropriate for use on bezels.

Ceramic has primarily two advantages. One, makes your dive watch look newer; longer (compared to aluminum or shiny S.S.) But that's only assuming it doesn't pick up surface scratches. Rado for example is skilled at incorporating ceramics into their watches (usually by combining ceramic with a tougher material). Been doing it themselves long before the Ceramic Craze hit the watch world. Despite both being Swatch Group brands, this topic is not the first one I've encountered of Omega dive watches with ceramic bezels picking up surface scratches. The second advantage of using ceramic, is that the bezel insert can be polished to a very high degree. Much higher than S.S. or aluminum.

Yup.... The watch brands out there are charging a premium for selling folks shinier watches. "Oooo.... shiny!"

That's what it boils down to. As far as toughness, durability, practicality to even a small degree; sorry, but no. Not compared to aluminum or stainless steel.
 
#15 ·
MrTW said:
Thank you for the tips.

Would the magic eraser or cape cod not harm a layer of the ceramic itself?

I'm concerned that i would make things worse and have a discolored bezel.
Click to expand...
I can't promise this, but I do not believe that it can harm the ceramic - the sponge falls apart when you rub something softer than ceramic too hard. Yet it takes crayon off a painted wall without removing the paint.

The polished ceramic bezels are less likely to take on a mark like this because they aren't as abrasive and won't remove metal from a metal object that rubs against it. Your bezel has a matte finish that is more abrasive and it will pull off microscopic bits from somewhat that it rubs against, and hold onto them. It's possible the magic eraser sponge can't get into the tiny pores in the coarse ceramic bezel, and thus wouldn't work.

The only time it did not work for me was when trying to clean the darker stains from finger oils off of a red iPhone 5s case. It did nothing, but didn't make it worse. I probably needed to use a leather soap to clean the red leather iPhone case instead, but I returned it for a black case and problem solved.
 
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#17 ·
Damn I feel for you, I sure hope it's not an actual scratch. My PO also got 2 tiny scratches on the ceramic bezel. But they are only visible in certain angles.

I can imagine if yours are actual scratches you would be tempted to replace the bezel. I would for sure.

Best of luck!
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
GaryF said:
Are you happy to leave them?

Because, if the alternative is replacing the bezel, then you might as well give anything a try.
Click to expand...
I am quite unhappy to leave them as-is but replacing the bezel is not really an alternative.

This would quickly become my most expensive watch if i would start to replace the bezel each time i am getting a scratch.
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
Haddock said:
Damn I feel for you, I sure hope it's not an actual scratch. My PO also got 2 tiny scratches on the ceramic bezel. But they are only visible in certain angles.

I can imagine if yours are actual scratches you would be tempted to replace the bezel. I would for sure.

Best of luck!
Click to expand...
The funny part is that i have only worn and owned the watch for exactly one week - than this.

I might be rather tempted to sell the watch with that flaw and appropriately discounted as opposed to dealing with having to see those scratches each time wearing it.

Kind of taking the fun out of owning my first Omega with the famous robustly ceramic bezel.
 
#20 ·
MrTW said:
I am quite unhappy to leave them as-is but replacing the bezel is not really an alternative.

This would quickly become my most expensive watch if i would start to replace the bezel each time i am getting a scratch.
Click to expand...
How about a different color bezel...perhaps a nice orange one, which I think is not ceramic and perhaps much cheaper. (In full disclosure the thought of swapping to an orange bezel has been on my mind for my ceramic PO with orange numerals but I would love to know ahead of time what and how much is really involved, so if someone else did it first...)
 
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