https://www.watchuseek.com/f23/rolex-beater-4095602.html

https://www.watchuseek.com/f23/rolex-beater-2754754.html

https://www.watchuseek.com/f23/my-old-rolex-beater-83285.html

 

I guess thats pretty much what ive done with most if my watches and especially my Sub. Its my favorite and I love wearing it.
Id never wear it for house or yard work, even with my kids at times. They'll take a lot of abuse and still work. But I'm always conscious of a $4,000+ watch im wearing...

 

I'd not wear my Sub whilst doing DIY, at the gym, doing weights, working on the car etc.
To me, it's not a watch to wear doing things like that. That's why I have a G-Shock. :-!

 

I do not wear my Rolex for everything but I do not wear an analog wristwatch for everything. Remember the submariner has been standard issue, (historically), for the military, maritime and exploration companies. Try getting your hands on a Comex version. The GMT was originally designed for commercial pilots. The Explorer was designed for places I never care to visit. The watches were made to function in unforgiving environments. There is not much you can do to the watch that Rolex cannot take out every 5 or so years.

However, use common sense. The disposable watch is relatively new in the history of measuring time. One of Swatch’s contributions was showing us we can have more than one watch.Your watch is designed to handle almost anything you can subject it to. Wear it, enjoy it and with the rare exception like working on the car and things of that ilk take out your second disposable. However, your watch can take it.


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The answer is "it depends".

If your Rolex is an all-brushed stainless steel model on an Oyster bracelet, like a Submariner or an Explorer I, yes, it makes for a great never-take-it-off wristwatch. You'll never see fingerprints or scuffs, and even deep scratches are oblivious to the naked eye.

But if your Rolex is a combo brushed and polished model with mirror-polished Oyster bracelet links, mirror-polished case, and/or tall mirror-polished bezel, like a GMT, Daytona, or Datejust, different story, the polished portions are going to show every fingerprint, scuff, and scratch and you'll be miserable.

 

The answer is "it depends".

If your Rolex is an all-brushed stainless steel model on an Oyster bracelet, like a Submariner or an Explorer I, yes, it makes for a great never-take-it-off wristwatch. You'll never see fingerprints or scuffs, and even deep scratches are oblivious to the naked eye.

But if your Rolex is a combo brushed and polished model with mirror-polished Oyster bracelet links, mirror-polished case, and/or tall mirror-polished bezel, like a GMT, Daytona, or Datejust, different story, the polished portions are going to show every fingerprint, scuff, and scratch and you'll be miserable.

Agree with the above, but wanted to add that a jubilee bracelet watch is an intermediate option; those with loupes will find that it will get scuffed as much as any bracelet, but the scuffs will be less noticeable on a jubilee than on a PCL oyster because there is so much going on with the jubilee. It's roughly the same logic as why a fluted bezel makes for a more durable DateJust.

 

Sportura makes a very good point. The polished links albeit as strong as the brushed links evidence wear. If scuffs, scratches and fingerprints bother you, I would get a model with a brushed Oyster bracelet. On the other hand, if you buy a watch that cost more than my undergraduate degree, I would take every opportunity to enjoy it. Yes, I am old.


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Rolex Sub or Explorer looks cool beaten up, DJ or DD not so much...

 

I will tell you the soft gold fluted bezel over years of abuse will look pretty gnarly after a service my DD was relegated to dress only until I sold it.

 

An aging Rolex is pretty awesome to have, I know a Rolex watch would age well if it is handled well.

 

SS sports models yes...precious models maybe not.

 

Although I rotate my watches, my 16610 has gotten the most love. It still keeps great time after 10 years of ownership, and the scars make it so much cooler than my newer watches.

 

All Rolex watch age well imo, look at vintage rolexes.

 

Compared to how people age, your Rolex will age very well and will keep its libido and virility throughout its lifetime.

You specifically asked about the steel. When I wore my 16600 practically daily for about a year, I definitely put some good scratches and dings in it, but the polished portions of the case didn't look noticeably duller to my eye. Personally, I like the blemishes/scratches/dings that I cause because it's like marking my turf -- a reminder that the watch and I have a history together. I never get them laser-filled or polished out.

 

Beat up watches don't "look cool" in my opinion, they just look beat up. My first Rolex was a DJ 16233 that I bought new in 1989. I wore it for work (financial advisor), golf, tennis, swimming, the beach, sailing, flying, hiking, and also slept with it on. While I washed it under the sink and polished it with a cloth once a week or so, it was my only Rolex for 11-12 years until I bought a Sub 16610. After getting the Sub, I had the DJ serviced by Rolex Dallas. That's the one and only service since new in 1989. The dial was swapped from champagne to silver by Rolex at the time of the service. You decide if it held up (picture from 2017):

 

I don't like wearing sports models to use and abuse.

So i wear a gold DD for peacocking and posing b-)

 

My brother has worn his Coke GMT every day for over 25 years. Along the way he's replaced the AL bezel insert as well as the bracelet (keeping the original bezel insert & bracelet). Still looks great. The SS case is a little weathered but not bad at all considering.

 

I wear my SubC ND on a Nato Band. I wear my watch for everything, don't really take it off. I've worn it doing yard work and installing baseboards in my bathroom. No issues. If it was my Datejust I would have to take it off since I have scratched the cyclops before.

 

i think rolexes look much better with some wear. my DJ41 has become my daily beater, for exactly those things you described even the hypothetical housework. at first it was a bit too shiny and loud but now theres some swirls its perfect. still eye catching and has good presence but looks nicer to my eyes.

 

In respect of Rolex, or any other watch - barring a pure dress piece - there is no more attractive course to me, than it being a life companion which picks up dings and scars over decades which document one’s journey through life.

My only personal regret is, like many, I could only afford to buy expensive watches as I hit my 40s with many adventures behind me. This is counter balanced by that bringing its own satisfactions, with the watch being a prize eked out from many years or work and planning first for more important things.

But anyways - whenever you get it, once you got it, wear the hell out of it , is my view.

 

I do not wear my Rolex for everything including house or yard work I'm usually careful when i have my high end watch on my wrist.

 

Do you people who think beat up watches are cool feel the same about your car or your home?

 

I think it's a yes and no for me, so I like scratches on things like my camping knife because it happened during it's expected use (going by your car analogy I like leather seat ageing as well) but if I were to have a dent in my car I would probably get it fixed.

 

my wifes wedding ring stretch my sub no dates bracelet today. I yelled at her.

What a ........ man I am. I need anger control or I am too opssed with this watch I don't know. but I need therapy thats clear.

 

I truly hope you are kidding. If you yelled at your wife because she scratched your watch, you are not deserving of either.


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no I was very angry now a days usually I don't do this king of stuff, maybe from the job I don't know. what I need is a rest or therapy some how.

 

I bought a used 1998 Explorer II about one year ago. I wear it every day and it has been pretty much bullet proof except for scratches near the clasp area of the band. I wish I had bought this watch years ago so that it would have some scuffs and marks from back when I was young and cool. My kids are much more impressed with the beat-up quartz watches I wore when I was younger than they are with my relatively pristine Rolex.