Bezel damage on Tudor Pelagos
Someone banged into my Pelagos with a metal tray. There is a small ding in the outer ring, which is not a big deal, but it looks to me like the metal transferred to the ceramic portion of the bezel. I looked at it under high magnification, and the surface looks undamaged. It appears a thin layer of metal was rubbed onto the surface. Any suggestions on how to remove it? I was thinking about trying a pencil eraser, but the last thing I want to do is scratch or damage the ceramic.
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Bob
Mechanical engineer/rocket scientist 🚀 I’ve worked my entire career in aerospace at Kennedy Space Center, 20+ years in the space shuttle program. Currently working on Artemis/Orion. Avid mechanical w...
Space Coast, FL
Member since
Last active: 3 hrs ago
7.30” / 18.54 cm
Ceramic is pretty scratch proof, start gently and work your way up. Id try one of those green pan cleaner things first 👍🏻
You could try with a wooden toothpick on the first pass...
Sell it “like it is” and buy another one.
I want details about this metal tray incident. I’m envisioning a prison mess hall. 😂
Not really sure how to get off Ti residue from the ceramic bezel without damaging the bezel. I’d agree with the wooden toothpick idea from @Pallet_Fork bc at worse, it won’t damage the bezel.
I want details about this metal tray incident. I’m envisioning a prison mess hall. 😂
Lol. Not that exciting, but there was alcohol involved. It was at a birthday party.
don't do anything, just wear it and enjoy it with its battle scar
I’m sure you’ll figure it out - wooden toothpick sounds like a good recommendation to me
In the meantime - congrats on the Pelagos. One of the true go anywhere do anything watches. Nearly bought one this summer
Best to just throw it in the garbage it’s ruined
Try Peg wood. I use it a lot when cleaning movements, jewels, etc.
You can find bundles of little Peg wood sticks on eBay, etc.
I’m sure you’ll figure it out - wooden toothpick sounds like a good recommendation to me
In the meantime - congrats on the Pelagos. One of the true go anywhere do anything watches. Nearly bought one this summer
Thanks. Great watch. I like the slightly darker toned Ti case and bracelet. The spring clasp is also nice. Super accurate, running about +4 sec per week!
Scratch it off with your finger tip or wash it off and brush it with a ray. The ceramic won’t get scratched
Try Peg wood. I use it a lot when cleaning movements, jewels, etc.
You can find bundles of little Peg wood sticks on eBay, etc.
I like the toothpick/peg wood idea. Unfortunately, I don’t have either. Just bought some peg wood sticks online. I’ll let you know. Thanks.
I like the toothpick/peg wood idea. Unfortunately, I don’t have either. Just bought some peg wood sticks online. I’ll let you know. Thanks.
Peg wood is harder than a toothpick but soft enough not to scratch. Just sharpen the point a bit .. it doesn't need to be pin sharp and go easy at first.
If you do under magnification you'll be able to see quickly if it's removing material or making it worse.
Just take your time.
Unfortunately the watch won’t work correctly now. Best to send it to me so I can properly dispose of it. (Sorry I’m gonna be one of those people that say this sort of thing. :)
In all honesty it sucks but at least it didn’t shatter your crystal.
I’d try all those suggestions, if it works great if it doesn’t, no big deal and forget about it, just chalk it up to the casualties of actually wearing a watch. Plus it can be a reminder of that time you almost got into a fight with the prison boss in the mess hall.
I would use a little bit of polish first. There is a component of most polish that constitutes a cleaner.
I would use a little bit of polish first. There is a component of most polish that constitutes a cleaner.
Polish with peg wood under magnification should be ideal.
I would use a little bit of polish first. There is a component of most polish that constitutes a cleaner.
Thanks. Good idea. I think I will start with the peg wood, but a fine polish might be the next step.
Ceramic is pretty scratch proof, start gently and work your way up. Id try one of those green pan cleaner things first 👍🏻
The Pelagos doesn't have a ceramic bezel IIRC. No Tudors do.
I've used rubbing alcohol on a few paint transfers on my cars with good results.
The Pelagos doesn't have a ceramic bezel IIRC. No Tudors do.
The Pelagos has a ceramic bezel insert, per the Tudor website
It happens to all of us. You can change the oil in your car, install a kitchen sink with a garbage disposal, and fight a dragon no damage. One hit on a door jamb and it is scuffed. The score is seven for the door jamb; one for me.
some smooth piece of rubber should work.
I used pencil eraser on gold watches to remove some tarnish, unless you have erasers from hell they will not scratch ceramic.
Doing ceramic tile I use Barkeeper's Friend to clean stuff off of it. It may be the same concept.
I've used rubbing alcohol on a few paint transfers on my cars with good results.
Success! Believe it or not, a Q-tip with some isopropyl alcohol and a lot of rubbing (a lot), removed it. Not sure the IPA did much as far as dissolving it, but seemed to increase the friction and kept it clean. I was worried it might remove the “20” marking with the solvent and all the rubbing, but no issues. Thanks for everyone’s help. Now, about that dent in the outer ring 🤔 Lol.
I would leave it and then you always have a story to tell! In a few years the metal tray becomes a door from a runaway car that you saved an old woman in. Next decade it’s an AI robot that you single-handedly stopped from taking over your town! When you’re telling retirement stories to your grandkids, it’s part of your airplane paint when you took down the aliens and saved the world!
A damp microfiber cloth ahould do it. Assuming that it was transferrence only.
Use toothpaste and soft cloths, i used to clean the same issue on my tudor Blackbay ceramic, but it take time to clean completely, so just patient 😉