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Michele26 · Jul 30th, 2008, 04:01 PM

I brought my Cartier Tank Watch into Cartier to have the battery changed & asked them to polish it too while it was there. The first time I wore it when I got it back the gold turned brown.

When I phoned Cartier they asked if I put perfume near my watch? I've had this watch for years, I didn't do anything different than I normally do when spraying perfume. And, I didn't spray perfume on or near my watch. Can anything be done to repair the gold to its original color?

I am so mad!

guccimamma · Jul 30th, 2008, 04:10 PM

is it vermeil?

Coldplaylover · Jul 30th, 2008, 04:11 PM

This scares me since my Panthere is in for service with Cartier right now.......let me know what happens.

Michele26 · Jul 30th, 2008, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by guccimamma

is it vermeil?

It's 18k gold. As soon as I can I'll take a photo to show you. I'm going to bring it back to Cartier to see what they can do. This tank watch is the one with the brown leather strap.

guccimamma · Jul 30th, 2008, 04:30 PM

i have an 18k vermeil tank with the brown strap, it did turn brown/rusty around the screws....i haven't had it serviced. i figured it was the tarnish, since vermeil is 18k over sterling.

but if yours is solid 18k....i don't know...it shouldn't discolor

bhurry · Jul 30th, 2008, 10:43 PM

yeah, that's odd, 18k doesn't just turn brown, the vermeil I understand can but not real gold?

Michele26 · Jul 30th, 2008, 11:17 PM

It was fine until they polished it. I'll post after I take it back in there.

thegraceful1 · Jul 31st, 2008, 02:39 AM

One of my girlfriends had a similar problem w/ her Cartier 18K yellow gold earrings (on 1 earring only) she thought it was odd..but she still wear it like that (is hidden..so no big deal)..now your watch, I will def. have them take care of it, is not acceptable

, I just recently purchased an 18K yellow gold Roadster..and now I will def. be extra careful.

VuittonsLover · Jul 31st, 2008, 01:59 PM

This amazes me.. because we are not talking about a cheap watch.

i always thought the cases were solid 18k gold.

thegraceful1 · Aug 1st, 2008, 02:07 AM

Cartier watches are solid 18k gold

, but they also have a lesser brand of "gold plating" Cartier watches, and I have not seen those at their Cartier Boutique ( I have no idea if they still make those) but the OP watch IS 18k gold.

keodi · Aug 1st, 2008, 08:50 AM

Michele26 let us know what happens. I hope Cartier can fix it.

Michele26 · Aug 1st, 2008, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by keodi

Michele26 let us know what happens. I hope Cartier can fix it.

Thank you.

LV-PRADAfanatic · Aug 1st, 2008, 08:59 PM

for the price..i hope they will fix it

chaz · Aug 2nd, 2008, 04:56 PM

Its not the gold itself thats turned brown,its too pure and impervious to chemical damage,it will be the alloys that the gold has in it
You have a 1000 parts metal,750 of those are gold in 18k,the rest are alloys.
In the trade,this is the very first question I would have asked as perfume marking of gold is the most common discoloring cause.
What has probably happened,is the protective patina that it has built up has been polished off,and any perfume touching it will have done this,major bummer I know,but it can be sorted out,its not a problem it simply needs re-polishing.
All ladies wear perfume,what the best thing to do though is take off your watch,spray your perfume,let it dry and then put your watch back on,should'nt happen again after that.

Michele26 · Aug 2nd, 2008, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by chaz

Its not the gold itself thats turned brown,its too pure and impervious to chemical damage,it will be the alloys that the gold has in it
You have a 1000 parts metal,750 of those are gold in 18k,the rest are alloys.
In the trade,this is the very first question I would have asked as perfume marking of gold is the most common discoloring cause.
What has probably happened,is the protective patina that it has built up has been polished off,and any perfume touching it will have done this,major bummer I know,but it can be sorted out,its not a problem it simply needs re-polishing.
All ladies wear perfume,what the best thing to do though is take off your watch,spray your perfume,let it dry and then put your watch back on,should'nt happen again after that.

My normal routine is to apply perfumed body oil after showering & then lightly spray perfume, and it lasts throughout the day or night. I guess it's possible my watch touched a part of my skin that had just been sprayed. I never spray perfume after my jewelery is on.

Believe me if they can remove the brown/tarnish mark off the gold on my watch, I will be one happy camper!

I'm just really sorry I asked them to polish it to begin with. Thank you for the information, I greatly appreciate it.

Jul 30th, 2008, 04:01 PM	#1
Michele26 OP ~~Libra Baby~~ Joined: May 2007 Location: Earth Posts: 2,184	Cartier Tank Watch Ruined! I brought my Cartier Tank Watch into Cartier to have the battery changed & asked them to polish it too while it was there. The first time I wore it when I got it back the gold turned brown. When I phoned Cartier they asked if I put perfume near my watch? I've had this watch for years, I didn't do anything different than I normally do when spraying perfume. And, I didn't spray perfume on or near my watch. Can anything be done to repair the gold to its original color? I am so mad!
	__________________ "Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." ~~ Margaret Thatcher ~~

Jul 30th, 2008, 04:11 PM	#3
Coldplaylover Member Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 5,294	This scares me since my Panthere is in for service with Cartier right now.......let me know what happens.
Coldplaylover Member Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 5,294	__________________ Madonna Lover too!

Jul 30th, 2008, 10:43 PM	#6
bhurry Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,647	yeah, that's odd, 18k doesn't just turn brown, the vermeil I understand can but not real gold?
bhurry Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,647

Jul 30th, 2008, 11:17 PM	#7
Michele26 OP ~~Libra Baby~~ Joined: May 2007 Location: Earth Posts: 2,184	It was fine until they polished it. I'll post after I take it back in there.
	__________________ "Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." ~~ Margaret Thatcher ~~

Jul 31st, 2008, 02:39 AM	#8
thegraceful1 ILuvHermes/Chanel Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Orange County, California Posts: 3,777	One of my girlfriends had a similar problem w/ her Cartier 18K yellow gold earrings (on 1 earring only) she thought it was odd..but she still wear it like that (is hidden..so no big deal)..now your watch, I will def. have them take care of it, is not acceptable, I just recently purchased an 18K yellow gold Roadster..and now I will def. be extra careful.

Jul 30th, 2008, 04:10 PM	#2
guccimamma guccimamma Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Wooo Hooo! Posts: 4,231	is it vermeil?

Jul 30th, 2008, 04:30 PM	#5
guccimamma guccimamma Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Wooo Hooo! Posts: 4,231	i have an 18k vermeil tank with the brown strap, it did turn brown/rusty around the screws....i haven't had it serviced. i figured it was the tarnish, since vermeil is 18k over sterling. but if yours is solid 18k....i don't know...it shouldn't discolor

Jul 31st, 2008, 01:59 PM	#9
VuittonsLover Cartier Crazy Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,894	This amazes me.. because we are not talking about a cheap watch. i always thought the cases were solid 18k gold.

Aug 1st, 2008, 02:07 AM	#10
thegraceful1 ILuvHermes/Chanel Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Orange County, California Posts: 3,777	Cartier watches are solid 18k gold, but they also have a lesser brand of "gold plating" Cartier watches, and I have not seen those at their Cartier Boutique ( I have no idea if they still make those) but the OP watch IS 18k gold.

Aug 1st, 2008, 08:50 AM	#11
keodi save mode..on. Joined: Aug 2006 Location: In the playground Posts: 8,445	Michele26 let us know what happens. I hope Cartier can fix it.
	__________________ NOTE TO SELF: SELF, YOU WILL NOT SPEND UNNECESSARILY!!!

Aug 1st, 2008, 08:59 PM	#13
LV-PRADAfanatic Built Hot for LV Joined: Oct 2007 Location: That's ME ^_^ Posts: 14,739	for the price..i hope they will fix it
	__________________ All so LoVely, so little time to get them all

Aug 2nd, 2008, 04:56 PM	#14
chaz Superstar DJ Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Blissful!! Posts: 14,175	Its not the gold itself thats turned brown,its too pure and impervious to chemical damage,it will be the alloys that the gold has in it You have a 1000 parts metal,750 of those are gold in 18k,the rest are alloys. In the trade,this is the very first question I would have asked as perfume marking of gold is the most common discoloring cause. What has probably happened,is the protective patina that it has built up has been polished off,and any perfume touching it will have done this,major bummer I know,but it can be sorted out,its not a problem it simply needs re-polishing. All ladies wear perfume,what the best thing to do though is take off your watch,spray your perfume,let it dry and then put your watch back on,should'nt happen again after that.
	__________________

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