You just spent five hundred bucks on a watch that looks like it spent a week inside a rock tumbler. There are scratches on the bezel. The leather strap looks like it’s been through a monsoon. Even the "damaged" dial makes it look like it was buried in a backyard since 1974. Most people would call the repair shop, but for fans of the Out of Order watch brand, this is exactly the point. It’s called "Damaged in Italy," and it’s a middle finger to the obsession with keeping luxury items in pristine, bubble-wrapped condition.
It’s weirdly liberating.
Think about the last time you bought a "nice" watch. You probably spent the first month terrified of door frames. You’d tuck your wrist away every time you walked past a brick wall. Out of Order (OOO) basically tells you to stop being so precious. They’ve already done the "damage" for you, using a patented aging process that makes every single piece unique. No two scratches are the same because they aren't printed on; they are earned in a workshop in Venice before the watch even reaches your mailbox.
The Counter-Intuitive Appeal of the Out of Order Watch
Why do we buy pre-distressed jeans? Why do guitar players pay thousands extra for "relic’d" Stratocasters that look like Jimi Hendrix set them on fire? It's about soul.
In a world of mass-produced, sterile tech, an Out of Order watch feels human. Riccardo Torrisi, the founder, started this back in 2013 near Venice, Italy. He realized that the most stressful part of owning a watch is the first scratch. By pre-beating the case, he removed the anxiety. You can actually live your life in these things. If you drop it on the pavement, who cares? It just adds to the aesthetic.
Most luxury brands, like Rolex or Patek Philippe, focus on "perfection." They want every polished surface to reflect light like a mirror. OOO goes the other way. They use 316L stainless steel, but they treat it with acids and abrasive techniques to give it that "lived-in" patina. It’s a subversion of the entire industry. Honestly, it’s kinda punk rock.
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Beyond the Scratches: What’s Under the Hood?
Don't let the beat-up exterior fool you into thinking these are junk. They aren't.
They use legitimate movements. You’ll find reliable Miyota quartz movements in their entry-level pieces, but their higher-end stuff—like the Swiss Automatic series—packs a Swiss STP 1-11 or a Sellita SW200-1. These are workhorse calibers. They keep great time. You’re getting a real timepiece that just happens to look like it survived a bar fight.
The glass is usually sapphire-coated or pure sapphire crystal. Even though the case is "damaged," the internals are sealed tight. Most of their divers, like the Shaker or the Casanova, carry a 10ATM or even 20ATM water resistance rating. You can actually go swimming with a watch that looks like it’s been at the bottom of the ocean for a decade. The irony is delicious.
Why Collectors Are Actually Buying Into the "Damaged" Look
The watch community is usually pretty stiff. There are "purists" who lose their minds if a screw isn't aligned. But the Out of Order watch has found a niche because it doesn't take itself seriously.
- The Unboxing Experience: Most watch boxes are fancy wood or leather. OOO often uses wooden crates or weathered tins that look like they fell off a cargo ship.
- The Vegetable Tanned Straps: They use high-quality Italian leather that smells like a real workshop. It’s thick, it’s soft, and it ages beautifully alongside the metal.
- The "Shaker" Series: This is a fan favorite. Each watch is named after a cocktail—think Mojito, Blue Lagoon, or Bloody Mary. The colors on the dial and bezel reflect the drink. It’s fun, colorful, and intentionally messy.
It’s about "Wabi-sabi." That’s the Japanese philosophy of finding beauty in imperfection. In an era where everyone is trying to look perfect on Instagram, wearing something intentionally flawed is a power move. It says you have better things to do than polish your watch with a microfiber cloth every twenty minutes.
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The Problem with "Perfect" Watches
Let’s be real. If you buy a high-end polished watch, you become its servant. You worry about the "desk diving" marks on the clasp. You worry about the resale value. The second you get a hairline fracture on the bezel, the value drops.
With an Out of Order watch, the resale value is basically baked into the "ruined" look. You can't really "devalue" it by wearing it because it already looks like it’s been through a war. This changes your relationship with the object. It becomes a tool again, rather than a trophy.
How to Spot a Real OOO vs. a Cheap Knockoff
As the brand has grown, people have tried to copy the "distressed" look. But there's a difference between a watch that’s been chemically aged by an artisan and one that just has a cheap grey paint job.
- Check the Case Back: Real OOO watches have beautifully engraved case backs, often featuring the "Damaged in Italy" logo. The contrast between the rugged front and the detailed back is a hallmark.
- Feel the Metal: The aging process shouldn't make the metal feel "pitted" or weak. It should still feel like a solid chunk of 316L steel. If it feels light or "tinny," it’s a fake.
- The Lume: Surprisingly, even with the distressed dials, OOO uses Super-LumiNova. It should glow brightly in the dark. Cheap clones usually skip the high-quality luminous paint.
- The Texture: Run your finger over the "scratches." In a genuine piece, the aging is integrated into the metal’s finish. It shouldn't feel like it was just scratched with a screwdriver in someone's garage.
Is It Worth the Price Tag?
You’re looking at anywhere from $200 for a basic quartz to over $1,000 for a limited-edition Swiss automatic. Some people think that’s crazy for a "broken-looking" watch.
But you aren't just paying for the parts. You’re paying for the hand-finishing. Every single watch is worked on by a person in Italy. That labor costs money. Plus, you’re getting a conversation piece. Nobody asks about a standard Seiko (no offense to Seiko, they're great). But people always ask about the watch that looks like it was found in a shipwreck.
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It’s a niche product. If you want a pristine, shiny object to show off your status, this isn't for you. But if you want something that feels like it has a history—even if that history was "manufactured"—then it’s one of the coolest brands on the market right now.
Taking Care of Your "Damaged" Timepiece
Ironically, you still have to take care of an Out of Order watch. Even though it looks rugged, the movement inside is still a delicate mechanical instrument (if you went with the automatic).
- Don't skip the servicing. Just because the outside is "old" doesn't mean the oil inside the movement should be. Get it checked every 5 years.
- Rinse after salt water. The case is aged with acid, but salt water can still cause actual, unwanted corrosion over time if left to sit. Give it a quick freshwater rinse.
- Condition the leather. The straps are high-quality. A little leather conditioner once a year will keep them from becoming brittle, even if you want them to look "tough."
Final Thoughts on the OOO Philosophy
At the end of the day, an Out of Order watch is a reminder to relax. It’s a wearable memento mori. Things get old. Things get scratched. Life is messy, and your gear should be able to handle that mess without making you feel guilty.
If you're tired of the "luxury" arms race where everyone is trying to out-polish each other, maybe it's time to buy something that's already reached its breaking point. It’s much more fun on the other side.
Next Steps for Future Owners:
If you're ready to jump in, start by looking at the OOO Shaker series. It’s their most approachable line and gives you a good feel for the "Damaged in Italy" aesthetic without a massive financial commitment. If you're a movement snob, skip the quartz and go straight for the Automatic Submarino or the Swiss GMT models. Check their official site or authorized dealers like Long Island Watch to ensure you're getting a genuine, hand-aged piece rather than a mass-market imitation. Once it arrives, put it on and go do something active—the best way to honor a pre-damaged watch is to go out and add a few stories of your own to the bezel.