Reply With QuoteMost people would prefer it to look new. This unpolished preference only seems to be a thing with enthusiasts (WIS) which make up a tiny minority of the Rolex buying public
I got quite excited when I saw for sale online today the exact Airking model I posted a WTB for last week. February 2017 so probably as late a model as possible and a good 2 1/2 years warrant left. What's not to like?
The watch was described as "excellent condition" but I dropped them a line for absolute clarity and was horrified to be told:
"The watch has received a very minor refurbishment."
and
"Our watches are very sympathetically refurbished by our on site specialist back to as close to Rolex factory finish as possible."
Assuming that the watch hadn't been trashed by the original owner, why would you start messing with the finish on a 2 1/2 year old watch? I'm probably slightly influenced by a pretty s**t job an AD did on a Rolex bracelet once. Not bad as such but not achieving the finish like a new watch which Rolex do at a service.
I wanted the watch to wear so it didn't need to look brand new (making the big assumption that the work has been done competently).
Here's an idea: sell the watch 'as is' and offer the buyer the work if they want it.
Very disappointed.
Most people would prefer it to look new. This unpolished preference only seems to be a thing with enthusiasts (WIS) which make up a tiny minority of the Rolex buying public
It’s normal for jewellers to refurb modern Rolex’s before they sell, would you really want to buy a modern one with loads of hairline scratches/swirls?
I only see Pateks and APs that are left unpolished sometimes
"Normal" wear on a 2 1/2 year old watch? You bet I would!Originally Posted by LeBowl
Do I want a Rolex that some enthusiastic non-Rolex specialist has had a go at with a brillo pad? No, I do not!!
I don’t really get this leave it and it’s marks and scratches. We wouldn’t buy a pre owned car untouched. “Yes sir that is a dent in the wing, it adds character”
True, I have seen some truly dreadful attempts at refurbing and thought they shouldn’t have bothered but in the main fully refurbished everytime for me.
Neil
To be honest case and bracelet finishing skills are not brand specific, or particularly too difficult with the right basic equipment.
If the man in question is appropriately skilled I see no issue - look at the watch and judge what you see.
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I agree, some people can achieve the correct finish, so it would depend entirely on who did it. I'd have a look at it then decide.
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
There are plenty of reputable sellers with excellent watchmakers. Some even are on this forum.
Unlikely you will see a modern (ie 6 digit) Rolex from dealers like Haywood or Blowers for sale with swirls or hairline scratches.
This thread needs pics.
Have you seen the watch, OP?
You saw an online advert for a watch and it is not exactly as you would have liked it and you are 'very disappointed' - must be tough being you:-)
I think that after seeing your own polishing skills you would be an excellent watch case polisher!
This is interesting to me. I tend to NOT polish our stock watches but be very clear on condition and leave the polishing decision down to the buyer. Personally I’d rather have a watch an unpolished watch with a few minor marks than an overpolished one.
Thanks for such an intelligent posting on this watch enthusiasts’ forum. I’ve found the Ignore option so you don’t need to reply.
No, it’s some way away.
Part of my problem is that I am not expert enough to know if any real “damage” has been done. The recent thread on a badly ‘restored’ (and obviously much older) 16550 highlights how a watch can look OK superficially but be quite a basket case.
I doubt that a 2 1/2 year old watch could have been too badly abused to need major attention but I’d rather have had the choice to see the watch as it was.
If you want to send me some photos via PM I’ll take a look and give you my view 👍
Well at least for now you'll see this...
I'm confident Raj was teasing you, not being a Cnut. It may be a watch enthusiasts forum but that doesn't mean participants leave their character, personality and wit at the sign in page.
Gray
Plan is to buy a daily wearer so it would have light wear marks after a few weeks anyway - and you could form a judgment on the “honest” condition.
The car analogy is a good one. I’d rather have a dent I can see and take a view on than find a dodgy lump of badly applied filler and paint after I bought it!
Last edited by David_D; 18th May 2019 at 10:25.
Surely if you can’t tell any real damage has been done then none has?? I can spot an over polished watch . But if I like a watch that I couldn’t tell has been over polished it isn’t a problem to me. In other words would you have been happier if they hadn’t mentioned the polish and you couldn’t tell it had been done?
I was thinking in terms of overpolishing. I am not an expert in all the different case sizes and shapes so something might appear superficially OK but then (as in the 16550 thread I mentioned) someone will point out it's definitely not!
Trouble is, I'm not sure I can with sufficient certainty!
I want the dealer to be honest- which they have been by telling me they've polished the watch. What I would really have liked is for them to offer the watch 'as is' with an offer to polish should the buyer want that. Obviously buying pre-owned is not buying new so if you don't have expertise (which I don't) then it's a potential lottery.
This isn't an expensive sought after model (and no 'investment' value at all) so it's not like taking a punt and paying £15,000 for a pre-owned GMT II BLRO, or similar!!
I suspect that their average customer is not someone that frequents watch forums and is particular about this kind of thing....so it just boils down to economics for them; they're much more likely to sell it looking all shiny than scratched.
A lot of people would never even go and see it as you may subconsciously assume that a hard life on the outside may correspond to a watch that has been used and abused rather than treasured....the car analogy is pretty good IMHO
The point is the dealer/seller didn't lie and you hadn't bought the watch. It is just that it wasn't up to your needs/wants.
It happens and is a bummer in a way if you otherwise liked the watch but not something to be 'very disappointed' over. I can totally understand if this was revealed after you bought the watch. There will be others, just keep looking.
I can't work out which you're taking issue with, the validity of his usage of the word "disappointed" or the validity of his emotional response to the situation, and I also can't work out how you could think either of them are any of your business, let alone to enough degree to warrant the insult in your initial post.
I am not sure how my interactions with the OP are any of your business either other than the fact that this is a forum and we are responding to what is posted here. My only issue is the tendency to have rather exaggerated negative reactions to watch related issues. This is a hobby for enjoyment and getting overly worked up over insubstantial issues is counterproductive. Being sold a watch that is polished without being told about is something to get disappointed over
A watch being advertised not being to your specifications not so much, IMO.
Anyway, this is a pointless exercise.
Given the ratio of wis to general watch buying population, a seller would be wise to give any modernish watch a light refurb to maintain its wide appeal to 'normal' people.
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I absolutely see the logic. But not all polishing is bad polishing (in my view anyway) so if it’s a watch that’s top of your wish list there’s a good offer from Alex above to review the photographs. Or you could post them here / post a link and we’ll soon be able to provide steer as to whether it’s a good one.
Horrified.
The horror! The horror!
And another tool added to the ignore list. Sad there are so many idiots.
Thanks Alex, I'll PM you. Much appreciated.
You’re the only person calling people “tool” and “idiot”.
I hope it turns out to be what you’re looking for.
I think Rajens reply to the OP was uncalled for, and quite nasty, when he was only asking people’s opinions on a watch. On a watch forum.
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
Context is everything.
It's just a matter of time...
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