will you buy a polished rolex? and how can you tell it was polished

[dtctan]

I don't mind lightly polished watch but not polished

[Mille]

Buy bnib one is best la...hahaha

[timeseriesmy]

Bnib resale value drop alot lo....

Not everyone can afford the lose one... Bnib is like wearing a well polished one , then later get scratch also .. then value drop alot haha

Nowadays pre own watch buyer will ask.. " if i sell back get how much " which is normal question d

[dark_divine1218]

http://www.network54.com/Forum/20759...out+of+control...

[taxico]

well, since this thread has been dug up... i thought i would share some of my experience (from this year) and opinion here...

i am one of those collectors who like chasing virgin cases. the same reason why most experienced/veteran collectors prefer an untouched dial (even with blemishes and cracks) over a refinished one is the same reason why i prefer a banged up case with scratches over a polished one if both are priced similarly.

having said that, i will not reject a watch that is sold at a price that corresponds with its condition and package. i believe this is the same for anyone, whether a newbie or old bird collector. therefore, originality is key (because condition is rated upon how far apart it is from its factory release state), especially as someone who started going deeper this hobby in the 90s.

i spent some time in japan earlier this year watching a (master?) metal worker restore watch cases for a watch shop. he was a former watchmaker himself but preferred to specialize in metallurgy as more and more people want their watches refinished with regularity (if i understood him correctly).

the most important lesson i took away was: there is no such thing as a "light" polish.

if the person polishing the watch is skillful, the watch will look barely polished.

a light polish to most people actually means refinishing (an oyster) case quite thoroughly but skillfully.

if he/she is not, the watch will look worse for wear. of course you can get away with being lucky some times... either as the owner, or seller... or buyer (!).

the second most important lesson i learned was: a skilled restorer can (today, and likely to be more common in future) restore any case back into any condition you want...

for a price, of course.

since cases can now be restored into original condition... is originality still important?

[andrewkerk]

Light polish will be considered but if heavily polish then look at the price tag is it worth it....

[isky28]

thanks taxico for your insightful input! will take that into consideration when i buying a pre-owned one. wow its kinda an overlooked factor when buying BNIB and LNIB rolex watches huh...

[Aaron85]

If the price is rite

[ascendancy]

I prefer unpolished one..

[threepoint8]

Light polishing for at least 10 yrs old watch is often unavoidable and especially so for vintage watches.

I prefer unpolished one..

[Fabiannyo]

Will not polish my watches as well, affects future resale.

[Anyhowsell]

will not do any polishing as it makes little difference to the branding. polish is more for people to look nicer.

[Magdalyn]

Well prefer not polished but of cos like most said depends on price

[socketer]

Scratches make the watch mine. I do not polish a watch, and prefer my preowned watches to be unpolished, if priced similarly as a polished piece.

[Metroplex]

Yes. I will send it for polishing anyway if I were to get a used piece.