Need advice on buying this 4-month-old ROC with scratches ... pics

[jag32]

Looking to buy a rose gold 26331OR and I was offered one that was purchased new just 4 months ago with box and papers, but there are some troubling scratches on the face of the bezel. The watch has not been listed for sale yet anywhere and was offered to me privately, the gray dealer said that “the scratches will be gone when you get the watch” and I asked if that meant they are sending it to AP for polishing. He said no, “were just going to throw it on the wheel here at our shop and get them out, they’re only surface level hairline scratches they’re no big deal.”

Below is a photo. Normally I would never consider a watch with scratches like this, but it is an only 4 month old watch and the price is about $4k under market value for this piece.

Three identifiable options here-
1) buy it but tell the dealer to not remove the scratches and I’ll send it to Clearwater (not sure what the cost would be)
2) buy it with scratches removed and have the dealer send me high resolution pics after it’s done before I pay to evaluate.
3) hard pass

I keep coming back to this and am having a hard time passing because it is just a four month old watch and besides the scratches is basically brand new.

The scratches only seem visible in one of the photos, indicating they’re likely hairline and not deep at all.

What do you guys think?











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[V25V]

Pass. There are plenty of these out there. Unless you can get it at such a good deal, factoring in the cost to have APSC do the refinish/service. Not likely and even if you saved a few $$, the trouble likely isn't worth it. There is zero chance I would let him polish it and buy it afterwards.

[dcash0615]

If option 2 is available, I would go that route. You have nothing to lose. If done correctly, the seller has nothing to lose either as the watch will present better to the next buyer should you pass.

[othertbone]

Originally Posted by dcash0615

If option 2 is available, I would go that route. You have nothing to lose. If done correctly, the seller has nothing to lose either as the watch will present better to the next buyer should you pass.

This.

Anyways, almost every watch is polished before it is put up for sale. If done correctly, you probably would have never known the scratches were there. So check it out after they fix it up, then buy if it looks good or walk if it doesn't.

[locutus49]

I would pass.

[imperio]

Looks like someone keyed it

[jkesquire]

I'd pass

[P2725TMB]

To refinish these take real skill and I think you should only buy once you're happy it has been done well. Looks like there's marks on the case at around 12 and 1 too, unless it's a reflection?

Personally, for a $4k saving I'd go option 3 and buy new from AP.

[golfski]

Recently been interested in the same reference and found what seems to be a decent deal (listed on TRF) on a used one - but couldn't get over the scratches. Seems to be a daily wearer and I get scratches - but once I factored in the refinishing costs, it wasn't such a good deal.

I've heard to never let anyone other than AP polish a RO/ROC/ROO given the sharp angles/lines - and to use up a polish and $ so early in the life of a watch to me wasn't worth the value. You can get a decent deal on a brand new one from grey under MSRP, which wold be the route I go (but side-tracked on getting my first PP right now )

[SMD]

The ROC is just not a serious chronograph watch. Any company, AP or otherwise, who doesn’t invest the time and effort into an in-house movement isn’t worth buying.

[RolexZen]

Originally Posted by SMD

The ROC is just not a serious chronograph watch. Any company, AP or otherwise, who doesn’t invest the time and effort into an in-house movement isn’t worth buying.

I think he just likes hearing himself talk.

[AshAP]

Originally Posted by RolexZen

I think he just likes hearing himself talk.

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[~JJ]

Originally Posted by SMD

The ROC is just not a serious chronograph watch. Any company, AP or otherwise, who doesn’t invest the time and effort into an in-house movement isn’t worth buying.

Doesn’t the ROO use a DB module? Looks like you are fine with a module chrono from a third party... why slam an integrated and extremely thin chrono? Just trying to follow the logic

[SMD]

Originally Posted by ~JJ

Doesn’t the ROO use a DB module? Looks like you are fine with a module chrono from a third party... why slam an integrated and extremely thin chrono? Just trying to follow the logic

I think the words written in my post are beyond ignorant. But they aren’t mine, it’s a quote from the OP in a thread where he justifies buying the VC chrono over the ROC without understanding that the VC had the same 1185 movement.

And of course I own a ROC as well.

[wiswrist]

Originally Posted by SMD

I think the words written in my post are beyond ignorant. But they aren’t mine, it’s a quote from the OP in a thread where he justifies buying the VC chrono over the ROC without understanding that the VC had the same 1185 movement.

And now the OP is banned.

[~JJ]

Originally Posted by SMD

I think the words written in my post are beyond ignorant. But they aren’t mine, it’s a quote from the OP in a thread where he justifies buying the VC chrono over the ROC without understanding that the VC had the same 1185 movement.

Gotcha and sorry for the confusion

[Doctock]

As (probably) mentioned already, the folks at AP SC in Clearwater are awesome.
I would bet for Option 1, you could reach out via email and see what they might estimate for refinishing prior to proceeding.
I also agree with the don't let anyone but AP touch the watch. There is only one other individual whose work MIGHT be acceptable - he's posted some before and after work on this thread and several other threads on TRF (I believe he is an independent jeweler in NYC). However, work documented by AP will raise NO questions should you decide to sell this watch in the future.

I'd get more info first and decide between Options 1 and 3.

[jag32]

I’m going to hard pass on this one. Thanks for the input guys.


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[AK797]

Only buy a gold RO in pristine condition or you lose the luxury factor and the whole point of it.

[golfski]

Originally Posted by AK797

Only buy a gold RO in pristine condition or you lose the luxury factor and the whole point of it.

+1. I get that its a chrono, but its not a tool watch in PM. This was going to be my dress watch and would want to keep factory new condition as long as possible.

[tcheeco]

I’d go BNIB, buddy

[jag32]

Originally Posted by tcheeco

I’d go BNIB, buddy

Thanks man, that’s what I’m doing now. Just called my SA at the Vegas boutique and they have a new 26331OR brown dial on a brown strap in stock. Likely going to pull the trigger on it and order the solid rose gold bracelet at the same time for it, which has a 3-4 month backorder from Switzerland according to the boutique. I’m doing it this way because I like the flexibility of being able to go back and forth between bracelet and strap, and t works out to be less expensive to buy the strap first and add bracelet later instead of buying the bracelet version first and adding the strap later.

[AshAP]

The only way to correctly refinish the bezel is to remove it, unless it’s done by AP you’ll void the warranty and have potential water resistance issues. I wouldn’t necessarily walk away from this watch but I defo wouldn’t let him refinish it.


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[masterserg]

Hard pass!

"they'll throw it on the wheel" .. just the thought of that gives me the heebie jeebies!

[jag32]

Originally Posted by masterserg

Hard pass!

"they'll throw it on the wheel" .. just the thought of that gives me the heebie jeebies!

I know, just the way he referred to it on he phone was off putting.

[trfChris]

If the consensus really is to not let anyone polish an AP except AP, then that seems to totally rule out buying an AP grey unless it's fully stickered/untouched. I was under the impression that basically all greys touch up their watches before listing. For instance all used APs from DavidSW look flawless which can only be the case if they've been "thrown on the wheel" before listed.

[imperio]

Originally Posted by trfChris

If the consensus really is to not let anyone polish an AP except AP, then that seems to totally rule out buying an AP grey unless it's fully stickered/untouched. I was under the impression that basically all greys touch up their watches before listing. For instance all used APs from DavidSW look flawless which can only be the case if they've been "thrown on the wheel" before listed.

Word

[robertengel]

Hard to tell how deep the scratches are, I do not own a gold AP. I do know a friend who does, they own(ed) them with metal, ceramic, gold and carbon bezels.

From what they told me the Rose Gold ones (Brick in his case) attract scratches like crazy and you can literally see it from across the room. IF you end up buying a AP with Rose Gold bezels expect to get them easily. Of course, you may be hyper wrist aware and only wear it occasionally so your milage may vary.

[AK797]

OP asked so many questions on what to buy and this v that, it was all a bit too much.

[myporsche]

Originally Posted by AK797

OP asked so many questions on what to buy and this v that, it was all a bit too much.