Dealers use permanent markers to touch up numbers on 16570?

[tifosi521]

Upon visiting a reputable dealer selling pre-owned Rolex watches, I was informed that a permanent marker can be used to touch up the numbers on the 16570.

Many of the vintage examples I've seen for sale have been restored with a polish and have bezels with perfect numbers. I assume they must have been touched up.

Do you think that pre-owned dealers are using a permanent marker to touch up the numbers?

I'd hate to buy one with touched-up numbers only to have them wear away in the rain or if I get soap and water on the bezel.

-Ray

[Old Expat Beast]

If that happens, you can touch them up yourself with enamel paint. Or get a new bezel.

[Blingtone]

Don't think soap or water would have much affect on permanent marker ink, but alcohol or similar spirit based products would....

[tkerrmd]

Some of the older ones do need touched up and that is one way

[CHRONOLEX]

Should be thankful that bezel wear is surest way to tell condition of preowned watch. Everything else hides pretty well. Bezel don't lie.

[crowncollection]

Yes this is common

[Annan]

As Adam already said, you can use paint. I've read that model airplane paint made by Testors is good. Apply it with a toothpick or very fine tip brush and wipe off the excess.

[Speed]

I've seen video of paint applied to Leica lens markings, branding etc. I recall a pen like device with a very thin tip was used to squirt paint into the engraved text...and then the excess was wiped off. I'm guessing that how it was done originally.

[watchwatcher]

Good stuff.

[tifosi521]

Thank you everyone for the posts. I'm feeling much better about it now. And it's nice to know that if the numbers wear away they can be restored nicely.