How much % of vintage / new watches for sale are polished?

[aalyu]

Hi Guys

just curious,

from the number of used / vintage watches for sale in the market all over the world, how many % are the polished and how many are untouched.

[beshannon]

I do not know how that percentage could ever be calculated

[Tony64]

I never understood the watch polishing issue until I joined the forum.

Every watch is polished before it leaves the factory.

It's not about polishing, it's about overpolishing.


To answer your question though, if it doesn't have scratches then it's polished.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by Tony64

To answer your question though, if it doesn't have scratches then it's polished.

As simple as that

[aalyu]

What I meant was a watch being re-polished after being brand new. I know there's no way to tell if a watch has been re-polished. But anyone have sort of like an estimate?

Or maybe a better phrase would be what percentage of watches are overpolished in the resale market?

Apologies for the confusion! Had a typo in the title it was supposed to be Vintage / Used watches.

Thanks guys!

[AK797]

I find if a watch is more than a few months old it will usually be polished or refurbished by the dealer so they can charge more or be negotiated down less. On certain vintage pieces where polishing is verboten as it has the opposite effect it is more rare.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by aalyu

what percentage of watches are overpolished in the resale market?

Definitely some of them.

[aalyu]

Originally Posted by AK797

I find if a watch is more than a few months old it will usually be polished or refurbished by the dealer so they can charge more or be negotiated down less. On certain vintage pieces where polishing is verboten as it has the opposite effect it is more rare.

Yes I noticed as well, if not most but all do it. So i'm a bit curious as to how much of these resold watches are polished. if the dealers do it, then doing so does not decrease the value? for example a 1990s model, slight polishing by these dealers. Does it have an effect of value?

[hambone1983]

they all are polished, except the true collector pieces, just as Neil said.

[mtgjr]

Originally Posted by aalyu

Yes I noticed as well, if not most but all do it. So i'm a bit curious as to how much of these resold watches are polished. if the dealers do it, then doing so does not decrease the value? for example a 1990s model, slight polishing by these dealers. Does it have an effect of value?

Obviously, it increases the value....that's why they do it.

[m j b]

I believe the correct answer is 42.

[dcash0615]

Almost all of them are. Very common to see a vintage piece with perfect chamfers and finish with a bracelet that has some wear and or stretch. Polish isn’t necessarily a bad thing if done properly and is consistent throughout the entire timepiece.

[GolfPunk]

I’d say 99% will have been polished at some point

[aalyu]

Originally Posted by dcash0615

Almost all of them are. Very common to see a vintage piece with perfect chamfers and finish with a bracelet that has some wear and or stretch. Polish isn’t necessarily a bad thing if done properly and is consistent throughout the entire timepiece.

Even if these have perfect chamfers, are these polished pieces?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by aalyu

. . .from the number of used / vintage watches for sale in the market all over the world, how many % are the polished and how many are untouched.

Probably 99.9% have been refinished or touched up.

The other .1% are owned by careless oafs who don't take care of their things.

[hitman23]

too many is the correct answer

[SDRider]

Originally Posted by aalyu

What I meant was a watch being re-polished after being brand new. I know there's no way to tell if a watch has been re-polished. But anyone have sort of like an estimate?

Or maybe a better phrase would be what percentage of watches are overpolished in the resale market?

Apologies for the confusion! Had a typo in the title it was supposed to be Vintage / Used watches.

Thanks guys!

It would be impossible for anyone to give you anything other than a wild guess. I doubt Rolex even keeps track of polishing on watches received for service let alone the tens of thousands of jewelers who offer polishing services and DIYers around the world.

I know mine hasn't but I've only owned it for 6 months and my wife's hasn't either. So, based on my experience the number is zero percent.

[aalyu]

appreciate the responses. So if 99.9% of all watches used are polished. then its very very rare to find one unpolished. And even if its unpolished there’s no way to be completely sure its unpolished? Then all this fuss of unpolished would be quite difficult to deal with ��

[Tony64]

Originally Posted by aalyu

appreciate the responses. So if 99.9% of all watches used are polished. then its very very rare to find one unpolished. And even if its unpolished there’s no way to be completely sure its unpolished? Then all this fuss of unpolished would be quite difficult to deal with ��

Bingo.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by aalyu

Yes I noticed as well, if not most but all do it. So i'm a bit curious as to how much of these resold watches are polished. if the dealers do it, then doing so does not decrease the value? for example a 1990s model, slight polishing by these dealers. Does it have an effect of value?

I know it is prominent because some dealers make a point of saying, look we haven't even polished it, as a badge of honour almost. Some with wonky finishing even claim oh, it came like that from the manufacturer. As most buyers are not as fussy as us most dealers can get away with a light polish and can still charge higher prices.

So always check carefully to see all lines and shapes have not been compromised, but generally I am very wary if it has ever been worn, even for just a few months.

[05carbondrz]

Originally Posted by Tools

Probably 99.9% have been refinished or touched up.

The other .1% are owned by careless oafs who don't take care of their things.

And Banked BIG Time when it came Time to sell.

[05carbondrz]

Originally Posted by aalyu

appreciate the responses. So if 99.9% of all watches used are polished. then its very very rare to find one unpolished. And even if its unpolished there’s no way to be completely sure its unpolished? Then all this fuss of unpolished would be quite difficult to deal with ��

You can tell after You’ve seen the real deal.

They look like this:
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=570878

[1675-David]

Top 10 unanswerable questions of the last decade:

1 What is the meaning of life?
2 Is there a God?
3 Do blondes have more fun?
4 What is the best way to lose weight?
5 Is there anybody out there?
6 Who is the most famous person in the world?
7 What is love?
8 What is the secret to happiness?
9 Did Tony Soprano die?
10 How much % of vintage / new watches for sale are polished?

[05carbondrz]

Originally Posted by 1675-David

there is now way of knowing...

What about buying a completely untouched and unserviced Watch from the original Owner?

[mtgjr]

Originally Posted by 05carbondrz

What about buying a completely untouched and unserviced Watch from the original Owner?

This is exactly what I did! To me, this and buying new are the only two ways to ensure you're getting an unpolished watch. Of course, as soon as I bought it - a 10 year old 16710 D serial - I took it straight to Rik Dietel for a complete overhaul and refinishing. I got back what looked and felt like a NOS GMTII. So now my watch has been polished, too....and I'm damn glad about it!!

[peterpl]

Once again polishing is NOT the issue. The issue is OVER polishing the watch and causing the actual shape or curves/lines to be distorted/modified.

The watch head in particular is of most concern as to fix an over polished head were metal has been significantly taken off usually involves welding and in worst cases a completely new head.

[Fleetlord]

Next to the watch being 100% authentic and condition of the dial, the next most important condition classification is polishing..

A watch that has seen the wheel since it left the factory could be a ruined mess if polish is done poorly.

[aalyu]

Originally Posted by 1675-David

Top 10 unanswerable questions of the last decade:

1 What is the meaning of life?
2 Is there a God?
3 Do blondes have more fun?
4 What is the best way to lose weight?
5 Is there anybody out there?
6 Who is the most famous person in the world?
7 What is love?
8 What is the secret to happiness?
9 Did Tony Soprano die?
10 How much % of vintage / new watches for sale are polished?

you've come to the right forum!

[aquatimerfla]

I see so many people purchase 'over polished' garbage simply because its 'vintage'

'vintage' is such a scam these days. I ask? what good is a watch that needs a new case??

'vintage' is the greatest trick the devil ever pulled

[aalyu]

Thanks for the responses appreciate the fruitful inputs!

So to summarize:

the issue is not about polishing, refinishing or touching up since 99.9% used or vintage watches are already re-polished in some way but its about overpolishing?

to be sure it is unpolished or refinished, get it from the original owner or buy brand new. But even if you get it from the original owner, you can also be not 100% sure