How important to you is pristine, unpolished condition when buying used?

[paltak]

Is it a deal breaker to you especially on discontinued pieces? I now find myself only gravitating towards such examples.

I don't mind scratches as long as I put them there. I never used to keep watches long enough to form a connection but that's starting to change as the flipping has drastically declined.

Cheers!

[Greenwich Mean Time]

As long as they're not too deep, and they can be polished or brushed out, scratches wouldn't phase me in the least.

[bde]

I never really care about anything except deep scratches, or gouges. Anything else could be refinished if I so chose. Besides, if there are a couple of minor marks on it, it makes the first ones I put on it less painful.

On the flip side, I do avoid overly polished watches with no lug bevels left.

[HL65]

Don't care about scratches as most watches have them and if not will soon enough. Now big nicks or gouges different story. As for a light polish no big deal either as long as watch is honest and in nice condition all good.

[FTX I]

Unpolished means nothing to me. Over polished, on the other hand, is a deal breaker.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by FTX I

Unpolished means nothing to me. Over polished, on the other hand, is a deal breaker.

[RolexAuthority]

Originally Posted by FTX I

Unpolished means nothing to me. Over polished, on the other hand, is a deal breaker.

This is the best advice :)

[superdog]

I'm mostly concerned with bracelet stretch.

But I would not want anything glaring in terms of scratches either.

[123Blueface]

For the right price, won't mind minor wear scratches as they are inevitable.

[Tools]

Condition should be paramount in any used watch purchase..

Expecting pristine, untouched examples is a bit extreme, but everybody should have their own criteria.

[kirksingleton]

Originally Posted by bde

i never really care about anything except deep scratches, or gouges. Anything else could be refinished if i so chose. Besides, if there are a couple of minor marks on it, it makes the first ones i put on it less painful.

On the flip side, i do avoid overly polished watches with no lug bevels left.

+1

[brettpaul]

Originally Posted by HL65

Don't care about scratches as most watches have them and if not will soon enough. Now big nicks or gouges different story. As for a light polish no big deal either as long as watch is honest and in nice condition all good.

This!

[T. Ferguson]

I'd rather be the first one to polish the watch than be the first one to scratch it.

Anything that can't be taken out with a normal polishing at service becomes an issue. The other benefit is that there are so many Rolexes out there and relatively few are owned by WIS, so you can often times get a much better deal on a scratched but unpolished watch.

[Copasetic]

Originally Posted by HL65

Don't care about scratches as most watches have them and if not will soon enough. Now big nicks or gouges different story. As for a light polish no big deal either as long as watch is honest and in nice condition all good.

I agree

[GB-man]

I generally like them new but as long as there are no major dings I'm not concerned. I will scratch them anyways as I'm not the type to take my watches off.

[sgmgolf]

Originally Posted by superdog

I'm mostly concerned with bracelet stretch.

But I would not want anything glaring in terms of scratches either.

X2......Bracelect stretch should not be overlooked.....not just case condition.

[GoingPlaces]

Originally Posted by Tools

Condition should be paramount in any used watch purchase..

Expecting pristine, untouched examples is a bit extreme, but everybody should have their own criteria.

This x2.

[RC2]

It's not to me. I expect dings and Scratches. A little polish and all gone. I don't mind polished. Not sure why people are obsessed with "unpolished". No watch is unpolished. They are polished at the factory and most of the time right after the sale. It's like saying a car is hardly washed. Anyway.

[kilyung]

I would only reject watches with gouges, big dings and human detritus.

[speedmaster73]

i have zero interest in a 'polished' watch with bracelet stretch

its embarassing how many people list 'vintage' watches GMTs especially that have over polished cases and stretched bracelets. so sad.

[jnkay]

I would avoid any modern Rolex with pronounced dings or deep scratches. Just as well, I don't want a watch that has been polished more Han the equivalent of one service.

[presario]

Originally Posted by T. Ferguson

I'd rather be the first one to polish the watch than be the first one to scratch it.

Anything that can't be taken out with a normal polishing at service becomes an issue. The other benefit is that there are so many Rolexes out there and relatively few are owned by WIS, so you can often times get a much better deal on a scratched but unpolished watch.

Perfectly said. This is exactly how I feel.

[watchwatcher]

I wouldn't necessarily expect both...

[HogwldFLTR]

Most important is right watch at the right price.

[helson]

My first Rolex was a used one. But I enjoy and appreciate the enjoyment of buying new Rolex a lot more.

[Copasetic]

Originally Posted by GB-man

As long as there are no major dings I'm not concerned. I will scratch them anyways as I'm not the type to take my watches off.

Exactly!

[CRM114]

Originally Posted by paltak

Is it a deal breaker to you especially on discontinued pieces? I now find myself only gravitating towards such examples.

I don't mind scratches as long as I put them there. I never used to keep watches long enough to form a connection but that's starting to change as the flipping has drastically declined.

Cheers!

To be honest, since in times past polishing was usually in conjunction with servicing and if documentation is absent, for me seeing an older/vintage piece with an unpolished case immediately calls into question it's service history. Seals and gaskets are essential for WR and dustproof integrity and resistance to corrosion of the internal case/parts, and lubricants re-placed are necessary to keep those original parts from wearing excessively.

I'd never jump at an "unpolished" example (let alone pay any premium based on it) without a serious look to see if that condition is due to what could add up to decades of neglect and ensuring the by-products of neglect (corrosion etc) weren't too serious.

I'd opt for a lightly-polished example with a service history almost every time if there was no chance beforehand to have a pro look at it's interior and guts. Especially now for the premium some are trying to ask for "unpolished, the biggest potential gouge isn't on the outside of the case, it's to one's pocketbook depending on what's found inside. Sure, someone can usually always make it right but for a price on top of the premium already paid.

I also prefer my watches to look nice when I look at them, not ratty as a beat-up pair of tennis shoes, so there's that as well.