SD43 HEV Question

[77T]

Originally Posted by chro.nic

I wonder if the "trusted seller" is going to disclose the watch is polished to the next buyer who is looking for "peace of mind"!!

.nic

Unless a used watch is represented as “unpolished”, you should proceed as if it’s been touched up.


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[drrd]

Originally Posted by 77T

Unless a used watch is represented as “unpolished”, you should proceed as if it’s been touched up.


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Hmm, maybe.

Multiple factory stickers in place but not disclosing a significant polish on a fully assembled watch…I wouldn’t be going back.

[fabR]

In my opinion, according with your pics, the watch has been over and over polished (not a great work)

the HEV is made in titanium (SD43) , which has a grey/silver color, pretty dark

I have 2 of em and the HEV shows a big contrast with the ss of the case , a very different tones of color

Also if you look carefully , you can see around the HEV the case is slightly
chamfered, no sharp with straight edges , like every SDDS pre owned and polished and usually ruined

The HEV itself in your SD43 is a little round as well from polishing

As i have mentioned , same problem with SDDS polished
I have spoken with some 'well known trusted seller' when i was looking for a particular SDDS and all of em have confirmed (very honest) that SD43 and SDDS pre owned are polished for better appearance. If not ,Nos or unpolished show in the ad

And Moby33 in you first post you are super correct

[moby33]

Originally Posted by 77T

Unless a used watch is represented as “unpolished”, you should proceed as if it’s been touched up.


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Maybe. But just speaking for myself, when I saw a trusted seller advertise a 2022 example as “MINT” and I confirmed there was crisp stickers on back & bracelet / clasp, never in a million years would I think it was polished (and it’s not like I purchased for a crazy good price…that too would have set off alarms).

But I’ll freely admit it was my mistake, but my radar wasn’t going off due to the above stated points. A 5+ yr old watch from an unknown seller w/ no stickers that had no scratches on it? Yeah, I’m asking more questions and taking more time to inspect. Should the dealer have been more transparent? Maybe, but I’m not here to dictate what he should or shouldn’t have said.

I know I personally would NEVER sell a less than 2 yr old watch that I knew to be polished as “MINT”…I would state it’s been polished and doesn’t have any noticeable scratches and let the buyer decide if they wanted a clean, polished example or not. Regardless of dealer or private party seller, I subscribe to the school of thought that ALL known history of a product should be disclosed as I never want to assume buyers expertise (or lack thereof). But that’s just me…agree to disagree if you like.

But I’m an adult, I’ll take responsibility for my hast & chalk it up to yet another lesson learned. As I preach to my kids often, if you’re not learning new things on a regular basis, you’re not asking enough questions or putting yourself into enough new & different situations.

[77T]

I’m glad it all worked out for you.
Plus I applaud your way of handling this with the seller and in this thread.

As for “Maybe” - for the avoidance of doubt, all buyers should proceed per my statement in post#31.

When I say proceed, I do mean many of the questions we ask routinely.

Any service history?
Anything been replaced?
Has it been touched-up in anyway?
How did you get it?
What’s the rate and amplitude?
Plus many more…

Note: I never ask “polished” to avoid mincing words. This avoids ambiguity.

That midcase edge where the HEV is situated may have been laser welded somewhere along the lug on either side. I can’t think of any other reason to hit it with the wheel so much. It may have met with misadventure. Hell, it might have been stolen and fenced.

Hope you do get the SD you want soon.


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[moby33]

Originally Posted by 77T

I’m glad it all worked out for you.
Plus I applaud your way of handling this with the seller and in this thread.

As for “Maybe” - for the avoidance of doubt, all buyers should proceed per my statement in post#31.

When I say proceed, I do mean many of the questions we ask routinely.

Any service history?
Anything been replaced?
Has it been touched-up in anyway?
How did you get it?
What’s the rate and amplitude?
Plus many more…

Note: I never ask “polished” to avoid mincing words. This avoids ambiguity.

That midcase edge where the HEV is situated may have been laser welded somewhere along the lug on either side. I can’t think of any other reason to hit it with the wheel so much. It may have met with misadventure. Hell, it might have been stolen and fenced.

Hope you do get the SD you want soon.


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Good points. I’ve owned the watch two other times in the past and will freely admit my excitement to get another on my wrist clouded my due diligence & question asking.

Reputable/known seller, less than 2 yrs old, words MINT and partial factory stickers gave me massive tunnel vision & I moved too fast. Shame on me I guess…

[77T]

Originally Posted by moby33

Good points. I’ve owned the watch two other times in the past and will freely admit my excitement to get another on my wrist clouded my due diligence & question asking.

Reputable/known seller, less than 2 yrs old, words MINT and partial factory stickers gave me massive tunnel vision & I moved too fast. Shame on me I guess…

No shame on you - the seller may have done the same thing if he took it on trade with a longtime trusted buyer.

So coulda been first time issue for both of you.


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[Dirt]

Originally Posted by 77T

Unless a used watch is represented as “unpolished”, you should proceed as if it’s been touched up.


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Agreed 100%

I also think people are losing their minds too much over this polished vs unpolished thing.
Lets face it.
Rolex has to polish the watch right from the start at factory to make it look merchantable so they can charge as much as they can.
I have seen reasonable variations in factory polishing on brand spanking new watches that I have owned with an obvious focus on getting the corners/chamfers right and other things about finishing coming in a very close second which are naturally prominent on the flat sided case designs.
Rolex has stated openly that they use a SS that has as one of it's key selection criteria that it can easily take a polish and further to this a polish/case refurbish is now much more of an opt out part of a service in modern times with the "polish" component being pushed as a most desirable feature of the Rolex ownership experience, with the wash up being the fact is it's very much part and parcel of the Rolex ownership experience.

The outcome of a "polish" is dependent on a number of factors, with the most important being the condition of the watch prior to polishing.
To that, we must be open to polishing as a fact of life and keep it in perspective when evaluating it's significance when buying or selling or our day to day life with our beloved watches.
Of course a bad or over polish is also a factor which is dependent on another set of metrics which can cause angst.
The vast majority of our watches aren't in the league of a Tiffany or a Double or Single red or another Rolex in that league so it's of limited significance except to the individual.

[moby33]

Originally Posted by Dirt

Agreed 100%

I also think people are losing their minds too much over this polished vs unpolished thing.

Ha…I tend to agree. BUT…in this case and strictly speaking for myself, the fact that the HEV now doesn’t appear OEM is what messes with my enjoyment. Yes I know the watch is real, but the SS vice gray TI appearance of the HEV is something I can’t unsee.

I’m not a huge PCL fan, yet I could never brush the links on say a new GMT as I’m not a mod kind of guy. This SD43 feels like a SS mod HEV instead of OEM. I’ll freely admit I’ve got issues.

[fabR]

NOT

you have no issues

owning a SDDS or SD43 polished correctly is one thing
owning a SDDS or SD 43 with the HEV destroyed from wrong polishing, is anther story
This is why took me for ever to find what i was looking for , today discontinued

I m with you 100% Moby33

[HiDive]

If someone polished it while the HEV was installed in the case I would not go in the water with it, for several reasons. They may have damaged the seal in the HEV. The polishing media or debris could be down in the space between the body and seat of the HEV and will cause corrosion. If it was done that way it was a dumb thing to do.

My SD50 definitely has a dull gray Ti HEV.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by moby33

Ha…I tend to agree. BUT…in this case and strictly speaking for myself, the fact that the HEV now doesn’t appear OEM is what messes with my enjoyment. Yes I know the watch is real, but the SS vice gray TI appearance of the HEV is something I can’t unsee.

I’m not a huge PCL fan, yet I could never brush the links on say a new GMT as I’m not a mod kind of guy. This SD43 feels like a SS mod HEV instead of OEM. I’ll freely admit I’ve got issues.

Understood.
I was just thinking.
Perhaps the SD43 and DSSD HEV are interchangeable and Rolex has standardised with the polished option?
Are they the same dimensions?

[Dirt]

Forget what I was saying about the HEV.
I was reviewing that set of pics you put up of your watch and the side of the case looks like it has definately had a fairly hard polish either side of the HEV so yes, It has been polished and without disassembly.

[waterman1]

Glad you are having a second crack at an unpolished SD43 and that the gray dealer was reasonable and took the watch back. This thread has been informative.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by moby33

Yep, as suspected, the side was polished. Took back to dealer and he confirmed that was the case. He’s going to find me another and take it back as he’s appreciative of my OCD when it comes to the fact I can’t get this polished valve out of my head. To make it “right” it would have to go back to RSC and I would pay way too much to replace a functional HEV for simply cosmetic purposes. So I’m just going to wait for another example to come in and swap out for it.

I realize some might be able to “live with it”…but now that I see it, I can’t unsee it and it annoys me. Bummed I didn’t notice originally, but as I said, it was a quick in & out when I got it as I had no reason to believe a 2022 wasn’t fresh. Lesson learned on my part…never be in too much of a rush to get the watch on your wrist!

Thanks all for the input…appreciate the feedback. In the end not the worst thing that could happen, just a little inconvenience.

Good for you

I’m sure you’ll find a better example, there are quite a few out there. Good luck

Here’s from from a very reputable seller …

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=935667

[1William]

Glad you are working it out with the seller. Your purchase should be to OEM standards or be revealed in the discussion of the watch.

[drrd]

Originally Posted by moby33

Ha…I tend to agree. BUT…in this case and strictly speaking for myself, the fact that the HEV now doesn’t appear OEM is what messes with my enjoyment. Yes I know the watch is real, but the SS vice gray TI appearance of the HEV is something I can’t unsee.

I’m not a huge PCL fan, yet I could never brush the links on say a new GMT as I’m not a mod kind of guy. This SD43 feels like a SS mod HEV instead of OEM. I’ll freely admit I’ve got issues.

Hopefully you can post a pic soon of the replacement.

Best of luck with it.

[JSolution]

Good on the seller :)

[Schnaps]

Pics are always welcome, here is mine in various lights (2021)