Another Question on Polished v Not Polished (live watch with pictures)

[Jay (Eire)]

I know there are a lot of posts on this topic, with pictures and guidance from others re how to tell if a watch has been polished. I’ve read a lot of them, I’m still not confident in making a call as I’ve not hand enough in my hands in the metal.

Here are some pictures of that 16710 from 1998 that I mentioned in another post.

What are people’s thoughts on the case condition? Do you think it’s had some work done?

Note, I’ve both cropped and brighten the pictures to hopefully make the details more clear.

Thanks in advance.







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[joli160]

Nice watch, give it a polish and it's ready to wear

[1665fan]

I say unpolished and never get it polished....I would assume majority of collectors would never polish and unpolished watch.

[Dan S]

Just some honest wear IMO.

[daydatepiepan]

Thats perfect as it is right now if you ask me.

[STEELINOX]

Pretty decent "unmolested" piece of hardware ya have there sir!

Don't dare take a polish to it!


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[Jay (Eire)]

Originally Posted by STEELINOX

Pretty decent "unmolested" piece of hardware ya have there sir!

Don't dare take a polish to it!


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Thanks, not mine rather a non watch enthusiast buddy's watch. But 100% agree, no polishing to be done.

What I was trying to establish was whether or not this watch had seen some previous work. I had an opinion but it is based on very limited exposure to older watches like this and so I needed some expert advice.

It seems the overwhelming opinion is this one has never seen any work on the case.

[Floorguy]

Looks unpolished to me. I can still see the chamfer on the lugs!

[Jay (Eire)]

Originally Posted by Floorguy

Looks unpolished to me. I can still see the chamfer on the lugs!

Yes, even though I could see them I wasn't 100%.

Thanks.

[037]

Lug holes look crisp, chamfers are still there. Likely unpolished.

Folded endlinks are a beautiful thing.

[Dr.Smellody]

Let it be.

Polish peace.

[sillo]

As some have mentioned, one of the easiest ways to tell is the lugholes. Should be sharp and perfectly circular. When they're polished they start to smooth out and take on an ovular shape.

[Jay (Eire)]

Originally Posted by sillo38

As some have mentioned, one of the easiest ways to tell is the lugholes. Should be sharp and perfectly circular. When they're polished they start to smooth out and take on an ovular shape.

Thanks Sean. I'd read other comments suggesting the lug holes should be slightly raised at the edge, this is not something I could easily ascertain on this watch. Perhaps with a loupe.

The shape and sharpness however, per your comment, I think is easier to determine with the naked eye. Thanks!

[STEELINOX]

Originally Posted by sillo38

As some have mentioned, one of the easiest ways to tell is the lugholes. Should be sharp and perfectly circular. When they're polished they start to smooth out and take on an ovular shape.

I use the term, "bowling" as in literally - a removal of material resulting from polishing [usually by hand] that causes this bowl shaped lug hole opening...

Thanks,
Randy

[Jay (Eire)]

Originally Posted by STEELINOX

I use the term, "bowling" as in literally - a removal of material resulting from polishing [usually by hand] that causes this bowl shaped lug hole opening...

Thanks,
Randy

Randy, thanks.

[Tomas Eriksson]

Unmolested beauty! Sharp lugs and sharp bezel teeth. Don't dare polish it!

[athom]

Please leave it like it is !!! Beauty !!

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by joli160

Nice watch, give it a polish and it's ready to wear

Originally Posted by daydatepiepan

Thats perfect as it is right now if you ask me.

Originally Posted by Dr.Smellody

Let it be.

Polish peace.

Originally Posted by athom

Please leave it like it is !!! Beauty !!

Guys, he was just asking for opinions if it HAD been polished or not, not whether he should polish it.

[Jay (Eire)]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

Guys, he was just asking for opinions if it HAD been polished or not, not whether he should polish it.

Indeed Andy. Just be clear, if it was (or if it becomes) my watch there will be NO POLISHING.

Thanks all.

[koryong]

I've heard from some collectors that an RSC polish is able to retain the same chamfers on the lugs. Not sure how true that is though ?

[Jay (Eire)]

Originally Posted by koryong

I've heard from some collectors that an RSC polish is able to retain the same chamfers on the lugs. Not sure how true that is though ?

Yes, I've read similar. I would add that I also read numerous posts here suggesting that LAWW can do as good if not a better job with the probability of the desired outcome being higher as with LAWW you know who is doing your work (you can see past examples from the same hand) versus RSC where it's not clear that your watch will be worked on by the same person that did that great job on your buddy's watch.