Some thoughts I had regarding Box and Papers

[bluemartinifan]

Hi michael,
un touched case with typical signs of normal wear (Andrew Shear's opinion). All 4 lugs and lug holes look much like this. When received from Andrew (no B&P) it was running at 5+ minutes per day and REALLY needed a service. No service marks on the inside case back.
Perhaps an untouched watch that rarely or never had a service???

[kokota]

Good point and I somewhat agree with you Mike...

Here's my (IMO) NOS GMT 16750. I picked it up without papers, but as others said, I'll take this any day over a worn example with a complete set.

[Vincent65]

Interesting theory, Mike. I think there's truth in it. Often the ones with all the extra stuff and a compendium of service documentation can look a little 'eroded' in the case dept. and have obviously had lots of parts replaced as the owners have 'looked after' them with sensible regular servicing.

For me, it's all about the watch itself - dial, case and overall appeal and condition is everything. B&P is a very nice bonus, for provenance, of course.

As you've seen in my 'divers' thread the other day. I have one vintage with original box and paperwork; the 1970 RED 1680. No service marks in case-back, and appears to be unpolished and all-original. We just had a new top-hat crystal put in (and I kept the original), and Bucherer AD in Zurich put a new case-back gasket in when we opened it up to have a look inside. Spotless and apparently untouched, they said. And running well when measured (which I already knew) and not in need of a service as of a year ago, when I bought it from Mr Ku.

[My 1966 1675 just has original box and 2011 RSC service documentation, and my 1990 16600 has Rolex AD (Beyer) in-house service docs from when I had it done last winter. It came with no 'extras' - just the watch and original bracelet]

Great examples here chaps.

[scottb2]

whoa john - that one woke me up :)

congrats - its a diamond!!

[Michael M.]

Great to hear most of you guys agree with me, fantastic examples Clay, Springer, and others

Here is my '74 1675 Mark 2 Matte w/Full Set Box & Papers....worn off and on for a couple years than put in a safe.