Surely this isn’t ‘unpolished’

[shammad10]

Scott Baratz from Vintage Worn claims this to be unpolished.
However the lug holes are so close to the edge they look like they’re about the fall off!
Is this just me not knowing enough or do you think their claim to not be true?

Would you expect a dealer like them to know better?




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[jamesbondOO7]

I think it just means « unpolished since when it went through a metal grinder »?

[Dan S]

I'm finding that "unpolished" seems to be part of dealer's boilerplate for their listings these days, and it's almost always BS. Sometimes I'll be scrolling through IG and I can't believe the garbage I read from the most famous dealers in the world.

[fabiobec]

Not mint

[swaini3]

Originally Posted by Dan S

I'm finding that "unpolished" seems to be part of dealer's boilerplate for their listings these days, and it's almost always BS. Sometimes I'll be scrolling through IG and I can't believe the garbage I read from the most famous dealers in the world.

This.... other terms also abused nowadays are "All original" and "Not relumed".

[1675-David]

Before casting aspersions on the seller remember 1. He has the watch in hand. 2 He has a lot of experience 3. He has a reputation to protect by not making stuff up 4. These cases were cut by hand back in the day and show a lot of variation.

I do agree with Dan thought

[Dench]

Looks like a friendly chap though!

[hutch300]

He sells a lot of watches with perfectly faded inserts and nice looking dial patina.

[Andjwhite]

:-/

[TimeToGo]

.
A very nice SOLID case...
To those that think this has been done or redone, sorry, you do not know what you are talking about.
I am not saying it is unpolished but it is one FINE looking case!

Enjoys these fine examples and stop the nonsense..

[offrdmania]

It is a nice case but I think the only thing that is true, is the fact that it hasnt been polished, since the last time it was polished. It may have had a polish many moons ago but I dont think it has never been polished.

[Dench]

Was it common for these cases to have the lug holes nearly into the chamfer? That doesn't look right.

[dg8dg7]

It doesn't look right because it's not right. Its been polished plenty, and even if it had only been polished once before, if it was sent in to RSC the degree of polishing would have varied based on the condition at that time. A bad ding could result in a significant degree of metal being removed to get it out.

All that to say, it's become a big part of selling these, but I have yet to find a single case where unpolished or NOS was actually the truth. The exception is my watchmaker who had bought pieces off the original owners who had the receipt - it's rare and it would be part of the listing details of that were the case.

I've also become somewhat apathetic to all this talk about condition and how it somehow increases value. The truth is that any watch can become NOS again with some lazer welding, it's pretty spooky.

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[av1atic]

I’ve done 10+ deals with Scott. He’s an honest, reputable dealer with a ton of experience selling some of the nicest vintage pieces on the market. As someone else mentioned, he wouldn’t jeopardize his reputation on an empty claim. Also, he’s very responsive on instagram - try reaching out.

[0nly5iv3Digits]

Too many chiming in without adequate experience. Very possible this is unpolished.

If it has been, it has been done sparingly (once or twice). Very solid condition to be sure.

[X JBM X]

Scott is not only local to me, but someone that I would consider an expert in the vintage space. If he’s saying unpolished, I would tend to agree with him, or at least have a conversation before putting things on blast.

[greekbum]

To the untrained eye it might not look good but to the trained eyes the watch is as described. Whoever is buying or collecting vintage Rolex should buy what they like and are comfortable with. There are several expert case re builders out there and several expert dial Picasso’s out there but nobody has been able to do it 100%. This looks like an honest case to me.
I can’t upload these pics but here is an unpolished one you can compare

https://www.instagram.com/p/57WO19wW...R1YXViajAxeA==

[hutch300]

I think the takeaway is for the buyer to be informed and buy what they are comfortable with. Unpolished or not I wish that term didn't exist.

[Dan S]

I like the watch and I think that it's honest. I also understand that the seller is well-respected and probably has many friends on the forum. But I don't think that's the question.

I am wondering if some people in this thread are interpreting the question differently than others. And maybe the word "unpolished" has taken on a new meaning. Some people are apparently using "unpolished" to indicate that the case retains its general original shape. But that's not how I interpret the term, and maybe that's why it bothers me. "Insane," "crazy," "unpolished," "pumpkin," "all-original," "NOS," "minty" ... give me a break. And then when things are obviously wrong, they're not mentioned. For goodness sake, we're selling and buying 5-figure items, let's be adults.

I would only call a watch unpolished if it showed no signs of previous polishing using a buffing wheel. I understand that it's uncommon that a watch would be truly unpolished, but I personally feel that the term should be reserved for those rare occasions. Looking at the lugs and bezel ring of the OP watch, I'd never make that claim.

[springer]

Originally Posted by 1675-David

Before casting aspersions on the seller remember 1. He has the watch in hand. 2 He has a lot of experience 3. He has a reputation to protect by not making stuff up 4. These cases were cut by hand back in the day and show a lot of variation.

I do agree with Dan thought

Interesting points to consider, but, in my opinion, the case has definitely been worked on before. I see several marks/scratches that are on the chamfers that do not overlap on to the the top of the lugs. They mysteriously stop at the edge of the chamfers but should continue on to the top portion past the chamfer's edge, and, because they do not would indicate that there has been some "touching up" or polishing to the lugs.

By the way, experience does not equate with knowledge.

[springer]

Originally Posted by av1atic

I’ve done 10+ deals with Scott. He’s an honest, reputable dealer with a ton of experience selling some of the nicest vintage pieces on the market. As someone else mentioned, he wouldn’t jeopardize his reputation on an empty claim. Also, he’s very responsive on instagram - try reaching out.

While the watch does appear nice for its age, it does not exhibit typical unpolished attributes. As far as his reputation goes, it's good to see that you have had a pleasant experience with this dealer.

[Tensai]

Instagram is a dumpster fire of “unpolished” “barn find” “minty” “pristine” pieces, many with “perfect patina”, “original factory bevels” and “full set” boxes and papers (most with hand written guarantees…hmmm). And of course, if not unpolished, then they are “honest” vintage pieces. Honest?

And where does all that perfect “pumpkin” patina come from? Sort of suspicious.

It’s a mine field for those who aren’t experts (like me). Good luck.

[geoach]

look at the 3 others to see if they match...........one photo does not prove nothing

[Old Expat Beast]

What is "insanely unpolished" supposed to mean? Sounds like some serious overselling even if it is unpolished. And "Hugeeedddd"? This is not someone I would buy from.

[PL4444]

Unpolished? Please. Just look at the bezel.

[Kingface66]

Here’s the listing.
https://vintageworn.com/products/167...erry-mega-font

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by X JBM X

Scott is not only local to me, but someone that I would consider an expert in the vintage space. If he’s saying unpolished, I would tend to agree with him, or at least have a conversation before putting things on blast.

It's a forum, to talk, ask questions and discuss watches. This isn't putting someone or something on blast.

[TuRo]

Dealt with Scott a few times. Very fair and knowledgeable chap.

Tbh unpolished/minty/unmolested/n.o.s./safe-queen stuff I just totally gloss over as mere frippery !

[shammad10]

Originally Posted by X JBM X

Scott is not only local to me, but someone that I would consider an expert in the vintage space. If he’s saying unpolished, I would tend to agree with him, or at least have a conversation before putting things on blast.

This is a forum, in which I have learnt a lot from, and I am trying to learn about this watch.
The point of the post is to learn. Just because Scott is local to you and you have had a good dealing with him, it doesn't mean he can't be wrong.
To me, unpolished means just that. The experts here think that he is wrong. It's not an attack or a pile on him.

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by shammad10

This is a forum, in which I have learnt a lot from, and I am trying to learn about this watch.
The point of the post is to learn. Just because Scott is local to you and you have had a good dealing with him, it doesn't mean he can't be wrong.
To me, unpolished means just that. The experts here think that he is wrong. It's not an attack or a pile on him.

Not all of the experts. Greekbum, for one, sees an honest case there.