Is this clasp polished or truly "new"?

[VonSomething]

Hi everyone!

I'm doing some research on a 78790A bracelet and I've come across a couple of "new" bracelets, but the crown stamps on the clasp look much softer than what I usually see.

Is the seller simply being disingenuous and added a red sticker to the clasp, to make it seem new, or are there variations out there where the stamping just wasn't sharp out the factory?

I'll add a couple of photos to showcase what I mean.

First image is an unpolished clasp with a lovely sharp crown. Second and third images are from sales ads and supposedly shows "new/unworn" clasps.

Thoughts?

[springer]

The second and third ones are definitely polished//refinished. I would move on from those two disingenuous dealers/sellers.

Below is an unpolished clasp from 1999 and below that is an NOS GMT from 2007 clasp that is unpolished.

[Filipão]

Originally Posted by VonSomething

Is the seller simply being disingenuous and added a red sticker to the clasp, to make it seem new, or are there variations out there where the stamping just wasn't sharp out the factory?

Thoughts?

Unbelievable how these crooks think they can fool buyers.

Well... actually they must do fool some.

[1665fan]

Yes the first one is the only unpolished example and it’s not too hard to tell them apart….

[GGGMT]

Funny


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[VonSomething]

Thank you guys, that's what I thought as well. Pre-owned market is sketchy.

[VonSomething]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

Yes the first one is the only unpolished example and it’s not too hard to tell them apart….

What is the likelihood of the overpolishing having happened in the factory? In theory of course anything is possible, but is it likely?

[1675-David]

Originally Posted by VonSomething

...Pre-owned market is sketchy.

"and the award for Understatement of the Year goes to..."

[1665fan]

Originally Posted by VonSomething

What is the likelihood of the overpolishing having happened in the factory? In theory of course anything is possible, but is it likely?

Pretty good because they have the factory stickers on the polished buckles it looks like

[shaunylw]

That’s going to get by the mass majority of people. The crazy thing is they were likely polishing out years of handling marks. I can’t imagine it was that bad, but they polished the heck out of that crown.


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[VonSomething]

Here is another example of a dealer having a "NOS" for sale.

Case looks nice and sharp, recess to SEL also looks like it would on an unworn watch - BUT again the crown on the clasp looks overly polished.

Admittedly the picture is a bit out of focus but it seems similar to the ones posted above. Coincidentally it has exactly the same style caseback-sticker which I haven't seen many of.

In fact, the only watches I've seen with that style caseback sticker all claim to be NOS and feature a similarly over-polished crown on the clasp. The rest of the watch looks very sharp though...

Could it be an odd variation that just came out like that from the Rolex factory (they're all claiming to be 2001-2002)?

[springer]

Originally Posted by VonSomething

Here is another example of a dealer having a "NOS" for sale.

Case looks nice and sharp, recess to SEL also looks like it would on an unworn watch - BUT again the crown on the clasp looks overly polished.

Admittedly the picture is a bit out of focus but it seems similar to the ones posted above. Coincidentally it has exactly the same style caseback-sticker which I haven't seen many of.

In fact, the only watches I've seen with that style caseback sticker all claim to be NOS and feature a similarly over-polished crown on the clasp. The rest of the watch looks very sharp though...

Could it be an odd variation that just came out like that from the Rolex factory (they're all claiming to be 2001-2002)?

I am not seeing the same thing you are reporting in this post.

[VonSomething]

Originally Posted by springer

I am not seeing the same thing you are reporting in this post.

Do you think the crown on the clasp looks sharp and brand new? (Legitimately asking, as in my eyes it looks soft and polished)

[indianmachine]

crown looks soft to me too. also I don't see any stickers on the tops of the lugs which seems odd?

[VonSomething]

Originally Posted by indianmachine

crown looks soft to me too. also I don't see any stickers on the tops of the lugs which seems odd?

These were only added for later references, older models only had on the sides, so not as covered up as the watches today.