The Watch Appreciation Thread - Part two (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger LeCoultre,

[9thsymph]

I would think desirability would be the bigger factor. If you look on chrono or Bob’s, sometimes steel and gold sells for less than steel. I know with the Daytona, I’ve seen the black dial sell sometimes for more and sometimes less (controlling for other variables) which I can only conclude is due to market forces as opposed to the MSRP, seeing as how it would be the same for both.

True. I guess I meant in the specific instance of a no-date sub (not the grey market in general as a reflection of msrp), where there is no variety of configuration = dial color, bezel color, metal, size, etc...

 

[Phileas Fogg]

I've read many complaints from former Daytona owners who sold their Daytona because they were too used to having a date on other watches, and not having one drove them crazy.

I wonder where they would want it placed on an otherwise busy dial.

 

[Dino944]

I would think desirability would be the bigger factor. If you look on chrono or Bob’s, sometimes steel and gold sells for less than steel. I know with the Daytona, I’ve seen the black dial sell sometimes for more and sometimes less (controlling for other variables) which I can only conclude is due to market forces as opposed to the MSRP, seeing as how it would be the same for both.

I believe he was referring specifically to Subs which to some degree is based on difference in MSRP.

If looking at Chrono 24, prices may differ just because of the demand market in a particular region of the world. In the late 90's although both dial colors were selling for more than MSRP through gray dealers, but the black dial was commanding a higher price in Japan (since that was what they favored).

 

[NakedYoga]

I wonder where they would want it placed on an otherwise busy dial.

View attachment 1544560

Maybe at the 6:00 position like some Speedmasters:

 

[sinnedk]

I wonder where they would want it placed on an otherwise busy dial.

View attachment 1544560

they wouldn't, it would look awful with a date

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Maybe at the 6:00 position like some Speedmasters:

View attachment 1544573 View attachment 1544576

What a pretty watch it would be (on top) were it not for that date window!

 

[Dino944]

I wonder where they would want it placed on an otherwise busy dial.

View attachment 1544560

Well, when the movement was based on the El Primero, people thought that Rolex should put a date window between the 4 and 5 hour markers, as it was on actual Zenith El Primero chronographs. That seems to be a common place to put it to avoid cutting into the subdial (AP does that with their RO chrono, and VC does it with their Overseas chrono).

 

[9thsymph]

a propos of nothing, I just threw my life savings into "Nobody beats the Wiz" so I reckon by sometime next week I'll be ready to show off some heavy hitters...stay tuned...

 

[NakedYoga]

a propos of nothing, I just threw my life savings into "Nobody beats the Wiz" so I reckon by sometime next week I'll be ready to show off some heavy hitters...stay tuned...

I did the same with Radio Shack--we'll see who comes out on top!

 

[double00]

the *actual* convo of adding back alloy to remachine to spec (vs polish or further cut) has been legit interesting

 

[TheFoo]

the *actual* convo of adding back alloy to remachine to spec (vs polish or further cut) has been legit interesting

It’s crazy what is possible now. I don’t recall laser welding being commonly available 10 years ago—now every manufacturer offers it.

However, it is not a cure-all. It can’t be used to fix superficial scratches and most manufacturers will only use it for serious nicks or gouges. They won’t add back material to a lug that has been rounded-off through excessive polishing. Independents like LAWW may help there, but that has its own risks. Also, you still have to polish down the whole case to match, so there will always be some compromise to the profile.

What mystifies me is “re-cutting”. You are still polishing off microns of material, but they also “cut” the edges to keep them crisp. On a previous occasion, Patek merely explained to me that they won’t do it on a used watch and that it is the same finishing technique deployed when the watch was first manufactured.

 

[TheFoo]

Someone else’s explanation of re-cutting vs. polishing:

“When “re-cutting”, LAWW more or less re-machines cases to be perfect with flat surfaces and sharp edges, which cannot be achieved with free-floating polishing done by hand.

The case of the watch is stripped down bare and mounted on a stationary mount, controlling the precise distance and angle that the case meets the polishing plates. It is not done by hand and very little case material is being removed. It's how you straighten poorly polished cases.”

 

[TheFoo]

Example before-and-after shots of LAWW’s re-cutting work on a vintage Rolex GMT:

Regular service polishing has the reverse effect on sharp edges.

 

[Texasmade]

Example before-and-after shots of LAWW’s re-cutting work on a vintage Rolex GMT:

View attachment 1544727

View attachment 1544728

Regular service polishing has the reverse effect on sharp edges.

I kind of see what you're saying but maybe it's because I'm dumb, but that still looks like they polished the watch to restore the edge instead of polishing to remove a scratch.

 

[sinnedk]

What is LAWW?