Kav:

Excellent subject that deserves a more complete response, but here is my initial reaction.

To some extent this is psychological -- I look at the watch on my wrist, and if it has a refinished dial or an improper replacement part, it bothers me. It just doesn't look right; it is not as satisfying as seeing something that I know is "right" or "correct" or "genuine". This is my own preference; my own aesthetic; some might say my own "hang up". I do not have a museum approach -- I only collect pieces that I will wear, and I am telling you my reaction when I wear them. If it's not genuine, I don't enjoy wearing it.

Turning from the psychological to the economic, I beleive that there is a much stronger market for the real / genuine / original pieces. If I buy something with a refinished dial or a replacement bezel, and pay 60% of what the original would cost, the market to resell it (if I change my mind) is much thinner / weaker. Anyone buying these pieces is dealing in a smaller, less efficient market, and these pieces will often attract few offers. So if you change your mind, you may be stuck. An original piece, on the other hand, will usually be sold into a strong market, with far more participants.

That's just my perspective, but I have never been happy with a refinished dial or replacement parts. I wouldn't say that one is "better", but I know with certainty which ones I want to wear and own.

Jeff

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

: Is an "authentic", "all
: original" Heuer a better watch than a
: Heuer with a few non original parts (for
: example with a replaced bezel - see previous
: thread) ? Why?

: If you think the meaning of "better"
: is to relative, then please provide your
: definition of "better" - what YOU
: mean by "better".

: My view is that an all original Heuer is not by
: definition a better watch than a Heuer with
: a few non original parts.

: Some of us may have a "museum"
: approach to collecting, and I understand why
: such a collector can have originality as a
: highest priority, but I also believe that
: many watch enthusiasts (the participants of
: this forum excluded) are looking for 100%
: originality without exactly knowing why.

: Your opinion?