I posted the first message on an airplane, and have not had good internet access since then.

Thanks for the excellent discussion, and I will jump in when I get back to Atlanta, Sunday evening.

Here's wishing everyone a great weekend!!

Jeff

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

: As we continue to discuss the endless topics that make the
: vintage watch hobby so interesting, let me suggest a topic that
: I cannot recall our discussing, in any depth or detail –
: polished cases.

: Let me begin with a confession and a question: The confession is
: that I do not know the details of how polishing occurs? What
: tools and techniques? What materials and solutions? When does a
: “cleaning” become a “polishing”? If any metal is lost /
: removed in the process, does that make it a “refinishing”?
: [I know how to polish a car and even silverware, but could
: benefit from one of our watchmakers / craftsmen providing some
: information about the process. Abel and Craig . . . are you out
: there?]

: So now the real question: How do you react to a Carrera or Autavia
: from the 1960s, on which the metal has been cleaned, but the
: case has never been refinished? You can see all the light nicks
: and scratches that have been added over the years, but you are
: confident that no metal has ever been removed by a polishing or
: refinishing process? The edges of the case are original; no work
: on the surfaces that may have softened them in any way . . .
: absolutely razor sharp!! Or how do you react when the metal has
: been polished – clean and shiny, but the geometry of the
: surfaces has been changed slightly in the polishing /
: refinishing process.

: Over the years, it’s absolutely amazing how many times I have
: heard the phrase “lightly-polished”. No seller seems to
: confess that a case has been “heavily polished”. So how do
: you react, when you see these heavily polished cases?

: And what about values? Yes, the shiny ones look bright and clean,
: but do you add or deduct from the price that you will pay, when
: you can see that the case has been polished / refinished? Will
: you pay a premium for having all the original metal, or do the
: nicks and scratches require a discount?

: Final question: What shall we call a case that has all the original
: metal, without any loss in the polishing / refinishing process?
: Of course this one may have the light scratches and nicks, but
: the original surfaces have never been refinished? Original
: metal? Raw metal? Untouched metal? Over my years of collecting,
: I have come to love these old ones that have never seen the
: polishing wheel or sandpaper (or whatever it is they use to
: refinish them). How about you?

: Jeff