Let’s say you’re in the market for a vintage Rolex watch and prefer to buy one that’s not been polished or at the very least, only lightly polished. How do you know what the seller is advertising is true? Although it’s difficult to know for certain, there are a few things you can examine.
Remember that it is quite rare to come across a vintage replica Rolex that has never been polished. Many owners dutifully sent their watches in for servicing and more likely than not, the watch underwent a polishing at some point or another during its history. It’s more realistic to look for vintage watches that were skillfully polished, complete with crisp edges and close-to-original silhouettes.
Some Rolex owners prefer not to polish their vintage watches to keep the original integrity of the watch but are perfectly fine with having modern watches polished to keep them looking as new as possible. It really is a matter of personal preference.
However, if you have a factory-original vintage Rolex that has never been polished, now is not the time to begin. It’s worth mentioning again that untouched Rolex watches are much more valuable within vintage collecting circles than restored ones. These timepieces may look beat up and worn out to the untrained eye but to passionate collectors of old watches, these are vintage beauties that are becoming harder to find in original condition.
It’s quite common for people trying to sell their Rolex replica watches to have them serviced, buffed, and polished first, thinking that they’ll get a better price because of it. Unfortunately, this can sometimes have the opposite effect on the value of the watch – not to mention the additional cost of the service and polishing itself.
If you’re looking to sell your pre-owned watch to Bob’s Watches, we always advise against having it polished beforehand. If it is a model that should be polished, we can always have it done on our end, but polishing the wrong vintage watch can take hundreds or even thousands of dollars off its resale price. Lastly, when it comes to your own personal watches, if you are unsure as to whether or not you want to have it polished, sometimes waiting till you’re sure is the best way to proceed. Remember, you can always have a watch polished, but you can never un-polish one.