I have a Rolex 1665 DRSD with the original owners name and 21st birthday engraved. Primarily I didn't like this but it then occured to me that this showed great provenance as he was the seller. The watch was sold for a noble charitable reason and actually adds to the watches story.
The tape hides his name as the original owner is very modest about this generous gesture .

 

True, if an engraving has been thoughtfully done on a caseback i usually don’t shrug on them, but can’t stand engravings on the clasps. Don’t know why, maybe they’re a bit more “in your face” wearing them and when on a caseback there a bit hidden, only to be seen when taking off or putting on the watch.

Worst is a caseback that has had an erroneous attempt to have the engravings removed....

 

Great advice, all. Thank you.

 

I don't mind engravings if they are done well and have some sort of significance but this is one of the most subjective topics of watch collecting.
Here is an example. This is my Caravelle Devil diver that I bought at a jeweler's roughly a year and a half ago. The person who was selling it, a local, had the watch for more than 20 years and serviced it there a couple of times. The caseback is engraved with the following text: "Love, Lynn". Some days I wonder who this lady Lynn was and I come up with the wildest theories. One thing is for sure, she gifted it out of love to someone dear to her. Too bad someone attempted to polish the engraving away at some point in time and I doubt it was the guy who was selling it, since he said it didn't bother him.
I'll guess I'll keep on wondering...

 

No problem here, some are even nicely made

 

Japanese presentation watches usually don't include the name of the recipient. I've sought them out mostly out of curiosity and found that they sell easily on eBay when I translate the inscription and give a little context.

"Commemorating twenty years of service//Kagawa Prefecture Credit Union"

Citizen Homer watches were issued to personnel by Japanese railroads engraved with the year and the railway they served. They're widely available and have a utilitarian handsomeness.

(From Japanese Yahoo! Auctions: "Shōwa 45 [1970] // Motetsu [abbreviation of Moji Railway Authority, based in Kyūshū] // 33")

Personally I like the inscriptions, though I've never owned/will never own a watch valuable enough to be impacted one way or the other by the presence of an inscription on the back.

 

Here is an example of a watch case that had engraving removed. The case back was plain when I acquired it, but it was also cracked! I sent the case back to a goldsmith with specific instructions to work only on the outside of the case back, so as to preserve the information inside the case back. You can see a seam where the crack was.

 

I've had a few pieces with engraving, usually because it was a model of watch I really wanted, but they were always kinda spoiled by the markings. Given the choice a clean case is always more desirable for me, but when a silver 1880s pocket watch cased turned up with my initials on the back, I had to have it. I mean. what are the odds?

here it is fitted with a "fresh" movement, nice dial and NOS hands.

 

Very cool dial!

 

I have a few watches with engravings. I like them, because they give me an opportunity to research and learn about the particular piece which lends to my appreciation for it.

Below is a Longines wristwatch with dial done in the military style I picked up several months ago. I was intrigued about the history of this watch, because it has an inscription to LieutenantCommander Chas N. Coseboom and the date 10 March 1943.

Additional information through my research indicates LC Coseboom was an engineer with the Department of Navy Coast Guard Division responsible for the construction of buildings and facilities during the war. See p. 36 of 68 of The Federal Architect, April - July 1945:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjANegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw3vhb2OW63GaXvZKuFOjkLV

 

An ode to an unshakable marriage:

 

Personally I love the story an engraving can tell,

 

I would not think twice about getting a watch that is engraved.
A major part of the appeal of my Seamaster is the engraving.
The watch was a gift to my Grandfather, from my Grandmother, on his 40th birthday.
Sure, even without the engraving I know it was his and where it come from, but the engraving makes it a little extra special to me for some reason.
However, if it was just some random engraving, I'm not sure if I'd feel exactly the same way...but like I said, it still wouldn't stop me.



(before I got it all sorted)

 

I did my apprenticeship as an engraver, and I can assure you that is a nice bit of hand engraving, I just hate machine engraving! Also engraving on a curved surface like that makes the task a tad trickier.

 

More on the OP’s subject here:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/poll-do-you-guys-really-despise-inscriptions-that-much.21016/

 

I usually hate inscriptions myself. But I do really like awards watches for some reason. Especially when the engraving is beautifully done....

 

That's the best engraving I've seen yet.The GE in the inscription is perfect!

 

Agreed. Its beautiful.

 

I find the sentiment a bit odd. Does the giver expect to have a 2nd wife, 3rd wife, more? Is he Muslim and plans on having multiple wives? If I was the recipient bride I would look at that and I wouldn't be comforted.

 

I don't mind a well-executed inscription, especially those conveying emotion from giver to recipient, but it would drive me to drink (a lot more) if I had no idea who it is. Similarly, I hate driving past a park or building named after someone and have no clue who it is.