Seriously, can nobody be trusted...?!

Here we have a beautiful, super rare Patek being sold by [edit, name removed to avoid unfairly maligning...].

But a little dig on the internet finds the same watch sold by Sotheby’s previously...but before the dial was touched up...

(Ok so it’s not a full redial, but we are talking serious money here, you need and expect full disclosure!)

I have circled some obvious bits that were touched up.

 

Looks like he might of just cleaned up the crystal to me?

 

Oddly look at 22-23 minutes. The touched up shot shows minute track damage not on the untouched example.

Honestly I’m not sure if I’d fault the watch for it being touched up. It looks OEM.

 

I wouldn't fault, but would want disclosure for sure.

 

Must say, I can’t understand how:

(a) you can point to minute track damage, but at the same time call it OEM

(b) you can think the loss of font in the circled “2” is due to a scratch in the crystal ...

And how can discrepancies like this not matter when you’re spending $70k? Surely you either need everything to be perfect, or at least know all the facts so you can make an informed decision.

But I’m really no expert, by a long way.

 

OEMis not NOS

My point is someone did a very good and very sympathetic restoration on the piece. It’s undetectable. You would never know a skilled craftsmen touched up a few spots and apparently at some point minute track damage happened.

Most very old art pieces have had the same thing done to them are they now worth less?

I think it should be disclosed but it’s not something that devalues this piece

 

Crystals can do funny things to images, I wouldn't jump to conclusions.
If he was putting the effort into cleaning up the dial, why leave all the scum around the applied numerals 5 and 7? Those are the first things to catch the eye

 

Because the “scum” is a stain that can’t be touched up without a full redial, while the numbers are easy to touch up.

But why they would then remove? leave out? the minute markers I do not know.

Either way, this would put me off a purchase at this price.

I think it should be disclosed and, if some light touching up took place, devalues by about 10% personally.

Not knowing exactly what was done and getting no disclosure from seller - that makes me walk away.

 

I agree - think hard to tell unless handled in person. The exact area that you spotted points to this fact. Good eye, @Foo2rama!!

 

Under a second look I’m with you on this. They issues could be crystal artifacts. If it was cleaned up why the gunk and not fix the 48 minute track. The one at 55 minutes could clearly be a scratch.

 

You sound very definitive. Do have experience cleaning dials?

 

You'd need several photos from different angles to judge if the damage visible here is actually damage to the crystal or the dial...

 

Absolutely none...

 

Ok I got this completely wrong

View from another angle shows the crystal makes it looks like there are missing bits of dial printing, but it’s just the angle or scratches on the crystal...

 

If you really want to cry... I was so close.to spent 17,5k.on this one...



then I was lucky enough to discover this from a previous sales...

 

Frost, can u tell what is the problem on that Longines ? I only see they are not the same watch because of the différent number on lugs

 

It is the same Watch, the numbers on the lug were regraved to match the caseback

 

Oh !!

 

Damn. It's a mine-field out there isn't it?

 

And I didn't tell you that a bunch of newly done 'original' papers were suddenly added to the watch