Does anyone find any charm to these hallmarks?
Is it part of the provenance of the watch once it's there?
Would you laser weld that lil' sucker?
Where are you standing on the branding?

 

I'm portuguese so i'm biased but i love them:

Omega Seamaster 145.024:



Zenith El Primero Big Blue:



UG Polerouter Date:



UG Tri Compax:



Tissot Navigator Lemania 1341:

 

How do you get them to stamp the case and not the lug??? Secret Portuguese handshake?

 

Maybe I should at least have one, if things get too hairy in the US it might give me cred with the Portuguese border agents and let me slip into the country.
Hopefully I can crash on @Tony C. 's couch.

 

I doubt that any, current, portuguese border agent knows what that stamp is...

 

I like them, as they confirm the country of origin, and are not too obtrusive. The authorities were more also a bit more discreet with gold cased watches.

And @Rman, you are welcome to crash here on escape from the collapsing Empire.

 

Provenance in my opinion. I do not have any watches with these hallmarks, but if I did I would be inclined to leave the hallmark. It's a person choice, though.

An extension of the question is whether the case with hallmark is more desirable in the collectors market then a case that has been laser welded. I suspect the case with the hallmark.

 

IMO this is part of the provenance but on the other hand I hate how they often struck it on top of the lug instead on the case back or on the band... it often looks like damage