http://forums.watchuseek.com/f29/fs...4-big-triangle-dial-just-serviced-870332.html

AAARH!! Why couldn't this seller have posted this watch for sale BEFORE having the case polished, the original caseback refinished, and the hands and dial (including the big triangle RELUMED). He posted that he just had this watch "fully serviced" and gotten the full works done to it. I'd have paid him more with it untouched!!

Am I the only one who cringes and feels regret when reading this listing?

Mark

 

Sadly, even to some forum members (especially the relatively inexperienced WUS Public Forum crowd) shiny + pretty > original.

 

As long as it glows good....

 

and I'm of the opinion that I'd pay more for a rougher original piece, than one that's shiny + pretty and perfect! UGH!!! so sad! Wish someone could have saved this piece.

 

I confess guilty of encouraging this practice as a buyer.
I bought a flightmaster 911 which case is already heavily polished , but have very nice replacement dial, hands and pusher. Do I feel regret? A little bit...........but I can not supress my smile whenever I see it in very 'clean' looking. Most muggles (non vintage WIS people) complementing it more than my 910 flightmaster which retain its weary case, dial, hands and pushers. Of course compliment in vintage WIS community worth 10 times of the 'muggles'.......but still.

 

Respectable Member g-boac

Another difficult to source watch that was authentic and in factory-original condition, has been damaged by an ignorant party.

Just look at those re-lumed hour markers. Least said, nauseating.

Thank-you.

 

Respectable Member seamonster - well put!! Absolutely.

And for enjoying that "new watch shine" - that is where a gorgeous Watchco (or 3570.50.00 in the Speedy family) fit in!!

The crying shame here is that this seller was willing to part with the watch - and did this as a last action prior to putting it up for sale!!

 

Respectable Member g-boac

There is a wise saying by Confucious: 'the consequences of giving a pretty flower to a monkey'.

Unfortunately, there are too many clowns, who cannot appreciate the true meaning of the word 'vintage'.

If that seller were to give me the watch, even for free, I will not put it on my wrist.

Thank-you.

 

In time all these slap-stick pieces will only serve to up the value of the factory untouched originals.

 

There is a local saying where I come from with regards to vintage watches. You can fix most things.... but you can't fix stupid

 

When I first started this hobby I found some 333's, 343's and 352's with nice cases and movements but with poor dials. I spent much time and money to have the dials restored, and although some of them turned out pretty good, I ended up selling every one of them. This is a 333 dial I had restored in Germany.

 

That would be the type of redial great on eBay, except it's too expensive of a watch for the average "I wanna pretty & shiny" buyer and the more experienced collector wouldn't pay big bucks.

 

Exactly