Actually this is already an issue. Currently the hot topic in gemstones is heat treatment in rubies and sapphires, and more difficult oiling in emeralds.
the oiling in emeralds is especially problematic as unscrupulous dealers oil the stones after a certification of “no Oil”
we come full circle - to the idea that you still need a brain to be in any arena where you are laying down significant sums. And here is the thing, the significant amount of money for me, needing my scrutiny and knowledge to secure, may not be a significant amount for someone else, who glances at a paper and think that looks ok.
to address the specific issue raised above:
I do not see an issue here.
The term “original”, when I use it, means (to me) that the bezel or hand or whatever, is correct specification and raises no concerns that it has been added, although that is always a possibility. It looks commensurate with the watch. So there is no reason to think it did not leave the factory on the watch.
the term “correct” is used when the item is original specification, but something suggests it has been added after the watch has left the factory.
this kind of subtle assessment is exactly the kind of process that must remain the responsibility of the purchaser to take responsibility for, and make an informed decision on.
I can’t tell you the number of hours I have wasted with my loupe and an emerald with three “no-oil” certificates staring at a tiny fissure with what I think is foreign material. Don’t get me started on epoxy....that does this:
View attachment 1017869
(Not my photo)
so what the unscrupulous do is send the stone on the left to a lab, and get a no oil paper, then treat it and sell it as no oil
TPA’s will not address the swapping of parts, but it will reduce it, and I think that a lot of watches will fail, thus making the good ones even more valuable.
and here we stray, as the auction houses want us to, into looking at watches as high value wealth storage.
im off to buy a Timex and a Prim
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