<walking on eggshells...> - recognizing cosmetically enhanced 1675's?

watchknut

Great thread...it amazes me that so many perfect gilt GMTs are out there...I mean mirror gloss with perfect, deep bevels!

For what it is worth, here some interesting observations from my experience.

LAWW can match hands using period tritium and radium so that matches a Geiger reading and UV light. They only do hands and do not touch dials. If they can do it, then you know others can as well.

I found a watchmaker in Italy that can remove flawed lacquer from a gilt dial and reapply...he can also relume with period tritium and radium. There are more of him out there...

I found a guy that can make a 1:1 Rolex midcase and will put a serial and reference numbers with a pantograph machine. They accept gen parts. There are many of them out there...

I am not saying that any dealers are doing anything shady, but the number of killer watches hitting the market seems to outstrip the mediocre ones that were once prevalent.

Darlinboy

What kind of dishwasher is required? 😗

Darlinboy

What kind of dishwasher is required? 😗

watchknut

Run the whole watch through???

Heat I guess pressure cooked them...

The crown guards are the tell tale areas imo. The bevel carrying all the way around to the edge is key. These bevels are almost gone.

citizenrich

This shit has been going on since the first time a same year stainless steel sub sold for more than a two tone at auction in the early 90's. It makes no sense if you really think about it.

I knew this Swedish kid who used to buy SS no dates (NOBODY WANTED THESE IN THE 90's) by the handful for less than $1500 and make his watchmaker polish each piece to "Rolex Specs". Perfect bezels, etc.
Then, he'd run them through the dishwasher at max temp (drying as well) like 15 or 20 times.


This would begin to to turn the dials "tropical" and the lume would turn that creamy color.

pIoNeErOfThEnILe

there are plenty of artisans out there in the rep sites. everybody that thinks about buying a vintage rollie needs to know the sinister stuff going on.

ATWG

Paul - I assume you’re still searching for your GMT. Just curious, where are you in your search and besides this post, what have you uncovered.

I have seen a lot of FS posts, one particularly last week which was a killer deal.

Mr Blond

Must have missed that FS post, link?

Lonestar

Can you please point us to these sites so we get a feel for what you've spotted happening behind the scenes here, and we're more aware, too?

Again, I doubt this will give bad ideas to the good folks, and I doubt the crooks aren't aware already anyway... so no harm done by giving us that visibility

(I hope...)

Thanks!

Paul

BenBagbag

1 question: Does probably lightly polished mean the case has been recut? 😒

citizenrich

This shit has been going on since the first time a same year stainless steel sub sold for more than a two tone at auction in the early 90's. It makes no sense if you really think about it.

I knew this Swedish kid who used to buy SS no dates (NOBODY WANTED THESE IN THE 90's) by the handful for less than $1500 and make his watchmaker polish each piece to "Rolex Specs". Perfect bezels, etc.
Then, he'd run them through the dishwasher at max temp (drying as well) like 15 or 20 times.


This would begin to to turn the dials "tropical" and the lume would turn that creamy color.

R PerJ

Being Swedish I had to try. Started off with two glossy black dials and put the GMT in my dishwasher a couple of times. Tadaa!

Renton

hey which brand of dishwasher do you use? i need it!

Renton

hey which brand of dishwasher do you use? i need it!

mr_yossarian

Stop watering important (or any) threads with point- and brainless oneliners, postfarming etc..or other I can predict you a very short future here. Thank you.