Who the f*** is doing the polishing over at Watchfinder

Knebo · Jul 7, 2025

Hi all,

having monitored Rolex 1016's for a long time and now finally owning one in nice condition (see different thread), I just wanted to "vent" about the 1016's seen at Watchfinder. Who the heck is polishing these into oblivion??

There are 4 on sale right now and I can't imagine that they were worse before they were polished by them.

See here, from worst to "best". 1 and 2 are just ridiculous - no comment needed. 3 and 4 have a little bit of substance left in the lugs, but they completely rounded off the bezels.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Jones in LA · Jul 7, 2025

Definitely a situation where the amount of polishing can be measured in grams 😥

Fallout Boy · Jul 7, 2025

But he didn t touch the priming!

Knebo · Jul 7, 2025

Fallout Boy
priming

Excuse my ignorance (not native English speaker), but what is "priming" in this context?

Mark020 · Jul 7, 2025

90% of the customers of Watchfinders will be people who just want a watch. They have no clue that these watches are frowned upon by collectors.

Vercingetorix · Jul 7, 2025

Every Explorer overpolished increases the value of the unpolished ones.

Knebo · Jul 7, 2025

Mark020
90% of the customers of Watchfinders will be people who just want a watch. They have no clue that these watches are frowned upon by collectors.

Ah, you mean that the Wf customers are "primed" to just want any Rolex 1016 without considering condition.

Vercingetorix
Every Explorer overpolished increases the value of the unpolished ones.

That's a good point from the owner's perspective

Mark020 · Jul 8, 2025

Knebo
Ah, you mean that the Wf customers are "primed" to just want any Rolex 1016 without considering condition.

I think most of them have little knowledge so the shinier the better

Knebo · Jul 8, 2025

Mark020
I think most of them have little knowledge so the shinier the better

I think you're right about the average Wf customer. But people who look for a 1016 are probably different types. I guess that's why the 1016 at Wf aren't selling despite their relatively low prices...

Knebo · Jul 8, 2025

btw, also "interesting" that they sell a "frog foot" 1016 from the year 2000...

ckamp · Jul 9, 2025

Wow, that's terrible.

What is should be vs the 1. you posted...