Community Stories

Why I Pay Attention to Crown Guards

wsfarrell
Posts
2,443
Likes
4,232
Below are a couple of Rolex 14060's, both around 20 years old, offered by a well-respected dealer. To his credit, this dealer uses consistent language in describing the condition of cases: most are either "excellent" or "very good." In this instance, both cases are described as "excellent." Compare the crown guards in these photos. I would agree that in the first photo they are excellent. The guards on the second watch, however, have been polished down to nubs. And this isn't even eBay, where hoards of Rolexes are "mint," "perfect," "unpolished," etc. Buyer beware.

rolex_14060_excellent_case.jpg rolex_14060_excellent_case2.jpg
 
generious
Posts
16
Likes
28
yup nice reminder and another one to look for on the older Rolex watches is the lug holes.
 
Togri v. 2.0
Posts
2,605
Likes
12,103
The secret is to just have to categories: “excellent” and “super trashed”. That way most will be excellent 😁

I once complained about an 80% rating of a Sub, where one of the lugs had a sizeable ding and was clearly deformed at the tip making the bracelet a difficult fit. I told the seller (which was very reputable) that I would like if this had been disclosed seperately. He just said that the model was hard to come by in very good condition and that the ding was covered by his 80% rating 😡 Lesson: always ask for more photos.
 
watch3s
Posts
1,382
Likes
850
and as time passes, these will continue to get harder and harder to find at a fair price sadly.
 
Uniqez
Posts
1,440
Likes
3,774
Few more polishes and pins will be sticking out and nothing will be left of the crown guard.
 
chichi
Posts
229
Likes
334
and the crown guards on the second photo look like fangs
 
Meyrin
Posts
58
Likes
150
Going ONLY by the two photos I´d run away from the second "fanged" crown guards one! But the first one looks okay. The pins are still well tucked-away inside the lugs that indicate (for a 14060 ca. 20 years old) maybe only one very light polishing, if that! That's how things look on my 1996 14060, which has never been polished.
 
alam
Posts
8,255
Likes
19,445
sad to see the damage someone placed on the second one 🙁
 
sonicosa
Posts
1,036
Likes
2,563
Really helpful to see the two examples side by side like this, thanks!
 
Nobel Prize
Posts
6,832
Likes
13,797
chichi chichi
Thank you! now I've learned a teasing acronym
Unless of course you're evaluating a 5512 with the pointed crown guards.
 
obstando
Posts
356
Likes
1,325
Sadly there will always be buyers for the over-polished watch. Many people that want a vintage watch don't like the look of an old watch but want the cachet that comes with a vintage (and the potential investment) which means dealers are happy to give them a refinished watch that is old but looks new.
 
67 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

Linesiders

Why I pay attention to Chamfers

Linesiders Rolex Watches
JwRosenthal
JwRosenthal
Posts
8
Views
7K
Sa Calobra

Seamaster 120- where to pay attention to?

Sa Calobra Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Sa Calobra
Sa Calobra
Posts
7
Views
1K
S

Help to ID this 30T2. Please pay attention to gold case and unusual lugs. Tks in advance

Sbrotherhood Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
S
Sbrotherhood
Posts
10
Views
1K
S

Help to ID this 30T2. Please pay attention to gold case and unusual lugs. Tks in advance

Sbrotherhood Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
S
Sbrotherhood
Posts
0
Views
826