⌚ Was This Watch Polished ??? - THE TRUTH :)

[@todorelojconfernando]

10 years ago if the watch was not refinished we would deduct it from the price because we had to get it polished to resell, good topic I've spoken about this until blue in the face and customer's just don't get it, great video

[@JohnPWatches]

Thanks!!!!

[@Motormouth...]

If you keep the watch and have no plan on selling, then get what you want, polished or not. If a 30 year old watch has been polished lightly and you buy and keep for 20 years, nobody will ever know. Buy what you like...

[@fliegerb777]

Motormouth best advice...cheers!

[@johnfrei9057]

Like with a classic car, do you want everything to be original and with that patina, or would you just be as happy with a really quality repaint?

[@daletaylorjr.4786]

I’m just here for the comments. Anything I can afford right now isn’t with polishing. 🤣 Keep up the good work John P.

[@JohnPWatches]

Thanks Dale !

[@checksix_TC]

I think there is a distinction between case refinishing and polishing a watch. With the correct equipment like a lapping machine, and a skilled professional, you can chamfer a lug and polish the side of a watch case perfectly flat. This obsession with unpolished watches is bordering on OCD.

[@JohnPWatches]

#true

[@paulegan9660]

I have an Explorer II Polar white and it has never been polished; it looks brand new because even though i wear it regularly I take good care. Nice to know that it pays to look after your watches :)

[@devdshah]

Great commentary...This video spoke to me as I am that guy in your scenario. Recently, I was on the hunt for a daily wear Polar Explorer II 16570...long story short, I ended up with P-serial,circa 2000 (holes case/superluminova) that met all my requirements...yet to my dismay it had been polished over its 20 year life. I doubted my decision until I realized that this watch represents the lower-end of the horological spectrum (to your point) and ultimately is a tool watch at heart. I can now wear it unabashed - as it has been loved and maintained by its’ previous owner.

[@eatabagel]

I want my watches to look new, no matter how old they are. I will have a light polish as long as the edges are preserved as much as possible. In fact when I do get a Rolex, I'll have Rolex service it and polish it to their standards, just like I'm OK, and in fact appreciate that Omega polished my vintage Constellation to Omega's standards when it went for service. I also think tropical dials make a watch look messed up, though I'm ok with vintage lume. Basically even if I have a vintage watch, I want it to look new. Stories are still there, they don't get polished away.

[@discingaround]

Hey John! Love your channel and your insight on the industry. Could you do a video on the original dive watches? As a fan of vintage watches, I'm loving the early Rolex Submariner, Zodiac Sea Wolfs, and Blancpain's 50 Fathoms.

[@Milofchg]

Speaking of Rolex, because it seems the only brand that matters to collectors is Rolex LOL Polishing is not a big deal with other brands even the higher end brands. IMO wear the watch but take care of it. NO your MASS PRODUCED Rolex will not lose value if you Cape Cod it or get a Rolex refinish service every 5-10 years. Modern Rolex references are a dime a dozen so today’s watches will not be as valuable as 50’s - 70’s era Rolex on the collector market. With these new Supercase Rolex watches. You can grind away those fat lugs and it will still look new. If you have a modern Rolex keep in mind IT IS NOT a tool watch so maintain it as mint as you can. Luxury is meant to look new. When Rolex made real tool watches the purpose of a watch wasn’t an accessory or just a piece of jewelry. These old vintage watches should be left as original as much as possible. Those watches were made to wear and take a beating. So there’s that charm and character of a used vintage watch. If you happen to find an unpolished mint vintage Rolex. More power to you... preserve it as found. That’s when you want your vintage watch to keep its sharp case edges as much as possible. All of a sudden for the past 5 years. We have thousands of noobs in the watch hobby worried about non polish watches. It’s annoying and only says you are a Freshmen to Horology. Personally I prefer to take care of my timepieces. I wear them but I respect what I have. Even my beater watches. I like to keep my watches in good condition. I don’t see the charm of a modern beat to shit watch, but a vintage watch with patina or some real wear looks just right.

[@jimmysplit7729]

Great topic, I have to say I don’t agree with a third party being able to polishing an AP or PP to factory spec, as for vintage Rolex being polished to original spec including chamfered corners, yes there is quite a few guys that can get it right but a trained eye can certainly tell the difference between original and redone. I’ve learned over years of collecting and comparing vintage watches, takes many years unfortunately. Thanks John.

[@123vfp]

I agree John P. It’s not a matter of polishing or not. It’s more a matter of whether a watch has been polished well or not. And of course, it’s a matter of taste. I have an vintage Omega from the 1950s that quite honestly is pretty beat up, and I have thought of getting it polished, but then I look at it with scratches and dings and all and I think about all the watch has been through and decide to leave it alone as a reminder of its past and the hard life we all lead. LOL. I also have a Elgin dress watch from around the same period that I had polished by a local watch repairman who knows his stuff. The polishing made the watch stand out as something elegant and special.

[@JohnPWatches]

Thanks Vince!

[@ScottMcLinden]

Keep Fed away from those candy watches...lol

[@whoknows8678]

No shit. I was going to post the same comment. LOL

[@MatthewAtkinson]

How many times can you polish a watch in total and how many times can you polish a watch before it starts to look bad. Assuming the polisher is good.

[@whatsinanameish]

What is the movement in the candy watch? I can't imagine that the oppressive Miami humidity isn't making it get a tad sticky on the arm.

[@JohnPWatches]

LOL I EAT IT !

[@whatsinanameish]

@@JohnPWatches Don't do that. You can totally seat a lowest end Casio core into it and actually wear it at parties. Everyone will be wearing one within 6 months. You can start a total fad.

[@syndicatedsatellite7288]

I knew a tuxedo cat that was a constant groomer... That cat always looked polished better than any watch ever could be.

[@JohnPWatches]

hehehe

[@ceal2656]

I have an uncle that has 2 50's jaguars, original paint and upholstery, paint is less than ok, but the upholstery is really bad... I would change the upholstery and leave the paint as is (who wants to read on a tear seat?0... with dress watches, I would like them to be pristine, I would want those ones to be refinished and even material added... but I only use my dress watches once a month at the most... Tool watches, other than a motocycle accident damage... My point is, it really needs to look bad (for the situation) to refinish the watch. What is the difference between polishing/refinish vs hand polishing? Also, you should do a computation between a bran new watch and the same refinished by your suppliers to see there is nothing to fear.

[@JohnPWatches]

Great idea! Polishing wheels speed up the process and apply more friction

[@james12361224]

the thing is, if you have a watch that isn't super expensive/trendy/featured in hodinkee and looks unpolished it probably is. adding metal and recutting chamfers is not worth it if the watch isn't crazy expensive

[@Blair338RUM]

What about watches that have had the cases ultrasonically cleaned? Is that a faux pas too? Does one leave straps in original condition?🤪

[@JohnPWatches]

Cleaning will alter the case :)

[@Blair338RUM]

John P 😂

[@Gigipreppy2012]

Nice Vid! No go on the candy watch

[@krystianstepien5835]

What is your opinion about the PP service. Randomly they polish every piece which is serviced. Is it OK or they shouldn`t do that ?

[@JohnPWatches]

Patek reserves right to do whatever they want, they think they are God lol- their service paperwork does create value though. Keep the records.

[@MrJamesDuffy]

I am okay with light hand polishing and would prefer that to adding unoriginal metal and machine re-polishing. Then again, I mostly play in the affordable and lower- to mid-shitter space where hand polishing helps more than hurts so it really isn't an issue.

[@nfassero]

James Duffy lol

[@adrienne4934]

I’m with you. Vintage is vintage and a lot of people just seem to not get it. Thanks!

[@Yoshikaable]

Great points, it brings into perspective the whole frenzy about a scratch. My take is It's an ocd from photoshopped pictures which look unreal.

[@Yoshikaable]

Just don't do your own polishing!

[@gbvoul]

add metal back to the case?

[@bubbab7792]

OCD? 🤔. Leave it original!

[@mikeroy6713]

I polished mine with Armor All and it looks like new. Only I know that light no longer works.

[@davidsonviray1403]

hi, may i ask because the caseback of my seiko 5 have a single deep scratch though it's not noticeable since it is on the caseback, do you think it can be repaired? and how much do you think it will cost? just wondering if you have any idea :)

[@Jimfrenchde]

I don't get it. I would think that a polished watch would be more valuable, because the watch would look better or newer. Does polishing a car hurt its value?

[@javiercartaya1426]

When I send my Daytona to get service at a Rolex AD. They asked me if I wanna them to refinish it! Is it the same refinishing and polishing ?

[@JohnPWatches]

Rolex will do a great job :) As long as it goes to Rolex and not a local shop

[@big_george_nyc]

What’s a good watch case refinisher In the south fla area ? Ty

[@JohnPWatches]

We have one. Let me know if you need

[@ams914]

It never occurred to me that polishing was such common practice that a watch above a certain age almost certainly has been polished. I guess it comes down to how conservative the polishing is and how skilled the person who did it was. A lot of polishing-jobs butcher the cases, so I think that's what most people are thinking of when they think of polished. I have a '72 Speedmaster and I guess it's been polished. Thanks for making me paranoid while I go study the lines of the case to decide if they did a good job or not. LOL.

[@rico200168]

I know that if it’s Polished too much it would lose its shape a little bit it’s nice edges !

[@ApertureViews]

What if it’s been polished within four years of ownership?

[@jo1948]

i hate seeing the detail lost on a crown of a rolex clasp. the explorer ii bezel striations looses a lot it striations as well as the black inlet, if polished too aggressively. for that watch i am looking for as original as possible. i'd prefer knicks and scratches over a watch that has lost a lot its original factory finish.

[@SchnuckySchuster]

Great video. You really know what you're speaking of.

[@shmutube]

just started watching your videos, great stuff! The one thing that just kind of bothered me is that you resemble someone I've seen before, and now I know who it is...ugghh, at least I can sleep now! 🤣

[@Robert.Dickson]

I think a lot of people get too hung up on polishing, particularly on watches of a value that it shouldn’t really matter. Regarding your candy watch, do you have any NATO straps that will fit it?🤣🤣

[@Milofchg]

If you plan on selling your watch, that’s the only time value will matter & should matter. Polished (well taken care of) if it’s modern. If it’s vintage? Unpolished, but not beat to hell. If it’s a keeper and your watch(es) mean something personal & special to you. Does it matter if your watch is worth $200, $2000 or $50,000? Will it matter if it’s polished or not?

[@greenpulp.]

I would like to polish my three day old Black Bay 58 because I already scratched it. MacBooks are dangerous for watches lol

[@JohnPWatches]

Throw it and get a new one :)

[@Shino2600]

I thought the watch ruins the MacBook?

[@lenpowell6647]

Ok good video but just two observations. Motley Crue are your pre advert and I bet my last penny they could not give a flying f..k about watch polishing.( They aren't crankshaft journals?) However candy watches. How do you see their value for flippers in the current market place? A big cheeky cheers. Len.(Turn the volume up and let the ears bleed) ? No wonder I,m half deaf!

[@JohnPWatches]

Haha wow Motley Crue ad came up before the video? That is wild!

[@TheBithen00]

Excellent to know.

[@glendalefernandez4858]

i just saw the most handsome man I’ve seen in my 28 years of existence 😍

[@saurabhsharma4200]

Candy watch: not water proof....

[@fallingwickets]

candy watch wins the day...people obsessed with polishing are cretins of the highest order....do they leave their shoes unpolished too lol

[@JohnPWatches]

Hahaha !!!

[@Colby_0-3_IRL_and_title_fights]

You don't polish Yeezys my dude

[@james12361224]

unpolished is beautiful

[@james12361224]

stop giggling bro

[@johnamg2133]

Blablabla this is fricking booring John

[@trevbarlow9719]

Piss off

[@robkay278]

DON’T polish a watch

[@trevbarlow9719]

Why not?

[@robkay278]

When you polish a watch to get rid of any scratches you lose some of the watch,the Rolex etc logo will not be so prominent the lugs can look different from trying to lose nicks, and you take away the used character and can devalue the watch, up to you but I like natural patina