DT Vintage Watch Photo Guide / DT Rolex Vintage Watch Guide  www.dtwatches.com

Checking and determining the condition of watch cases

Knowing how the grade a dial is the first step. Then we proceed to check the case and band conditions.

First impression (GOG) is also very important for checking cases. Things needs to be noted:

a) is the overall watch shape in balanced condition

b) whether the 4 legs are board and long enough AND with good/sharp angles

c) whether the 4 legs had been polished OR even over polished

It is common and normal that a pre-owned watch had been polished before. The critical point is whether it is in an unacceptable condition. I know that is a subjective matter. But, somehow an over polished case definitely reduce the fun of playing vintage watches.

For introduction, DT love to use the same photo to explain different matters. Normally, there are not many photos on online watch shops, watch forums or ebay auctions. If one have the ability to explore more and more usefull information from that a few photos, chances are high that he/she can pick up good quality items among a bulky selection.

DT as a seller, I normally shot 50-60 photos showing all aspects of a watch. Sometime, may hit over 100 photos! That is also why I have thousands of photos to write this ebook photo guide.

Checking the width of case legs using reflection lines

Photo 17 (same as Photo 1)

Reflection lines are useful to check the width of  case legs and whether a case had been polished or not.

Line (1), (2) and (3) show the width of the watch leg from top end to the lower end. The wider the better.

From (1) to (3) should be a smooth path steadily sloping down at the outer edge. There is a reflection light zone between (1) and (2). It shows an even and horizontal "line" not being bended or changing of shape. This is a very positive sign showing that:

a. that area was NOT polished

b. even if it had been polished before, the scale is very minimal.

I put a line (4) showing the reflection line of the band.  Line 4 is parallel to the reflection light of the watch leg.

Photo 17B (same as Photo 1)

Using the same judgment standard, we check the upper left leg of the watch. Line (5) and (6) are added. The reflection line on the leg is nearly in perfect horizontal. No oscillation no bending in shape. Comparing line (5) with line (5), both are parallel to each other.

Important Point:

Reflection lines are useful tool to tell whether a watch case had been polished before.

It also tells the degree of polishing!

Checking the connection of a watch leg and the band to determine the THICKNESS of a case

Photo 18

Point to note:

Normally speaking, polishers usually NOT directly polish the whole surface area top down with the same thickness. They tend to polish more the outer area. Hence, to avoid lowering the inner side. If the inner side is lower than the end link, it will be very ugly and easily to be seen.

Polishers incline to polish from outer edge and sloping upward to the inner edge. Ascetically, the inner portion is a bit sloping down to the outer edge. Anyway, the change of shape will be told by light reflection honestly.

Please check the next photo.

Photo 19

Comparing against photo 17, the reflection lines on both sides of photo 19 are clearly deformed.

P. 6

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