Deep scratch on caseback, repair or leave as is?

[Tavli3]

Bought this 16760 a few months ago and have been debating with myself whether to try and get the scratch/gouge in the caseback fixed, if even possible.

The guy I bought it from didn't disclose the scratch and I was going to return it but I fell in love with it as soon as I put it on my wrist. So I decided to keep it.
Is this a serious enough defect to be concerned about or am I being too fussy?

Just wondering what some seasoned collectors would do? Try to fix or leave as is? Also if fix is the verdict is laser welding the way to go? Thanks.

[linesiders]

Leave, and keep an eye out for an appropriate replacement caseback if you must.

[1WatchDawg]

X2

[ROLLiWORKS]

We can easily fix that on our lapping machine.

Originally Posted by Tavli3

Bought this 16760 a few months ago and have been debating with myself whether to try and get the scratch/gouge in the caseback fixed, if even possible.

The guy I bought it from didn't disclose the scratch and I was going to return it but I fell in love with it as soon as I put it on my wrist. So I decided to keep it.
Is this a serious enough defect to be concerned about or am I being too fussy?

Just wondering what some seasoned collectors would do? Try to fix or leave as is? Also if fix is the verdict is laser welding the way to go? Thanks.

[Tools]

Caseback……. Not sure that I would worry about it.

Hard to see how deep the gouge is, but if you really, really wanted it fixed, it can be minimized with standard refinishing. If that would take too much metal off, then some weld filling would be the ticket.

I would not replace it if this is the original back. You only have original parts once.

[jfmiii]

Send the pic to LA WatchWorks and see what they say. They are magicians!

[Tavli3]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! Appreciate it!

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by jfmiii

Send the pic to LA WatchWorks and see what they say. They are magicians!

Last time I tried contacting them was in December, and never got a response even after a follow-up email. Are they still operating?

[joli160]

Originally Posted by ROLLiWORKS

We can easily fix that on our lapping machine.

Have it fixed by Rolliworks and start truly enjoying this beauty

[ROLLiWORKS]

All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by Tavli3

Bought this 16760 a few months ago and have been debating with myself whether to try and get the scratch/gouge in the caseback fixed, if even possible.



The guy I bought it from didn't disclose the scratch and I was going to return it but I fell in love with it as soon as I put it on my wrist. So I decided to keep it.

Is this a serious enough defect to be concerned about or am I being too fussy?



Just wondering what some seasoned collectors would do? Try to fix or leave as is? Also if fix is the verdict is laser welding the way to go? Thanks.

Being too fussy is harsh. I wouldn’t say fussy, but it’s not that big of a deal. You can easily get it polished out or worst case get a new case back or it’s driving you crazy. Probably the best place for a scratch to be honest.


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[Tavli3]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm going to stay put now and if I ever decide to sell it I will repair or replace the caseback with one I will be looking to buy if the right one comes up.

[springer]

I would not replace the case base back because of that gouge. Have Rolliworks repair and refinish it or keep it as is. It's not a dealer breaker for most collectors.

[Tavli3]

Thanks appreciate that.

[Sublovin]

You guys really think that can be repaired? I guess anything can be buffed/polished but that looks really deep

[Tom1675]

I wouldn't bother doing anything with it personally. IMO, it won't likely impact the value, but it should have been disclosed.

[DanMdR]

I'd personally get it fixed because the gouge looks like it would scrape/scratch your skin. It's the case back so there's no real argument not to polish, besides that it's the case back. lol. Beautiful watch though!

[ROLLiWORKS]

Yes fairly deep. Buff/polish wouldn't be the way to approach it. The damage runs across the polished and brushed areas. You will lose the sharp edge between the transition from polish toi brushed. The brushed portion will go from a circle to an oval shape if standard polish techniques are used.

It would have to be laser welded to fill the void, then lapped. It would go laser welding, then 320, 800, 1200, 2000, 3000, then 6000.

Originally Posted by Sublovin

You guys really think that can be repaired? I guess anything can be buffed/polished but that looks really deep

[Tavli3]

Originally Posted by ROLLiWORKS

Yes fairly deep. Buff/polish wouldn't be the way to approach it. The damage runs across the polished and brushed areas. You will lose the sharp edge between the transition from polish toi brushed. The brushed portion will go from a circle to an oval shape if standard polish techniques are used.

It would have to be laser welded to fill the void, then lapped. It would go laser welding, then 320, 800, 1200, 2000, 3000, then 6000.

Not a watch expert but fairly mechanically inclined and it did look to me also that it was too deep to polish out, would have to remove too much material.
That's why I was so hesitant to do anything.

If you did the laser weld and the Lapp would the edges be restored?
I realize you would need to see the watch in person but what would a budget estimate that I would absolutely not hold you to, be for something like that. Thanks!

[Tavli3]

Originally Posted by DanMdR

I'd personally get it fixed because the gouge looks like it would scrape/scratch your skin. It's the case back so there's no real argument not to polish, besides that it's the case back. lol. Beautiful watch though!

I've been wearing it a while now and don't know it's there at all and thanks for the compliment.

[ROLLiWORKS]

somewhere between $180-270. Yep that's exactly what the lapping machine allows us to do, restore that sharp transition from the polishing to brushed area on cases and casebacks. It's a costly tool with limited applications but it's truly the only tool to be used for those applications.

Originally Posted by Tavli3

Not a watch expert but fairly mechanically inclined and it did look to me also that it was too deep to polish out, would have to remove too much material.
That's why I was so hesitant to do anything.

If you did the laser weld and the Lapp would the edges be restored?
I realize you would need to see the watch in person but what would a budget estimate that I would absolutely not hold you to, be for something like that. Thanks!

[timedate]

tell the previous owner that he was a **** for keeping quiet about this scratch, which is more like a gouge, but that you will keep it if he pays for it to be repaired.

[MikeyV]

I'd leave it if it didn't bother my skin when worn.

Also, I really struggle to think of how that scratch got there.

Intriguing.

Sweet piece, enjoy it!

[RolyMoly]

I love the life of a watch showing on the watch. I was wearing my Gold Sub the other day and this dude was like, “aw man, it’s all scratched up!” And I know where every single scratch came from. Love it.


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[ROLLiWORKS]

We've seen this mark before from people who try to use a flat head screwdriver in a failed attempt to open the caseback. They try to nudge it counterclockwise and it slips. Look at the direction of the mark.

Lesson... don't do that.

[Tavli3]

Originally Posted by ROLLiWORKS

We've seen this mark before from people who try to use a flat head screwdriver in a failed attempt to open the caseback. They try to nudge it counterclockwise and it slips. Look at the direction of the mark.

Lesson... don't do that.

It was driving me crazy trying to figure out how a guy who kept the watch in such nice condition would get a scratch like that on the caseback! I was trying to picture myself trying to opening the watch in such a way to cause such a traumatic injury and the only thing I could think of is with needle nose pliers but they don't fit into the grooves so I decided nobody would be that much of a pelican to try it.

But a Screwdriver! Yes that is the answer! Thank you for clearing that up and thank you for the budget estimate.

[1William]

I would not do anything to the watch regarding the scratch. I think when it is time for a service you can have a discussion about it. No new case back, just wear it and enjoy it.

[Tavli3]

Originally Posted by 1William

I would not do anything to the watch regarding the scratch. I think when it is time for a service you can have a discussion about it. No new case back, just wear it and enjoy it.

Thanks

[ROLLiWORKS]

We just finished this case back for a client. This is what the work looks like.

[BlackOnyx]

leave, it's a stunning watch