FabR[Senior Patek Moderator]
26166
The second hand alone sounds like more of a minor issue, while a "cleaned" dial would remain -- to me personally -- the bigger concern. (Of course a new dial, factory or otherwise, would have just killed the deal.)
So given what I understand, I'd probably not go for this watch. But again, my point is also that this issue ultimately comes down to a matter of taste, and my view here is certainly at a very "pure" end of the spectrum.
Please make your independent decision, and just take my opinion as that of someone who's so far only bought new from ADs starting in 2005 ;-) Cheers.
I'm no vintage collector, but personally, I'd be fine with everything you listed *except for* the new hands and, most critically, the cleaned dial.
By: FabR : July 16th, 2019-08:21
However, this is just me. While a new dial, even by VC itself, would be a huge no-no almost "objectively", I can understand that some collectors might be OK with a lightly cleaned dial on a 70+ year-old watch, if this is what you are implying about this p...
Good points.
By: CL : July 16th, 2019-08:32
They said dial is cleaned but not refinish or redial. Not sure what that means. Are you saying that cleaning the dial is a no too or you are referring to changing new dial? As for hands, they are referring to second hands. Does that make a difference?
Restoration
By: PPJames : July 17th, 2019-04:44
I have many Pateks that have gone back to Geneva for restoration. Not only is the movement serviced, but the dial has been restored back to original condition. Most all collectors think this is sacrilegious. My decision to restore a watch, really begins w...
Thank you for your sharing...
By: CL : July 17th, 2019-06:08
Greatly appreciated. So, I gather that restoration of the movement is okay as long the bridge is original and only decorative fixing / rhodium plating was done. As for the dial side, the best is nothing was touched and if it was cleaned, I should ask to w...
Thanks for sharing :-)
By: CL : July 17th, 2019-09:07
I do like patina on the dial but prefer the movement and case to be as 'pristine' as possible. The watch I'm considering is from VC Collectionnure series, so they have the advanatge of getting everything correct. They tend to keep the original dial but th...
Hi Julian...
By: CL : July 17th, 2019-09:10
The watch I'm considering is from VC Collectionnure series. They said the watch dial is original, not replaced but cleaned. Second hand and crown are replaced with new. Bridge decoration are renewed. Do you understand what does cleaning mean?
I think not
By: cazalea : July 17th, 2019-10:08
“Varnish” is not a common thing on dials that I’ve inspected. I have many dozens of dials from the Thirties onwards, remnants from the watch repair shop I bought from a friend. Most are NOS but others used. Very few are badly damaged even though they’ve b...
Hi Mike...
By: CL : July 17th, 2019-11:38
When you said for VC, you are not worried. Do you mean you will allow them to do more invasive cleaning? Or should I as them clearly if they have done any invasive cleaning? Thank you for sharing your experience.