Rolex

Bill
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Remember we are dealing in vintage Rolex

There are no hard rules and experience is our only reference.

To answer a few of you questions.

We are talking about watches that are 30, 40 or more years old so even unpolished comes in many conditions.  This is not like factory new watches where we stress over the most minuscule hairline scratch which is self is just from rubbing you case with your sleeve.  So for me I am calling unpolished a watch that has not had polishing wheel applied to it which would remove metal.  The fact that the case has scratches or dings still can be unpolished it is not "new looking".  Polishing cloth to make her look shinny will not really remove anything noticeable.  May if it is done monthly for 25 years.  Again there are grades and conditions for unpolished which would be how was it preserved meaning how much wear did it get.

The "thick lugs" - desirable yes measurable - difficult.  There is no real standard and even with a specific model range for a 60's case vs a 70's or 80's they will be different.   And as I mentioned earlier the cases are for sure asymmetrical.  If you have four identical lugs it would be highly unusual.  Again we are talking 60's through 80's I am not versed beyond that period and as always I expect others will have even more details than I do.  So again you question of standard for case reference nothing in concrete.

How do we judge what constitute fat and thick for which a premium may be assigned.  It is mostly having seen other examples and or having the chance to compare models side by side.  Take a friend with you how has a nice example and compare to the one with the seller.  The examples I showed above was not a good example vs a bad one.  The example I showed as one that may have been polished is an excellent example with fat lugs.  It had bevels and was great example.

Look at the lug holes are they circular or oblong
Look at the bevel on the case does it taper as it reaches the crown or is it more of an even distribution across the side
How close is the lug hole to the bevel and to the edge of the lug.
How sharp are the edges on the underside. 
How much meat is around the crowns is it a tight fit
If the case look new and unworn and it is 30 years old it may be too good to be true



Too many aspects to consider.  Like with papers we don't wear them and unpolished case is nice find but it does not mean you put it in a safe.  It just means you don't send it in for polishing and enjoy it.

Bill