A3818 case - polished?

jfwoodman
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The elusive old cover girl...
This one looks pretty good to me, except the polished edges on the sides (especially near the crown) seem a little prominent compared to other cases I've seen.
What do you think - a beauty, or over-polished? I still have a hard time telling. ::confused2::

A3818 case.jpg A3818 case 2.jpg
 
nicolas07
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I am not an expert but for me the watch is over polished.
The case does not have its original form.
 
Stewart H
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Here are some pictures of my A385 - it's the same case. I bought it from the original owner and it has never been serviced - so I presume, never polished either. It is currently with the UK's El Primero guru being serviced so that I can wear it and he was excited that he was going to be the first person in 45 years to lay a screwdriver on it.
A385.jpg
A385 Back.jpg
A385 Crown.jpg
A385 Side.jpg
 
nicolas07
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It seems indeed to be the same case.
What confuse me is that on pictures I saw of ref 3818 the case looked slightly different (especially case width on horizontal edges of the case (at 6 and 12hr)), but i might be wrong.
Are we sure 385 and 3818 shared the same case?
 
Stewart H
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Yes. The difference is that, in the past, people regularly had the case polished at the time of a service. With this case, there is not a lot of excess metal so the shape is easily worn away. Now they have become collectible, people are having the cases restored as bast as possible. If the metal has been removed, previously, that cannot be put back. Re-finishing them now, you just have to make the best job with what is left and this shows at the top and bottom edges, above and below the crystal. Many of them are now severely curved and that just can't be corrected.
 
jfwoodman
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Stewart - comparing your A385 case to the A3818 in question, it is not apparent to me that the A3818 is significantly refinished. Agreed? Here is another photo (although poorly exposed) of the watch.

A3818 case 3.jpg
 
browncow
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The case may have been polished but we've all seen much much worse.
But what's up with the lack of lume? Has the dial been washed?
 
Stewart H
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jfwoodman jfwoodman
Stewart - comparing your A385 case to the A3818 in question, it is not apparent to me that the A3818 is significantly refinished. Agreed? Here is another photo (although poorly exposed) of the watch.

A3818 case 3.jpg
There is not a lot of meat left between the crystal and the start of the sloped edges.
 
Jamey S
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Here is my 3818 to compare. bought true NOS with hangtag, strap and box a few years back so case is untouched. Surprised that no one has mentioned that the ask on the watch in question is 11K USD. Big money from what they were a few years ago but what else if new. If only we all had a time machine. Image.jpg
 
jfwoodman
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Jamey S Jamey S
Here is my 3818 to compare. bought true NOS with hangtag, strap and box a few years back so case is untouched. Surprised that no one has mentioned that the ask on the watch in question is 11K USD. Big money from what they were a few years ago but what else if new. If only we all had a time machine. Image.jpg

Thanks for sharing this beauty, Jamey. Wish it were mine.
Pricing doesn't seem too surprising to me given a few things: the premium typically charged by the dealer in question, the momentum behind rapidly increasing vintage prices (see early Carreras), and recent sales of early nice A386's near $10,000. And the 3818 appear harder to find. I definitely wish I had that time machine!
 
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