Horological Meandering

Several years ago I gifted a Ti ww.tc to a friend who used it as a daily wearer. I don't have a picture available but for reference I'm sure that some of you may recall posts from a Floridian known to give their watches a workout. As such the case shows extensive wear and has been sent to GP spa for overhaul and replacement of missing chrono pusher and repair to subdial hand that came loose. My question is whether or not refinishing case (*as best as possible) is worth it if watch will be worn in same manner as before and wear signs probably don't matter to the owner. FYI watch is a keeper for owner since it was a gift with some sentimental value. This is not a cost issue, but what are your considerations in regard to refinishing Ti case? Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

I like my scratches, bumps, and knicks.  Let's me bond with my watch

Only time I get my case refinished is when I send in the watch in for a routine service or warranty repair, and the brand refinishes the case for me free of charge as part of the warranty service.  Otherwise, the only time I'd refinish a case is if I wanted to sell the watch and thought a refinished watch would sell easier than a VG/LNIB conditioned watch.

Cheers,
Anthony

I'm with Anthony. Though I never bother with case refinishing. If it received dings in the past, it'll receive dings in the future.

[That said, if it was a major gouge in a dress watch, I might consider it.]

In the case of your watch, I'd leave it. It's a keeper, so any marks are just character and history. If it's getting used like that, it won't take long before refinishing starts to kill the case shape and you begin to lose definition (so many vintage watches are ruined in this way).

 In the particular case of Titanium, I don't think it needs any special treatment over stainless steel. Any polishing will slowly revert to an oxidised finish though.

If owner doesn't care, is very likely to quickly return to "well loved" condition, and isn't haggard and looks abused, leave it alone.

But if it looks like its been worn through guerrila warfare in urban jungles (lots of concrete walls, sharp metal surfaces, etc) then yes, maybe once or twice...more than than and BDLJ's caveat applies.

Cheers,

TM

I probably will not refinish and save efforts to make "close to new" if it is ever to be sold even though in my eyes it does look very well used (this is somewhat surprising because owner is pretty delicate even though her work travels take her around the world--perhaps I need to get shorter straps for a better fit). FYI I assume that refinish suggestion came from GP (or AD) based on their observation of watch since I did not ask for that service and it was included in price estimate with caveat as best they can along with other fixes and overhaul.

Cheers and live well!