So let's talk vintage automobiles for a moment – a market that for decades has not only been OK with restoration projects, but has rewarded them as a methodology that preserves the overall feeling of the product. In vintage automobiles, a "sympathetic restoration" that keeps originality and quality in mind, and one that is fully documented in a way that is easy to understand for future owners, is not only not a bad thing, but often actually adds value to the vehicle. Of course, "barn find" cars can also bring premiums when offered for sale, but by and large, vintage automobiles are sold in condition that has to be described, in some way, as restored. And that is quite alright, because how else would a half century old machine retain its form and function without it? Common sense, no?

This is something that I feel many of us lack – basic acceptance that yes, of course, after five decades of use by a commercial pilot, a small piece of tritium may in fact come loose on the dial of his Daytona. Or that after purchasing it at PX in Vietnam, and then wearing his Submariner for decades daily, your father might decide to polish that watch and maybe get the bezel insert changed. Are either of these watches wholly undesirable at this point? If we continue on the trend that we're currently on, they might be. And that means they might become unsellable, even if they are one-owner watches. But what if someone were to offer one of these watches for sale, and instead of leaving them as is, provide a detailed folder of information on the watch and how it was found? And then, if the client wanted, there were also a fully documented restoration of the watch, in the same way that many of the world's great Ferraris now come with large history files?