Clarification for “Comparing dial colour under different lighting”: the point beginning “State the lighting and…” belongs to the question as written. It should not be read as a report that a new check, purchase or experiment has been completed. Review focus: scope. Keep the stated question separate from any broader claim.
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Case 28 — Crystal types: sapphire, mineral and acrylic trade-offs for daily wear
Domed crystals of any material add distortion at the edges, which some people like and others find hard to read at angles. Box-shaped or high-domed crystals also add thickness. If you're comparing two otherwise similar watches, check total thickness against crystal profile before assuming the case itself is thicker.
Case 96 — Beginner glossary Q&A: complication, caliber, jewel count, power reserve · comparison exercise
Correction note for “Beginner glossary Q&A: complication, caliber, jewel count, power reserve”: retain the wording beginning “On a spec sheet it tells you what's inside and…” in the record. If later material changes it, add the date, the changed wording and the source for that change; do not invent a completed correction here. Make the basis of a comparison explicit before interpreting it.
Clarification for “First QC request: the minimum useful information”: the point beginning “State the model configuration, the specific concern and…” belongs to the question as written. It should not be read as a report that a new check, purchase or experiment has been completed. Review focus: source wording. Retain the source wording beside any paraphrase.
Correction note for “Magnetism and rate: record evidence before naming a cause”: retain the wording beginning “Record the change and the circumstances without treating…” in the record. If later material changes it, add the date, the changed wording and the source for that change; do not invent a completed correction here. Keep the stated question separate from any broader claim.
Back-play is the most objective feel measurement. Set the bezel on a click and gently push it the other way without forcing it. Noticeable wobble before it engages means play. A little is common and within normal production, but if one model has visible movement and the other doesn't, that's a real difference you can describe.
Case 25 — QC photographs: perspective or a genuinely tilted index?
Clarification for “QC photographs: perspective or a genuinely tilted index?”: the point beginning “Request a level straight-on image with the hands…” belongs to the question as written. It should not be read as a report that a new check, purchase or experiment has been completed. Review focus: scope. Keep the stated question separate from any broader claim.
A notation like 20/16 means 20mm at the lugs, tapering to 16mm at the buckle. Taper affects look and comfort more than fit. A strong taper suits smaller and dressier cases, a straight strap suits sport watches. Your buckle or clasp also has to match the narrow end, so check that if you want to reuse an existing buckle.
Case 5 — Comparing versions without mixing case sizes
Two purported versions differ in case diameter and bracelet. How can the comparison avoid attributing every difference to a revision?
Exercise RWF-21408/5: address this question within its stated limits.
Case 14 — Case finishing: distinguish a reflection from a surface mark
Summary draft for “Case finishing: distinguish a reflection from a surface mark”: the answer addresses “Ask for photographs with the light moved and…”; the related point is “A mark should be assessed across multiple views; aggressive polishing…”. Keep both connected to the opening question, and mark any conclusion needing further records as unresolved. Review focus: scope. Keep the stated question separate from any broader claim.
Ask a qualified watchmaker about a suitable test for that individual case and record the test date and method. A photograph or a caseback engraving is not proof of water resistance.
Case 3 — QC photography: what photos actually help verify a pre-owned listing?
Ask for a straight-on dial photo with diffuse light and no flash, the full dial in frame, and the hands placed away from the indices (10:10 isn't ideal, because it covers the upper markers). Flash flattens printing and hides lume condition. Diffuse light shows print edges, alignment and any spotting.
Ask for profile shots of both case sides and a lug-top shot at an angle. Polishing shows as rounded edges, softened bevels or lug holes that look shallower than they should. Compare against a known-good reference image of the same model, not memory. A side-by-side tells you far more than a description.
Case 21 — Disputed observation: is this dial colour shift real or just lighting?
Suggested protocol. 1) Both dials in one frame. 2) Diffuse daylight, no direct sun, plus a second shot under neutral indoor light. 3) Grey card visible. 4) No filters, no editing. 5) State camera settings if known. If both shots show the same direction of difference, the claim is supported. If the difference flips between lighting conditions, it's most likely lighting.
Case 15 — Crystal reflections: why a dark patch is not a coating test
A dark area appears at an oblique angle in a single photograph. Does that establish a coating difference?
Exercise RWF-09452/15: address this question within its stated limits.