Buying A Refurbished Watch?

I say it’s ok because they are disclosing that it’s refurbished. I would only have issues with it if they are trying to pass it off as original and it’s not.

Quite cheap

I am all for refurbished. Now, when it comes to watches, I would make sure they specifically spell out what they mean by "Refurbished." Is it factory or store? Are they a qualified watch maker? Are they simply polishing it, turning the regulation screw and sending it on it's way? That would be my only point of concern. 

Too risky, imho.  Vintage is risky enough without knowing the skill level of the restoration.  I’d consider an unrefurbished watch at a better price with the intention of having it restored by the brand to assure component quality and a proper restoration.  This situation, no.

Is ok IF you know what you are getting. Many, if not most times, that is not the case with vintage watches. 

As long as you know what you are getting,and research is the key. Is it refurbed with genuine parts, or is it refurbed using new parts to look like origonal parts. The price might reflect the level of originality, and you have to decide is it for you. Let's face it a lot of old watches have seen plenty of action and would you buy something with a knackered movement, rusty dial, an unusable piece of scrap. Yes a complimentary refurb with all origonal parts is great, but not always possible,but as long as you get the knowledge you can decide how far your willing to stray from 100% originality.

Buyer beware as a quick wipe with a rag could be refurbished. Someone else's problems with a bandaid on it.

Be sure you know what the original finish and profile of the watch looks like. Some “refurbished” watches are polished down to a nub of their former selves.

The seller has photos of the movement and it looks very clean, almost looking brand new.

In my experience, most of the "cheap, refurbished but looking like new" watches on eBay are just brand new cheap fakes - plain and simple. If it doesn't look like a refurbished watch, trust your gut.

Also check the seller - do they have lots of similar perfect vintage watches? Is the listing showing that 25 of this item have already been sold?

first off, if it's a vintage watch. It's not called refurbishing. It would be servicing! A refurbishment is done on a current release watch that has gone back to the company under warranty and been fixed and re-sold as refurbished.

So No I wouldn't buy a refurbished current issue watch. But I would definitely buy a newly serviced Vintage watch. The cost of servicing some vintage watches out weighs the value of the watch itself. And hard to recoup the cost of doing so when selling.