SBA alto sax

Someone I know is offering me a SBA alto with about 95% lacquer and great playing condition for approx $4000. Photos look fantastic, but now he tells me that 'the lacquer is still on the pearls.' I have always considered that to be tell-tale evidence of a relacquer, but he seems to think that it is original lacquer. The original owner is now 80 and swears it is original lacquer.

Does this story hold water? And, if it is original lacquer, is $4000 a good deal?

Thanks.