This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Kinda looks like a Submariner.
All divers look sort of like a Submariner including the Seamaster you posted. Details like Omega's twisted lugs will probably only appeal to you and 1% of the general public.
Fugly.Anyone familiar with Bovet? I was not, but I wandered up to 47th Street and was doing some window shopping, this watch caught my eye in the window:
http://www.bovet.com/timepiece/bovet-by-pininfarina-cambiano-chpin002/
I'm interested and the guy is offering an aggressive price, but I'm scared it'll have no resale value. Company has been around for a long time, makes great looking watches, and has watches that cost into the $100's of thousands.
Thoughts on the one above? Really weird placement of the crown, but that is because the straps come off and it can be used as a pocketwatch too, although I would never do that.
Def going to end up picking up something soon, I've got the itch and I can't stop scratching
I like the G ShocksEephus said:
Why does someone spend $5,000 on a watch? It doesn't impress anyone. What does it do that a $300 smart watch doesn't?
I wouldn't send that much money to a seller w/ an eBay feedback score of 42, mostly from selling Playstation games and no history of selling watches.
I fully understand where you're coming from, but I called ebay with very specific questions, I have the reference number to that call. I have a detailed history of back & forth with the seller. The watch has a history through Tourneau - if I receive the watch, take it to Tourneau, and any of the info the seller sent over is not legit, according to the recorded call which I have a reference number to, ebay will refund my money. It might take a few weeks, but it's not a big deal as long as I eventually get it back. On the flip side, if the information he sent over is legit, it's a score.
I doubt a watch can be collateral without being possessed like at a pawn shop since it has no title.
Thanks, I agree with this.
for the process.
I really want a Snoopy Omega Speedmaster. I could care less if anyone even knows what it is. I know that it will last my lifetime and I will be able to pass it down to my boys to remember me by.
The Speedie is a classic design. I have a 3510.50 Speedmaster Reduced which is an automatic and smaller than the Moonwatch.
Nice job doing your due diligence. Purchasing high end watches online can be risky--but you have essentially de-risked your exposure to getting screwed over on this transaction by doing your homework. Calling ebay, paypal, and Tourneau to have things checked out was very smart. With Tourneau being so accommodating--when the watch actually shows up--I'd probably take it over there for a final authentication--although I personally think that the watch is fully authentic based on the info that you have provided. Even if they charge for this--ask them to to pressure test the watch. If the watch fails the pressure test--it could indicate that the previous owner had somebody open the watch which could be problematic. While I think the watch is fully authentic and will pass the pressure test-- I've seen lots of crazy things when it happens to people purchasing watches online. I've seen watches where the original movement parts were stripped out and replaced by Swiss generics..etc. I also want to congratulate you on taking advantage of a very tight and "Rolex-centric" market right now. There are very few watches/brands that are holding great resale value outside of Rolex at the moment--and it has created a market where buyers can find some solid deals on some great watches. You happened to fine a very solid deal in an already "buyers" market. Well done.
Why would a store give this info out to someone who is not the purchaser? This seems like a slippery slope.
In the world of high end mechanical timepieces--$4500 is actually on the low to medium side in regards to budget. Don't get me wrong--I'm not trying to poke fun at you--because I used to think the exact same way when I first entered the jewelry and watch industry over 20 years ago. I never could understand how anybody could spend more than a few hundred dollars on a watch when there were soo many watches that could accurately tell you the time for under $100. I ended up understanding how they were different when my boss gave me my first decent watch-a Hamilton self winding chronograph (which at the time retailed for something like $695--similar models now retail for $1500+). The fit and feel of wearing a nice mechanical watch will change the minds of most in regards to thinking that all watches are equal. Most watches on the market are nothing more than robotically assembled tools that tell the time and possibly some other functions. Other watches are truly mechanical pieces of art. Artwork doesn't always have to occur with paint and canvas. It can occur with somebody sculpting bronze or marble into a statue, it can be a beautiful vehicle, it can also be in the form of mechanical mastery and excellence in a timepiece. Watchmaking and horology are not only sciences--but they are truly a form of art. The vast majority of watches on the market (including most smart watches) have none to little horology and watchmaking in them.
My hope is all is well. A reputable AD has told me the purchase date, which was 5 months ago... Unless the watch was either a lemon or handled by someone with no respect for these things, after 5 months it should be in LNIB condition, as the seller describes - if there was anything wrong, there should be a service history from Cartier directly as it is under factory warranty through 2019, so the parts should still be genuine. Nonetheless, my intention is to take it over to Cartier once I receive.
He gave me the sales manager name at the store, told me he was a good customer of his and he would verify the history of the watch. I called the store directly. After I picked this info up, I then called Tourneau's general customer service number who further verified the info (since at this time they could look everything up with ease since I had every piece of information they could ask - ticket purchase #, warranty #, purchase date, serial #, etc.)
I can't bring myself to wear a quartz watch anymore. There are some really nice looking ones but, as you mention, there isn't anything to them really. I wish that I had the budget to spend on high end ones but I can't bring myself to spend that cash. I've got to pay for my kid's college in 10 years.
I've evolved past mechanical snobbery. I still have mostly mechanicals but I've recently been buying more quartz and digitals. You can find vintage quartz items on eBay for next to nothing and if they're in running condition, they're generally accurate. With vintage mechanicals, you have to worry about service history and potential repairs that when you're bottom feeding like I am would exceed the cost of the watch.
My preference is against heavy too, just not comfortable. I have a Breitling Bentley that I picked up many years ago, hardly ever wear it anymore.
That's pretty dang light. My Dad had a graphite watch at one point. Really light. Looked kind of like brushed gunmetal.
I don't and they all have these stats that correlate so they can be "ISO certified." Basically they just get to add nomenclature & "value" (perceived) by being ISO certified. If they do meet these standards, IMO it means that it is an extremely durable watch regardless.
Wow--seems like that watch is taking forever to get. UPS Ground must utilize horse and buggy to deliver things these days. Running the pressure test should be helpful information for you. Between Tourneau essentially confirming that your seller was legit, and getting it pressure tested--you should be rock solid. If your wife wants a Rolex--my advice is not to wait too long. Rolex generally does a price increase on a fairly annual basis--and I don't believe that they have done one yet this year. They never really announce when they are going to do it--they kinda just do it. If you are planning on getting her a new model from an AD (which is important because they now come with 5 year warranties)--I woudln't wait too long to pull the trigger. You might want to find an AD from a different state to see if you can at lease save on sales tax.The waiting game for this new watch is misery. When I receive, I'm taking the watch with the warranty card to Cartier - since they don't offer authentication services, I'm just going in there, telling them that I'm going diving pretty deep, and since I purchased it from an AD I would highly appreciate if they could pressure test the watch. Once they take it, pressure test it, and give it back to me, I'll have all the peace of mind I need. If something wasn't legit, I figure there is a 99.9% chance I'd find out then.
Unfortunately my wife wants a Rolex now, which based on my collection, I need to oblige
I think after Cartier takes a look at it, I should be golden. If it was a fake, the Cartier techs would prob spot it right away 999 out of 1,000 and the one time they didn't, it would probably fail the pressure test.
I just quietly sigh and shake my head and don't even correct her. For me--even being in the industry-- it's not that I'm opposed to wearing quartz timepieces. In fact--I own several quartz timepieces. I generally use them for my beat around or exercise timepieces. My main motivation writing that post about mechanical watches was mainly to explain to non-watch collectors that a fine mechanical timepiece is viewed as being more than just a watch by the people that purchase them. With that being said--One of the biggest secrets of the watch trade is that great deals can be found on pre-owned mid-level mechanical and automatics. The Seiko automatics are pretty bullet proof and they are pretty easy to find at good deals. In fact--if you go onto ebay and do a search for "Seiko Mod"--you'll find a lot of cool Seiko's that watchmakers and artists have modified into great looking timepieces. Some of them have been modded to have a Doxa look and some a Blancpain 50 fathoms look. If you don't like the modified market--you can also find great deals on pre-owned mechanical watches by brands like Hamilton, Eterna, Fortis, and Longines for pretty affordable prices. Sometimes the really prolific and sought after big brands get soo much of the markets attention that it creates pockets of great value in some of the other brands.saintfool said:
Right on--I totally agree with you about the Cartier techs being able to spot it if it was a replica. I certainly look forward to the post when you finally receive your watch and get it on your wrist.fantasycurse42 said:I think after Cartier takes a look at it, I should be golden. If it was a fake, the Cartier techs would prob spot it right away 999 out of 1,000 and the one time they didn't, it would probably fail the pressure test.
I have an AD in NJ that I've dealt with, but for the wife she is getting something used. She wants something like my "submarine."
Getting her either a used air king 34mm or oyster date 34mm - have some pretty solid sources to get these at good discounts.
UPS Ground, dropped off Saturday, which didn't move until Monday, and is now heading from Cali to NYC - hope to have it Friday.
I've never transacted like this via eBay for anything at this price point, so I'm still nervous. I've spoken to a Toruneau customer service number, verified this watch (serial number) was sold at the store. It wasn't sold directly to the person selling it to me, but the Tourneau manager I spoke with assured me everything was good and the two had a relationship. When I was in Tourneau in NYC, I happened to take a look across and see the computer screen. The person who bought this watch has bought so much stuff at Tourneau, I don't even get it. I'm trying to piece this all together, bc for the life of me, I can't. This guy bought the watch as a gift for my seller, the buyer just has infinite dollars or something shady going on with Tourneau (although if that was the case, I doubt the sales manager would be telling me to take it to any Toruneau). I just can't figure out how something is bought for $9k 6 months ago and somebody willingly takes this kind of bath - just doesn't make sense.
