Interesting discussions.
As a strong bidder for this watch I can tell you I value these "degraded" dials for their character, and the already worn cases because I can wear them without fear that a single knock will devalue it.
i would rather own the Aq watch than the fine example from Barking Mad. It is a fine watch, but for me, I prefer some character. No offence intended at all, it's a great watch, and I would love to own it as well, I am just making the point if I had to choose.
But that's just me.
except it's not just me, there were at least 4 bidders to 18,000.
As a professional photographer - I suspect what you can see is a degree of pixelation & moiré ....The camera resolution is not sufficiently high enough / the enlargement is too great .......rather than 'cloning' or smoothing,...... or what you might describe as airbrushing.
The harshness of the copy lighting, also suggests that perhaps, there is an element of dichroic colour imbalance......Colour not recording correctly.
If it was retouched.........Trust me, you would not see it, ......unless it was executed by a rank amateur.
However......Having dealt with a couple of International Auction Houses, that possibility of sheer incompetence, certainly exists
Without exception - Every digital image should be raised in contrast / brightness, & also be sharpened - That is not technically retouching, simply an attempt to emulate the precise clarity, & breadth of contrast that film possessed..........Something that digital photography has not yet quite the ability to do.
Interesting discussions.
As a strong bidder for this watch I can tell you I value these "degraded" dials for their character, and the already worn cases because I can wear them without fear that a single knock will devalue it.
i would rather own the Aq watch than the fine example from Barking Mad. It is a fine watch, but for me, I prefer some character. No offence intended at all, it's a great watch, and I would love to own it as well, I am just making the point if I had to choose.
But that's just me.
except it's not just me, there were at least 4 bidders to 18,000.
Yea its known that they photoshop their images, here'a a great example of the same exact Heuer selling three times years apart (pic from onthedash):
These examples show different lighting, and consequent variations in colour rendering. The missing marks on the bezel could be, relatively speaking, 'innocent' and a result of indifferent photography, rather than any great plan on their part. Not that I'm trying to come to their defence… but auction houses often have in house guys, under tremendous time pressure. Or they outsource the work on a price/piece basis and believe me, they don't pay much.
While they should be using and paying for top photography, they're more concerned with their own ROI; it's not Watch Time magazine, selling watch porn to enthusiasts, it's a more brutal world.
With respect, I don't think these images prove your point, but they do highlight the journey of the watch up and down the economic ladder. Interesting stuff.
I'm not a photographer so I have no idea how the knurling on the bezel just magically disappears, reappears and then disappears.
More interesting to me is that the least visually appealing photo (It's my taste and I'm entitled to it) fetched the highest price by a mile. That has to mean something.
The jig is up, fellas.
I was casually watching CNBC the other day and some stock jockey (I actually know the guy) was recommending that people of means invest 10% of their assets in collectibles like fine art and vintage watches.
When stock hustlers are telling people to buy watches (and not stocks) you know there's a lot of buzz going on.
I made the comment to someone the other day that if I were to part with mine it would not be for anything under 16K. Obviously a rethink is necessary😁
This one has a nicer dial to my eyes, so why no offers?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Omega-299...5?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_101&hash=item3a97efa7cd
