2998-1 on June 11th NYC Phillips auction

Sa Calobra

i know very little about Philips auctions but if you look at the 2021 auction, the sale price can easily be a factor 2-4 times the original estimate..

https://www.phillips.com/auctions/auction/NY080121/filter/makers=Omega

Evitzee

I've used auctions many times over the years and have learned one thing; a high estimate generates LESS interest than a lower estimate. You have to have faith in your consignment, and the auction house. Set your reserve price (the minimum you will accept), which is usually the low estimate price, and let the system work. I've only had one or two watches that didn't make me far more than the low estimate price, and usually much more than the high estimate price. It's a psychological game, people will take more interest in a price that seems fair and attainable rather than a price that looks overly high signalling an over optimistic, maybe greedy, seller.

Spacefruit

It is an attractive watch. The estimate is designed to attract.

It is unlikely to stay below the high estimate, once you factor in the premium.

I would agree with your suspicion on the hands, and the lume they carry, including the lume on the lollipop.

I would be concerned about the case back which appears to have a reduced circumference on the back as a result of polishing. It’s a very small thing but once you notice it you notice it. And it’s all about noticing these things before you buy not after - and it wouldn’t stop me

however bear in mind a polished case back is something that happens to a prepared watch.

and with these 2998 they’re often highly prepared before going into auction.

One could argue there is nothing wrong with that, but on the other hand an original watch will feel different to this.

That said this is a highly desirable specification, to have the base 1000 bezel and the small indices dial is a real plus. As I said I do think it’s attractive and it will be very interesting to see where it ends up.

The thing about this sort of watch is that it takes all the boxes, but to someone like me my Spidey sense is tingling because of the replaced hands, and the polished case back.

It is also possible that these photographs are very flattering in terms of the colouring of the dial and the indices.

I’m sorry if this post is a little bit stream of consciousness, but I am torn because I am thinking that I ought to like it because of the colouring and the rare specification but there is something that would hold me back bidding myself. Perhaps tomorrow I will return to the pictures and change my mind, this has happened before.

oh yes - get a Geiger reading before bidding, not that it is conclusive that any radium is original, but it can tell you when there is none (it should have radium, but some sellers just dab some under dial).

TheGreekPhysique

From what little I know about the auction world, Phillips always seems to be notoriously on the conservative side of there estimates. Taking into account that the hammer price may well exceed the estimate plus the buyers premium my guess would be the all in amount would be much closer to whatever market value is for these.

mac_omega

a low estimate is to lure more potential buyers

abrod520

Nah man the Heuer Skipper is def the top choice!