Well it was quite a good dial.
I see the speedmaster market as moving from a collectors one to an immature investors one, although nearing the end of that period as there are now people who can differentiate between a $4000 dial and a $2000 dial. And remember it only takes two people in an auction. And so we are moving into a period where people are buying them both to enjoy, but also justifying it (to themselves, wives, bank managers) as an investment.
It is possible the buyer pressed the ohfuckitt! Button and overpaid. In this market, overpaying is the difference between owning and moaning.
It takes skill and experience to differentiate the quality in anything, when you cannot put comparisons side by side.
This dial was fine. Not top, but fine. A little better than the recently whole watch used in the example above. I would say a better dial might even sell for more.
The price difference between a 80% watch and a 90% watch is increasing. I think already the 95%+ watches are not coming to open market.
Straight lug speedmasters have moved from being an enthusiasts watch to being a medium of wealth concentration - just as the Rolex Daytona has.
@ulackfocus has a point, in that for some these are more like bitcoins than items to enjoy.
