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$8,000 Pocket Watch Sold At Christies. What am I to make of this...

Modest_Proposal
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About 6 months ago, I bought a pocket watch on Ebay with poor photos. Upon receiving the watch, I concluded it was a redial and had it sent back.

I took pictures of it, however - before sending it back. And now... I think, literally, that same watch just sold for $8,000...

It was less than $300 when I bought it and then returned it on Ebay.

Let me know your thought.

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/...7303&sid=2ba56229-11b6-45cd-90d4-37405730dc86
 
IMG_3052.JPG IMG_3058.JPG IMG_3059.JPG omega_a_fine_and_rare_stainless_steel_staybrite_openface_keyless_lever_d6067303g.jpg
tdn-dk
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I vote for redone, look at the lower part how sloppy it is made.

PW.JPG
 
marturx
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Not that I care about pocket watches, but I've never seen one with a black dial. That I can recall. Do they exist?
 
BenBagbag
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tdn-dk tdn-dk
I vote for redone, look at the lower part how sloppy it is made.

PW.JPG
Your vote, then, is that the christie's watch is a redial. Logic dictates, then, that @Modest_Proposal's watch could be worth $16,000! 😝
 
BenBagbag
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BenBagbag BenBagbag
Your vote, then, is that the christie's watch is a redial. Logic dictates, then, that @Modest_Proposal's watch could be worth $16,000! 😝
Upon closer inspection it looks like both have the same imperfections. Woah, maybe that exact watch ended up there. Woah.
 
jumpingsecond
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Is it a misjudgment by Christies or do they knowingly offer redials from time to time?
 
Jwit
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They look identical to me, same flaws, all of them... redial or not I would suggest you delete the photos and try not to think about it
 
cristos71
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Jwit Jwit
...I would suggest you delete the photos and try not to think about it

Wise words indeed....it seems the "high end" watch buying world has gone completely stark raving mad, way too much 'funny money' sloshing around if you ask me.

Time to make friends with the consignment guys at the big auction houses....it's going to be like shooting ducks in a barrel!
 
Larry S
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So many egregious examples of late.
 
kyle L
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My guess is that the price was due to all the "sector" dial design hype lately...
 
SgWatchBaron
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jumpingsecond jumpingsecond
Is it a misjudgment by Christies or do they knowingly offer redials from time to time?

I doubt they knowingly offer them. Too many watches to QC for an auction. sometimes they miss out. Highly suggest that OP sends in the original photos and his opinion, so that they can advise the buyer and work something out with him/her.
 
jumpingsecond
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SgWatchBaron SgWatchBaron
I doubt they knowingly offer them. Too many watches to QC for an auction. sometimes they miss out. Highly suggest that OP sends in the original photos and his opinion, so that they can advise the buyer and work something out with him/her.

Ah ok. Thanks for the info. scary to think about when you're praying premium for some of these pieces.
 
repoman
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Nothing surprises me anymore at auction.... I'm hopeful that buyers catch on to the fact that auction houses are misrepresenting items, and ripping them off. Hate to disagree with an opinion above that auction houses don't knowingly offer redials... they definitely do, and they are doing so more and more all the time. This doesn't mean there aren't exquisite examples at auction, but caveat emptor pal.
 
Tony C.
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I do not believe the dial to be original, and for more than one reason.

The price paid was patently absurd.
 
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