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A woman at large in a watch show

Syrte
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Went to a collectors' fair today, there were about 15 watch stalls, it was my first time seeing so many vintage watches at once.

There didn't seem to be so many deals to be had but there were some nice watches.

The most fun and interesting part was to see people react to a woman...
I'm afraid I've already lost track of the numer of bulls** claims or the lemons people tried to sell me without a blink.

I think the best one was when I tried a very pretty, triple register silver dialed 1940s chronograph signed "Auricoste" and the seller said it was a "tricompax" from the "Centre d'essai en vol" (CEV).
You should have seen the befuddled look on his face when I asked what caliber it was.
Come to think of it, I now wish I had asked him to explain how come this chronograph wasn't black with military markings at the back.

- Then there was a nice small 33mm 1940s UG Aero Compax, the guy did tell me the movement inside was Jaeger -- added it was the same thing... and wanted 2500 euros.

- a guy was selling a redialed Ranchero for 600 euros, saying it was a "little Omega from the 1960s..." at least he didn't make such a big deal out of it.
He too looked funny when I remarked casually that another watch I tried had been heavily polished.

- And of course there's the condescension… when I spotted a huge UG compressor style lumed watch and asked to look at it (it was a Polerouter), another seller warned me haughtily "well now we're in a different league"…(of course he could not imagine I knew it).

It was nice to bump into another OF member, and I don't know if it's the fact some people saw us talking or saw me using a loupe, but by the time I was at the end of the room someone finally volunteered sensible info without even being asked for it ....
Edited:
 
GuiltyBoomerang
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Bravo @Syrte! You're going to show up more watch enthusiasts/collectors by the looks of things 😀

(And it's also great that you have restraint when purchasing ^^)
 
omg smstr
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I visited this fair as well this morning, my first experience of that sort of event.
I thought my assesment skills were good enough to make educated decision on the spot. I was wrong, this is another level of collecting, sitting in a front of a monitor is far easier when you have time to make research and high quality enlarged pictures available.
I was lucky that the british seller of a Seamaster Calendar date at 6 disclosed all information as I was unable to identify the refinished dial and I was almost ready to pull the trigger.
Then I stayed in within my confort zone and bought another Eterna.Matic 😀
PHOTO_20161112_124611.jpg


Edit : Unfortunately I didn't meet any members (even if I have a doubt about the gentleman discussing with my seller while I was buying)
Edited:
 
Syrte
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GuiltyBoomerang GuiltyBoomerang
And it's also great that you have restraint when purchasing

Well, that's the interesting thing about seeing watches in real life, you realize some watches you find beautiful on paper / internet just do nothing for you in real life, and this allowed me to rule out many watches I previously found attractive…

omg smstr omg smstr
Unfortunately I didn't meet any members (even if I have a doubt about the gentleman discussing with my seller while I was buying)
It would be difficult to know if you've never met before!!
This is the nice thing about little GTGs, you do get to know people who share similar interests…
Edited:
 
omg smstr
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Syrte Syrte
Well, that's the interesting thing about seeing watches in real life, you realize some watches you find beautiful on paper / internet just do nothing for you in real life, and this allowed me to rule out many watches I previously found attractive…


It would be difficult to know if you've never met before!!
This is the nice thing about little GTGs, you do get to know people who share similar interests…

Having a GTG in Paris is clearly an idea we have to develop 😀
This morning, I just tried to recognize people's wrist as it's the only thing I know about most members, and I can tell you that it's not an easy task.
 
cristos71
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There´s nothing better than hunting first thing in the morning at a watch fair, racing around like a maniac, while the sellers are unpacking their wares, trying to be the first ´eyes´ onto the watches. Making those quick adrenaline filled decisions on the hoof are what its all about if hoping to find a great deal. 😉
 
Syrte
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omg smstr omg smstr
This morning, I just tried to recognize people's wrist as it's the only thing I know about most members, and I can tell you that it's not an easy task.

You did make me laugh with that one…. for sure that would be a bit of a challenge.
We should do a Paris OF GTG, for sure.

cristos71 cristos71
There´s nothing better than hunting first thing in the morning at a watch fair, racing around like a maniac, while the sellers are unpacking their wares, trying to be the first ´eyes´ onto the watches. Making those quick adrenaline filled decisions on the hoof are what its all about if hoping to find a great deal. 😉

Are there ever such things as great deals at watch fairs in a major capital of the Western world?
 
GuiltyBoomerang
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Syrte Syrte
Are there ever such things as great deals at watch fairs in a major capital of the Western world?

In Sydney at least, there's a monthly antiques fair with some watch dealers/desks. Decent looking Seikos (6138s and 6139s are a huge draw,) Omegas, Tudors, Rolexes, for anywhere between $300-$1500AUD. I know someone who was selling an Auricoste Type 20 and a Lemania single pusher for about $4000AUD...

Elsewhere in my local market, there's a very lonely, 9 carat gilt edged tank shaped Tudor that still hasn't been sold for $295...I'll try to post a picture sometime next week.
Edited:
 
tpatta
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@Syrte , may I ask where the watch fair was? I'll be in Paris in two weeks and would enjoy checking out some nice vintage. I usually just go to Contre Temps (i think I spelled it right) on Rue de Bac and droll over his watches. Thanks.
 
U
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omg smstr omg smstr
This morning, I just tried to recognize people's wrist as it's the only thing I know about most members, and I can tell you that it's not an easy task.
Syrte Syrte
You did make me laugh with that one…. for sure that would be a bit of a challenge.

Well then, maybe we should make it a new rule that members have to set a permanent avatar picture and have that tattooed on their wrist or arm. 😉
 
dougiedude
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U ulackfocus
Well then, maybe we should make it a new rule that members have to set a permanent avatar picture and have that tattooed on their wrist or arm. 😉
It would be fun if, at an OmegaForum GTG instead of name stickers, we each had our avatars pasted on our chests(or foreheads, for the nOOb's bullseyes 😜)...
 
Mouse_at_Large
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U ulackfocus
Well then, maybe we should make it a new rule that members have to set a permanent avatar picture and have that tattooed on their wrist or arm. 😉

Good idea. I think I'l get mine done then become a children's entertainer. Or maybe a greeter at a Disneyworld somewhere 😁
 
Syrte
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tpatta tpatta
@Syrte , may I ask where the watch fair was? I'll be in Paris in two weeks and would enjoy checking out some nice vintage. I usually just go to Contre Temps (i think I spelled it right) on Rue de Bac and droll over his watches. Thanks.
It was only a one day event… takes place twice a year.
 
Tire-comedon
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omg smstr omg smstr
I visited this fair as well this morning, my first experience of that sort of event.
I thought my assesment skills were good enough to make educated decision on the spot. I was wrong, this is another level of collecting, sitting in a front of a monitor is far easier when you have time to make research and high quality enlarged pictures available.
I was lucky that the british seller of a Seamaster Calendar date at 6 disclosed all information as I was unable to identify the refinished dial and I was almost ready to pull the trigger.
Then I stayed in within my confort zone and bought another Eterna.Matic 😀
PHOTO_20161112_124611.jpg


Edit : Unfortunately I didn't meet any members (even if I have a doubt about the gentleman discussing with my seller while I was buying)
Funny, I was talking with a friend of mine at that Watch fair, when he sold an Eterna with unusual luminous dots on the Crystal ring...
I found a nice little T17 (that I didn't already have) :
16111312335019182114632521.jpg
 
tpatta
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Syrte Syrte
It was only a one day event… takes place twice a year.
🙁
 
Syrte
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[QUOTE="Tire-comedon, post: 579560, member: 4419]
I found a nice little T17 (that I didn't already have) :
16111312335019182114632521.jpg [/QUOTE]
Quite beautiful, I wonder how you do it.👍
 
omg smstr
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Tire-comedon Tire-comedon
Funny, I was talking with a friend of mine at that Watch fair, when he sold an Eterna with unusual luminous dots on the Crystal ring...
I found a nice little T17 (that I didn't already have) :

@Tire-comedon, my 6th sense was then correct, I was thinking about you, partly because you were showing that nice T17 to my seller (a famous collector on french forum)
 
Fritz
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My wife, a nice normal " girly girl " most of the time has a soft spot for vintage lightweight motorcycles, the kind of thing you drove to work in the late forties because you couldn't afford a real bike but wouldn't be seen dead on a Vespa or worse, the bus!

Many times we've been at a rally or show and she's asked someone about a BSA Bantam or some similar lightweight and they invariably address me, like she's not even there,usually with a comment like "so your wee girl likes the cute little bike eh!"

I usually point out that she rode one of her cute little bikes to the damn rally while most of the big tough bikers trailer their $30000 tourers so they don't get them dirty before the show and that she'll buy whatever she wants, I'm just her mechanic..... Shuts them right up.

Ignore them, you're better than they are anyway.
 
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