Hi everyone

I've recently bought a couple of my grail watches, and due to space (lack), funds (lack) and a wife (got one), have to sadly let some of my existing collection go. I'm not yet able to sell on OF so will be putting them onto eBay in due course, but before I do, wanted to check they are OK and also see if there is anything I should point out to potential buyers. I think they are OK, but then again that was before I came on here and found out the horror stories of fake/franken vintage watches.. Apologies for the quality of photos - iPhone zoom

The first is a C case 168.017 cal 564 with integrated steel bracelet. The second a 168.010 also a 564, and with wonky star that has always worried me a bit, but it does have a weirdly nice soft snakeskin band. I'm planning to be brave and put them up with no reserve and a low start, but it still feels like I'm selling one of the children












As always, thank you in advance for any comments or thoughts.

 

Very smoothly skirting the sales rules. Bravo!

 

Honestly, I'm not trying to! I look forward to the day I can sell on here - but until then I have to suffer EBay, and in the meantime I value the advice here. And of course if it helps direct more people to my eBay sells then I can live with that

 

I was going to be a bit more blunt, but you just said what everyone else is thinking.

 

I don't think it's so much what you can live with, but the impression you leave on other members. In my opinion, you're kind of toeing the line here on forum rules. Sometimes being technically right isn't necessarily the right tack to take.

 

Ok, I understand, I hadnt thought of that and I'm suitably embarrassed. I can't seem to find a way of deleting this thread, so I'll promise not to sell them on here and put them on eBay only in due course and providing there's nothing wrong with them (I've posted the other straight onto ebay as they were quartzes)

 

I understand the rules regarding sales on the forum, and believe they make sense. But I don't see this post any different than people just blatantly asking for a value on "my uncle's, step-sister's, brother inlaw's wife's watch she found in a box in her attic." The guy knows the rules, and requested advise on whether the watches were correct for listing.

One of the reasons the rules make sense is that it protects new people from getting robbed by offering something far below FMV. It also keeps the rift raft from the sales thread and protects buyers from scams.

However, this doesn't stop all sour deals or sharks in the water. As a new person to the forum, I was pm'd by people asking if some of my watches were for sale and for prices. While I don't necessarily think that it is bad in itself, it just goes to show that regardless of rules people will make back door deals, even if a thread isn't directly seeking it.

 

@khanmu if I knew anything that could help you, I would share it. Unfortunately, I am new to collecting and have little experience in your watches. But they look nice and I wish you GLWTS. Ebay can be a troll sometime, there fees in particular. But it does help establish a bit of a baseline for FMV. Take good photos, be humble about the things you know, be honest about the things you don't know, and your watches should sell for what they are worth.

 

Then we obviously need to keep an eye on your posts, too.

 

Be my guest. I like this forum, and already stated that the rules make sense. It protect buyers and sellers from raw deals. I am just trying to give this guy the benefit of the doubt.

 

Thank you for your advice. I've been selling on eBay for a decade, it's only recently that I've started buying and selling watches there since I got the watch bug. Until I joined OF, I had no idea of the faking/franking that seems to exist and which seems to be rife amongst vintage Costellations - sadly I found a couple in my collection like that. I'm hoping these aren't, they seem ok to me, but best to be sure before I unwittingly sell it on, and having been in that situation myself, I'd hate for it to happen to someone else...

 

Only the mods who created the rules and maintain them can truly answer that question, but from my perspective, this forum is not a sales forum first and foremost. It is a discussion forum which just happens to have some sales sub-forums that provide collectors the ability to buy and sell watches with a moderate amount of oversight and a feeling of some safety.

In my opinion, the post count threshold allows for at least some background on a member you may be buying from to determine their trustworthiness while at the same time allowing them a chance to take part in discussions and learn a bit before rushing into a sale. Buyers protect themselves from scams and there is no mechanism in existence to fully prevent scammers, beyond knowledge that is.

 

There are some around who are quite pharisaical and rarely post anything that isn't negative. Shrug it off and enjoy the hobby.

 

Khanmu, since you have a history of selling online, have you sent a request to the Mods about selling there with less than 200 posts?

 

Well while I agree the OP may be a little mischievous

I think we can cut @khanmu a little slack as whilst he only has 80 posts but he's been a member for nearly a year - so not a fly-by-night.

As for the Connies
the .010 has a nice very clean correct dial (the wonky star is what it is - lots of Connies have them)
Can't remember seeing 'full index lume' on an .010 - more common on an .004 I think
Correct hands
Omega crystal
The case looks very slightly polished but it is gold capped - a side shot would help -and will help confirm an original crown
It needs a gasket - looks like the remaining gasket is sitting inside the case (!)
Signs of a bit of rotor rub but otherwise the movement looks in reasonable condition.

Nice watch
What's the medallion like?

The C-case isn't my thing but the linen dial is nice
and the font looks correct
(Wasn't sure about the first A but if you zoom in it's just a bit narrow - so I put that down to the linen dial)

Hope that helps

 

Thanks - that is helpful. I'll get my watch maker to see if he can fit a gasket. Forgot to add photos of the crowning medallion - attached below. The crown seems to be sunken/part hidden, if that makes sense...

 

Thanks - I have sent a request and I'm waiting to hear back, although I appreciate they have day jobs like the rest of us...

 

168.010 and .004 are hidden crown models

 

Decent medallion
Correct crown
Case as noted above
Best of luck with your sale