Am I too late to the party ??

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Dean Fuller

·Mar 11, 2022

Been a watch guy my whole life but other responsibilities put off really looking hard at what has become my main interest which is vintage omegas. I did buy a Rolex Submariner no date brand new back in the mid 1980's...wish I had kept it but I did not. Paid just over $900 brand new! If I had only known. I also bought a Omega Speedmaster reduced in the late 1990's brand new which I still have. Paid just at $1000 new for that one. Anyway....I have been watch shopping on line every day for the last 2 months and I am seeing pricing getting very high....not to mention even most of the "high dollar" examples on eBay have issues even I can see! I am looking for a Constellation from the late 50's with a pie pan dial and arrowhead hour markers....I'm willing to pay a fair price but that seams to be north of $4000 for a nice example. Am I just too late to the party?

 

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mac_omega

·Mar 11, 2022

probably yes 🙁

there is a lot of garbage on ebay (and silly prices asked and paid even for low quality)

The really good unmolested pieces have steep prices as there is a lot of competition cause they become scarce

 

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calalum

·Mar 11, 2022

In my experience prices have been going up between slowly and dramatically for the last 20 years or so, with a sizable fall during the 2008-10 recession. Online retailer and auction prices are insane. Collector boards are not far behind. When the economy corrects presumably prices will ease or fall again, but hard to know when that will occur.

 

X

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xtermn8

·Mar 11, 2022

I understand your feelings perfectly. I'd love to get my hands on some great modern pieces, but unfortunately my budget constricts me to some neat vintage Timexes :/

 

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Dan S

·Mar 11, 2022

There are still good deals if you are willing to stray a bit off the beaten path and be open-minded and opportunistic. In recent months, I have been buying cheap watches, and I'm happy with the pieces I've purchased in the $200–$600 range. Some I have kept, and some I have passed on, but they are out there. If you want to buy exactly the same trendy model that everyone else wants, then you will definitely pay a premium.

Edited: Mar 11, 2022

 

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DSotW

·Mar 11, 2022

Unfortunately, it seems as if the vintage market has gotten very tight.

Back in 2016 I purchased several vintage Zenith AutoSports and other Zenith models. Bidding wars rarely went over €300. Today, those same watches are going for over €1'000, and in worse condition than mine.

I think you are looking for what is somewhat of a "holy grail" in Omega (the pie pan). I have seen them locally, but in the €1500 price range.

 

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STANDY

·Mar 11, 2022·schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector

Buy a few 44gallon drums of petrol.

You will be able to swap for a nice one pretty soon 😉

 

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kingsrider

·Mar 11, 2022

Homework, Homework, Homework.
If you like the hunt, keep hunting. Unfortunately, Ebay has become largely a waste of time (and money). I spend considerably less time these days scouring. Tax, fees & shipping are killing what was once an exciting market place. shopgoodwill.com has some interesting items that come up occasionally. but that site is on many collector's radar so it has become very competitive. You will most likely pay market price, but many of the watches are still unmolested and have original cheese.
I got this Heuer Autavia a couple of years ago at the beginning of the pandemic. At that time it did not have a bezel and the crystal was really bad. I still took a gamble on it at $1800.

Edited: Mar 11, 2022

 

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Nepomuceño

·Mar 11, 2022

I think you're not too late. Deals are to be had but require patience and as @kingsrider says, homework. You've gotta scour sites that you'd least expect a vintage watch to be listed.

My best find online was on Facebook marketplace of all places. A nice Vulcain cricket for under $400. It's a lot of luck, patience, and quick decision making these days in order to find a deal.

 

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Omegafanman

·Mar 12, 2022

I think someone has spiked the punch bowl and there will be a few bad hangovers....
.

 

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SpeedyPhill

·Mar 12, 2022

https://omegaforums.net/threads/2021-the-hobby-is-dead.138433/

 

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kingsrider

·Mar 13, 2022

This is what I am talking about. These are current listings.
https://shopgoodwill.com/item/140373992


https://shopgoodwill.com/item/140373906

https://shopgoodwill.com/item/140222389

 

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Nepomuceño

·Mar 13, 2022

kingsrider

This is what I am talking about. These are current listings.
https://shopgoodwill.com/item/140373992


https://shopgoodwill.com/item/140373906

https://shopgoodwill.com/item/140222389

Yep. Goodwill auction is another slightly untapped source of some real honest pieces that come with wrist cheese. I mean nobody wants to scrape of wrist cheese but it also signifies an honest watch. Dirty, but honest.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Mar 13, 2022

Nepomuceño

Yep. Goodwill auction is another slightly untapped source of some real honest pieces that come with wrist cheese. I mean nobody wants to scrape of wrist cheese but it also signifies an honest watch. Dirty, but honest.

 

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Fish70

·Mar 13, 2022

Nepomuceño

Yep. Goodwill auction is another slightly untapped source of some real honest pieces that come with wrist cheese. I mean nobody wants to scrape of wrist cheese but it also signifies an honest watch. Dirty, but honest.

I have no proof but after having a Goodwill online auction account for 5 years or so I am convinced that the owners / managers of most stores take the good stuff home to sell on eBay and only garbage makes it online (or even on the shelves.) Every time I have been close to winning a bid on the rare bit of non-garbage listed, it gets bid up way beyond what it is worth in the last tenth of a second.

 

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sleepyastronaut

·Mar 13, 2022

Akbar

Edited: Jul 30, 2023

 

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kingsrider

·Mar 13, 2022

So sorry, I thought shopgoodwill was the best known secret here.

It is obvious that the site is well known. As I mentioned before, expect to pay retail.
That LeCoultre is the one to watch.

 

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FREDMAYCOIN

·Mar 13, 2022

Did you see the recent sale by cristo71, that was a beautiful constellation. Keep checking the forum for awesome watches and deals.

 

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DON

·Mar 13, 2022

I was both early and late

Early in that I bought loads of Omegas, but late when I sold them off 11 years ago

Still made money on the resale, but today. I could have really raked it in

You can always buy a model with clean case and movement, but poor dial and have it refinished

I found that many avoid bad dialed watches and you can get for less

DON

 

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pdxleaf

·Mar 14, 2022·"I cut it TWICE and it's still short!"

kingsrider

So sorry, I thought shopgoodwill was the best known secret here.

It is obvious that the site is well known. As I mentioned before, expect to pay retail.
That LeCoultre is the one to watch.

Even with the odd replaced pusher, washed/deteriorated lume, and overly polished lugs (one seems larger than the others)?