I’ve seen documents claiming 37,000 cal 551’s where made against 1,167,000 cal 561’s. Not taking into account the 564 this is still a factor of almost 32:1. So yes the 167.005 fitted with cal 551 is rarer.
I think this is what you are referring to. (below)
1.167m 561s+562s - I think there would have been many more 562s than 561s.
However, remembering that the automatic date complication was the most desirable ('anybody could make a movt without a date') I agree that the 551s are far less common.
But I also agree with @ConElPueblo that this relative scarcity doesn't necessarily translate into value as date/no date desirability is a matter of taste.
I think this is what you are referring to. (below)
1.167m 561s+562s - I think there would have been many more 562s than 561s.
However, remembering that the automatic date complication was the most desirable ('anybody could make a movt without a date') I agree that the 551s are far less common.
But I also agree with @ConElPueblo that this relative scarcity doesn't necessarily translate into value as date/no date desirability is a matter of taste.
I think this is what you are referring to. (below)
1.167m 561s+562s - I think there would have been many more 562s than 561s.
However, remembering that the automatic date complication was the most desirable ('anybody could make a movt without a date') I agree that the 551s are far less common.
But I also agree with @ConElPueblo that this relative scarcity doesn't necessarily translate into value as date/no date desirability is a matter of taste.
The perceived rarity of the 167.005 on ebay could also mean that the 551 is held in higher regard and thus owners aren’t keen on letting go of the ones they have.
Yes that’s the one, where is it btw? I remember the numbers but didn’t realise it included the 562. And yes I agree about value, it doesn’t seem to make much difference with or without. Only models which seem to suffer on value are the day/dates.
Also, some models simply only came with date, such as the C-cased Constellations. And who knows the numbers for chronometer-rated Seamasters? Add fifty years of attrition to the mix and it is educated guess work, at least to my mind.
Could be. Given the limited production number, it would be more difficult to acquire another good example in cases of seller’s remorse.
The perceived rarity of the 167.005 on ebay could also mean that the 551 is held in higher regard and thus owners aren’t keen on letting go of the ones they have.
agreed, you also have the .004s and early .010s as date-only options - and there must have been quite a few of them.
To balance that slightly, the 14381 has to added to the ‘551 account’.
