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Auction conundrum: how high would you go?

timjohn
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There was an auction in the UK yesterday for "A Sicura divers vintage mechanical watch and 2 other gents watches". This is what the listing looked like an hour before the sale when i happened across it.

Screen Shot 2018-05-04 at 10.09.55.png

Look carefully at the the picture
Screen Shot 2018-05-04 at 10.10.19.png

That appears to be a Rolex 1680 nestling unannounced in the middle. It was too late to ask the auction house for more information.

The question is how high would you go on a punt that it the genuine article that had been missed by the auction house. The lot eventually sold for £880 (£1,200 or so with buyers premium): I was the underbidder, should I have kept going?
 
Vercingetorix
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It was listed with two other gents watches because if they put Rolex in the title it would’ve been pulled for being fake.
 
marco
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timjohn timjohn
There was an auction in the UK yesterday for "A Sicura divers vintage mechanical watch and 2 other gents watches". This is what the listing looked like an hour before the sale when i happened across it.

Screen Shot 2018-05-04 at 10.09.55.png

Look carefully at the the picture
Screen Shot 2018-05-04 at 10.10.19.png

That appears to be a Rolex 1680 nestling unannounced in the middle. It was too late to ask the auction house for more information.

The question is how high would you go on a punt that it the genuine article that had been missed by the auction house. The lot eventually sold for £880 (£1,200 or so with buyers premium): I was the underbidder, should I have kept going?
So close yet so far, it was a punt but to my eyes it was worth going further say £2.5 K.
We all have our financial barriers, yours clicked in a little early. Well done for having a go.
Don't feel bad the Rolex may not be as good as it looks, maybe a good replica. I can't imagine an auction house letting that slip through unoticed.
 
BenBagbag
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Well, how much would the Sicura and the Bell and Ross cost?
 
shaun hk
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BenBagbag BenBagbag
Well, how much would the Sicura and the Bell and Ross cost?
Yep, that's where I would have stopped, plus a bit as I like a gamble. But the bezel pip and triangle don't look quite right on the 'rolex'
 
kyle L
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Tough call...dial looks pretty strange with a short 12 marker and as mentioned, the bezel pearl looks off as well.
 
Foo2rama
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I’m calling the other 2 fake as well. Rolex dial is obviously a fake hint it’s missing something, bezel is off as well.

That BR is also 46mm... plus it looks more fake then a normal BR.
Edited:
 
timjohn
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michael22 michael22
Auction houses don't miss Rolexes.
You dodged a bullet.
That's kind of what I thought, but someone has gone to a lot of trouble to ding that one up and then to sell it without any claim at all? Very confusing
 
marco
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timjohn timjohn
That's kind of what I thought, but someone has gone to a lot of trouble to ding that one up and then to sell it without any claim at all? Very confusing
I seems they were trying to be " very confusing" more like total deceit into making someone bid way higher that what two mediocre watches plus one fake was actually worth. Take note the auction house , they are BAD.
 
Huus
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Rolex 1680 with what appears to be Swiss Made??? on the dial?🤦
 
airansun
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Interesting risk.

Some say, nothing risked, nothing gained.

Others say, you can’t lose if you don’t play.

I have had a couple of similar experiences that still haunt me to this day. Either way.
 
marco
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Huus Huus
Rolex 1680 with what appears to be Swiss Made??? on the dial?🤦
Well spotted.
 
jaspert
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Crappy Rolex rep and agree with the other poster of high chance the B&R is a rep too.
 
arvco
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Those are really bad fakes, the worst kind.
 
TDBK
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If they don't say it's an authentic watch, but you bid under the hope it is, then you have no recourse when a fake shows up in the mail. It's a sweet scam, not fraud, and takes advantage of people who think they're going to get something for nothing and instead get nothing for something.
 
ClarendonVintage
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B&R is the first fake I identified. Also, just because the lume looks aged doesn't mean the dial is original. Very suspicious presentation of listing also. Poor guy who paid £880.
 
amanson
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michael22 michael22
Auction houses don't miss Rolexes.
You dodged a bullet.
+1 on this. Plus, the crown guards look off to me.
 
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