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Best watch trade you've successfully completed

  1. KeithS Feb 22, 2023

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    This past fall, an acquaintance offered me a new Rolex Submariner at a digestible price. As I had never owned a Submariner before, I thought, why not? Every watch enthusiast should own one at some point, probably. After receiving the Submariner and wearing it out and about, I felt it was a nice watch, but not a north-of-$11K-nice watch. Surprisingly and disappointingly, it also drew some rather snarky comments. So after a few minutes of contemplation last week, I said enough of this nonsense - too much money tied up in a watch that makes me look like a douche, apparently. But instead of trying to sell it, I thought it would be more interesting to try trading it for something more interesting and less flex-y.

    So after scrolling through watchrecon over the course of a day or two, I found a watch that I've wanted to own ever since @Mach posted this thread a while back. Who knew Blancpain made anything else besides some fugly bloated dive watches (that look very little like the original Fifty Fathoms)? I certainly didn't. So even though I still don't really understand what Blancpain is supposed to be or do as a brand, I really the Air Command and offered to do a 1:1 trade with a well respected member on another forum. Much to my surprise, he agreed and less than a week after embarking upon this endeavor, I had successfully traded a ubiquitous watch that retails for $8950 for an uncommon watch that retails for double that. Not too shabby.

    Who else has successfully traded a watch and was super pleased with the outcome?

    Obligatory, pictures:

    IMG_4608.jpeg
    Outgoing: Rolex Submariner.

    DSCF2914.jpeg Incoming: Blancpain Air Command.

    DSCF2890 (1).jpeg
    Poor attempt at macro photography, front.


    DSCF2897 (1).jpeg
    Poor attempt at macro photography, back.
     
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  2. Canuck Feb 22, 2023

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    Swapped a “dead seconds” Paul Buhre mechanical for a NOS Bulova Accutron 214 railroader, straight across. Only swap I’ve ever done. No picture of the Buhre, but this is the Accutron.

    95AB5C57-0BFE-4983-B25C-C5F8B5C9269B.jpeg
     
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  3. Scarecrow Boat Burt Macklin, FBI Feb 22, 2023

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    I traded this to another member here

    1C400787-8CAC-4A29-9A12-AFA5BC27F39C.jpeg


    For these
    E7AEC0E8-25E2-4B4E-87D7-2029D85D01C4.jpeg 7C833AFB-EA56-442B-8E4D-42E530FF2AE3.jpeg 961EE770-1D5F-4613-8AD1-70BB83F05D72.jpeg


    Along with a Hasselblad 500c medium format camera & two lenses and two watches: 78 Hamilton field watch & a modern Certina.

    We are both very happy :thumbsup: :cool:
     
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  4. Duracuir1 Never Used A Kodak Feb 22, 2023

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    This one… F5F820DF-D40A-47F8-A0DF-979A17200492.jpeg for this one for my wife. FB10173C-84E9-49D9-A6B7-7B167FEC7FF5.jpeg 70ADE75B-4FB7-4205-A724-CD5DBDDA55D9.jpeg D313A4BC-A6F8-4FBB-99F8-1DDFA2D61D13.jpeg E803BB4A-A028-46F9-A105-128282DC6FDF.jpeg And I also traded this one… F0AB54D5-16C8-4B2F-B2CB-00985D1B1E62.jpeg for this one. EA7374F6-1BDD-4586-B67D-298B646488A2.jpeg
     
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  5. jB1128 Feb 23, 2023

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    A little over a year ago, I traded my brother-in-law (who has excellent taste in watches) my issued Heuer Bund 1550SG for his pre-Viceroy Heuer Autavia 1163 (cal.11)
    IMG_4960.jpg
    It was a tough call since my Bund was such a cracker, and has such a slim profile on the wrist, but I don't regret it for a second because I fell for the Autavia the second I had strapped her on!
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    Cheers, ΩF !!
     
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  6. asrnj77 Feb 23, 2023

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    I had a blue BB58 but the 1st generation ones had the issue with the bracelet with no micro-adjustments. It never fit my 7” wrist quite right but they were in demand in the summer of 2020. I traded it to a Seiko AD for a new SLA037 plus $1k. I’m happier with the SLA037 since I had previously sold my SLA017 and regretted it. Plus I got over 4k trade value on a watch that’s currently selling for 3k and change.
     
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  7. Donn Chambers Feb 23, 2023

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    What a steal for you. Would never have traded that watch for a sub!
     
    KeithS likes this.
  8. eugeneandresson 'I used a hammer, a chisel, and my fingers' Feb 23, 2023

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    This was a great experience (and trade)…as well as a very interesting trip (what we do for watches). I have travelled for another trade, but that was a partial trade and this was a straight swap. These things are RAF and grail-y. Haven’t worn them in a while…will have to rectify that
     
  9. RevZMan123 Feb 23, 2023

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    My one and only trade so far -- 14393 Connie I got from seekingseamaster
    PXL_20230108_143345208.PORTRAIT.jpg

    for the ck2390 and rose gold Lemania from Tom/SkunkPrice.
    PXL_20230211_135454058.PORTRAIT.jpg
     
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  10. omegawatchlover Feb 23, 2023

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    You guys are trading your Rolex for those? Here, take my Omegas lol!
    But I see why the move was made. I don’t feel that comfortable wearing certain Rolex in my office :(
    That’s why vintage is great, it’s for the IFYKYK people.
     
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  11. perks713 Feb 23, 2023

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    I successfully traded a chunk of money for this one.

    0B749F5F-5B80-4ED1-BF7C-E84EA1457F78.jpeg
     
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  12. Scooterino36 Feb 23, 2023

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    4 of my current 7 watches in the rotation were obtained via trades with strangers on the internet, which seems a bit wild as I reflect on it.

    The latest, I swapped a Watchco for a green dial Aqua Terra and some consideration.
     
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  13. Walrus Feb 23, 2023

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    Not completed but I found a watch shop near my job and I’ve been becoming friends with the owner. He’s a block and a half away so sometimes I just stop in during my break to speak with him. He wanted to buy these from me but I told him I’d be more interested in a trade. He brought out a 16k Rolex and said I could do the rest in cash. Didn’t bother asking how much but I gave him some ideas of what I’d like. So may do something with these I was even considering what @Scooterino36 did put them online requesting a trade it’s actually kinda common there is a group of guys like 50 miles from me who often put up trades.
    image.jpg
     
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  14. blubarb Feb 26, 2023

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    I find this a truly interesting thread as I am at a point where I would much prefer to trade than sell. I don't want to consolidate the number in the collection as much as hone it by removing those (a) I don't have in rotation and (b) and those that no longer fit my current collection zeitgeist :D
     
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  15. josiahg52 Feb 27, 2023

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    I traded a Sinn 156 that I was trying to sell for a 2254.50 Seamaster. Was offered multiple Heuer chronographs and a Mark II Speedmaster, a few others. Asked on a whim if the other party would trade the Seamaster and they accepted. I'd love to get another Lemania 5100 (Mark 4.5, please) watch in the future.
    Sinn 156b 2001.jpg

    IMG_20230207_230533_r.jpg
     
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  16. janice&fred Feb 27, 2023

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    Made an even trade with fellow member @watchlovr . He got a nice original Seiko Bao-Bao (turtle) and I got an oyster bracelet for our Airking. We are both happy with the trade :thumbsup:
     
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  17. janice&fred Feb 27, 2023

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    I'm surprised some members run into this sort of thing when wearing Rolexes. We have never run into this sort of reaction over a watch either one of us wore, especially by "civilians".

    Of course when wearing a Rolex and among serious watch enthusiasts in NYC we get good-natured jabs. Most of those jabs are along the lines of "Rolex is a hillbilly watch. Where's your good ones? "
     
  18. Steve.M. Feb 27, 2023

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    Traded this 1675 on vrf in exchange for a Motif Blue DJ, Original case & bracelet but all else was service components in this case the client was the winner & I’m still only an observer in this vast universe
     
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  19. Dan S Feb 27, 2023

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    I also find it hard to believe that anybody gets comments when wearing a Submariner or any other sport Rolex unless maybe they are doing something to deliberately attract attention. I have worn them for years and I can only think of one time that anyone even noticed a Rolex. A plumber came to repair something and he complemented me on a Sub; turned out he was a vintage watch aficionado and was wearing a vintage diver of some sort. Otherwise ... nada. Virtually every dive watch mimics a Sub, so it's not really surprising that they fly under the radar. A solid gold Day-Date might get some comments.