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Black re-dial...worth the money?

cineaste
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cristos71 cristos71
I agree already overpriced for what it is. I just today bought a late 60's SMDV in steel with black gloss dial and BOR bracelet for €500 ( although it does desperately need a service) And I'm also busy with a steel 50's SM with black gilt dial for less money than this watch is already at.

Patience is key
Was this local auction or Ebay?
 
SkunkPrince
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Davidt Davidt
Doesn’t sit right how some sellers use the word ‘restored’ rather than ‘repainted’ or at least ‘refinished’.
If I say I have a restored 1968 Sheby Cobra, what do you think it will look like?

It's not necessarily the wrong word, because I can take a rusty tricycle, straighten it, recrome the wheels, replace the spokes and tires, repaint the frame, and replace the seat... and call it restored, and everyone and his mother will know exactly what that word means.
 
SkunkPrince
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gbesq gbesq
overpolished.
I dunno, I can still see the sharp edges and everything seems to be the same profile it started as. As said above, not everyone wants a watch to show every nick and dent it ever received.
 
Davidt
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SkunkPrince SkunkPrince
If I say I have a restored 1968 Sheby Cobra, what do you think it will look like?

It's not necessarily the wrong word, because I can take a rusty tricycle, straighten it, recrome the wheels, replace the spokes and tires, repaint the frame, and replace the seat... and call it restored, and everyone and his mother will know exactly what that word means.

Im not saying it’s the wrong word, I’m saying it’s a grey area that sellers use to be vague or avoid saying directly that a dial has been refinished.

Yes if one uses the car analogy, everyone know a restored car will likely have new paint, a re-bored or new engine etc. That’s implied.
However, another analogy is art. If someone buys a restored painting they don’t expect it to have been repainted. They assumption is layers of dirt and grime have been painstakingly removed to reveal the masterpiece underneath to return it to its former glory. This isn’t generally what a dial restoration involves.
 
SkunkPrince
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Uh... restored paintings are frequently repainted in parts where the original has flaked off.

But I take your point. 😀
 
Dug
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Dan S Dan S
I guess you already have your answer. So why start the thread?

Perhaps I wasn't precise enough at the outset. 'Worth the money?', for many, invites assessment and comment on the aesthetic value alongside the material. The thread appears to have included both.
 
Edward53
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This person sells a lot of watches, almost all along the same lines as this one, ie. heavily polished and with repainted dials. He evidently has quite an ebay following who buy into his "stunning", "beautiful" etc patter. His market is not collectors who know their watches, know what will retain its value and appreciate originality - they all give him a wide berth. He appeals to people who think, Wow, how cool it would be to own a vintage watch! and then look for something flashy. Even if they do understand "restored" as meaning "repainted" (and I agree that it's a weasel word), they'll probably think it's in some way superior to an original dial with signs of age. And as long as they never do any research, never try to resell their watch and never show it to a collector, they'll be perfectly happy. If they do end up disillusioned, there'll be no comeback because although they've massively overpaid, he hasn't actually told any lies in the listing.
 
P
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it is a very nice redial, but does not worth that much of money. For this price, you can find a full original piece.
 
Spruce
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Current bid now £1,020 and still 24 hours to go.

Anyone want to bet final price high/low?

😉
 
perks713
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$1950 USD is where I bet it ends up, give or take $75
Edited:
 
Spruce
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perks713 perks713
$1950 USD is where I bet it ends up, give it take $75
About £1400 - £1500 - I wouldn’t bet against you on that
 
Edward53
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When you polish up a watch so that it's shiny to the max and take photos in the right light conditions, would-be buyers without any knowledge are impressed. Add in such subjective adjectives as "stunning", "beautiful" and "super" and the impression is reinforced. The magic word "classic" - a sure hook for the credulous - occurs twice in the initial description and again at the top of the main one.

List enough such watches and you amass a following of keen but ignorant seekers. They compete against each other and high prices are achieved. The followers see this as proof that the seller is offering really good watches. Competition intensifies and prices go still higher. Result: a perfect storm.

To my knowledge he's never told a single lie. I do however contend that ignorant buyers are being manipulated into paying way OTT for watches that were very probably right old dogs until recently, otherwise why renovate them? This model with a scratched-up case and damaged dial - which may or may not have originally been black - would have been worth maybe a third of the final price. Private resale value won't be a lot higher. He could argue that he's catering to a market need and it'd be hard to argue with that. Illegal? No. Immoral? You decide. I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable taking money off people like this.
 
Faz
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seekingseaquest seekingseaquest
Yeah, I share the same sentiment. It makes me a little frustrated that these redialers can’t get several hundred $$ more just because they chose to redial the dial black. But it happens all the time.
Many years ago, I bought my first "bumper". A date at 6 14k model with a black dial. I was mesmerized and got it for a very decent price. I was so taken by the black dial that I hadn't noticed the "calender" in lieu of "calendar" misprint?! The watch was returned and the seller had the misprint corrected! Those refinished, glossy black dials are eye catchers and almost always way overpriced
 
Faz
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Spruce Spruce
Current bid now £1,020 and still 24 hours to go.

Anyone want to bet final price high/low?

😉
😲😲
 
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