What do we think of this, eh?


As well as the minging redial, I have doubts over the serial no too... seems to be too early for a 105.003 and maybe too late for a 105.002.

 

In a bit more zoomed-in horror

 

https://omegaforums.net/threads/am-i-too-picky.57190/

 

Wow, in that previous thread I thought the poster was looking to buy from some crap dealer, not Bonhams. This is a real black mark on their reputation, I would think anyone experienced in watches at all - not just Speedmasters - would be able to tell this is a completely screwed-up dial.

 

Dial: Black refinished, white outer 1/5th second markers, 30 minute and 12 hour recording at 3 and 6, white pointed baton hands with luminous inserts, centre chronograph, subsidiary seconds at 9

Wonder if refinished is code for "made and painted in china"

 

Ah, I didn't spot that other thread (mostly because it didn't mention Bonhams...)

Anyway, I got in touch with their watch specialist and he said they made a mistake; the serial number is in fact 20522782 and not 20322782 as their listing says. And he acknowledged "we were aware the dial was a horrible reprint (hence the estimate)".

So I guess a buyer could throw the dial away and replace it with a proper Ed White dial and they'd have a mildly shabby but at least vaguely correct watch. Too much effort? We'll see...

 

Phillips? Bonhams ? What a goddamed nightmare!!!!!!

 

The horror, the horror...

Mind you wait another week and the bezel will probably be worth more than the watch...

 

How often do Ed White dials come up for sale? Seems like more trouble than it's worth, especially since you'll be sitting on a fairly expensive piece of garbage in the meantime.

 

Yeah, I agree. You could stick a service dial (£300) on it, I suppose, but why buy an Ed White to look at a service dial...

 

Having something like this in the lot feels like the cheapens the rest of the watches at auction.

I mean why pay a buyers premium if they aren't going to do a bit of leg work to ensure they have quality watches to auction.

 

Horrible, really. These auction houses have absolutely no shame at all, and are looking to capitalize on buyers caught up in the current run-up. In this case they say "Dial: black refinished". That hardly captures how awful this is, and it says nothing about the cost and difficulty of finding a proper replacement. They further punt any responsibility by saying privately "we know, its reflected in the estimate". Really Bonhams? Take your 20% commission and shove it right up your backside you thieves.

 

It's that old saying.BUYER BEWARE.

 

at least it got a nice DON, it comes with 1035/506 bracelet even though the serie too early

 

At least they're not claiming a 'prototype' dial design !!

 

Maybe not, but the poor sucker who buys it, will probably pop up on here and might do. I feel sorry for them already

 

I don't see the problem. Described as a redial.

 

It's not a problem if you understand what a redial, refinished is, how it affects the price and what it's value is for collectors. If you happen to be unaware of these things you may pay a premium for a piece of poo. When that happens do you think the auction house is going to give you a refund? That is the problem.

 

I'll try to better explain my anger at this... the whole reason companies like Bonhams exist, IMHO, is to find those hard to locate quality pieces, vet them, and then put those that pass muster up for auction. You as a buyer pay a MASSIVE premium for this, and implied in that premium is due-diligence by experts so that you are not buying utter garbage. When they put up a piece like this, they are essentially ripping off their customers. Savvy customers like you, and just about everyone else on Omega Forums, sees the obvious flaws, and knows how to value appropriately, we do our own due diligence... but not everyone out there is an expert.