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gramboda
·TLDR – Two Questions:
This is my first post, and I’m new to the world of watch collecting (I’m based in the US)! What began as a simple interest in customizing my own watch mods has quickly transformed into a full-blown obsession, and I now find myself deeply immersed in all things related to watch collecting. To get straight to the point, I’m currently on the hunt for my first "luxury" timepiece—essentially an affordable grail, or perhaps an interim grail, if you will.
After much consideration, I’ve settled on a first or second-generation Omega Seamaster 300M. Recently, I took the leap and visited the Omega Boutique in Washington, D.C., where I was this close to walking away with the white dial Seamaster. However, I quickly realized I’m not quite ready to drop over $5K on my first true luxury watch. That said, I do have a budget of around $2K, which makes the first and second-generation Seamaster 300M a more feasible option.
I’m not one to "hunt" for watches by browsing random jewelry stores or secondhand retailers, so my search has shifted to the internet. From what I’ve learned, eBay and Chrono24 are two of the most popular platforms for sourcing watches from the 90s and 2000s. The challenge, however, is that evaluating the condition of a watch online is tricky, especially when I can't see the piece in person. Many watches in good condition are priced above my $2K budget. That said, I’ve found a seller on Chrono24 who has over 12K successful transactions and offers a number of first and second-generation Seamaster 300Ms in the mid-teens to low $2K range. However, I’ve come across some concerning information about how watches are sourced from Japan—particularly that some sellers don’t actually have the pieces on hand and only acquire them after a sale is made. This seller lists their watches as "in stock," and the photos seem to reflect different watches; the marks and scratches on the watches vary across different listings.
- Am I getting swept up in the hype by considering a purchase from a Japanese seller on Chrono24, or does my research (see below) suggest I'm on the right track?
- Does anyone have strategies for ensuring the condition of a watch meets expectations when buying online?
This is my first post, and I’m new to the world of watch collecting (I’m based in the US)! What began as a simple interest in customizing my own watch mods has quickly transformed into a full-blown obsession, and I now find myself deeply immersed in all things related to watch collecting. To get straight to the point, I’m currently on the hunt for my first "luxury" timepiece—essentially an affordable grail, or perhaps an interim grail, if you will.
After much consideration, I’ve settled on a first or second-generation Omega Seamaster 300M. Recently, I took the leap and visited the Omega Boutique in Washington, D.C., where I was this close to walking away with the white dial Seamaster. However, I quickly realized I’m not quite ready to drop over $5K on my first true luxury watch. That said, I do have a budget of around $2K, which makes the first and second-generation Seamaster 300M a more feasible option.
I’m not one to "hunt" for watches by browsing random jewelry stores or secondhand retailers, so my search has shifted to the internet. From what I’ve learned, eBay and Chrono24 are two of the most popular platforms for sourcing watches from the 90s and 2000s. The challenge, however, is that evaluating the condition of a watch online is tricky, especially when I can't see the piece in person. Many watches in good condition are priced above my $2K budget. That said, I’ve found a seller on Chrono24 who has over 12K successful transactions and offers a number of first and second-generation Seamaster 300Ms in the mid-teens to low $2K range. However, I’ve come across some concerning information about how watches are sourced from Japan—particularly that some sellers don’t actually have the pieces on hand and only acquire them after a sale is made. This seller lists their watches as "in stock," and the photos seem to reflect different watches; the marks and scratches on the watches vary across different listings.
