Corrosion on movement

Skipper_S · Apr 23, 2019

Archer
A 60 year old NOS watch will obviously need to be serviced, so I'm not sure how you listed the watch - that is a key thing to know before I could comment on if they buyer is entitled to anything. If you listed it "as is" then that's that, but if you made claims about the performance or stated that it was ready to wear, then they may have some recourse I guess - no idea how Chrono24 works to be honest.

The part about "upgraded movement parts" is certainly odd, but there's nothing else out of the ordinary in the watchmakers scope of work. It's standard practice to replace the mainspring at every service, and that may be what the upgraded parts refers to - possibly replacing a blued steel spring with a modern white alloy spring. If it was really not used, the watch really shouldn't need any parts other than the new mainspring and possibly some seals.

Cheers, Al

Thanks Archer!

From the photos i shared you see any corrosion?
The watch runs as it should. for sure some seconds off but its also logical.
I will take a screenshot of the advertisement I had so you can see!

Skipper_S · Apr 23, 2019

Archer · Apr 23, 2019

You listed it as mint condition, but also NOS. So if the person who bought it is new to collecting watches, they may have expected it to be in full working condition. But you didn't make any performance claims or claims about it being ready to use.

You keep asking about corrosion - there was nothing mentioned in the watchmaker's report about corrosion, so where is this concern coming from?

IMO you should take the watch back, and sell it again, making it clear it will require a service, or at least say "no service history" or something to that effect.

Cheers, Al

Skipper_S · Apr 23, 2019

Seller asked through messages if the watch and the strap are original and how i verify originality and i replied that it is 100% original, never restored or polished and that Iam not sure about the strap.
You are right! He mentioned “corrosion” through messages also. The watchmaker told him “there is extensive corrosion”!!!

It is obvious that a 60 years old watch needs a service. He should know that as I should know that the Rolex loses its lume after 40 years too 😀

dennisthemenace · Apr 23, 2019

Skipper_S
I sold this watch to someone and check what the watchmaker replied!!!

Was the buyer a member here by any chance?

Skipper_S · Apr 23, 2019

I have no idea

Gav1967 · Apr 23, 2019

I understand your frustration but;-
Either
Some unscrupulous buyer is trying to scam you for $700
Or
A very novice buyer was confused and expected a brand new watch and feels aggrieved

It sounds like the dispute could run on so I don’t see why you just wouldn’t get the watch back, refund the money and then re-sell with amended clearer wording. Just my thoughts

dennisthemenace · Apr 23, 2019

Gav1967
I understand your frustration but;-
Either
Some unscrupulous buyer is trying to scam you for $700
Or
A very novice buyer was confused and expected a brand new watch and feels aggrieved

It sounds like the dispute could run on so I don’t see why you just wouldn’t get the watch back, refund the money and then re-sell with amended clearer wording. Just my thoughts

The problem will be finding another mug willing to pay 1000 euros.

Gav1967 · Apr 23, 2019

dennisthemenace
The problem will be finding another mug willing to pay 1000 euros.

Good point well made 😉. He hasn’t got is 1k yet though and sounds doubtful that he will

Canuck · Apr 23, 2019

dennisthemenace
The problem will be finding another mug willing to pay 1000 euros.

Seems you have YET to find someone who is willing to pay € 1000! The dude who has your watch certainly isn’t.

Dan S · Apr 23, 2019

dennisthemenace
The problem will be finding another mug willing to pay 1000 euros.

Exactly.

Skipper_S · Apr 24, 2019

1000€ for an unused nos piece of this brand (Grand Prix is the most sough after) is not a good price?!
For some people might be expensive, For others who know the rarity and the history of the brand is a good price.
Not all can have the same opinion for sure for all things in life and for fair price for goods sold!

I am not sure if buyer tries to lower the price or he was thinking he is buying a brand new watch like buying an omega produced in 2019.
For sure the money they ask for the service is insane. Not all those mentioned in the report are needed for the watch as the experts above mentioned!
He can find another watchmaker to just lubricate the caliber etc...

Thank you all for your feedback!!!

Canuck · Apr 24, 2019

You said earlier that Chrono24 will sit on your payment until the buyer is happy, I believe. The buyer has worked a fiddle with the repair shop that quoted the insane price. The shop has likely agreed to do a $100.00 service of the watch, and to refund $595.00 to the buyer. If that ain’t fraud, I don’t know what to call it. They are saying they will “polish the crystal, and ultrasonic the case”? What kind of a backwoods repair shop would ultrasonic the case with the crystal in place? Get the watch back before they render it as scrap!

Theluglife · Apr 24, 2019

NOS definitely doesn't mean brand new out of the factory. Like the person above said, a undriven car sitting in a garage for 60 years aint going to run like a brand new car out of the dealership.

Archer · Apr 24, 2019

Canuck
You said earlier that Chrono24 will sit on your payment until the buyer is happy, I believe. The buyer has worked a fiddle with the repair shop that quoted the insane price. The shop has likely agreed to do a $100.00 service of the watch, and to refund $595.00 to the buyer. If that ain’t fraud, I don’t know what to call it. They are saying they will “polish the crystal, and ultrasonic the case”? What kind of a backwoods repair shop would ultrasonic the case with the crystal in place? Get the watch back before they render it as scrap!

Might be helpful if you stopped making things up. Your post is pure speculation on every level, and there is no proof of anything you stated in this post.

I get that many here would see the price quoted as being excessive, but there's nothing to suggest fraud in this case, and nothing to suggest that the crystal would be left in the case during cleaning.

Now if the watch owner was really getting a $100 service on this watch, then I certainly agree he should get the watch out of there before it gets damaged, but from what I have heard of this shop they generally have a good reputation. I don't know them or their work personally, but they have been recommended here many times by members, and are well known for prices that are on the high side, so this estimate is not out of the ordinary for them. They are located in Grand Central Station in NYC, so about as far from being "backwoods" as you could possibly get.

I understand you are trying to be helpful, but your posts on this are crossing a line IMO...

ChrisN · Apr 24, 2019

I don't believe there is any fiddle going on here. I looked at their website and they show $450+ for a mechanical watch service. See about half way down this page. Why this particular watch is 50% above that, I don't know.

They're entitled to charge whatever they want and they have some ambitious pricing on the watches for sale as well. Other watchmakers seem to charge far too little in my experience and I wouldn't get involved in a race to the bottom like some have.

Have to admit that the description of the work is a bit odd though. I'd want a lot more detail if I was spending $700 but you won't get too much from the big manufacturers in house servicing either.

If I were the OP, I'd take the watch back.

Cheers, Chris

Corrosion on movement

Skipper_S

Skipper_S

Archer

Skipper_S

dennisthemenace

Skipper_S

Gav1967

dennisthemenace

Gav1967

Canuck

Dan S

Skipper_S

Canuck

Theluglife

Archer

ChrisN

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