Did this Air King go cheap?

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I was watching this on an auction today. The estimate was £1200 to £1400. It was on a Tudor bracelet. Very grubby looking and no info as to mechanical condition. I’m gearing up (again) to add a first Rolex to my collection so trying to learn about the different models and variations. This is the sort of understated watch I like.

Do you think this one went for a low, fair or high price? It sold for £1200.
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Fair condition, factor in a service. Price was OK IMO, not a screaming deal.
 
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£1200 plus fees plus a service takes it to almost £2k

Seems a lot of crud in there, not an appealing one to me at that price. I would have thought 2-2.5 would get you a nice one.

Keep on looking and good luck
 
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£1200 plus fees plus a service takes it to almost £2k

Seems a lot of crud in there, not an appealing one to me at that price. I would have thought 2-2.5 would get you a nice one.

Keep on looking and good luck
Good point, 21% fees on that plus service. I’ve not yet attempted to buy an auction watch - i do rather feel out of my depth still. I guess I need to really know what I’m looking at, factor in fees, and bite the bullet when the right thing comes up.
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At first blush it looks like a deal, but as the others have said, factor in the service, maybe the dial would clean up a little with some spot cleaning, but not much- and it would still look grungy. If I got it for $500 I would be happy and would hunt down another dial.
 
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I am on the same learning curve with these Rolexes. Good luck to both of us!

For auctions, make sure you know the auctioneer’s shipping policies. I once received a box from an auction with “antique watches” written on the label, another time a pocket watch was loosely wrapped in a square of bubble wrap, just bouncing around in the box. Some auctioneers will not package and ship (you’ll need to hire a service) and that might be the best option. Good luck
 
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Clean with a service history I would not go over $2,500-2,700 USD, and I am shopping for something similar or a 4 digit DJ.

So that price is fair, but not spectacular.
 
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Clean with a service history I would not go over $2,500-2,700 USD, and I am shopping for something similar or a 4 digit DJ.

So that price is fair, but not spectacular.
It is truly shocking how these have shot up. When I first saw your numbers I bristled at first, thinking- man that’s high- but no, that is what they are doing for! 1601/3’s we’re going for $3k all day long in stunning original condition 2 years ago, they are a thousand more today. The watch world has gone insane.
But the golden rule still applies be it Rolex or Bulova- condition, condition, condition. And if you don’t love it as it is (grime aside) it doesn’t matter how good of a deal it is.
 
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It is truly shocking how these have shot up. When I first saw your numbers I bristled at first, thinking- man that’s high- but no, that is what they are doing for! 1601/3’s we’re going for $3k all day long in stunning original condition 2 years ago, they are a thousand more today. The watch world has gone insane.
But the golden rule still applies be it Rolex or Bulova- condition, condition, condition. And if you don’t love it as it is (grime aside) it doesn’t matter how good of a deal it is.

yeah, I'm holding out for sub $2,400 for an air king or $3200 for a 4 digit DJ, but that's with a known service history.... it may be a long search.
 
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Given the exterior condition of the posted watch, I would assume that the movement hasn’t been looked after in a long time and may have accumulated damage from running without adequate lubrication. A routine service may be quite expensive. Between this and the dial, I would not be interested.

My recent experience with 1002s suggests to me that you’re probably talking about $2.5k to $3k minimum for a decent OP or DJ 34mm, four digit Rolex. I have seen a few go for less, but those are rarely without issues.
 
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It looks a lot like the model Burt Lancaster wore in Scorpio

Scorpio_RolexAirKing.jpg
 
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yeah, I'm holding out for sub $2,400 for an air king or $3200 for a 4 digit DJ, but that's with a known service history.... it may be a long search.

I don't know that decent DJs will ever come back down to a market price of $3200 with a bracelet. You may need to get lucky at a pawn shop or thrift store.
 
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seems like a fairly decent price. Hard to find any rolex models in decent shape for under £1k.
 
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Good point, 21% fees on that plus service. I’ve not yet attempted to buy an auction watch - i do rather feel out of my depth still. I guess I need to really know what I’m looking at, factor in fees, and bite the bullet when the right thing comes up.


.....and fees vary!
Check whether the auction house run their own (register in advance, boy scout - be prepared) or if you need to use an outside web link (e.g. the saleroom.com) - I have seen it reach nearly 40% fee.
 
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The watch world has gone insane.

Spot on!! I have been (for reasons you will understand) been looking for a ‘cheap’ snorkel. Remember seeing them for £100ish pre-covid, can’t find anything for 3 x that. Similarly wanted a very cheap skx for a beater...£200 now, that is not cheap to me.

More collectors with nothing to do, or spare time and spare cash, on line buying? Or is there a shift in the number of people appreciating watches?

Wish they would both just f.......
 
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Spot on!! I have been (for reasons you will understand) been looking for a ‘cheap’ snorkel. Remember seeing them for £100ish pre-covid, can’t find anything for 3 x that. Similarly wanted a very cheap skx for a beater...£200 now, that is not cheap to me.

More collectors with nothing to do, or spare time and spare cash, on line buying? Or is there a shift in the number of people appreciating watches?

Wish they would both just f.......
If you go back and read the bargain thread from when it started a year ago, it is startling how we balked at some things as being too expensive and now would happily pay those prices.
And yes, i still follow the Snorkel market (of course) and watches I thought were a joke at $300 a year ago are fetching twice that now.
 
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For auctions, make sure you know the auctioneer’s shipping policies. ... Some auctioneers will not package and ship (you’ll need to hire a service) and that might be the best option. Good luck

And in my experience of dealing with various international auction house shipping partner businesses this can be a time consuming, frustrating and expensive process.
 
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I don't know that decent DJs will ever come back down to a market price of $3200 with a bracelet. You may need to get lucky at a pawn shop or thrift store.


My last one (1974) was $1 cheaper than that, and I traded it for a $6k O-mee-ga
 
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My last one (1974) was $1 cheaper than that, and I traded it for a $6k O-mee-ga

Well, the last vintage DJ I purchased was for $1900, but I don't expect to be lucky enough to get another one for that price anytime soon. 😉
 
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Well, the last vintage DJ I purchased was for $1900, but I don't expect to be lucky enough to get another one for that price anytime soon. 😉


That's why we lurk in the shadows..... ready to strike......