Hi everybody, I still have to buy my first vintage. Has been month since I started looking into it and could never, until now, find a good satisfying deal.
The vintage market really is complex and potentially dangerous for a newcomer like me!
This is why, again, I look for your help:
those are the watches I'm interested, the first is a Cosmic Seamaster.
And the second is a Geneve:
https://www.subito.it/vi/268712857.htm

What do you think of those guys? I really like both of them, but am afraid of taking a scam.
Thank you!

 

Cosmic photos are blurry, so it's hard to tell on the polish. Hard to tell about the hands.

The Geneve looks ok, but again is tough to tell based on the photos. It seems a bit pricey IMHO


Keep in mind that you should assume that these watches will likely need a service (regardless of what BS the seller gives you )


Check on the for sale section of the forum. Much safer.

 

Great thanks a lot Dan! What would it be a fair price for the Geneve according to you?

 

Cosmic case shows very heavy wear, pass.

Geneve photos aren't large enough to make a comment.

 

Genève looks OK at first glance, quality of photos doesn't allow for more precise assesment. Price correct IMO, considering it comes with (seemengly) original bracelet.

Cosmic looks fine from the front, some wear on the back, quite common on this type of case. Crown unseen. What's the asking price?

 

Thanks guys! The asking for the Cosmic is 480

 

Cosmics can be really good value as a lot of people avoid them due to the method of opening and closing the case. It requires more complicated tooling that most independents just don’t have. So come Service time it’s off to an Official Service Centre.

I bought one at auction a few years back. It went to STS for a service and sympathetic restoration. I think it’s an 1120 movement, which is very accurate. I doubt that I’d part with it as you don’t see many around.

 

With the wear on the case it's not worth even half of that.

 

Ask when it was serviced last. Factor that in to your consideration. Mine was £370 three years ago for the service.

 

I have to say I agree.

 

In general, I find Cosmics very satisfying on thr wrist

 

Woah thanks all of you! I wouldn't have any idea of the real value of the piece. I have to say that I think in general in the USA watches are much less expensive than in Europe. Cool, I'll focus more on the Geneve

 

And so do I

 

Nice Cosmics can be had for well under $500 on eBay, just do your homework.

BTW the Cosmic and Cosmic 2000 are very different watches. The Cosmic is easily serviced by any decent watchmaker and uses the 6xx, 5xx or 7xx movements not the later 10xx or 11xx movements found in the Cosmic 2000, which as noted are more problematic to disassemble.

 

In what way? I appreciate that the caseback is very different. I believe that Cosmics are front loaders and Cosmic 2000s aren’t. Not sure about variations between them in movements though. Thanks and sorry for hijacking the thread a little

 

I had my Cosmic serviced last year by an independent (albeit a very talented one), so the part about official service center is not true at all.

FWIW, I bought a Cosmic last year in very good shape for GBP 367.50 off Ebay. I paid a bit on the high end because I really needed that model's dial.

I'd agree about the value part though. I love the way that they look and are some of the more inexpensive vintage pieces.

 

This:

Also worth mentioning that 6xx, 5xx, 7xx are movement of noticeably higher quality than 10xx, 11xx.

 

A lot of good informations here! The seller says the caliber is a 565, but cannot give photos.

 

Avoid paying the noob tax. Visit the forum often, learn, be patient. If you want to be MUCH safer, buy from the forum

 

Thanks Dan! Problem is, mostly the forum sellers are in America, or am I wrong? Expedition and borders costs can easily add up I suppose