In for a penny, in for a pound

alane24 · Dec 13, 2022

JwRosenthal
I think it should be stated at this point, for all newer collectors, that this thread is a cautionary tale. Just because it’s a “bargain” doesn’t mean it will be a bargain. As much as I love contributing to the bargain thread- this is what happens when you get a little over ambitious hitting the “buy it now” button.

Good point.

Is there a “I caved to the eBay offer from seller” thread yet?

Helvetia History · Dec 16, 2022

My most successful speculative buy and rebuild is below. I saw some pics on a forum with someone asking what they had bought. It was identified as a marriage of case and parts. Luckily I recognised it as a shock protected Borgel case Helvetia from 1930. These are the pics from the site:

Even though the post was a year old I messaged the poster with info about the watch and asked if he was interested in selling. For about £100 including shipping I managed to get the watch. Some of the parts I received:

Luckily I had some spare hands that would fit but had to buy a crown. I paid £80 for two Borgel cases and crowns and used one of them.

This is the end result with another example I found while looking for a crown for the first!

Spruce · Dec 20, 2022

It’s all about this watch.

I'm hooked on these monocoque Admirals. I already had a couple of black dials, …

….. but wanted a silver white dial.

In February, a dealer based in Japan, Closer 0924 offered the watch. (I’ve told Closer that I’d be summarising what happened and he had no objection).

I bought it, for US 380, it was shipped very quickly and I paid duty. Unhappily, the watch didn’t work. My watch repairer advised that parts were hard to source for these watches, which subsequently proved to be the case. Closer was happy to accept a return and to refund me. I didn’t recover the duty.

I asked Closer to let me know if he repaired the watch but heard nothing further.

In May, it was back on eBay. I mailed Closer to ask if it was working and was told it was. I bought it again, this time for US 448 and, again, paid duty.

Again, it arrived quickly and, again, it didn’t work although this time the watch wound, the sweep second went round but the hands didn’t and the date didn’t advance. Closer assured me that it had worked when he sent it and speculated that it had been damaged in transit. The packaging was pristine. He offered me a refund.

When I’d bought one of the black dials from a UK seller, he recommended his repairer. I decided, on impulse, to keep the watch and get it repaired.

This watch has a 6651 movement (derived from the 431) and other similarly cased models have 431 and 505 movements.

The repairer said the mechanism was okay but he couldn’t locate an unlocking yoke cam ….

I found a running movement on eBay (in Spain) for £148 and my repairer's charge was extremely reasonable. He'd hung on to the watch from May to December, whilst we both looked for a suitable part.

The watch has returned. I originally bought it in February for about £280. I reckon I’ve spent another £400 getting it repaired and serviced. I’m delighted to have it back but it was a gamble…..

JwRosenthal · Dec 20, 2022

Spruce
It’s all about this watch.

I'm hooked on these monocoque Admirals. I already had a couple of black dials, …

….. but wanted a silver white dial.

In February, a dealer based in Japan, Closer 0924 offered the watch. (I’ve told Closer that I’d be summarising what happened and he had no objection).

I bought it, for US 380, it was shipped very quickly and I paid duty. Unhappily, the watch didn’t work. My watch repairer advised that parts were hard to source for these watches, which subsequently proved to be the case. Closer was happy to accept a return and to refund me. I didn’t recover the duty.

I asked Closer to let me know if he repaired the watch but heard nothing further.

In May, it was back on eBay. I mailed Closer to ask if it was working and was told it was. I bought it again, this time for US 448 and, again, paid duty.

Again, it arrived quickly and, again, it didn’t work although this time the watch wound, the sweep second went round but the hands didn’t and the date didn’t advance. Closer assured me that it had worked when he sent it and speculated that it had been damaged in transit. The packaging was pristine. He offered me a refund.

When I’d bought one of the black dials from a UK seller, he recommended his repairer. I decided, on impulse, to keep the watch and get it repaired.

This watch has a 6651 movement (derived from the 431) and other similarly cased models have 431 and 505 movements.

The repairer said the mechanism was okay but he couldn’t locate an unlocking yoke cam ….

I found a running movement on eBay (in Spain) for £148 and my repairer's charge was extremely reasonable. He'd hung on to the watch from May to December, whilst we both looked for a suitable part.

The watch has returned. I originally bought it in February for about £280. I reckon I’ve spent another £400 getting it repaired and serviced. I’m delighted to have it back but it was a gamble…..

Beautiful! Now you just need the sexy factory bracelet for it ::stirthepot::

Spruce · Dec 20, 2022

JwRosenthal
Beautiful! Now you just need the sexy factory bracelet for it

Tell me!!

Which bracelet is it?

Photo and specs and I’ll start looking right away!

Unless Santa delivers one ….

RevZMan123 · Dec 20, 2022

When one gets a free watch and then decides to give it away to someone else, I should probably make sure it runs beforehand. lol

Why won't it run?

Oh, the hairspring got a little tweaked.

Still haven't gotten the bravery test going yet. I might just buy a movement for $30 and transplant instead.

No such thing as a free boat ... a free goat ... or a free watch ... 😁

rendo · Feb 10, 2023

I thought this is the best thread to post this one:

Purchased this Universal Geneve 35mm watch on eBay for $225 (thanks to @JwRosenthal for the link). It was described as “Works Excellent”, and serviced in 2021. When it arrived, the movement was drenched in oil, the ratchet wheel was installed upside down, and the balance was bad. I could have opened a case with eBay and returned it easily, but I liked the dial and decided to restore it. I tried getting a partial refund based on the condition, but the seller ghosted me and earned his negative review.

Found a donor UG 332 movement for $75 including shipping all the way from Egypt. Serviced the watch myself (no incremental cost). I like the way it turned out for $300:

These are the before photos:

edit: Just realized that the seller left the following buyer review and somehow managed to get my negative review removed. Unbelievable.

In for a penny, in for a pound

alane24

Helvetia History

Spruce

JwRosenthal

Spruce

RevZMan123

rendo

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