If you buy that watch for 4000 anything’s, then you are doing well.
Bearing in mind I have seen good Ed Whites sell for £15,000 and big auction watches can get more, this one would be cheap at £4000 even with its problems.
Problems are the poor condition bezel, and the dial which is bit untidy but not bad at all - perhaps made to appear worse under the marked crystal. Correct close spaced T’s. Its not going to be a top dial, but I think it will be ok
Case is hard to judge from the photos but the back looks crisp.
Bracelet is a nice looking 1171 which would be coveted by several owners of early 70’s speedmasters.
I cannot fully get to grips with the crown and pushers - better photos and more time on my part needed, but I would not rely on them being correct, the same goes for the hands.
However those can be corrected at a sympathetic service :
www.simonfreesewatchmakers.com is who I use but I also use
www.swisstimeservices.com, but the latter is a bit more pricey.
To sum up, its a fair buyable watch at a price. I doubt you will get it at an open auction for £4000 - there would be too many buyers to compete with you. But if it is a private sale snatch their hands off.
The real skill in this market is to find the right price for a watch like this. Pay too much and you will be bothered by the faults, but pay the right price and you will have a rewarding attractive watch - its faults off set by the price paid.
Its all very well crying condition condition condition but not everyone wants to wear a perfect Ed White worth 15-20k when they could have one for (say) $7,000 - 10,000. Still crazy money for a discretionary purchase I grant you, but if you knock the cheaper watch in wear its unlikely to lose value, where as the expensive one might make you cry if you damage it.
Do not ask me which one to buy, I bought both - but I wear the cheap one more!
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