Link to Speedmaster Listings here

Starts off sensible:


With the 1039 bracelet and 516 endlinks, this watch might have been a great pickup.

I am aware the bezel and hand condition are poor, but the overall watch for the price is good. HKD 40,000 is USD $5,100. Show me another -71 on the market for that price, that you would rather have.








Next is an amazing price for a 145.012:



This is a standard 145.012 as far as I can see, with an extract. HKD 400,000 is $51,200. Is this a typo?

The only explanation I can think of is that someone applied for an extract using the photo of an Ultraman, as the serial is very close, (though not inside) the proposed accepted range. See here.

Note the wrong bezel












Next we have another problematic watch, with non original parts, an Omega document, and a price that is double that of the last known sale for a correct, perfect example:







This sold for twice the estimate, and at HKD237,000 is equivalent to USD just over USD $30,000.

It is a transitional, and comes with a certificate of authenticity. I am shocked that this is what Omega are doing, which is basically legitimizing a franken watch.

This watch carries a non original movement, and a non original bezel. That this has been "blessed" by an Omega document, begs the question, what is that document worth in the future?

Nothing.

Note incorrect bezel.






Here is an Ultraman that at least appears genuine, if an All Time High price.




At HKD 812,500 this is USD $104,160 - is this a record for an Ultraman?

If I had to fall on one side or another, I would say the Orange hand is from the Alps of Vietnam. It is way to clean and perfect, compared to the rest of the watch.

It just did not seem very attractive, but Ultra-fever won through.

Look at the hand - It is clean, and flat. It just looks out of place to me - the rest of the watch is tired






It doesnt stop
Ed White Owners will all be re calibrating values....



At HKD 812,500 again this is $104,160. Again I ask myself, are these typo's?

The dial is a snowflake dial. Thats not a good thing.



So can someone confirm if these prices were real, or is there an AQ intern being flogged for writing in the wrong prices?

 

Does it have a Mk 2 minute hand?

 

Midcase & minute hand are incorrect for a 145.012.

 

MK4.5

 

MkII hand is too short.

I suspect the Mk4.5 is also short.

 

Hopefully, after spending $104k, the Ed White buyer can still afford correct pushers.

 

How can these prices be right?

 

Wow, anyone want to buy a -68? I'll only charge you 2/3 of that price and mine is way nicer....

The EOA that the -68 watch is on in the pictures cant be the right one....they say a COA in the listing, show an EOA, and the info in the listing (date etc) does not match what is on the EOA in the picture. Weird indeed, or just really sloppy, or a bit of both.

 

Right, so, what kind of currency was this auction ran in?

(Peanuts?)

 

Maybe they rented out Aural Bacs?

 

Does anyone here follow the art market? Has it gone mad as well? I know there was a Frieda Kahlo that went for 10x (?) the last piece sold, so is the fine art auction business now becoming mad? Money parking? Is there a crash coming we mortals should know about?

 

I mean, I guess if bidders with *very* deep pockets are coming out to play, what's and extra $80K or more?

I just hope these show as anomalies and don't throw the whole (Speedy) market off. I mean sure, I wouldn't mind $100K for an Ed White I have in the watch box, but if that's where they're headed, I will have a harder time justifying wearing them, and that's the whole point for me.

I got no explanation other than typos or people with WAY too much money.

is there a way to tell if the transactions complete successfully once the excitement of the auction is over?

 

Looks like the Rolex crowd has moved onto Omegas if these prices are correct.

 

nothing makes sense anymore.

 

I can’t believe these prices will stick. There’s simply too many 60’s Speedmasters out there (although you could say the same about 60’s/70’s Subs but Omega doesn’t have the widespread popular appeal that Rolex has).

Must either be a mistake or it’s a temporary extension of the pissing contest we saw with the recent 2915 sale.

 

I heard that 2915 was sold to Hong Kong and this auction was also in HK... I wonder if there's something to that relationship. Anyways, I think those prices are crazy

 

With the trajectory that Hong Kong is on, could we be seeing some people turning savings into easily transportable valuables, ready to emigrate at short notice? I wonder if the value of jewellery has also increased locally.

 

I really really don't think so, what's the point of overpaying for a watch in a time of crypto currencies - but I also believe something is amiss

Maybe what we miss is that for someone with potentially infinite money, there's no other practical way to add an Omega to the collection, they just don't care and get one from an auction they socially visit?

 

I thought I recognised that watch. It sold at AQ's May auction in Geneva for CHF 6,875. I checked it out during a showing of select items in Hong Kong ahead of the show. So someone apparently bought it and flipped it in less that a year for a cool 300% profit.

 

We've come a long way, baby...

https://omegaforums.net/threads/will-the-ed-white-soon-be-a-5-figure-watch.13940/