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My Early Seamaster 120 Divers. What to look for and what to avoid.

C
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W who
Hi there
any opinions on this watch? IMHO it looks genuine, white fonts, dial looks good..


It might be the light again but the applied surround on date window usually has a vertically central raised apex type of edge to it, (there's probably a more elegant way of describing them) as seen here on another member's example, visible by the light and shade:

DATE.JPG


But it's not visible in the photo of the one you posted, not to say it isn't there, or there may be pieces that have a perfectly genuine different applied surround, but thought i'd mention it, maybe somebody else can comment on it to confirm it or otherwise.
All about the detail, doubt it until there's nothing left to doubt
 
Davidt
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Another landed. This time with the black date disk and a wonderfully sharp case.

C6C59BCD-CA1B-448F-BFA2-602C9C95418B.jpeg 194D35F3-A55C-4806-A23F-158B643D628C.jpeg
 
Arancio601
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What a fantastic thread, it has really opened my eyes. Can I just say I am sorta sad that this this thread is 45 pages long. So many fakes out there. I do however feel more equiped to navigate the minefield and hopefully not be burnt. Well done to all contributors.
 
Maganator
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Davidt Davidt
Another landed. This time with the black date disk and a wonderfully sharp case.

C6C59BCD-CA1B-448F-BFA2-602C9C95418B.jpeg 194D35F3-A55C-4806-A23F-158B643D628C.jpeg
Wow
Can I call dibs on this please?
 
Davidt
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Maganator Maganator
Wow
Can I call dibs on this please?

Noted. I can’t imagine selling this one anytime soon though!
 
C
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Davidt Davidt
Another landed. This time with the black date disk and a wonderfully sharp case.

C6C59BCD-CA1B-448F-BFA2-602C9C95418B.jpeg 194D35F3-A55C-4806-A23F-158B643D628C.jpeg


nice condition and the markers have gone a nice colour, if it isn't vulgar, mind if i ask what you paid for it?
 
Sa Calobra
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I just came across this one. It looks too perfect to be true, except for the case which seems a bit polished - anything I've missed?
The caseback says 166.00027, can that be correct?
 
Screenshot 2022-10-11 at 15.53.19.png Screenshot 2022-10-11 at 15.53.09.png Screenshot 2022-10-11 at 15.53.01.png Screenshot 2022-10-11 at 15.52.51.png Screenshot 2022-10-11 at 15.52.43.png Screenshot 2022-10-11 at 15.52.26.png Screenshot 2022-10-11 at 15.52.00.png
masteroftime
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Sa Calobra Sa Calobra
The caseback says 166.00027, can that be correct?

It generally looks right compared to my examples. The bezel is definitely correct. This might be due to the angle, but the date window looks odd.

i’ve never seen a caseback on these with the extra 0’s in the reference number, but it could be some sort of service replacement.
 
Davidt
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C Concretepuppy
nice condition and the markers have gone a nice colour, if it isn't vulgar, mind if i ask what you paid for it?

PM sent
 
Sa Calobra
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Yes it did. Ad 9 percent auction fee + 50 eur shipping in europe, so buyer would have paid roughly 2940. What do you think about that value?
 
Davidt
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Oh yeah I forgot about the fees.

I really like SM120’s and that was a good example but I think it was expensive, particularly as it didn’t include a bracelet and I assume wasnt serviced.
 
Davidt
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Then again, when I’ve been looking recently, good SM120’s are hard to find. Most of the ones on eBay are beat to hell, so I can kinda understand why someone paid that given the condition. Still expensive imo.
 
JwRosenthal
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Davidt Davidt
Then again, when I’ve been looking recently, good SM120’s are hard to find. Most of the ones on eBay are beat to hell, so I can kinda understand why someone paid that given the condition. Still expensive imo.
I first bristled when I saw the price above and I remembered @Shabbaz several years ago saying “a nice SM120 is €2k”…and everyone says nahhhh, I can get one for €1.5k…..yeah, show me.
 
Davidt
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
I first bristled when I saw the price above and I remembered @Shabbaz several years ago saying “a nice SM120 is €2k”…and everyone says nahhhh, I can get one for €1.5k…..yeah, show me.

Well unless you’re very lucky, no one’s getting a decent automatic version for €1500 anymore.
I still think €2000 is possible with patience but you’ve got to know your onions. By the time you’ve asked on the forum if it’s fake, chances are someone will have bought it.
I do think €3000 head only is a strong price and although the market may have spoken, it is only one sale. I think a range of around €2300-2700 for a good example is about right. Obviously true collector quality will be higher and a service or bracelet adds value and average/poor examples will be less.

What’s everyone else view on the market?
 
JwRosenthal
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Davidt Davidt
Well unless you’re very lucky, no one’s getting a decent automatic version for €1500 anymore.
I still think €2000 is possible with patience but you’ve got to know your onions. By the time you’ve asked on the forum if it’s fake, chances are someone will have bought it.
I do think €3000 head only is a strong price and although the market may have spoken, it is only one sale. I think a range of around €2300-2700 for a good example is about right. Obviously true collector quality will be higher and a service or bracelet adds value and average/poor examples will be less.

What’s everyone else view on the market?
I agree with your values- but as we have seen here (and elsewhere since we all are always looking even if not buying) it is indeed really hard to find an honest 120 in nice shape. It was never “easy” before, but word is out on these and it’s a sellers market.

I think there is also the collectors divide which we don’t really account for. Sure, as a seasoned collector we may say “I wouldn’t pay more than $2k for a really clean one and above that is nuts”, but then if pressed on how much it would take to part with one we already own, the numbers magically go upward “an offer under $3k for my really clean one is insulting!”.

Reality is somewhere in between.
 
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