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Offer advice for 166.010?

iosist
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Hi again,

Another pretty Japanese market 166.010 just hit eBay with a lot that I like. Onyx insert hour markers, 565 cal quickset date, BOR, signed crown, clean dial, relatively clean hands, lug edges look sharp (hard to assess proper vertical brushing though) caseback looks good(?), and movement and gasket look pretty clean. The listing also mentions an "overhaul" which I've inquired for further details about. The price is once again way too high at $1,971 shipped but they have at least allowed for offers to be submitted, which I may do depending on OF member feedback. Think it makes sense to shoot a lowball offer at closer to $600-$800? Feels a bit insulting to do so, but from everything I've gathered that's a lot closer to the market rate for a clean but unserviced example. I'm still hoping to buy from an OF member with a more transparent service history, but in the spirit of the hunt I'd love to get people's thoughts on this one.

s-l1200.webp s-l1200 (1).webp s-l1200 (2).webp s-l1200 (3).webp s-l1200 (4).webp s-l1200 (5).webp s-l1200 (6).webp s-l1200 (7).webp s-l1200 (8).webp s-l1200 (9).webp
 
AG77
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The watch looks nice to me. Not a perfect example but the dial is pretty clean and the case looks honest. On the wrist it would look great. $2k for a 166.010 is closer to extortion than a fair price tho. I would put zero stock in "overhaul". But in the spirit of the hunt, in my opinion, it is a nice, albeit very overpriced example.

I find it hard to think if you offer $600 on a watch they're pricing at $2k will result in a happy sale for you. But it's sure worth a chance.
 
Davidt
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Unless you drop lucky, you’re not getting a 166.010 with bracelet for $600.
I think $900-1000 is realistic for a decent one and even that may require a bit of patience.
 
iosist
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AG77 AG77
The watch looks nice to me. Not a perfect example but the dial is pretty clean and the case looks honest. On the wrist it would look great. $2k for a 166.010 is closer to extortion than a fair price tho. I would put zero stock in "overhaul". But in the spirit of the hunt, in my opinion, it is a nice, albeit very overpriced example.

I find it hard to think if you offer $600 on a watch they're pricing at $2k will result in a happy sale for you. But it's sure worth a chance.
Thanks for the assessment! What do you think of the polishing job (or lack thereof)? As a newbie I'm finding that aspect to be the most difficult to assess.

And yes you're probably right about the lowball. In fact upon further reflection, I believe many eBay sellers use a setting which automatically rejects any offer more than 25% below the listing price. Still, I do feel compelled to give sellers of such overpriced watches at least a nudge in the direction of market reality.

Here's an update from the seller on the purported service job:

Screenshot_20250721-170253.webp
 
iosist
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Davidt Davidt
Unless you drop lucky, you’re not getting a 166.010 with bracelet for $600.
I think $900-1000 is realistic for a decent one and even that may require a bit of patience.
Do you think that still applies to an examples with dubious service histories? I arrived at $600 by accounting for the cost of service which I understand to be roughly $300. Here's a recent listing from this forum for just under $1,000 in better condition and with credible service records. Of course I'd expect to pay a bit of a premium on eBay but not one in the hundreds of dollars.
 
AG77
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iosist iosist
Thanks for the assessment! What do you think of the polishing job (or lack thereof)? As a newbie I'm finding that aspect to be the most difficult to assess.

And yes you're probably right about the lowball. In fact upon further reflection, I believe many eBay sellers use a setting which automatically rejects any offer more than 25% below the listing price. Still, I do feel compelled to give sellers of such overpriced watches at least a nudge in the direction of market reality.

Here's an update from the seller on the purported service job:

Screenshot_20250721-170253.webp
Without seeing a clear service receipt you can only reasonably assume it has not been serviced. It could be true, it could be bollocks, as they say. Whether a case has been polished, with anything less than macro shot images of the case, is hard (for me) to deduce. Others can weigh in, but I personally feel most 50+ year old watches have been polished to some degree. Especially Japanese watches up for resale. So it comes down to degrees of polishing. This doesn't look offensively overpolished where it looks more like chrome than SS. And the sides of the case look to still retain their brushing.
 
Davidt
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You don’t usually recoup the cost of a service in the price of a watch. So, if a watch that’s serviced is around 1k, it doesn’t automatically follow that an unserviced one is 600-700.

If you search diligently and for a period of time, you may well find a good one for 600-700 but it may take a while and there’s often an element of risk due to bad pics, uninformed seller etc. A solid 166.010 with bracelet at $600-700 isn’t going to last long. Someone will just buy it without asking questions.
 
iosist
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Davidt Davidt
You don’t usually recoup the cost of a service in the price of a watch. So, if a watch that’s serviced is around 1k, it doesn’t automatically follow that an unserviced one is 600-700.
I was beginning to gather that this was the case, but hadn't heard it put so concisely. Thanks for clearing that up, that perspective on service costs definitely adds some financial heft to the idea of "buying the seller".
Davidt Davidt
If you search diligently and for a period of time, you may well find a good one for 600-700 but it may take a while and there’s often an element of risk due to bad pics, uninformed seller etc. A solid 166.010 with bracelet at $600-700 isn’t going to last long. Someone will just buy it without asking questions.
I suppose part of my reason for trying to learn as much as possible about these references is out of a (perhaps naive) aspiration to be the one to snap up the rare undervalued piece when it appears. I'm not sure if I'll ever really have the stomach to drop that amount of cash on a snap judgement, but the thought exercise is fun at least.
 
Davidt
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That’s the balance. You pay with money or with time.
I like trying to find diamonds in the rough and the excitement of it arriving in the post to reveal of its as good as I think it is. But, although my hit rate is high, I get stung occasionally. Overall I’m definitely ‘up’ buying this way and I enjoy it, but, there’s certainly an argument that if you’re just looking for one or two nice watches, it’s cheaper and easier overall to pay slightly more and buy one from a good seller at a slightly higher price.

But where’s the fun in that.
 
Porteroso
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I'd offer $850, and be prepared to go to $1k. It does look like a nice one!
 
HorsinTime
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Porteroso Porteroso
I'd offer $850, and be prepared to go to $1k. It does look like a nice one!
I was thinking similar numbers, although I'd probably start at $1k and be prepared to go a little higher if I really wanted the watch and I really wanted it now. It is nice, and seems to tick all the boxes you're looking to be ticked.

I've bought three vintage watches from Japan (only one Omega, and I bought that in person, so the risk was lessened) and they all run beautifully, so I'd be confident that the watch has been properly serviced. Which might explain why I'd be willing to pay that little bit more😀
 
Porteroso
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HorsinTime HorsinTime
I was thinking similar numbers, although I'd probably start at $1k and be prepared to go a little higher if I really wanted the watch and I really wanted it now. It is nice, and seems to tick all the boxes you're looking to be ticked.

I've bought three vintage watches from Japan (only one Omega, and I bought that in person, so the risk was lessened) and they all run beautifully, so I'd be confident that the watch has been properly serviced. Which might explain why I'd be willing to pay that little bit more😀
I am just a cheapo. And I always want more watches than I have money or justification for, but a good deal justifies anything right???? I'm just kidding, trying to not become a watch hoarder.

And now the OPie has options!
 
iosist
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Porteroso Porteroso
I am just a cheapo. And I always want more watches than I have money or justification for, but a good deal justifies anything right???? I'm just kidding, trying to not become a watch hoarder.

And now the OPie has options!
My $850 offer was unfortunately auto-rejected and I'm unsure if I want to go higher. Sent the seller a DM asking if he wanted to counter but it's not looking good. I'll certainly keep my eye on that auction and others though. Thanks for the solid advice!
 
Porteroso
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They do get bites on their high prices. My first watch purchase, I paid at least twice too much. I just didn't know anything. Of course I posted the watch on this forum after I had bought it, and it was too late. But still, I think the purchase was a good one, and the watch worth the money, at least to me, as a gift to someone special. There are way too many watches for sale for all of them to be bought at twice too much, but these sellers are always dreaming away for ignorant buyers like I was!
 
hant26
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Buy nice watches that look ugly then 600-700$ would be enough 😁 and you also get the feeling of opening a Christmas present.

att.z-4FUhKfwOYMwAi43bqN4vF94jxw-nZvLIEciOty5HE.webp
Edited:
 
iosist
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This nice 166.009 went for $645 today (granted without BOR)- are these models generally less highly valued than the 166.010? I wish I liked the lug shape more or I would have jumped in!



https://ebay.us/m/kySaz2

s-l1200 (10).webp
 
Dan S
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Given the discrepancy between the asking price and your budget, I'd say you are wasting your time and the seller's time. If you are so price-sensitive, focus on auctions. That would give you the best price point, but with significant risk of needing some TLC. Or buy from a private collector who has already taken the risk, and pay a bit more. I see no reason to pay an absurd premium to a professional dealer for such a common watch.
 
AG77
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I also think it is easy when purchasing your first vintage watch (or car, even) to get paralyzed by the many options and gotchas and the pursuit of a "perfect" example. In reality, if you want a perfect watch you're best to buy new. And you'll get more comfortable and appreciative of the "imperfections" - not as detractors but what makes collecting anything vintage appealing.
 
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