For all you know - someone from Bukowski was already following this thread. Seeing their name was being put up as advise for OP to enquire with, that person from Bukowski must have been constantly refreshing the enquiry inbox. And when OP finally shot that email across, the rest was done swiftly. Value could have been determined swiftly as Bukowski has already seen those pictures from OP in this thread. Anyhow, all the best to OP!
I don't know anything about Bukowski or any watch auction really but, when I was selling a car, I wrote to a big auction house on Thursday afternoon with some details and history, they called me on Friday morning with an estimate for the auction and wanted to send a photographer/specialist to see the car on the following Monday or Tuesday for photos and to confirm the estimate. We were discussing an auction about six or eight weeks after my initial email. If they want your item in the auction, then I believe they can move quickly although that probably only applies to the top 10% of the lots. It looks a nice watch but you know you can get a new Speedmaster for a lot less Cheers, Chris
Oh why Oh why could you not have listed this in Ebay with really bad pictures as 'Dads Old Watch'? Just to give us mere mortals a fighting chance. Seriously though, to the OP Congratulations and I hope it makes as much as possible. Best of luck to OF members here that are able to bid . Would be nice to see it land back in the Forum.
I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but I have a feeling that after all the speculation about $250/400k, the OP is going to be mightily disappointed when the gavel falls.
btw the theory about the engraving "322915" is correct, the last two digits of the serial are "32" and it is a "2915" hahaha
We're all able to bid... there are just very few of us that could afford to deal with the consequences of doing so.
Bukowskis had listed the watch auction a while back. If I were at an auction house and got this opportunity I would try to move as quickly as possible. Mainly to list it as early as possible and market the shit out of it, in order to get as much attention as possible. They even put up an article about the watch (https://www.bukowskis.com/en/news/1606). I have also heard of auction houses that have paid the selles trip... but I do not know all the facts besides what is said here. I don't even see why you would even need to put on a show to market this on this forum? As I see it, it would have had the same attention even if posted as... "Here is my grandfathers watch, going for auction ...bla bla". Or is this against the forum rules?
Can we please go back to “critiquing” this GORGEOUS watch? - bent bezel at 9:00 - lume on hour hand - need to verify radium with Geiger counter (but no real reason to believe if won’t check out) - case back with tool gouges on “Speedmaster” - replacement crown and pusher??? - what else about this amazing piece??
Slightly dented ORIGINAL steel base 1000 bezel not up to your standards? Kindly show us your example for comparison. I don’t have one. Members here have been searching years (maybe decades) for one. I can’t think of a more difficult Speedmaster part to source. In addition, the OP example is even fairly unworn and legible!
This thread deliver on so many levels: an extremely rare Speedmaster in great condition, an OP who has provided answers to all questions with photos and buying/selling drama.
Wow, many people seem to be quite cranky today!! I both highlighted the fact that this is a GORGEOUS and AMAZING piece (I guess I had to put both in bold this time) AND also put the term critique in quotes “ “ … I understand everybody is smitten by the story and the watch, me included, but I am just trying to look at it objectively. Relax people, in the big scheme of the universe, it is just a watch after all...
OP's speedy was probably a last minute addition to beat the bukowsky's approaching deadline to launch their scheduled auction. hence, while it may be quick, for sure it was done decisively and cautiously. Let us know of the hammer price asap.
