Recommended Good Value / Vintage - New Deals On EBAY & other Auctions

WhatYourWatchSay · Dec 21, 2021

JwRosenthal
One of the primary reasons I bought my Rolex GMT (picture above) 20 years ago was that my boss Jack (who started my career and become like a father to me) had one.

Picture of Jack in 1961 wearing his GMT (although barely visible under the sleeve of his Pendleton, he confirmed it was his GMT in this picture).

I love your story James, and learning something about your history and experiences, thank you for sharing this 😀

I told this story before, but back in the early 1990s going with a friend to an exotic used car dealership in Toronto owned by two brothers, and watching one of them work on a Fiat engine while wearing a solid gold Submariner. When I said that was a nice watch to be wearing while working on an engine, he looked at it and said he never wore his nice watches to work. I can't imagine, in 1991, what his collection of nice watches looked like.

Today I think most people were be afraid to wear anything that costs half a years income to work. That's definitely one of the things keeping me from ever owning a really nice watch, whether new or vintage.

Oddly enough, I had no trouble wearing my Explorer II or Tudor Sub, or Speedmaster to work back in the early 1990s. Not sure what happened to me over the years.

JwRosenthal · Dec 21, 2021

Mafkees
Just wondering, surely the radiation sign is because of the tritium used, opposed to radium?

Yes, Tritium had to be noted and when decommissioned, had to be disposed of properly- as in cast in concrete and dumped in the ground…ugh 🤦

Mafkees · Dec 21, 2021

JwRosenthal
Yes, Tritium had to be noted and when decommissioned, had to be disposed of properly- as in cast in concrete and dumped in the ground…ugh 🤦

Got it. Always happy to learn. I think it's cool you specialized in that genre.

JwRosenthal · Dec 21, 2021

WhatYourWatchSay
I love your story James, and learning something about your history and experiences, thank you for sharing this 😀

I told this story before, but back in the early 1990s going with a friend to an exotic used car dealership in Toronto owned by two brothers, and watching one of them work on a Fiat engine while wearing a solid gold Submariner. When I said that was a nice watch to be wearing while working on an engine, he looked at it and said he never wore his nice watches to work. I can't imagine, in 1991, what his collection of nice watches looked like.

Today I think most people were be afraid to wear anything that costs half a years income to work. That's definitely one of the things keeping me from ever owning a really nice watch, whether new or vintage.

Oddly enough, I had no trouble wearing my Explorer II or Tudor Sub, or Speedmaster to work back in the early 1990s. Not sure what happened to me over the years.

Yeah, that’s the thing- it’s the monetary value that these things have now, not any actual preciousness of the objects themselves.
When people say they were “tools” (I think most people who use that expression are “tools”) it’s not far off.
When Jack bought his GMT, it wasn’t a cheap proportion, it was real money for a quality product that he had to save up for. But it wasn’t a hardship and he bought it to use for travel (he did a lot of international travel) and field work. He could have purchased a Glycine Airman for the same purpose at a lower price, but even then Rolex had a certain cache that he wanted.
My current boss, Micheal, traded me his OPD several years ago (for stereo equipment…it was some nice equipment and a very equitable trade).

He had gotten it from his father-in-law as a gift back in the early 80’s, a wealthy Texas attorney. When Micheal expressed that it was a very nice watch- too nice for his line of work (art conservation), his father in law scoffed and said it was a “young man’s watch- a knock about”. Micheal wore that watch for the next 20 years and beat it nearly to death (you could barely see through the crystal when I got it).
I know the topic has been beaten to death, but Rolexes were nice watches for work, play, or to give as a gift for an occasion. They weren’t particularly expensive, nor were they considered accessories for a gentleman or wealthy person. They were a practical watch or nice gift for the nephew or grandchild who graduated from college and needed a nice sport watch to wear while playing squash.
Although Micheal has no love lost for his now deceased father in-law (the guy was an asshole despite the nice gift), I plan to give it to his daughter when Micheal leaves the planet eventually. Negating any monetary value the watch has now, it was a gift to her father, from her grandfather, it should stay in her family.

timoss · Dec 21, 2021

JwRosenthal
From the same seller that started the whole military thing with the Timex, but this time he is actually listing a real issued watch.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hamilton-K...=p2349624.m2548.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

1982 Hamilton W-46374B. These are the watches that were issued to US ground forces from the Vietnam era through the mid 80’s along with the Benrus (although Benrus was out sometime in the 70’s and Hamilton stayed with it through the 80’s).

The hacking pilots version was the GG-W-113 and is nearly identical and although it had a higher jewel count and hacks-
and is in theory a “better” watch, the 113 lacked the H3 RAD symbol on the dial which makes these rather cool on their own.
I did own two of these, but in a moment of weakness and friendship (and a trade deal), I gave one to Aaron (I gave him the better of the two but mine came with a compass- sooooo, yeah…of course I kept the one that came with a friggin’ compass!)

The reason I am posting this watch is not becuase this particular watch is “special”, nor is the price exceptional (rather high actually), but the condition is exceptional.
This one probably falls into the top 5% for condition on these, they normally look worse than my compassed one.
The prices on these have been creeping up and crappy examples are fetching $300+, so if condition is your thing and you want a classic and REAL military field watch, this would be a safe bet. I could see one like this hitting $1k within the decade.

I nabbed this with an accepted offer of $435. Birthday gift for my wife. Best part is if she doesn’t like it, guess who gets to keep it…

timoss · Dec 21, 2021

Forgot to add: thanks for the tip, James!

JwRosenthal · Dec 21, 2021

Mafkees
Got it. Always happy to learn. I think it's cool you specialized in that genre.

Not really specialized, nor am I an expert by any means. But when you really get into the nuances if a specific watch styles you really can’t help but learn a thing or two- and I love sharing information….at least with anyone who will listen.

Scarecrow Boat · Dec 21, 2021

JwRosenthal
I did own two of these, but in a moment of weakness and friendship (and a trade deal), I gave one to Aaron (I gave him the better of the two but mine came with a compass- sooooo, yeah…of course I kept the one that came with a friggin’ compass!)

And it remains my favorite piece and will be permanently in my collection. It’s so easy, casual, comfortable, and fun to wear. It’s next to be sent out for servicing as it’s begun to run fast even after demagnetizing it, but I’m waiting until after the holiday crazy shipping season to send it off. If the DC get together is on next year, this is what I’m wearing with me. This thing really sings under that California sun

JwRosenthal · Dec 21, 2021

Scarecrow Boat
And it remains my favorite piece and will be permanently in my collection. It’s so easy, casual, comfortable, and fun to wear. It’s next to be sent out for servicing as it’s begun to run fast even after demagnetizing it, but I’m waiting until after the holiday shopping season to send it off. If the DC get together is on next year, this is what I’m wearing with me.

It’s funny, we can speculate and snipe all day on unrealistic sellers or inflated market values. But when it’s one of your favorites, you can’t really put a price on it. I know you have watches worth 10-20x this watch, but if I offered you $500 for it, you would say- nah, I’m good.

Syzygy · Dec 21, 2021

timoss
Forgot to add: thanks for the tip, James!

James has been the great enabler of many of us snagging some nice pieces encouraged by the knowledge he has shared freely with the community. The Benrus Mil-W-46374 he spoke of while schooling us on that Hamilton...he helped me snag a very nice example back in Feb for $250 on original canvas strap.

Very grateful for your constant digging, educating, and sharing of the loot Sir!

Edit: Adding crappy photo (sun has set already), pardon all the reflections

Scarecrow Boat · Dec 21, 2021

JwRosenthal
It’s funny, we can speculate and snipe all day on unrealistic sellers or inflated market values. But when it’s one of your favorites, you can’t really put a price on it. I know you have watches worth 10-20x this watch, but if I offered you $500 for it, you would say- nah, I’m good.

Exactly. Without hesitation, the others would be sold first. To be honest, I’ve never had an emotional connection with any of my other watches like I have with this one. If I had to have a single watch “collection” with this piece, I would be beyond content.

Edit:

JwRosenthal
but in a moment of weakness and friendship (and a trade deal), I gave one to Aaron

And might I add, I couldn’t be more honored and grateful to have received this from you. Thank you

JwRosenthal · Dec 21, 2021

Scarecrow Boat
Exactly. Without hesitation, the others would be sold first. To be honest, I’ve never had an emotional connection with any of my other watches like I have with this one. If I had to have a single watch “collection” with this piece, I would be beyond content.

Edit:

And might I add, I couldn’t be more honored and grateful to have received this from you. Thank you

It was the connection over photojournalism, Leica’s, and war photography. As morbid as it sounds, you can’t be a war photojournalism geek and not at least have an issued timepiece from one of the big conflicts…even if it was Afghanistan in the 80’s against Russia….but that was a whole other cluster fυck we won’t get into. But the Hamilton’s were there!!

JwRosenthal · Dec 21, 2021

timoss
I nabbed this with an accepted offer of $435. Birthday gift for my wife. Best part is if she doesn’t like it, guess who gets to keep it…

This is awesome news!! It’s a good one, no doubt. And we can find bargains at $2-300 all day, but they won’t be as good as this one. Sometimes you just need to choke down the extra premium for condition.
My wife keeps trying to “liberate” mine from my drawer. She made off with my 30’s Mido (the civilian RM one), and my black Airking…it’s a matter of time.

JwRosenthal · Dec 21, 2021

Syzygy
James has been the great enabler of many of us snagging some nice pieces encouraged by the knowledge he has shared freely with the community. The Benrus Mil-W-46374 he spoke of while schooling us on that Hamilton...he helped me snag a very nice example back in Feb for $250 on original canvas strap.

Very grateful for your constant digging, educating, and sharing of the loot Sir!

Edit: Adding crappy photo (sun has set already), pardon all the reflections

Yeah, I have had 3 of these already, I keep gifting them. They are friggin awesome.

WhatYourWatchSay · Dec 21, 2021

JwRosenthal
When Jack bought his GMT, it wasn’t a cheap proportion, it was real money for a quality product that he had to save up for.

And he was actually able to find one and buy it the same day. No waiting lists, no spending $100k to get a glimpse of one. No years long back orders.

Most people today can't imagine walking into a mall in Kitchener, ON where three different jewelers carried Rolex and being able to see 5 to 10 Submariners, GMT Masters, Explorers I and II and even Daytonas on display in each store.

BTW James--when you have a moment, please amend your will to leave me your Longines Weems. I'd be ever so grateful 😁

JwRosenthal · Dec 21, 2021

WhatYourWatchSay
And he was actually able to find one and buy it the same day. No waiting lists, no spending $100k to get a glimpse of one. No years long back orders.

Most people today can't imagine walking into a mall in Kitchener, ON where three different jewelers carried Rolex and being able to see 5 to 10 Submariners, GMT Masters, Explorers I and II and even Daytonas on display in each store.

BTW James--when you have a moment,s please amend your will to leave me your Longines Weems. I'd be ever so grateful 😁

Yeah, my local AD, a family owned jeweler with whom I had a good relationship, had cases of the stuff in the mid 00’s. I remember holding a Kermit in my hand and debated if it was actually worth the extra $800 over the plain subs sitting next to it- the green was cool, but $800 cool? And that black Daytona sitting next to it was nice, but $6k!! I can get a clean BMW 2002tii for that!
I passed on both, I had my GMT, those subs at $3.5k aren’t going anywhere and I had a Speedy, why do I need that big shiny Daytona.
So I bought a Navitimer as I didn’t have a blue watch!🤦

WhatYourWatchSay · Dec 21, 2021

Don't feel bad. I passed on a 1655 and bought a 16570 from Ostranders Jewellers in 1992 because I thought it looked better. Barry Ostrander offered the 1655 to me for $2000 cash. The 16570 was $3225 out the door. And don't get me thinking about the Mil Sub I said no to for $1000 😬

JwRosenthal · Dec 21, 2021

WhatYourWatchSay
Don't feel bad. I passed on a 1655 and bought a 16570 from Ostranders Jewellers in 1992 because I thought it looked better. Barry Ostrander offered the 1655 to me for $2000 cash. The 16570 was $3225 out the door. And don't get me thinking about the Mil Sub I said no to for $1000 😬

2001, antique store in Baltimore (eBay was in its infancy and the web was only for porn). In the front display case with cigarette lighters and cheap pocket knives was an old ratty looking Rolex diver. I asked to see it- if felt small in my hand, almost diminutive. The crystal was all scratched up but I could see the name Submariner and all the script and plots were a golden color, not white like the new ones I had seen. The bracelet was a riveted thing that was kind of rattly. I gave it a shake and it started running. Asking price was $400, I was fresh out of college, making $21k/yr with $40k of student loan debt and credit cards maxed out) they should not give credit cards to college students). $400 was more than my rent. I gave it back. That night I thought about it and decided I could raid my savings account- the watch was gone the next day. That watch (we all have an idea of which one it was) could have wiped out my credit card and student loan debt in once shot today.
The one I regret most was Jack’s watch- his 1961 GMT. When he died in 2012, I was in a rough place. I had just lost my job with NPS (it was a bitter parting) I was going through a divorce and had lost half of everything. I was unemployed for 6 months waiting for my current job to get sorted (moving at the speed of government) and was hemorrhaging money trying to stay afloat.
Jack didn’t have many large assets, I was bequeathed all of his stereographic images and lantern slide collections- a seriously overwhelming collecting that I still have to this day (if you collect - hit me up, we have some trading to do) as well as his cameras and entire negative and slide collection from his 50 years of government travel (this was his personal image collection, the government owned images were already transmitted to the LOC).
His sons were estranged, they wanted nothing to do with him and his prized Rolex. His attorney who was settling the estate offered to sell me the watch for $800 to recoup some of his costs…I didn’t have $800 to spare, I declined. After I got back on my feet financially, I called the attorney back and asked if he still has the watch. He said it sat in his safe for a year or so but had a client who expressed interest in it, so he sold it to that guy…who apparently had constant money issues so then sold it himself shortly thereafter. To me, the loss of that watch wasn’t as much about missing a GMT for $800, but losing Jacks watch- I think of that often.

If you bought a ‘61ish GMT with service bezel and bracelet from someone in the Maryland/ DC area around 2013-14…hit me up.

pnwyankee · Dec 21, 2021

Syzygy
James has been the great enabler of many of us snagging some nice pieces encouraged by the knowledge he has shared freely with the community. The Benrus Mil-W-46374 he spoke of while schooling us on that Hamilton...he helped me snag a very nice example back in Feb for $250 on original canvas strap.

Very grateful for your constant digging, educating, and sharing of the loot Sir!

Edit: Adding crappy photo (sun has set already), pardon all the reflections

I really like this one! If I decide to go hunting, what do I type in - "Benrus Military?", or is there something more specific that might help?
Thanks

JwRosenthal · Dec 21, 2021

Treasure or trash alert:

40’s Charles Nicolette, 32mm stainless case with what may be a lovely radium lumed black dial. Seller says not working “wound tight” which usually implies it needs a service or the balance is broken- and obviously a new crystal. This could be a gem after cleaning it up, or strait-up garbage. It’s been in my watch list for a bit so he may be ready for a low ball at this point,

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Charles-Ni...=p2349624.m2548.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

Recommended Good Value / Vintage - New Deals On EBAY & other Auctions

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Scarecrow Boat

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Syzygy

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JwRosenthal

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WhatYourWatchSay

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