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

JwRosenthal · Sep 5, 2020

SadKen
I have just picked up my package from the PO, 7 days US-UK is pretty good in the current climate 👍

No sun today so just a couple of quickly taken snaps indoors, i will get some better shots when the weather improves a little.

I can now reveal that i purchased the Wittnauer that @JwRosenthal kindly posted.

First impressions are very good, the dial is clean with only a couple of tiny specks between 3 & 5 that are only visible under magnification.
Lugs and case are crisp and fairly sharp, it runs well but will be off for a service next week.
I dont know enough to comment on the hands & lume pips being a different colour, hopefully someone will clear this up for me. Original ?
Overall i am very happy with it and have no buyers remorse, now i need to find an original SS bracelet for it ( rabbit hole here i come )

My thanks again to @JwRosenthal & all the members who make this thread what it is.

Ken

Ken, I am particularly pleased that you got this. We chatted at the beginning of your watch journey about your new found fascination with vintage so the fact that you got this spectacular watch is just awesome.
The green hand/yellow dial lume is common, sometimes the hands and dials were sourced from different contractors. I have several vintage watches with the same color variations- it does not mean re-lume!
Congrats!
Oh, and sourcing the bracelet may be tough, some models didn't have bracelets available for them so do lots of homework and be sure to measure the lug width to the micron so you can get the exact fit. With straps you have some wiggle with fit (you can cram an 18mm into 17.5mm lugs) but bracelets need to be spot on (17.75-17.89 to fit 18mm).
Also, if you are looking for a factory beads of rice, all the Witt Chrono guys have hoarded those and driven the prices way up, you could pay hundreds for one versus a vintage generic beads of rice which would look spectacular but not bear the Witt clasp.

JwRosenthal · Sep 5, 2020

Nepomuceño
Thought I'd share my spoils here since this thread got me hooked 😀 Great little Bulova from 1956 that I picked up a couple weeks back. Runs well but will need a bath eventually. Any tips on getting these rusty spring bars off?

Tin snips -but if the tips are corroded into the holes they can get stuck in there which can be a pain. You may want to saturate (just the lugs) with penetrating oil (WD-40 May work but PB Blaster is preferable

Professor · Sep 5, 2020

wsfarrell
Dremel with a cutting wheel. And a steady hand.

Edge of half round jewelers file. file halfway through the middle of the springbar and it should bend easily with finger pressure alone.
Actually just soaking the bar with liquid wrench and removing it normally should do the trick.

JwRosenthal · Sep 5, 2020

Ok, not a watch, but if you have a Benrus and want to have a cool place to keep it here you go

https://www.ebay.com/itm/293722248528

JwRosenthal · Sep 5, 2020

Now this is a departure for me- but as we can appreciate all things in horology, particularly the bizarre and unique- I think this qualifies.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/143721476817

I have no clue on market value or functional quirks- so do your own research, but there is no doubt this is an unusual piece.
A nice write-up here:

https://twobrokewatchsnobs.com/citizen-ana-digi-temp-the-weird-and-the-wonderful/

Norfolk · Sep 5, 2020

As promised. Some of my haul this week. Pick of the bunch I think the NOS Benrus. And with that I bid you farewell.

....oh wait a moment that box looks interesting. Curse you Rosenthal!

janice&fred · Sep 5, 2020

Norfolk
Some of my haul this week.

Looks like i gotta step up my game of watch hunting. So far I only got two this week but I'm heading out on the road this afternoon 😁

Nepomuceño · Sep 5, 2020

Norfolk
As promised. Some of my haul this week. Pick of the bunch I think the NOS Benrus. And with that I bid you farewell.

....oh wait a moment that box looks interesting. Curse you Rosenthal!

Heh I recognize some of those 😀 glad they got a good home. Dibs on the Wyler.

JwRosenthal · Sep 5, 2020

janice&fred
Looks like i gotta step up my game of watch hunting. So far I only got two this week but I'm heading out on the road this afternoon 😁

Fred, your hauls make this thread look pedestrian.

Norfolk · Sep 5, 2020

janice&fred
Looks like i gotta step up my game of watch hunting. So far I only got two this week but I'm heading out on the road this afternoon 😁

Fred, Let me know what you find....still a few gaps in the collection! Still smarting from missing that last lot you listed - would have fitted in wel!

Norfolk · Sep 5, 2020

Nepomuceño
Heh I recognize some of those 😀 glad they got a good home. Dibs on the Wyler.

And thanks to you too of course Nepomuceño. The Wyler came in a group from an auctionhouse - its got really unusual lugs i havent seen before. I am trying to build up the Wyler entry on Chronopedia here https://chronopedia.club/Wyler if anyone feels like helping....its a wikipedia for watches!

Scarecrow Boat · Sep 5, 2020

A couple days ago I added a couple skin divers to my watch list and was surprised to receive a discounted offer for each.

Last night I decided to apply that strategy to a number of the over priced skin drivers that have been sitting for sale for a while... and it worked. This morning I woke up with an offer for each watch. I’m finding it more interesting that these sellers haven’t realized their pricing strategy isn’t working.

JwRosenthal · Sep 5, 2020

Scarecrow Boat
A couple days ago I added a couple skin divers to my watch list and was surprised to receive a discounted offer for each.

Last night I decided to apply that strategy to a number of the over priced skin drivers that have been sitting for sale for a while... and it worked. This morning I woke up with an offer for each watch. I’m finding it more interesting that these sellers haven’t realized their pricing strategy isn’t working.

Some of them even offer counter offers on their offer.

Scarecrow Boat · Sep 5, 2020

JwRosenthal
Some of them even offer counter offers on their offer.

I noticed that too. Whether they didn’t realize that or not is another story, but always worth a try!

JwRosenthal · Sep 5, 2020

Also, even if they don't have a BIN but offer a make offer- it's worth trying. I have gotten a few that way too

JwRosenthal · Sep 5, 2020

Watch is in Great Britain and was made in Great Britain- how great!

GP Smiths 5-jewel wonder with two-tone dial. Watch looks to be in nice shape, lume is going on the hands and it's running 5/min fast per day, but both can be resolved during a service, or just wear it as-is and be early for every appointment.
Not sure if this was marketed as a 2-handed or is the second hand is missing but I don't see a pinion for the second hand there- but photos are shit of course

https://www.ebay.com/itm/363096315162

wagudc · Sep 5, 2020

SadKen
I have just picked up my package from the PO, 7 days US-UK is pretty good in the current climate 👍

No sun today so just a couple of quickly taken snaps indoors, i will get some better shots when the weather improves a little.

I can now reveal that i purchased the Wittnauer that @JwRosenthal kindly posted.

First impressions are very good, the dial is clean with only a couple of tiny specks between 3 & 5 that are only visible under magnification.
Lugs and case are crisp and fairly sharp, it runs well but will be off for a service next week.
I dont know enough to comment on the hands & lume pips being a different colour, hopefully someone will clear this up for me. Original ?
Overall i am very happy with it and have no buyers remorse, now i need to find an original SS bracelet for it ( rabbit hole here i come )

My thanks again to @JwRosenthal & all the members who make this thread what it is.

Ken

Wonderful, great snag!

JwRosenthal · Sep 5, 2020

Nice looking WGF cased Hamilton- black dial looks exceptionally good for one of these. Nice to see the white gold filled as opposed to yellow.
Listed as working but not tested.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/224146251211

Dan S · Sep 5, 2020

This is not "cheap", but I think it's well-priced at ~$950 for a 14k gold column wheel chronograph, especially given the gray and black gilt "snail" dial, even though it's an obscure brand. The movement appears to be a Venus 175.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/X659-Vintage-Helma-Chronograph-585-Gold-Mens-Wrist-Watch-Ratchet-Movement/143721360459?hash=item217675ec4b:g:AEgAAOSwhXBfUoYT&LH_ItemCondition=3000

JwRosenthal · Sep 5, 2020

Dan S
This is not "cheap", but I think it's well-priced at ~$950 for a 14k gold column wheel chronograph, especially given the gray and black gilt "snail" dial, even though it's an obscure brand. The movement appears to be a Venus 175.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/X659-Vintage-Helma-Chronograph-585-Gold-Mens-Wrist-Watch-Ratchet-Movement/143721360459?hash=item217675ec4b:g:AEgAAOSwhXBfUoYT&LH_ItemCondition=3000

If Dan is reccomending this- grab it!

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

JwRosenthal

JwRosenthal

Professor

JwRosenthal

JwRosenthal

Norfolk

janice&fred

Nepomuceño

JwRosenthal

Norfolk

Norfolk

Scarecrow Boat

JwRosenthal

Scarecrow Boat

JwRosenthal

JwRosenthal

wagudc

JwRosenthal

Dan S

JwRosenthal

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