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

JwRosenthal
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rcs914 rcs914
Totally different subject other than it also being about a Thin-o-matic, but I've been wondering where I could get one of these serviced. I have my grandfather's 14k (not plated or GF) Thin-o-matic from when he retired from Bell Labs in 1971. It has a couple issues - namely the seconds hand fell off (but i still have it), needs a replacement crystal, and a new crown. I'd like to have it in running order, although gold isn't really my color and it does feel a tad small for me. I don't have a local watchmaker I've gone to, and I've heard that the micro-rotors are better serviced by someone familiar with them. Any suggestions from you or @JwRosenthal ?

It's a full kit - and I do mean full, as every scrap of paperwork it came with is still in the box, so I'd like to get it put back in nice shape, but it's hard sometimes to spend several hundred on something only worth $300 other than the sentimental aspect.
That watch is worth fixing and worth wearing IMO, and on an appropriate strap, gold can be lovely even for us non-gold wearers- I have 2 gold watches in my collection, one my grandfather's Gruen, and the other my father's B&M 18k Chrono- both are serviced and in occasionally rotation, I would never sell them.
Any competent watchmaker can do these, it's the parts availability that can be an issue, but as you have the second hand that came off, and crown & crystal are easy (a watchmaker can tell you what size crown you need if you want to hunt down the appropriate H crown) it should be fairly strait forward. Finding the watchmaker is the tricky part. If you don't have one you are working with, post a new thread asking for one near where you are in the world
 
inchpincher
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@rcs914 Well I’ve been doubly dumb because I need to find a watchmaker in the UK prepared for the Hamilton thinomatic challenge. I think my usual guy will pass (he’s excellent but expensive) so was waiting for it to arrive to bump the Hamilton thread for recommendations. Good luck with yours too.
 
rcs914
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rcs914 rcs914
Ok so I bought two in the past 24 hours and almost got 3. The first one was listed as an "anthil" watch:

It's really an Anphil:

s-l1600.jpg

All stainless, 17 jewel Le Jour movement. $43 shipped.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-An...atic-stainless-Steel-Wristwatch-/324297925067

Second one I bought:

s-l1600.jpg

Now I've made my qualifications for purchase here pretty plain before - has to be 35mm or larger, and a stainless case. Pretty sure this fails on both counts. And that's not an actual Tropic vintage strap either. So what gives?

s-l1600.jpg

s-l1600.jpg

So yeah, on this one I rolled the dice because of the buckle. I'm absolutely no expert on these, but it does appear to be genuine based on some previous ebay sales, and seems to sell for around 6x what I paid for the watch, which was $44 shipped. It likely will go back on the 'bay to finance other purchases.

Well both of these arrived today. The Anphil is really nice, other than the rotary road rash around the case from the dingleberry trying to get the caseback off, but it's on the back of a $40 watch... From the front it's really nice, and a decent size.

The Lucerne was a bust. Not only does the Rolex buckle appear to be a fake, even though I vetted it against other ones off of ebay, it seems to be chrome plated and I'm reasonably sure that Rolex has never made a chrome plated buckle. The Lucerne runs, but is around 32mm in size and is missing its bezel. This one was a waste of $35 I'm afraid. Now the watch itself is one of the better condition of these I've seen, other than scratches on the crystal. Not a speck of pitting and honestly looks like it wasn't worn much at all - very sharp case. But I let my greed get the better of me here. I wanted that buckle to sell, and I'm pretty sure it's a fake.
 
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JwRosenthal
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rcs914 rcs914
Well both of these arrived today. The Anphil is really nice, other than the rotary road rash around the case from the dingleberry trying to get the caseback off, but it's on the back of a $40 watch... From the front it's really nice, and a decent size.

The Lucerne was a bust. Not only does the Rolex buckle appear to be a fake, even though I vetted it against other ones off of ebay, it seems to be chrome plated and I'm reasonably sure that Rolex has never made a chrome plated buckle. The Lucerne runs, but is around 32mm in size and is missing its bezel. This one was a waste of $35 I'm afraid. Now the watch itself is one of the better condition of these I've seen, other than scratches on the crystal. Not a speck of pitting and honestly looks like it wasn't worn much at all - very sharp case. But I let my greed get the better of me here. I wanted that buckle to sell, and I'm pretty sure it's a fake.
Well, the 32mm watch can go Brando style without a bezel and just gift it to the Mrs, maybe she'll like it. Can the tropic itself get another buckle and be worn elsewhere?
 
wsfarrell
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Dan S Dan S
This is apparently a Venus 188 chronograph (mislabeled in the listing as Valjoux 188), but no movement photos. 37mm, all SS, very clean and sharp. Attractive lume, fully intact on dial and hands. Looks all original. Very nice entry-level SS vintage chronograph.

It was up for auction last week with a starting price of $650, and nobody started the bidding. New auction listed today with a starting bid of $618, but also a Make Offer option.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/203119287222?ViewItem=&item=203119287222

s-l1600.jpg
Offered $725 for this, got no response at all (offer expired). How rude...
 
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Dan S
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wsfarrell wsfarrell
Offered $725 for this, got no response at all (offer expired). How rude...

Bizarre, especially considering that you made an extremely good offer. I would have offered $650 at the most, since nobody bid that much previously. Maybe try again with a lower offer when the auction is getting closer to ending with no bids. Or I could try a lowball offer so he realizes how good your offer was. 😁
 
JwRosenthal
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Dan S Dan S
Bizarre, especially considering that you made an extremely good offer. I would have offered $650 at the most, since nobody bid that much previously. Maybe try again with a lower offer when the auction is getting closer to ending with no bids. Or I could try a lowball offer so he realizes how good your offer was. 😁
Lol- I had this happen with some asshole who had a watch listed for $450 which was very high for the watch, but it was in good shape with factory bracelet- I asked the seller a question about the lume which has an issue and he rudely stated that there was no issue, and basically told me to fυck-off, he then raised the BIN to $950. I told another member here and he offered something like $100 and asked the dude about the lume (I do love how we can all gang up on these idiots). That watch is still sitting on eBay at $950. Why on earth would someone post a watch for sale if they actually don't want to sell it?!?🤨
 
wsfarrell
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Why on earth would someone post a watch for sale if they actually don't want to sell it?!?🤨
Sometimes I think people use eBay to launder drug money.
 
Dan S
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You've basically convinced me to make an offer. There's really no downside.
 
JwRosenthal
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Dan S Dan S
You've basically convinced me to make an offer. There's really no downside.
I think 20 of us offering $100 will make the offer @wsfarrell made look damn sweet
 
Dan S
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
I think 20 of us offering $100 will make the offer @wsfarrell made look damn sweet

I think offers that look a little more serious would be better. But the general idea is good.
 
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