P PatrickJSomething is not correct here www.hacketwatches.com is selling a brand new speedmaster moonwatch for £2695 the RRP is £3,340. He says it comeas with a two year warranty.
So it's grey market. What's wrong with that?
No need to shout.
P PatrickJI am not going into the pros and con of grey market I dont want to waste my time. People experiencing the retailer trying to service a watch under their own warranty and making a mess lol. The money that would of been saved then is spent on an Omega service providing the watch is 100% blah blah blah. This is why it is not a good idea for the wife to make a rush xmas purchase like this new or vintage THERE ARE NO SHORT CUTS TO QUALITY AND PIECE OF MIND. She should buy something else and next XMAS or next BIRTHDAY buy this sort of gift. THE TIME AND EFFORT IS MORE VALUABLE FROM HER RESEARCH THAT THE £2,000 PLUS SPENT ON THE WATCH. How would they feel if the rush purchase results in a FRANKEN or OVER POLISHED example. The probability of disappointment from rushed Vintage and Grey Market IS VERY HIGH INDEED. PLAY WITH FIRE AND YOU KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT.
What on Earth are you on about? Grey market has nothing to do with how the vintage market plays out. Are you drunk?
There is risk involved in all transactions. The risk increases as you go from AD -> grey market -> open market, but on the other hand, the price you pay is generally higher to reflect the diminished risk the further back the chain you go. In my limited experience, the vintage market is much riskier. Every vintage watch is unique, with different degrees of originality, wear, refurbishment etc. Then there is a division between the standards of "collectors" and the "casual buyer" (if such a thing exists).
However there is one thing that is often overlooked - paralysis by analysis. You can get so hung up on looking for the "perfect" vintage watch that you will end up with none. There is a lot of useful and well intentioned advice here on condition, desirability etc. and it should be taken seriously. A common pieces of advice is to wait for a "better" example at a certain price point. But nobody here will be able to tell you with any degree of certainty when that better example will be available. Remember, it's advice only. If you like a watch, want to own it, can afford it and have considered all the advice, then buy it. If it's still available 😎
Wherever it comes from (unless it's that dodgy guy in the bar selling a Rolex for $50 😗)
*edited due to logical inconsistency - d'oh 😟
P PatrickJHow rude are you to go accusing people of being drunk. If you read all the comments you will get mine and everyone's point. I may of been in a rush while responding as doing two other things at once. But you should be able to see where I refer to grey market previously and where I refer to vintage. My point is you cant buy a quality watch new in the grey market case or from a dealer or with little research time in the vintage case. But I think you are picking an argument for fun, I can see from your posts and likes you have been here for a while. Anyone knows vintage cant be rushed on one hand on the other if you buy new grey market is not a good idea. Consider how bad the wife would feel if she made the wrong purchase further down the road, a man with your forum experience has seen the effects of such mistakes. I have made a POINT HERE was not trying to be rude. Please do not assume people are drunk and fly of the handle, that is very child like.
Your point is moot, as she isn't looking for a grey market, new watch, she is looking for a vintage watch "Seamaster or Constellation" and you start rambling about the grey market and the risks related to this!
"Seeing that her husband already has a IWC Portuguese, and specifically asked for a vintage Omega, I am pretty sure that a new Omega would miss the mark horribly."
"I am perusing the forums for her, and hopefully can find a watch from a fellow member, but if not, want to be able to give her options of trustworthy dealers."
"my hope was that members in the UK and Europe may point me in the right direction to dealers or forum members that you cannot find through Google searches"
Considering that you posted your own preference "Buy something else." and then started talking grey market, I think that it is you who need "read all the comments" 😀
There are a number of good dealers out there, Hackett is one of them. Of course no one is perfect, but all potential purchases can surely be vetted here in order to avoid investing in duds.
Btw, I can see how I sounded rude - I didn't mean to cause the offence you've obviously felt.
Aw c'mon Watchnut
No fair!
You post a perfectly reasonable thread and receive decent honest advice....
And then tell us you have a wonderful gold cap Connie up for grabs and an 18k Chronometr to boot - and don't offer them to to the members first...
Sir, I name you as a blaggard and a bounder! 😀
At least show us pictures!
BTW - one of the boys says "I'm watching you..."
Other than the cat pics, this thread was fairly helpful--I did not know that UK dealers over polished and refinished their watches like they do their shotguns! Looks like the best option is for me to source and overnight with FedEx...gives me a 2-3 day window to have it out the door before Christmas.
Chances are I may offer her my near perfect, all original 14k cap Pie Pan Connie, 5x signed, c.564, that gets no wrist time. I also have a 2577/2520 18k Chronometre in original condition with killer patina that I could part with as well, so we will see if her husband likes either of those.
That would kill two birds with one stone, but I like the idea of the Tudor Sub/Connie combo deal!
