Is it me or is there a run on Speedmaster sales on OF lately? I mean, if you step away for 5 minutes you might miss a new FS post. Here is a list of Speedy's on Private Sales section just going back 5 days to 8/10. I just don't recall seeing 5 Ed Whites FS at the same time in recent memory (and none are from @airansun )

There are some obvious deals that jump out, and some head scratchers...

2998-5 : $21K
105-003-64 W/ 7912: $17.5K
105-003-64 W/7912: 17K GBP
105-003-65: 11.5K / +7912 ->13K GBP
105-003-65: 13.250 Euros
105-003-65 (OHPF) : 6.5K GBP
145-012-65: $12.5K
145-012-67: $12.250K
145-022-68: $11K
145-022-69 / 220 Bezel: $8.75K
145-022-69 / 220 Bezel : $8.5K
145-022-69 Brown Dial (OHPF) : 5.8K GBP
145-022-71 w/ 1039 Bracelet: $6.4K
145-022-71 w/ 1171 Bracelet : $5.5K
145-022-74: $3.8K
145-022-74 B&P: $8.5K
145-022 1980: $4.25K

Thoughts? Any conclusions that can be summoned from the recent flurry / activity?

 

People selling during the impending anniversary hype? But you are right. There are some primo speedys up fs right now.

 

I think coincidence that they are all being sold st same time. The ed whites I mean. But there are always vintage speeds being sold and traded.

 

May be a spate of wives figuring out multiple examples are not all “the some one dear, you’ve seen this before, I’ve had it ages ...”

 

I get the impression some are 'cashing out' while the market is good. Too many reasons some people may need to raise cash, and when that Speedy you paid $1,200 for 6 years ago is now worth $20k, it's hard to think you will be better off keeping it tucked away until it becomes worth even more.

 

There's probably some anxiety about about prices in general not just among vintage speedies, but vintage watches overall. I think about how Heuer had such a quick run-up over the past 2 years, but prices have largely flattened/weakened since spring.

I will say the market seems to be further bifurcating. You used to see prices moving up across all different quality of watches. Now, you're really only seeing prices remain strong on 'investment' pieces that well-funded collectors will seek. In contrast, I feel prices have stabilized with more honest condition pieces.

Except Rolex. Man, what's up with the prices of 1675s that are swinging anywhere from $11 - 25k?

 

Ref 1675 is the best Rolex, and people are finally realizing it.
(Not rare, however.)

 

I have also seen a fair number of 105.003s on sale on Ebay in recent days. I am more used to seeing 105.012s and 145.012s but there must have been about five to six 105.003s in the past month.

 

Hi @ATWG

So far for August 2018 we have had 14 private sales listings for vintage speedmasters(2915-1 to 145.022-71) compared to same time last year when there were 7 for the whole month.

From January-August 2018 there have been 63 listings and from January-August 2017 there were 52 listings (21% increase in 2018 and we still have another 2 weeks to go for August 2018).

I suppose time will tell whether there is a trend developing.

 

signs of a healthy market as long as buying and selling takes place

 

Regarding why ‘more Ed Whites’ I think people finally realized that those are not ‘the Moonwatches’ and are not ‘as rare’ as they maybe thought 2-3 years ago. Especially since the production numbers per ref have been communicated by MWO on their website. There seems to be more interest for 105.012, indeed.

I have also thought to myself there are more Ed Whites on eBay and OF nowadays than what we’ve seen over last 2-3 years, still, with some exceptions for sure, but generally speaking I have the feeling that quality isn’t there.

When did we see a collector grade all original Ed White on a public sale last time? I can’t remember.



This thread had way too much text in it so far.

 

And those twisted lugs on the 105.012 just give it that much more oomph!

 

I’m all about the straight lugs and smaller feel case of the Ed Whites. Horses for courses as they say

 

@kov
They are out there.. this one popped up in June with all the paperwork consigned by the original owner. And some other old watches

 

@Mods obviously this didn't show up on my radar... No doubts they keep popping up time to time here and there, hence I said "When did we see a collector grade all original Ed White on a public sale last time? I can’t remember." meaning I really can't remember any I could have seen.

 

There is bound to be increased interest in the early Pro models since that is what received wisdom says the first Apollo astronauts used and we are approaching a significant Ap11 anniversary but I can’t see the prices of straight and twisted lug models changing places anytime soon. The soon to be released new research into which astronaut wore what may shake the market up further if there are some surprises there which there may well be.

 

If you are tracking those stats, can you also track the number of active members? In other words, are the number of sales increasing proportionately to the membership?

 

Hi @jimmyd13

I'd love to see if there is a correlation between the two but no way to collect historical membership numbers.

 

I agree in principal that quality definitely plays a role, however, the sheer number of watches now available is interesting to me (both on OF & ebay as of late.) Where even sub-par EW's were being bought at hoarded are now being released for sale.

 

As a consequence to what I said before, some people less interested into that particular model, somehow less demand, prices stagnant instead of keeping raising, more people deciding to release their "investments" eventually before the price trend reverts. My theory...

Also collector pieces not really being concerned same way, less of them appear. Not mentioning those that get damaged, stolen, lost, etc.