Should I have been more aggressive?

McKinley · Oct 8, 2018

Hi, guys. Hoping some of you with more knowledge will tell me if I was right when I didn't pursue this eBay Polerouter more aggressively. I have decided I need a Polerouter and fell for this dial and chapter ring combo. Here is what I believe I know about the watch: crown is wrong, case is probably softer and more polished than a true collector would ever buy, the older bumper movement is not as desirable as the micro roto movement and it needs a service. I did think the dial was original. I also believe there should be a serial and reference number on the case back. They aren't apparent in the auction pics and that put me off as well. At $500, was this still a decent buy I should have bid on a bit more? Thank you for your help and furthering my education.

McK

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Un...sid=p2349624.m43663.l10137#vi__app-cvip-panel

Dan S · Oct 8, 2018

Looks correct to me except for the crown. The numbers have been polished off of the case back. The lugs are moderately polished. Even so, given the current market, you won't get a watch this decent for $500 USD. The dial and hands are very nice, and the case is solid enough that the watch will almost certainly face-up nicely in person.

Your link didn't work for me, so I don't know how the auction went. However, in general, unless you think the auction was manipulated, no-reserve eBay auctions are a good way to get a handle on true market value. So you really need to ask yourself if the watch is worth that price to you. We can't tell you how much to bid.

Larry S · Oct 8, 2018

Case and dial are pretty decent. The engraving on these case backs wore off pretty easily at least the logo is there. Crown is often wrong as these were replaced a lot for some reason. Cant access the listing so I cannot see movement shots. You are correct that the bumper is not as desirable ... I don't own a bumper but I have found that service on these watches requires a skilled vintage specialist with a good parts network. $500 bucks...You could do worse but If you really want a good one, you are north of $1K these days. Keep looking.

Mazoue · Oct 8, 2018

I agree with much of what you've said.

The watch should have had a signed domed crown. These have very often been replaced.

It does look to have been over polished, particularly the lugs on the right hand side.

It should have a 20214-6 case reference. Sometimes the case reference and serial numbers are very faint and not always because the back has been polished. I would be surprised if they weren't present at all on that case back as the logo is still relatively clear, sometimes it's hard to capture them in a photograph.

Personally, I really like the early Polerouters with bumper movements and I like the fact that the cases are slightly larger than some later Polerouters (it would have been 35.5mm with a 19mm lug width and not 34mm and 18mm lug width as stated in the eBay listing). You are probably right though that there is a slight premium paid for the microtors.

I would not have been interested in this one for the reasons you've stated but $500 feels like a bit of a steal.

Vitezi · Oct 8, 2018

For posterity:

McKinley · Oct 8, 2018

Thank you to all who have responded so far. I appreciate the feed back and the info from Mazoue about the case size on the older bumpers being larger, that makes them a bit more desirable to me also. My watchmaker is a retired 70 something year old, so I believe he could service such a watch, but I have never asked him directly about UG. I think that I am getting the idea that while a bid of a bit over $500 wouldn't have been overly stupid, I still didn't make a huge mistake to pass while I looked for better and furthered my education on this model, is that the general informed consensus? Thank you again.

McK

Vitezi · Oct 8, 2018

McKinley
I think that I am getting the idea that while a bid of a bit over $500 wouldn't have been overly stupid, I still didn't make a huge mistake to pass while I looked for better and furthered my education on this model, is that the general informed consensus?

Could not have said it any better 👍

Larry S · Oct 8, 2018

That's a nice watch...Too bad its not even a UG service crown. At least you have an idea of what a baseline should look like. Lots of info here on these and on how to spot redials and fakes.

McKinley · Oct 8, 2018

Larry S
That's a nice watch...Too bad its not even a UG service crown. At least you have an idea of what a baseline should look like. Lots of info here on these and on how to spot redials and fakes.

Yes, I have been using this site to do my homework. The amount of info and the people on here are amazing. I am just not confident enough in my own thoughts yet to not question myself. I did really love that dial, thought it original and the hands as well. The lack of serial and reference number on the back and the knowledge that this model is extremely popular right now had me scared it might be a put together watch to snare the NOOB. I didn't want to be that NOOB. Do any of you know if that dial and chapter ring combo is fairly common? I had not seen it before. Thank you all again for the help.

McK

Mazoue · Oct 8, 2018

The Polerouter case references are unique (more or less) to a particular watch i.e. a particular combination of movement, case, dial, hands etc

So all Polerouters with that 20214-6 case reference should be the same i.e. Cal 138ss bumper movement, gold capped case, gold marker ring, silver dial with lume and matching lumed hands. I'm not sure it's any more or less common than most other bumper Polerouter variants.

I have a 20214-6 PolArouter which is identical to the one you posted about. I'd love to send you a pic but sadly it's at the watchmaker.

McKinley · Oct 8, 2018

Interested in selling? Or are you just tormenting me? LOL

Mephisto · Oct 10, 2018

I saw that one and briefly considered bidding on it too, but ultimately decided against it because I wanted a black date model. Seems like the Polerouter is one of the "hottest" vintages in the last five years, with prices having tripled or more. Still, they pop up quite often on the Bay and you can actually get them for quite a decent price if you look long and hard in brick-and-mortar shops where the watchflation is less obvious on this model. I'm personally hoping that the Polerouter craze is temporary and will die down in some years so I can make my move.

rustynuts · Oct 10, 2018

Is it really true that the bumper movements are less desirable? Though the microtor movements are nice, in my experience, the bumper's autowind is less troublesome, easier to maintain, no less accurate and, as Mazoue notes, the slightly larger case size lends it a little more wrist presence.

ELV web · Oct 10, 2018

rustynuts
Is it really true that the bumper movements are less desirable? Though the microtor movements are nice, in my experience, the bumper's autowind is less troublesome, easier to maintain, no less accurate and, as Mazoue notes, the slightly larger case size lends it a little more wrist presence.

I am no expert in polerouter at all but I think bumpers are much cooler.

Larry S · Oct 10, 2018

My watchmaker is no fan of the UG micro rotor ... he says it’s an inefficient design, very hard to service. So you may be right.

bgrisso · Oct 10, 2018

I believe the market says that micro rotor is worth more, from an horological point of view, I guess that is a debate. I don't have any polerouter, so don't really have an opinion myself.

Masterofkarate · Oct 17, 2018

McKinley
Hi, guys. Hoping some of you with more knowledge will tell me if I was right when I didn't pursue this eBay Polerouter more aggressively. I have decided I need a Polerouter and fell for this dial and chapter ring combo. Here is what I believe I know about the watch: crown is wrong, case is probably softer and more polished than a true collector would ever buy, the older bumper movement is not as desirable as the micro roto movement and it needs a service. I did think the dial was original. I also believe there should be a serial and reference number on the case back. They aren't apparent in the auction pics and that put me off as well. At $500, was this still a decent buy I should have bid on a bit more? Thank you for your help and furthering my education.

McK

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Un...sid=p2349624.m43663.l10137#vi__app-cvip-panel

Hi
I just saw your post and wanted to say it was I who won this. As you, I have been looking for a decent polerouter at a decent price, and when i got this for 500$ i got really happy. I feel the dial justifies the price and a little more. I really like the bumper cases and the fact that its was the first series of polerouters. As a scandinavian I guess the fact that these where made for the Scandinavian airlines appeals to me in a weird way. I can give you an update when i receive it if you are interested. Anyway, lucky searching. The black dialed ones are indeed cool!

McKinley · Oct 17, 2018

I would love for a full report, even though it may break my heart more. I hope it is a steady performer for you. It sounds like it found a good and the right home. Thanks for letting me know a forum member got it. I was hoping someone here would.

McK

Masterofkarate · Oct 17, 2018

I have been in your position a couple of times, passing up on a polerouter and regretting it. But as stated these do show up at ebay regularly so when you get one it will be the right one 😀 And share when you do.

Should I have been more aggressive?

McKinley

Dan S

Larry S

Mazoue

Vitezi

McKinley

Vitezi

Larry S

McKinley

Mazoue

McKinley

Mephisto

rustynuts

ELV web

Larry S

bgrisso

Masterofkarate

McKinley

Masterofkarate

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