I totally agree with your sentiments, I feel bad on my one bargain buy but in my defense at the time I was not really aware of my purchase value, I just knew it was a deal. I was only when I went to get it fixed was I suddenly aware of it's current new cost ($1100 aud).
Luck sometimes favors the brave.

 

My original intent was to create a thread to appreciate those cheap non-luxury brands. The fun of a cheap thrill. I also like the stories of finding an old broken down watch and investing 2 or 3 times what you paid to bring it back to life.

There are potentially ethical issues in paying significantly less than a fair value for a watch, but there are all sorts of circumstances so I am not judging.

Every situation is different and we all have our own comfort level. Our town has a junk shop, the guy buys estates. If he has a nice watch and under prices it, I would have no worries buying it for the price he asks. On the other hand if I go to a family run estate sale and they are selling Grandpa's Omega for $5, I would let them know that they have something valuable that perhaps should stay in the family.

 

A 60s Cortebert Grand Prix w cal. 678 ...same sub-seconds movement they used under the Persio watch brand ( for their railroad watches ) ... paid $96 and then threw it on a FinWatchStrap Swiss ammo belt ...it’s a bit tight L2L but I still like it.

 

Bought this beauty for only 120€
Tissot Seastar PR516 GL signed by Turler

 

Ok here’s another of my sub $200 watches purchased some time ago..

 

This one was just under €200


But it started like this

 

Just found this Bulova Type A-11 military 45 minutes ago at a thrift shop. It was with a bunch of ladies watches. First vintage watch I’ve seen in this shop. $20

 

I should add this to thread. Just picked up.

 

Bargain! And a real piece of history! People will try to invent all sort of BS to sell so called military watches or claim to sell the D-Day watch- the A11 is the true D-day watch.

 

Picked up this odd watch...seller said he had to get rid of it because of the stock market crash...

 

Less than $50US in today’s money. Picked up in a small town antique store in Tasmania, upon asking if they had any more watches. “We only put a few out at a time, got a few trays out the back”

looks like it’s almost brand new dial wise



Here with it’s friend in the collection.

 

WW2 Military
Hamilton USMC Franken ..................... Elgin A-11.................... Bulova A-11...................... Hamilton W800

 

Solar was Eaton's (Canada's version of Sears) house brand from the 1940's to the 70's. These both have AS movements and I gave the military cased model to my daughter who appreciates vintage watches. I picked the first up from the Canadian Watch Collectors forum and the second from an estate sale. Both were well under $200 Canadian for this under appreciated brand.

 

A $5.00 special at an estate sale. Timex Electronic. I put a battery in ($5) and a $6 Croco strap and flipped for $50 on Ebay.

 

I did the same. Bought this at a junk shop for $10 thinking I might give it away. I saw a couple of these listed on eBay for $200-300, which is ridiculous. I put it on BIN for $70 and it sold in a few hours.

 

I have a Birks Eterna Challenger that I picked up at an estate auction. It was in terrible condition but had killer patina.

 

All but 2 of my watches were under $200. I figure I'll share my 3 favorites.

First is a 1970's vintage Sicura Satellite. This one was a chore to get running, but well worth it.


Next is my new to me, 1976 Omega quartz. I got it for a steal! Knowledge is power!


Finally is my 1978 Timex Falcon Eye. This is a vintage original, not the reissue. Keeps fantastic time for such an odd movement.

 

Under $80 (plus a new strap) for this Japanese ‘Precision’