Post auction weekend, and we did have one in Sweden aswell, even if not so remarkable as the ones held at Phillips and at other places, I´m contemplating the catch I did at Kaplans and how it could be possible during one of the most covered/ monitored vintage watch auctions there is in Sweden. The only conclusion I can come to, is that everyone was staring at the big stars in the auction, so that this one was forgotten about

I managed to lay my hands on a 1957 black dialed Seamaster cal 501 in 18K, (sold originally in 1958) with box and papers, and all for the very nice price of USD 1.220 buyers premium included. The box is a pretty big size model that I have never seen (or at least noticed) before. As icing of the cake (besides the excellent condition), I found the original sales receipt and a certificate of warranty in the box. This watch was sold in August 1958 for 1.230 SEK (= USD 237:45 as in 1958 exchange rate). The price paid back then is equivalent to 45.000 SEK today (USD 5.500), which is 1,5 month gross salary for an ordinary white collar (in Sweden) today. This makes me suspect that the watch was sold originally with a gold bracelet, since if the price is for the head only, it seems so remarkably high. Any thoughts on this?



Note the cashiers error in dating the warranty certificate And hey @donkii, it was sold on your back yard!




Those edges....




One can assume that the first owner was born in 1908...




The movement is remarkably shiny and clean. Will certainly need a service anyhow, I´m sure of. It must have been in a drawer for a very long time.


The dial is stunning, as good as mint! Glossy & gilt


In comparison with a somewhat older (bumper) brother


Disclaimer, this post is not about bragging. I just want to share my excitement that it is still possible to make such a find in 2016, when everything good is sky-rocketing! So please bear with me

 

I think you deserve to brag all you want with this one, great find!! Gives others some hope perhaps that not all is lost for the little guys.

 

Beautiful watch. Nice price.

 

If only all the bragging included pics of be-au-tie-s like this one, please brag along.
That is a very nice watch! congratulations!

 

Very nice pick up! Love the dial

 

Great package - congrats Martin

 

I'm curious; why do you assume that owner was born in 1908? It looks like the watch was purchased Aug 8 1958 and engraved Aug 22 1958. Maybe there is a clue I missed in the Swedish text.

I took none of your post as bragging. I see it as a watch enthusiast that found a wonderful example and is sharing that with the rest of us. And I do take it as encouragement that there are still such pieces to be found.
We need that encouragement. Prices have gone really crazy. It makes me wish the watch bug had bitten me more than just 6 months ago. Even though none of my purchases are for investment, I do hate to miss out on a good deal!

The strap appears to be Omega. What about the buckle? It looks like steel.

Well done. It seems like most of the nicer black dials out there (Omega or otherwise) have been repainted. I automatically assume that now when I see a black dial.

 

Thanks for sharing, Martin!

I love stories like this with an amazing result...Congratulations!

 

Wow, congratulations! Watch is stunning!

 

It's a spectacular find, @martux ! Congratulations!

I suppose we should thank Nils, too

 

Nice pick up Martin, at a great price too. It is all too easy in this hobby to spend the most and end up with the best, what´s much harder is to spend the least and end up with the best too

 

Thanks for heads-up, I will now look closer on Kaplans' auctions

 

NFW Martin! It's extremely rare to see the facets not polished off the lugs on those references, especially the gold cases.

 

Very nice watch at a very nice price. Congrats!!

 

A picture is worth . . .



. . . a thousand words.

 

Great catch, bargain! Lovely dial.

 

It was common back in the days that people got together and bought a watch for a person getting 50, engraved with the recipients name and birthday.

The strap is an Omega NOS-strap from the 50ies, that I had since before. The buckle is s/s. I had a strap with a buckle in placque, but I gave it away to a collector friend

 

I love posts like the OP's, where the clear delight in the new find is palpable. Well done and thanks for sharing the buzz!