Speedy Tuesday – A Blue Dial Speedmaster 105.003 On Auction

LeonDeBayonne

Would you challenge someone who tells you that his/her watch has been scrutinized and sold THROUGH one the most sophisticated watch auction houses

LeonDeBayonne

I don't believe in conspiration theories either. I just believe that there are too many interests aligned for this game not to be rigged.

Spacefruit

The watch itself was heavily polished on the case back - unusually so, there was no bevel left.

The movement was corroded, to be fair not badly, but badly enough to suggest poor care and some water ingress.

The dial itself was very disappointing, it was pockmarked and the finish had dulled. Perhaps from the same moisture, I cannot speculate.
Having been lucky enough to own several of these blue dials, this one was a poor representation, giving no pleasure in hand and I am not surprised no one wanted to pay the CHF55k the auctioneer went to. Even the pet phone bidder they had lined up changed their mind and did not bid at the last minute. The last thing the auctioneer said was as an aside, " We will get hold of him and sell it to him for the reserve". I can only think the phone bidder did not view the watch - just the photos. No one would buy that watch for that money.

This was a really good lesson for a new buyer to learn. The auctioneer knows this watch has a problem, yet it is his job to enthusiastically capture bids off the wall, up to his book reserve and then sell to the one and only buyer. Some people take great reassurance that buying at auction means that someone else at least values the lot as well. This is not always the case - you might be the only schmuck ready to buy it, and the auctioneers antics, I am sorry, tactics, confuse you into thinking there is more interest in the room than there is.

This lot, like many of the speedmasters in this sale, was estimated high. The 2915's were spectacular, and I expected them to go for more, but I think the high estimates put people off even thinking of trying.

M Martin 123

The 2915-1 went for quite a bit lower than was being bandied about. Talks of a world record! Could the dial have been enhanced or treated in any way?

DLT222

@LeonDeBayonne so if I was to sell a car that’s blue and and it says red on the cars documents and I fail to tell you it used to be red should you be pissed I have not told you? Sure you would!

The fact the papers were added after is fraudulent enough let alone the old owner actually calling Phillips and telling them that the papers did not come with that watch and the bezel and hand had been changed, only to be threatened by possible legal action, that to me smells of ‘we don’t want the world to know that, because it looks legit enough’ which is the biggest pile of shite in my book. It’s also not the first time they have made up crap regarding sough after watches... remember the McQueen Rolex how it was miraculously born again and it was never destroyed in a fire, then for the Steve McQueen trustees to come out and say ‘this is not real and we don’t endorse it’ in so many words.

It’s fraudulent!

You can rig anything if you try hard enough.

DLT222

So are you saying that if no one knew that the papers matched Phillips would be ok in selling?

Unfortunately, I hate to say it but it’s people like your good self that end up getting scammed and cry wolf because you didn’t do the due-diligence on the item, then expect other people to pick up the pieces!

I have one word for you which ever way you look at it...

FRAUDULENT

DLT222

Christie’s are just as bad!

default

im sorry but isn't faking papers on purpose something anyone of us would go straight to jail if caught? there has to be a difference between leaving out a swapped second hand (against a reference-correct one) on purpose and simply faking official documents to a watch to enhance its value. what do you guys think is the legal situation regarding these fake papers?

if I would buy a watch from a local watch dealer and thereafter receive proof that he faked the papers of the watch I wouldn't just ask for a refund, I would probably go to the police. Its not a "mistake that happened" - its simply fraud. or?

DLT222

Something has to be done to stop this!

It’s criminal and everyone seems to just bid away to their hearts content.



Your right they don’t for adding papers, but fraudulently selling things and falsely making shite up and taking people’s money for it is illigal