What do you guys make of this? There’s a newish trader on eBay. Based in the U.K. Joined in Feb of this year, and has 100% feedback. No problem with that. They so far have 10 feedbacks for sales. All look like genuine watches. Certainly they all had high number of bidders and sold for between £360 and £500. Every single watch is a Seiko 6139 of one variant or another, mostly Pogues. The descriptions are basically cut and paste. They all, for example, are described as having “signs of moderate use and wear on the barrel”. At the same time the seller claims not to be an expert. Currently they have 5 auctions running. 2 x 6139, 2x 6138 and, what looks to be the most recent listing, an Omega Geneve Dynamic on a BIN. Here’s one if anyone’s interested in seeing what I’m talking about. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEIKO-Po...838674?hash=item59577c13d2:g:ZMcAAOSwu~5fPXY0Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network Something fishy to me but I’m not sure what.
My knowledge of these doesn’t extend to much more than having more than an interest in them - one day I’d like to pick up one. What has been made pretty clear from the research I’ve done is that if you’re looking for non Franken-watches you should be very cautious on eBay with regards to these watches. To me, the copy paste descriptions used for multiple watches would be an extreme warning sign. I would expect more detail on the individual watch being sold and more photos. Also, if they claim “not to be an expert” but all they sell are 6139s I would consider this a warning sign too Given that good examples go for north of $1k I would not be risking that kind of money. When I do buy one I’d be looking at someone who specialises in Vintage Seiko and has a good reputation Eg. Spencer Klein. They are just lovely watches with so much character - it’s just a shame there are so many dodgy people flogging these particular watches. A lot can go wrong with a 40-50 year old chrono.
The one you link to has been messed with by an amateur. The case has been refinished, roughly. The chapter ring is misaligned.
Don’t get me wrong, I have no intention of bidding on any of these watches. They look ok to my uneducated eyes but I know that ebay is full of dodgy Seikos. The high number of bidders led me to think they must be ok, so thanks for the warning: 30 bidders can be wrong. I’m just trying to work out the story with this seller. I guess they are simply moving on a supply of doctored pieces coming from the east.
Each of the seller's past sales have elements that are dubious - incorrect crowns, wrong hands, likely fake dials or bezels. I would personally steer clear.
ebay is full of dodgy everything, & a high number of bidders in the first few days usually means high shill activity. IMO.
As a general rule, if the seller uses a display box that isn't being sold as part of the deal, I find it worth being extra suspicious. I find it a worthy warning sign.
I don’t think there’s any evidence of that here, except that the watches are being shown with boxes and yet the seller doesn’t not describe as “box included”. Maybe they are sending them in the boxes?
The box isn't a seiko box, & is not mentioned as included, so I assume it is not. It is a prop to make the item more attractive. The way it works is to hide aspects of the watch that would not be hidden if it were displayed on a perspex stand, for instance. This is exactly the seller I am glad to have my suspicions sparked. The case is refinished, but described "The case has no marks or any dents and is in beautiful used condition." There are no good close ups. The chapter ring misalignment is not mentioned but would be horribly obvious IRL. Various aspects of the watch are not shown, e.g. the non-crown side, despite boring multiples of other aspects. IMO, this is a sneaky seller, to be avoided .
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For information guys, the 'chapter ring' is a rotating inner bezel that is adjusted via the crown. The fact it's not at 12 is no issue at all, provided the correct stem and gear are present.
I think this guy has got a bezel-printing machine - there just aren't that many perfect bezels of this vintage out there in the wild.
The same thing with the cheap seiko 5, with the 6309. Super cheap watch, but same operation, this one is based in India. If you look at all their sales, same serial on the case back which are new. They mention restored, some signs of wear. The things look brand new. My new watch looks more worn out. But hey for 25 big ones, is fine I guess.