Mmm. I am not sure what you are alluding to. The museum was there, but had nothing to do with this watch that I saw. Are you saying they bought the watch? If they bought the watch it was via a different bidder who was in the room who was in the room in front of me, to the other lots the museum acquired. So possible, but not evident.
The result was a terrible result for what was billed as the rarest, finest example of a 2915-1 to come to auction. All the collectors I spoke to before anyone had viewed estimated a NOS original cased 2915 would sell for over $200,000. I think I would stand by that estimate. The priced achieved was a deafening slap in the face for the sellers. Also telling was the speed that the auctioneer took to sell this. He knew this watch was moody, and sold it in about a minute and a half, without hanging around for any further bids. Contrast that with the 2915-2 he sold, which hung in the air for about 5 minutes as he cajoled bids and delayed while telephone connections were made.
Valuing one of a kind pieces, like this one was said to be, is notoriously difficult and in my experience often catches seasoned dealers off guard with much higher prices. Of course this was not the case here.
I would like to know who bought it.
I also do not think I know any current speedmaster collectors obsessed with unrealistic standards when it comes to speedmasters - this may change, as more rolly-boys migrate into our patch! But as you say, there are not many very fine condition ones out there.
Personally I prefer a watch not to be so special I can't wear it.
Click to expand...