The Christies 2915's

watchyouwant · Dec 22, 2015

everybody here would be a better speedmaster consultant than the existing guys @ auction houses.... but bear in mind, they have to have a broader knowledge; not only omega or rolex. and rgd. bubbles: as long as the economy is doing ok, there will be people, who rort/exploit/use the system and skim massive amounts of cash from the top. they can drive a bubble and as all bubbles: circumstances change=valuations change. in WW2 the farmers were the producers of food and without it, you die out there. if you want to buy 5 sacks of potatoes and give the farmer the choice between a simple , but golden watch and a speedmaster 2915, I know, what he will take...... have a great Christmas, guys ! it`s only money; nothing important. kind regards from Australia. achim

tyrantlizardrex · Dec 22, 2015

watchknut
It is really hard to wear a share of Apple...oh wait, there is the Apple Watch!

You say that, but my (ex) employee stock has helped to fund the addiction! ;-)

Spacefruit · Dec 22, 2015

So, in light of the 2915-1 being withdrawn is the -2 worth more or less than it sold for?

After all there would have only been one 2915 in the sale to fight over......

oddboy · Dec 22, 2015

I would think it would have gone for more. When was the last time a 2915 was publicly available in this condition?

gemini4 · Dec 22, 2015

Has it been discussed yet that this 2915-2, serial number 15,997,525, was previously sold at a Christie's Geneva auction on 11/16/2009 for $63,446? I'm sure last week's buyer must have been aware of this but I'm not sure if this was mentioned on OF?

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/...7575&sid=8064f3fc-c46b-4b8b-b74b-8bdb57263184

Edit: An 11% compounded rate of return for the 6 years that the seller owned the watch. Seems reasonable.

Davidt · Dec 23, 2015

Before the -1 was removed most of us thought the -2 was the more honest and original of the two. I'd say this turn of events only increases it's value.

I'd be pretty happy if I'd bought the -2 as this only goes to show that buying 2915's can be very difficult. The fact that @gemini4 has found that the -2 sold in '09 (assuming it the same dial etc, I couldn't find a picture), only increases the likelihood that its a genuine watch and hasn't been recently thrown together.

I'd like to know the story behind the -1 mind.

Cal_321 · Dec 23, 2015

CK2915: Asking prices have gone through the roof! Unbeliveable prices now...

maxbrux · Dec 23, 2015

Thanks for the very interesting discussion Gents - a lot to learn.

I'm more inclined to Spacefruits's views: what attracts me to vintage pieces is the "life" they carry with them. But - as with people's faces - the ones I find more beautiful are those that aged naturally: you'll always spot dyed hairs in a face.

So yes, a tool watch should not be expected to be NOS, but when a part of it is ... well the rest should follow 😀

omegaman · Dec 23, 2015

Davidt3449
I'd be pretty happy if I'd bought the -2 as this only goes to show that buying 2915's can be very difficult. The fact that @gemini4 has found that the -2 sold in '09 (assuming it the same dial etc, I couldn't find a picture), only increases the likelihood that its a genuine watch and hasn't been recently thrown together.

Ok, I took two comparison screen shots of the bespoken CK2915-2 from the 2009 online catalog and from the 2015.... but due to copyright restrictions I am not allowed to post the pictures here. 🙁

On the first glance both bezels look a little different, but when comparing the scratch through the R of TACHYMETRE it's obviously the same, it just has been polished between 2009 and 2015. The dial is also the same, good to see at the lume at 3 and 5 o'clock. The crown looks different, but that might be due to the slightly different perspective. The center second seems to be not identical.

Bienne2998 · Dec 23, 2015

Funny game.
I found something: there's a scratch on the hour hand in 2015 that was not there in 2009 (just next to the lume).

Spacefruit · Dec 23, 2015

omegaman
Ok, I took two comparison screen shots of the bespoken CK2915-2 from the 2009 online catalog and from the 2015.... but due to copyright restrictions I am not allowed to post the pictures here. 🙁

On the first glance both bezels look a little different, but when comparing the scratch through the R of TACHYMETRE it's obviously the same, it just has been polished between 2009 and 2015. The dial is also the same, good to see at the lume at 3 and 5 o'clock. The crown looks different, but that might be due to the slightly different perspective. The center second seems to be not identical.

Can you post a link?

Spacefruit · Dec 23, 2015

omegaman
Ok, I took two comparison screen shots of the bespoken CK2915-2 from the 2009 online catalog and from the 2015.... but due to copyright restrictions I am not allowed to post the pictures here. 🙁

On the first glance both bezels look a little different, but when comparing the scratch through the R of TACHYMETRE it's obviously the same, it just has been polished between 2009 and 2015. The dial is also the same, good to see at the lume at 3 and 5 o'clock. The crown looks different, but that might be due to the slightly different perspective. The center second seems to be not identical.

Can you post a link?

gemini4 · Dec 23, 2015

This link (on my pc) is bringing up a pic of the 2009 watch sale

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/...7575&sid=8064f3fc-c46b-4b8b-b74b-8bdb57263184

this also

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/ZoomImage.aspx?image=/LotFinderImages/D52575/D5257575

mozartman · Dec 23, 2015

Psych
This smacks of hopeless incompetence by Christies who should clearly take on Mrs Fruit as a Consultant.

As I suggested in an earlier thread, it will likely be difficult for Christie's to equal the expertise of niche market dealers and auctioneers, such as those who specialize in vintage watches, without some growing pains. On the other hand, they can help introduce vintage Speedmasters to the mainstream high-end antiques market, where I've read that only Patek and Rolex have had a major presence. That's good news for those of you who already own them!
In 1998, Christie's auctioned what it had identified as an early 19th-century German portrait for $21,850. It turns out to have been made in the 1490s by Leonardo da Vinci and valued well into nine figures. The original owner tried to sue Christie's -- but the court ruled the claim too late. So it runs both ways. ;-)

watchknut · Dec 23, 2015

mozartman
As I suggested in an earlier thread, it will likely be difficult for Christie's to equal the expertise of niche market dealers and auctioneers, such as those who specialize in vintage watches, without some growing pains. On the other hand, they can help introduce vintage Speedmasters to the mainstream high-end antiques market, where I've read that only Patek and Rolex have had a major presence. That's good news for those of you who already own them!
In 1998, Christie's auctioned what it had identified as an early 19th-century German portrait for $21,850. It turns out to have been made in the 1490s by Leonardo da Vinci and valued well into nine figures. The original owner tried to sue Christie's -- but the court ruled the claim too late. So it runs both ways. ;-)

And that is why we constantly learn and gain experience, so we can spot the bad lots and the hidden treasures.

Psych · Dec 23, 2015

Of course everyone can make mistakes. But look at the resources that Christies threw at the auction, the high profile publicity, the World Tour that they sent the lots on, and the income that they will have made from the premiums. A watch bought from a Christies sale has a special kind of provenance too and with that stamp of authenticity ought to come a big dollop of responsibility. If Christies don't have sufficient in-house expertise, wouldn't it have been simple due diligence to at least check with somebody from the "niche market dealers and auctioneers"? Sorry to be so grumpy, but I am surprised they did such a poor job.

Spacefruit · Dec 23, 2015

Well they could he just looked up www.speedmaster101.com

None of them had heard of it!

watchknut · Dec 23, 2015

Spacefruit
Well they could he just looked up www.speedmaster101.com

None of them had heard of it!

Please tell me that you are joking?

If not, then the amount of arrogance and ignorance on their part is staggering.

Luckily they have Hodinkee in their corner...because you know a Spiedel Twist o Flex looks great on a Speedy Pro.

flyingout · Dec 23, 2015

Reportedly, Christie's was skeptical until an ad the museum convinced them.

Working directly with the Omega museum, Christie's was able to confirm that the watch was created as it lives today, and sold to Singapore.

MSNWatch · Dec 23, 2015

watchyouwant
everybody here would be a better speedmaster consultant than the existing guys @ auction houses.... but bear in mind, they have to have a broader knowledge; not only omega or rolex. and rgd. bubbles: as long as the economy is doing ok, there will be people, who rort/exploit/use the system and skim massive amounts of cash from the top. they can drive a bubble and as all bubbles: circumstances change=valuations change. in WW2 the farmers were the producers of food and without it, you die out there. if you want to buy 5 sacks of potatoes and give the farmer the choice between a simple , but golden watch and a speedmaster 2915, I know, what he will take...... have a great Christmas, guys ! it`s only money; nothing important. kind regards from Australia. achim

Here's the thing though - outsource it.

flyingout
Reportedly, Christie's was skeptical until an ad the museum convinced them.

Working directly with the Omega museum, Christie's was able to confirm that the watch was created as it lives today, and sold to Singapore.

The museum isn't the final word either - I've said it before and will say it again - this forum collectively is pretty much the final word regarding vintage omegas.

The Christies 2915's

watchyouwant

tyrantlizardrex

Spacefruit

oddboy

gemini4

Davidt

Cal_321

maxbrux

omegaman

Bienne2998

Spacefruit

Spacefruit

gemini4

mozartman

watchknut

Psych

Spacefruit

watchknut

flyingout

MSNWatch

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