If you like vintage Citizen, here's some eye candy for you from the 1970s:
It used to belong to my Dad and he gifted it to me a couple of years ago. It needs fixing if I want to wear it, as the winding mechanism is broken.
Is this the SM600 with box, original strap and papers?
I left a bud and coincidentally logged on to see if go under the hammer. Suffice to say I didn’t win it by a long shot as when fees are added to the hammer price, even for a nice little set, the price is a way away from what I expected.
Re the OP, I get it as well. I started with vintage watches interested only in 60’s Speedmasters. The surge in prices turned me off so after a bit of a lull I turned to 60’s Seamasters, both dress and tool as they offer similar enjoyment at a lower entry point.
Personally I enjoy the hunt so saving to buy a 20k Speedmaster every 2-3 years wouldn’t cut it for me. I like to receive those knocks on the door for a parcel with a filthy barn find watch enclosed. Reminds me of Xmas as a kid.
I have plenty of watches to wear. Too many really…..
My interest in Modern has dwindled to Meh…watching a Speedmaster 321 that looks like a 1861 selling for $20k. Seeing Seiko churn out 10-15 watches that look the same priced from $600 - $6000.
Also little offered by anyone that’s not several thousand more than I expect.
Just the price of a Omega strap is irking me from anything modern.
Vintage still has some interest but the hustle and bustle of sifting through overpriced average. Shady dealers and flippers. Beating hundreds to the punch.
I’m still here enjoying the fun and friendships made over the years.
But think the mojo is missing lately.
My last purchase a few weeks ago made me smile more for the giggle at the Rolex conundrum. (So all is not lost 😉)
Anyone else been through the watch game rut lately
I think there's two variables at play here, one is anyone's personal ebb and flow with any particular hobby, and the second is the wider state of that hobby.
Relative to burn out, which I resonate with, I actually think it's #2 more than #1, at least for myself.
Some of the main factors driving this IMO are, relative to vintage, as others have already stated here on the forum, vintage passion is driven by discovery. The well has mostly dried up, and there's just not a lot of discovery these days. The UG subforum is a good example, it used to be very busy, and it's pretty dead these days. Not because of any decrease in people's passion for UG, if anything I think it's grown, but because there's just hardly any more discovery these days. Almost everything is tied up in collections, what little comes to market is often mediocre or extremely expensive or both. It's not super exciting to discuss what little UG inventory might be on the market from dealers at any given time.
The second issue is the commodification and investment banking mentality that has come into watches in recent years, with the likes of Hodinkee and everyone else. Without getting into an argument about if that's good or bad or whatever, I think everyone can agree it's changed things.
My collection has been almost completely static for the past 3 years or so, I just can't find much to buy or to talk about in the areas that I've focused (which has been mostly UG).
I still love the small collection that I have, but I pretty much just wear my Hulk 24/7 because it's very practical, except for the occasional dress up.
I hope things get more interesting again at some point.
... tend to limit my impulse purchases to under £100. I’m probably addicted, just like @sheepdoll, but I’m trying to manage my addiction...
Just to say, without having much to contribute, just how interesting I’m finding this thread.
I second that.
It's a bit disheartening I've only recently become enamored with vintage watches just as prices seem to be on the rise (gladly, I don't care much for modern watches). But I really enjoy playing detective and learning about old watches. I also like trying to learn how to do basic work on the ones I have, which hopefully leaves the door open for me down the line (once I know what I'm doing) to purchase and rehab some still affordable nice watches. Plus I get a kick out of some of the really cheap stuff, so thankfully still plenty to explore in that realm for now.
I think now is a good time to be buying. Before the inflation kicks in. Which is a lot of what may be happening.
There may also be factors involving the near monopoly eBay has. There are other regoinal or special interest auction sites. I have yet to try etsty as that seems more fixed priced. Chrono24 looks to be more for the high end. eBay's success is also it's weak point. One does get a bit burned out with all the stuff from certain counties clogging up the master searches. On the other hand are those listings that much different than the listings from Tennessee?
Sellers in the UK, south or central America would not meet my price, citing eBay fees that are too high. On the other hand a seller in Moldavia did. I think I avoided eBay for so many years as I would state that it took the fun out of watch collecting. I used to enjoy the horse trading at the NAWCC marts. that sense of discovery. I suspect I have now cleaned out any real need for more watches. I should be upgrading tools to work on the ones I have yet It is that elusive one that for some strange reason just makes on feel good. Even when everything about it is simply wrong.
I have only been on OF a month or so. Yet I am starting to notice the posters who come in and demand to be told about their watch. But no watch is going to be perfect. There is always going to be some scratch or ding that others point out. I have an 861. but is a 321 better. My late dog was named snoopy so should I have one of those? It almost makes one afraid to look and see what is wrong rather than what is right.
I know I go through phases, Six months ago it was Photo CD scanners, then it was APS cameras, then Cannon cameras, now it is back to Omega watches and chronographs. A year ago it was pipe organ combination relays. I suspect I will drift away from my watches again in the near future. I realized back in the Usenet days I was addicted to information overload. I quit Usnet cold turkey, then replaced it with email lists, then forums. On the other hand social media sites simply feel like shouting to the wind...
-j
