HI @Dan S
Your casting your vote !! good for you...
And not to be a H Fan boy... They do post lots of photos...
as you become more educated in the area of watches you collect you " BUY THE WATCH " Not the seller.... .. Please for the newer members you will come to this point in time... DONT RUSH IT.... if you do you might fall out of love of this hobby...
I have been collecting for a while...
Good Hunting
Bill
I get what you’re saying Bill and most here would agree with you- study your subject and know it well. But Hondinkee has pretty much heralded themselves as the authority on the vintage watch market and many new to vintage buyers trust them to be selling the best of the best. A newbie would think they are buying the seller- only to discover they bought a watch that has been cobbled at some point (at least the bracelet is). With their normal attention to every minute detail as a selling point, there is no way that a misalignment of their endlinks like this was an oversight- it was an omission. I wouldn’t have thought twice about this listing if hey has put it on one of their overpriced straps- but I have to agree with @redpcar on this- they are trying to sneak this one by an unknowing buyer- and considering their position in the market- that’s not good for their rep.
Wow. Pretty livid conversation going on!
I feel both Bill and Redpcar are both right to say what they have to say. Isn't that what opinions are all about? =)
I understand what Bill is articulating from his view of just buy and enjoy. Don't fret so much. (This is truly ideal for me)
However, Hodinkee is often deemed to be THE go to place to find out information about pieces. E.g their website even have a reference section where they talk about Rolex vintage subs , omega speedmasters etc.... Giving the impression they know something about watches.
Great.
Therefore, it is reasonable to assume they have done some form of due diligence and they know what they are selling. So for this particular UG Polerouter sub, if I didn't post this thread, and just went with my gut feel, I would have purchased it. But now I know the endlinks are wrong, it's a deal breaker for me. Simply because at the price that they are selling, I feel it should be a complete and correct watch.
Wow. Pretty livid conversation going on!
I feel both Bill and Redpcar are both right to say what they have to say. Isn't that what opinions are all about? =)
I understand what Bill is articulating from his view of just buy and enjoy. Don't fret so much. (This is truly ideal for me)
However, Hodinkee is often deemed to be THE go to place to find out information about pieces. E.g their website even have a reference section where they talk about Rolex vintage subs , omega speedmasters etc.... Giving the impression they know something about watches.
Great.
Therefore, it is reasonable to assume they have done some form of due diligence and they know what they are selling. So for this particular UG Polerouter sub, if I didn't post this thread, and just went with my gut feel, I would have purchased it. But now I know the endlinks are wrong, it's a deal breaker for me. Simply because at the price that they are selling, I feel it should be a complete and correct watch.
Totally agree. I get the “don’t sweat he details and enjoy” attitude, but part of this hobby is about learning the details and trying to acquire pieces that speak to your sensibilities. If you enjoy a watch that’s been hacked on and lived a life of serious adventure and shade-tree handiwork- then go for it. But at this price point, from a dealer like this, I think everyone should expect attention to detail and expert curation. That’s what Hondinkee is selling after all, their expertise and curation.
Hi @JwRosenthal . Maybe I am not making myself clear... Details are important... But your buying a vintage watch... and things happen...that is all... Not a question of being hacked. The bracelet was repair to the best of a watchmakers ability getting a Ug clasp for replacement... That was not a hack job ... now that watch is a 7k price level... that bracelet repair from 30 years ago. maybe it not at the price level of the watch today but that is what it is .... that is not a hack job or a shade-tree handiwork... .that was for the owner at the time a proper repair...
But the real question in the room ... What level do you expect from the Hodinkee Shop...
So I went to take a look at shop page...
the tag line " A selection of vintage watches carefully vetted by the Shop team."
Well they set their own bar.... in my opinion that is very high.... I wonder if they have a system in place to take feedback from the community... but in their defense how do you know the " expert" that is sending in a email is an expert? this is blackhole .....
Good Hunting
Bill
That was my point Bill- yes, watches have lives, they get repaired, flaws are part of life. It’s the hypocrisy that I have issue with. They have positioned themselves at the top of the retail used watch market based on their expert “curation”- I am using that word specifically because curation implies a level of expertise. When one buys from an expert- it is assumed (dangerous word I know) that you are paying them to make sure you don’t get screwed and they can identify any merits or flaws for you- it’s why one pays their premium- otherwise just gamble on eBay.
If the endlink issue-which is not subtle and anyone who has handled vintage watches would recognize as an issue regardless of if they had ever seen a UG- had been mentioned in the listing “ endlinks had been repaired/replaced at some time during the life of the watch”- this conversation wouldn’t be happening.
It’s the whiff of impropriety that’s the issue- the fact that there is no way they couldn’t have noticed that, yet made no mention of it in their listing. They are not being held to an unattainable standard- they are being held to the same standard that would be expected of any reputable dealer that is mentioned regularly on this forum.
If they are unable to verify authenticity or originality of a watch/part- then they should disclose it. If they think an issue may hurt the sale, then don’t consign it.
Not arguing a point- just making one. If you are going to position yourself as a subject matter expert and create a market based on that- expect to be held to a higher standard.
Not that I have seen- I used the word curated as that is how I view a dealer (be it art or watches) that is presenting products they have selected to meet certain standards.
Well there is no standard in the watch world that I know of just your reputation .... I think it might be the same in most business ..... Art included.
good hunting
bill
Some wording from their website on other sales topics that speak to their idea of curation- yes, they do use the word.
We've Curated A Crazy Sale Of Vintage Rolex Datejusts For Gilt, And They're Live Now!
As always, these watches have the HODINKEE stamp of approval and come with a 30-day warranty
A HODINKEE-Curated Vintage Watch Sale Begins Today at 12pm Noon on Gilt Man
Gilt Man will be hosting a special vintage watch sale curated by, well, us.
A Special Gilt Vintage Watch Sale Curated By Our Own Benjamin Clymer
A HODINKEE-Curated Sale Begins Today at 12pm On GILT Man
A Sneak Peek At Today's HODINKEE-Curated Vintage Watch Sale on GILT Man
A HODINKEE-Curated Sale Begins Today at 12pm On GILT: And Now, A Little Something For The Ladies
