@Paulomega ... From what I see, and I know for some here this is sacrilege, but your odds of finding a pristine example might be best with dealers. Yes, you will pay, but you will have the watch you want. The vintage Devils are highly sought after now.
I actually just did a quick look on C24 and Watchrecon and there wasn't anything worth buying at any price.
I have said in other threads- everyone goes nuts over how hard it is to find clean Subs/Speedy's/ SM300's, but they are truly a dime a dozen compared to finding excellent examples of these "lower" market watches.
These watches often don't even get posted. Just like collector grade Gallet. You either get an email or you make a request.
I picked up one a couple weeks ago for $275 including it's original Kreisler bracelet (seems not as common as the JB version).
Really clean, no major bezel damage, a very nice dial was hiding under the original extremely crazed crystal (thanks again @JwRosenthal). Waiting on a new rotor axle to arrive but otherwise it was a lucky find on the bay. Deals are still out there if you are willing to clean something up a little.
This is the second one I've owned, sold the first because of a damaged bezel that I knew I didn't want to deal with.
Original listing photo:
I lost out on one of the 60s versions of these on the bay about a month ago. Looking back I wish I had went more in on it as it looke really good. Went somewhere in the $600s.
I think the market is aware of what these are now- there is no hiding under the radar. We can get lucky like @MoclovFlop and grab a diamond in the rough, or do what I did and just pay the premium for one that's good to go. These are still so cheap in the grand scheme of watch collecting that either way, you can't lose.
Edit- and paying the premium doesn't mean paying insanity. Triple market comps is just insulting. 30-40% premium for incredible condition...yeah- I can see that
Feels like market is like 700 for a nice 60s one and later ones are around 500 or so. Though finding a nice one is hard. I have been looking for awhile and think I have been undervaluing them.
I was undervaluing them too - which is why I couldn't find what I wanted. When I started trusting my research and stopped trying to find a deal, I realized that "good" ones were indeed selling for around $6-900. Anything below that was a lucky grab or they had issues. In that $6-900 range they should be cosmetically excellent, have crack free bezel, good looking lume and original bracelet. Scratches and scuffs, crystal marks and a little bracelet stretch is common in that range. I have only seen one that came up that was LNIB in the last year and that one vanished from eBay so someone grabbed it for an offer
When you say 60's vs later, are you talking about the Oceanographer
Sorry wasn't being clear. Thinking of this (link below) as the earlier 60s snorkel (actually one I bid on). Compared to hmmmcamu collection that came later (more like late 60s/70s).
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Bulova-666-Devil-Diver-watch-Ref-386-4-/203112124036?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&nma=true&si=aXHGiPfRc%2FR1w73jzDGYJxiwNYU%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Sorry wasn't being clear. Thinking of this (link below) as the earlier 60s snorkel (actually one I bid on). Compared to hmmmcamu collection that came later (more like late 60s/70s).
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Bulova-666-Devil-Diver-watch-Ref-386-4-/203112124036?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&nma=true&si=aXHGiPfRc%2FR1w73jzDGYJxiwNYU%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
