6+ times estimate

 

Unfortunately, it's not a 3915-1.

 

sorry, fat fingered on phone!

 

Why a bubble?
It's probably the most beautiful example of the rarest regular production Speedmaster. How hard is it to even find a 2915-1?
If you're looking for a bubble, I'd look elsewhere (ever heard of Paul Newman?)

 

I know...joking. Rare is rare, and condition is condition. It looked great.....but man did Phillips miss the estimate!

 

Case: The case shows moderate signs of polishing. It maintains its overall proportions well. The bezel presents no fading to the black engraved scale. The case back in similar condition, the Speedmaster engraving is present and well readable. The bracelet is in very good condition, with extremely minor stretch to the links. The expandable links spring back properly. Surface marks present throughout. It is stamped 6 to the endlinks and "2 60" to the clasp.

Dial: The dial is exceptionally well preserved, the radium material has been replaced by tritium but decades ago, the luminous material evenly faded to a warm tobacco hue. The dial has aged with intense and even dark chocolate tropicalization.

Movement: The movement is ticking at the time of cataloguing and the chronograph works properly. A service for oiling and cleaning is however suggested given the age of the watch.

 

dont they miss estimates on purpose to make hodinkee post shocking headlines 20 seconds after the hammer falls with the help of some prewritten articles

 

And there was me thinking that re-luming of a dial was officially frowned upon

 

This. Wtf?

 

It's so beautiful exceedingly rare and still cheaper than loads of Daytonas.

 

https://www.phillips.com/detail/OMEGA/CH080118/124


That's CHF408,500 after fees

 

no amount of comments will change the selling price. it is what it is. it's not going any cheaper eithet. just amazing.

 

lol! I'm assuming that you are relatively young.

 

ha ha just celebrated my speedy anniversary age.

 

Ah, so you either believe that the vintage watch market is fundamentally different from all other collectors markets, or that "This time it's different!".

 

What surprises me the most is that the market seems to accept restorations. Many of the Daytonas had changed parts and the white gold 6265 was basically built from the case and movement. The 2915-1 was beautiful but the number is really impressive considering the dial being relumed. Would I dare to say a perfect untouched example would reach 500k now?

Are we moving into a world where looks is more important than originality? Feels more and more like the vintage car market. Not sure what I think of this.

 

I think that you have, perhaps inadvertently, touched on a crucial point. The vintage market has been catalysed primarily in recent years by fashion, which explains why a pretty watch by a fashionable brand can bring many multiples of an equally attractive, and well-made watch by a less fashionable brand. Or why an intrinsically inferior watch can be worth far more than a superior one.

With regards to the subject auction, or any high-end auction, for that matter, you are perhaps making the mistake of assuming that all bidders are serious collectors. Serious collectors do, with rare exceptions, demand originality when paying premium prices, but those with less experience, and (typically) much more money than brains, can easily be seduced by flawed watches (or cars or paintings, etc.) that sophisticated collectors would reject.

 

Agreed, and to make matters even worse, at these price levels these auctions are also drawing in investors/speculators that have no real interest in watches per se. They are making bets on the future of the vintage watch market from a financial perspective, and may be also buying up art and other high-end collectibles.

 

I think there are more than one type of ”serious collectors”. The world is changing and even though we are the ”old collectors” it does not mean all the new people in the hobby are just speculating to make money. From my experience those that enhance watches and build hype are old time dealers and in many cases old time collectors.

The market wants perfect and the market gets perfect. Honest patina is just an expression in most cases. Look at the FAP SM300 last year and now many of the Daytonas. All put together or enhanced in one way or the other. We get exactly what we ask for and it is not the non-serious collectors fault imho.

 

Hahaha! Nice one Tony.

"We’re not in a bubble." said postage stamp, coin, and baseball card collectors.... just before their bubble burst.