In your opinion, which are the best platforms to search for and buy vintage Seikos?

Catawiki seems to have a few quality pieces from time to time. And sometimes they are offered on a "Non-reserve" price.

I was wondering which other websites are out there....

 

Sure, I’ll give away all my obscure and lush watering holes so that the herd can come and trample them dry Seriously though, there are no places I have found gems that are not well known to 99% of hunters.

These kind of questions usually don’t yield the kind of response one is looking for. But the question is not ‘where’, but ‘how’ and ‘when’. All known platforms (maybe not catawiki) like eBay etc will at some point yield killer pieces. Trick is to be hunting diligently and persistently and have the eye to see through bad pictures/photography (or dealer pictures) etc. which usually equates to experience and knowing the game you are hunting

eBay, local auction sites etc etc...and don’t forget this very forum.

 

I bought a nice King Seiko from http://antiquewatchat.blogspot.com/,

Two vintage seikos has auctions on Instagram that are well listed.

Subscribe to the Hub City Vintage newsletter and prepare to pounce when his watches are released. https://www.hubcityvintage.com/

Finally, I've had good luck with Ebay sellers from Japan.

 

Part of the fun of this hobby is to blaze your own trails. Nothing wrong with getting tips from experienced users, but it would be both more gratifying and potentially useful to spend time exploring the internet yourself.

 

Yahoo Auctions in Japan
https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/list5/2084024503-category.html

 

Second vote for Hub City

Both WUS (be careful) and lately, Reddit WatchEx have had some good finds in the past, for me at least.

Good luck!

 

I think you must find your own way. Others are looking and there are 10 buyers for every good piece. It is not easy as finding a Rolex

 

Japan was the honey hole when I was their a few years ago. Was looking for Omegas and blew me away the amount of Seiko watches I had to sift through and probably should have bought.....

 

Ive used Japanese proxy services like www.fromjapan.co.jp

 

Thank you for the tips.

 

I have just started buying Seiko watches and it was an unusual way. I saw that someone sold a Seiko cronos few months back on eBay. I approached him and asked if he had anymore Seiko Cronos to sell and it transpired he was a Seiko collector and sold me 2 watches privately fully serviced at a fair price. Risky! But it worked this time.

 

Anywhere but on Catawiki

 

Perhaps Ebay, Buyee (directly from Japan, it's a risk but sometimes worth it), chrono24, instagram and local marketplace websites. Or on a forum like this one

 

I have actually had some good luck on Craigslist.

 

My watchmaker has suggested https://www.watchrecon.com

 

Hey now, don't go giving away all of our secrets.

 

Research, know what is and isn’t correct and hunt.

I did that for my 6117-8000. I took a chance on a new seller with blurry shots on eBay... good communication and the pictures left enough detail to show what was and wasn’t right. Took a small gamble and ended up with a stunning piece. The combo of low res shots and new buyer scared most hunters away. Got it just as that model had just gotten noticed and paid 1/4 it’s value. It’s now worth 3x that.
There are still hidden gems in the 1965-1974 ish era.

It’s better to focus on a few models and learn all you can on them while setting alerts on eBay, or find those Japanese stores that have hidden gems.

spreading a wide net will bring you pain.

:edit:

and also important, buy good examples they are the ones that will hold value. Examples with issues or are just unattractive will remain unworn and drop in price.

 

Isn't that the site I broke a few weeks back