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  1. demchocholips Nov 24, 2017

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    I'm spending the weekend in London. I've visited Burlington Arcade on previous trips, but don't know any other places in the city for vintage. Suggestions? Thanks in advance!
     
  2. tyrantlizardrex Nov 24, 2017

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    There are some dealers in Grays Antique centre... one of them told me to “fuck off to Somlo”, when I asked why the flightmaster he was selling had no chrono hands.

    There are a couple of hugely over priced shops on the clerkenwell road.

    There’s a store in the Piccadilly arcade... some nice stuff, at eye watering prices.

    Very honestly, as a Londoner, there is no where good here for vintage... not unless you want to pay epic premiums to cover the retailers overheads.
     
  3. Joe K. Curious about this text thingy below his avatar Nov 24, 2017

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    I was there few weeks go. Everywhere I visited was overpriced. So, I just spent time browsing at the Burlington Arcade.
     
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  4. sjg22 Nov 25, 2017

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    The problem I’ve found is that, frankly, no dealers anywhere have “good” prices because we all know what watches go for in places like the Sales Corner here. Retail store front in major city + overhead + profit margin = high price. Equally applicable in London, New York, Miami, Zurich or Florence.

    Any city I go to I usually take a peak at the watch shops I see recommended online - I’ve never bought anything ever. Every purchase has been online or, in one case, from a small town dealer in a non-touristy place.

    Fun to look but not really to buy if you’re here and are familiar with the market pricing.
     
  5. Moadib Nov 25, 2017

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    As non-Londoner I think we feel 'grass is always greener', as accessibility is much more - but nice to hear the severe downsides also.
     
  6. ClarendonVintage Nov 25, 2017

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    Time to check out the flea markets...
     
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  7. OmegaSean Nov 25, 2017

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    I look in London very overpriced (due to London) although if you could beat them down to 50% of the marked price you would be paying around the correct price!!!
    Omegasean
     
  8. tyrantlizardrex Nov 25, 2017

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    You say that, but the few dealers you now see in the flea markets are typically asking retail prices... a couple of them recently complained to me that "it's not fair, everyones an expert now with the internet".

    Which I translated in my head as, we can no longer screw people over by selling crap at a premium.
     
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  9. Spacefruit Prolific Speedmaster Hoarder Nov 25, 2017

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    If visiting London and you would like to see the best range of superb vintage omegas at the best prices, then head off down to the local internet cafe.

    If you want to hold watches in the metal, then Burlington Arcade, but honestly you will give yourself an aneurysm trying to work out how the clowns in suits make any sort of living - I mean they might sell one watch to one person but I cannot see them having repeat business.

    As to the rest, Grays market or Portobello, they worship their own wallet and nothing else.

    I have never seen such an extraordinary collection of watches and people that I never want to be near again.

    That said, because I am a watch collector, I have blind optimism, in both watches and people, and so I go back and look, again and again.

    The people are still wankers and the watches are still over priced.

    If you can go in auction season, the viewings are definitely worth looking at.
     
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  10. cristos71 Nov 25, 2017

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    IMHO the moment a watch reaches a retail outlet, be it a bricks and mortar shop or in the case of London a world famous tourist market, the chances of finding a decent deal are just about zero.

    I've visited quite a number of vintage watch shops in Europe and elsewhere over the last 15 years and can count on three fingers the number of watches I've actually bought. Two times the seller didn't know what he had and had underpriced it accordingly and the third one was a spur of the moment and affordable purchase. For the rest all the watches I was potentially interested in were so overpriced compared to what I would normally be willing to pay that I saw it as pointless to even attempt negotiation.

    On the other hand specialist watch fairs can be a source of rich pickings if one is knowledgeble (and early) enough and not adverse to a good old haggle. If I'm visiting a new city I'll always have a quick Google for a watch fair/market, way better odds of success in my experience
     
  11. COYI Nov 25, 2017

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    If you're in Covent Garden you could take a look at Austin Kaye on the Strand but they are also expensive.
     
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  12. tyrantlizardrex Nov 25, 2017

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    And polish everything...
     
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  13. Togri v. 2.0 Wow! Custom title... cool Nov 25, 2017

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    I went in to a shop in Burlington Arcade and have never witnessed more arrogant service. I was shocked. Last time I was there I didn't even bother to go in there
     
  14. nonuffinkbloke #1 Nigel Mansell Fan Nov 25, 2017

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    When I question the inflated prices of vintage watches on display in 'high end' shops, it always amuses me when they say "Well... at least you can be assured that our vintage watches are genuine and original!"
    Really??? They know that for sure???... How the 'fakk' do they know? I think if they should study this forum.:D
     
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  15. COYI Nov 25, 2017

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    It would be interesting to know who actually buys watches from these places. Probably no one on this forum. My hunch is mainly Asian tourists plus some 'Tim nice but dim' City types.
     
  16. demchocholips Nov 26, 2017

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    I dropped into the Omega Vintage Store in Burlington arcade. The prices were optimistic. I handled a 165.024 with a rough but original bezel on flat link bracelet. Dial looked like it could have been relumed. The asking price was GBP9400. Also looked at a 105.012-66 CB on leather strap. It had a pretty nice dial with attractive aged tritium, but the case wasn't so sharp (CB facets suffered a bit from over polishing). Asking price was GBP15000.
     
  17. tyrantlizardrex Nov 26, 2017

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    Ahhh Somlo.

    Where reality, and market prices, happen to other people.
     
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  18. COYI Nov 26, 2017

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    I popped in to the store about six months ago and I think I tried on the same Seamaster 300 back then!
     
  19. sjg22 Nov 26, 2017

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    I think we forget that, for many of us, the first vintage watch purchase tends to be overpriced and perhaps even incorrect.

    It’s only after you really get into the hobby, research, read forums, etc that one becomes aware of what can be had at what price, and understand when a watch is correct, not over polished, etc.

    My guess, therefore, is the people that buy from these retail shops are those buying their first vintage watch, or perhaps a wife buying for a husband, a graduation gift for a son or daughter, etc. Buying from a dealer is almost always easier - but that ease comes with added cost.

    It’s like that for anything, really. You’ll get better pricing on cars online or from local classifieds than via a dealer.
     
  20. Traveler Nov 26, 2017

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    Yep, that was me - my wife bought my first vintage Omega from Somlo - at what the time was seen as a ‘rip off’ price .... luckily she chose to pay for quality .... Now, I wouldn’t part with it for three times what she paid

    B5A1277C-FAEE-4DEC-BFA1-408BE3654F13.jpeg
     
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