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16 September 2020, 01:22 AM | #1 |
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Rescuing “Orphan” DD Bracelets from the Melting Pot
Does anybody else share my compulsion to save vintage “orphan” DD bracelets from being bought by opportunists whose goal is to sell them for scrap value?
I saw a vintage DD bracelet listed a month or so ago which ended up selling for exactly the spot price of its 24k gold equivalent, which made me sad because that probably means it was bought to be sold for scrap. A large online watch dealer recently confided in me he is often asked “how much does it weigh” whenever he independently sells a gold Rolex bracelet these days. I recently “saved” a 1969 Rolex gold orphan bracelet from the melting pot, a smaller sized one only suited to a 7” or smaller wrist (such as mine) by purchasing it well above scrap value and pairing it with a 1977 DD which hitherto been on a leather strap. I wasn’t really looking for one, but when I saw that bracelet had 51 years of history, survived the gold price explosion of 1980, and was too small for 75% of the market to wear, I just couldn’t bear to see it potentially destroyed and gone forever because of the current gold bull market. |
16 September 2020, 05:29 AM | #2 |
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From what I understand, vintage Day Dates pretty much run at spot price plus a few bucks for the Rolex jazz...Gold is pretty high right now which would be you are most likely correct that these bracelets are getting melted.
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16 September 2020, 07:32 AM | #3 |
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Sad indeed
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16 September 2020, 08:39 AM | #4 |
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What did it sell for ... What is the rough scrap value of a DD bracelet these days? Last time I looked it was well under $2500 scrap - Gold is up since then, but — ? (Idk bracelet-alone weight.) I might could find a home for one or two ...
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16 September 2020, 09:55 AM | #5 |
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Please tell me where you are able to buy DD bracelets for spot?
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16 September 2020, 10:26 AM | #6 | |
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Quote:
I'd be a buyer just to have for whenever I get a vintage DD that I've always wanted
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17 September 2020, 02:47 AM | #7 |
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I'm guessing this must be a regional phenomenon. I can't buy a D-D bracelet for anything near scrap value where I am, usually more than $2K over scrap, no matter the degree of stretch or wear marks. I think it's great and would do the same, if offered a D-D bracelet for the price of scrapping it.
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17 September 2020, 03:40 AM | #8 |
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I have been looking on and off for about 5 years for an 8385 for my 18038 and they sure don’t come up that often. Last one I saw was asking around 5k I think
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17 September 2020, 07:29 AM | #9 | |
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Quote:
God help anybody looking for a bark one. |
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