Vintage Tudor Oysterdate

[wjgoretsky]

Oh boy! Since I’m an “enthusiast”, my friend came to me with his father’s most prized possession. His father recently passed from pancreatic cancer and gave this watch to him, as it had so much meaning to him.

I’m not going to lie, I gasped in horror when I first saw this watch, and my friend seemed to share my reaction.

We chatted about it and I agreed to post it here and see what people thought as either a potential for:
1 - Sell for salvage gold value.
2 - Sell as a collector piece.
3 - Sell pieces separately.

I have no idea of the value, but the watch still runs.

Any help would be appreciated.









Thanks.

Winston


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[dhknola]

Man, this is a tough spot, he should just keep it for sentimental value.
The issue(s) I see if you are to re-sell: 1) The gold nugget bezel will (if real gold) will make the watch somewhat harder to sell as a watch collector will pine they need to find a replacement bezel and gold buyer will poopoo the watch to try and be in to it for the just the gold bezel.
2) It's not that great a Tudor, I think gold fill cap with stainless back, so if it was sans bezel and strap, still not a home run watch.
3) The 10k gold rams are cool, but good luck trying to find someone who wants to pay a premium for them.
He should keep it.

[MILGAUSS88]

The bezel could be replaced with original.
Scrap the gold and sell the watch.
I am sure the bezel is gold

[77T]

Why do all 3 options start with “Sell”?

That is a unique watch and you said it meant a lot to your friend’s dad.


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[ywodntu]

WOW.

Seeing this watch was like seeing a ghost for me.

I have a family member who was career US military was stationed in Alaska in late 60' early 70's. He as a watch with these same gold rams heads with ruby eyes on a gold bracelet with a Bulova movement and dial.

I consider that watch a reflection of the geography of where he was, a time before "institutionalized gold watch" design took hold, before the US went off the gold standard.

I think it is almost to powerful as a conversation piece and memory of that time to destroy.

For what it is worth, If I saw a person wearing that watch and another person wearing a Paul Newman at the same function, I would talk to the gold rams head watch guy.

[wjgoretsky]

Originally Posted by 77T

Why do all 3 options start with “Sell”?

That is a unique watch and you said it meant a lot to your friend’s dad.


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It had special meaning to his father, but it doesn’t hold the same meaning to my friend. He would like to sell, and buy something more in line with his tastes.


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[Kingsking]

Originally Posted by wjgoretsky

It had special meaning to his father, but it doesn’t hold the same meaning to my friend. He would like to sell, and buy something more in line with his tastes.


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Just my opinion but tell him to save up his money and buy something he likes, keep the watch his dad left him. The watch itself isn't worth very much ,and the scrap gold at 10k might have $500-700 depending on the weight. My dad died of cancer 3 years ago and I wish he left me a watch he considered to be his most prized possession, even if it wasn't my taste I would never part with it.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by Kingsking

Just my opinion but tell him to save up his money and buy something he likes, keep the watch his dad left him.

This. The value is sentimental rather than monetary.

[motoikkyu]

I love it! I admit I'm known for somewhat outrageous tastes, but this is very cool. Maybe not suitable for everyday wear under all circumstances but wow! Awesome looking! I assure you, it might take a hot minute to find the right buyer, but someone will want it. If I saw this at a mart and the price was reasonable, I would definitely be a candidate. Is it objectively super valuable? No way, but it would be shame to try to turn it back into factory-stock configuration. I would definitely think the value is commensurate with that of a similar, unmodified example, and probably 10-20% more, as the unmodified Tudor is kind of unremarkable.

[Styles Bitchley]

That thing is wild!

[wjgoretsky]

Thank you everyone for your input.

After not having any interest in selling the watch as a whole piece, the watch was sent to Tudor to have the bezel removed, so that it could be sold along with the bracelet for scrap gold.

The watch case (minus bezel) is now up for purchase to anyone interested.





In order of preserving his father’s memory, my friend bought a Baum and Mercier watch that suited his style better than his fathers taste in the Tudor.



That’s the story thus far.

Please DM me if there’s any offers on the Tudor.

Winston


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[Richard Carver]

Sad.

[offrdmania]

The watch itself isnt gold, its gold plated and is only worth a few hundred. All of the value is in the 10K bezel and upper half of the bracelet. The lower half of the bracelet was an added on Speidel stretch bracelet.

Its sad to think that your friend would sell his fathers most prized possession. He is going to regret it later in life is my feeling.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

Its sad to think that your friend would sell his fathers most prized possession. He is going to regret it later in life is my feeling.

Guess he had his reasons. Not everyone likes their father...

[vintagewaferthin]

Sad for sure. Should have kept it, even if it wasn't ever going to be worn..but just my opinion.

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by zapokee

Guess he had his reasons. Not everyone likes their father...

I have my father’s pocket watch that he wore every single day of his life. He is still with us but after he retired he gave it to me. It is just a dime store no brand pocket watch with a picture of a train on it. It has no intrinsic value; but to me, it is the most expensive piece of my collection.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

I have my father’s pocket watch that he wore every single day of his life. He is still with us but after he retired he gave it to me. It is just a dime store no brand pocket watch with a picture of a train on it. It has no intrinsic value; but to me, it is the most expensive piece of my collection.

Nice . Someday I'll inherit my father's 1950s Eternamatic, which I gave him for Christmas after his was stolen. When he unwrapped it, it was one of the few times I've seen him cry.

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by zapokee

Nice . Someday I'll inherit my father's 1950s Eternamatic, which I gave him for Christmas after his was stolen. When he unwrapped it, it was one of the few times I've seen him cry.

Love that story!

[VincentG]

That is sad IMO, the 10k gold scrap value probably exceeded the value of the gold capped Tudor Oysterdate, which I would estimate without a bezel would be $400 give or take. In it's original configuration it was in my opinion "folk art" and worth far more than the sum of it's parts. I have seen this over and iver again, children quite often do not "like" their parents stuff/junk and that is how collectors "get a great deal" on valuable items at estate sales. In this case it was a lose lose, that nugget bezel was awesome and now it is likely already melted. :-(

[Kingsking]

Originally Posted by VincentG

That is sad IMO, the 10k gold scrap value probably exceeded the value of the gold capped Tudor Oysterdate, which I would estimate without a bezel would be $400 give or take. In it's original configuration it was in my opinion "folk art" and worth far more than the sum of it's parts. I have seen this over and iver again, children quite often do not "like" their parents stuff/junk and that is how collectors "get a great deal" on valuable items at estate sales. In this case it was a lose lose, that nugget bezel was awesome and now it is likely already melted. :-(

So true, most of the local buys I get are from Children who inherited family heirlooms that "don't fit their style"

[pldlnr]

What will it cost to give that Tudor a proper home given it's obvious needs?

[330ci]

Originally Posted by pldlnr

What will it cost to give that Tudor a proper home given it's obvious needs?

It’s on it’s way to it’s proper home, I found a very similar bezel to the the original And bought it and they should both arrive next week. Someone else’s unwanted bezel paired with this neglected ol gal. Going to make me an awesome adventure watch to create new lasting memories.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rolex-Donut...UAAOSwJF1fNCRe

New bezel I got for it :D

[wjgoretsky]

Originally Posted by 330ci

It’s on it’s way to it’s proper home, I found a very similar bezel to the the original And bought it and they should both arrive next week. Someone else’s unwanted bezel paired with this neglected ol gal. Going to make me an awesome adventure watch to create new lasting memories.

Shipped this morning...


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[330ci]

Originally Posted by wjgoretsky

Shipped this morning...


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I noticed the tracking was entered when I got off work and started surfing the web to find parts for it.

now just to decide on a strap and keep an eye out for a correct bezel

[330ci]

https://jewelry.ha.com/itm/timepiece...a/5363-54442.s

I found its cousin cruising the web today

https://jewelry.ha.com/itm/timepiece...171221-74004.s

[narembeen]

Very sad indeed. I would have kept it. I'm getting my late step fathers watch restored and I am trying to keep everything as original as possible in memory to him. My watch maker even asked if I wanted some deep scratches and the caseback engraveing laser welded/removed. I told him to leave the case as it is.

[Slimpee]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

I have my father’s pocket watch that he wore every single day of his life. He is still with us but after he retired he gave it to me. It is just a dime store no brand pocket watch with a picture of a train on it. It has no intrinsic value; but to me, it is the most expensive piece of my collection.

I’m right there with you!

I ended up with my great-grandfathers Hampden Dueber that wasn’t working and had a yellowed plastic crystal. I immediately took it in for a cleaning, lube, and crystal. When I got it back it ran and I was thrilled to see some beautiful blue hands that I hadn’t known were blue.

It stopped working so I took it to another shop who showed me that it was magnetized and said it had been improperly lubed. It’s back to working again.

I have spent at least double what it’s worth but to have it looking good and running means the world to me.

One of these days I will post pics of it.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by wjgoretsky

In order of preserving his father’s memory, my friend bought a Baum and Mercier watch that suited his style better than his fathers taste in the Tudor.

I'm not sure I like that B&M much more than the Tudor.

[330ci]

Need to polish the crystal but it’s much nicer than I expected. Perfect summer watch

[wjgoretsky]

Originally Posted by 330ci

Need to polish the crystal but it’s much nicer than I expected. Perfect summer watch

That turned out very nicely.

Winston


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