Why so much $$$...

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan1965

Personally--an educated buyer in my opinion -- on a watch that will sell for over $100k would do a pre-buy inspection first. He would want to see the sides of the case to check numbers as well as examine the dial in person-as that can seriously add to or detract from the value on these watches. He would also want to get a feel for the seller and references. Again--the answers to his questions seem contrived to me--that is just my sense. I hope I am wrong though!!

Perhaps they have inspected it already?

[HL65]

Perhaps--this is only what my criteria would be-otherwise I wouldn't touch it!

[manandjoe]

Wow !!! You need steel balls to bid on something like that on ebay!
I hope its real, but the amount of fakes and franken watches out there is astounding.

[Chris B]

A large part of me hopes that this is bona fide, yet wondering why the guy hasn't pulled the auction to have an established auction house handle the sale?

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan1965

Perhaps--this is only what my criteria would be-otherwise I wouldn't touch it!

Then again, inspect before or after really doesn't make any difference.

[JimSnyder]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

Are there really that many $100k ebay watch auctions? I would have thought something of this stature and expense would have been more properly handled by an auction house....and might have gotten higher bids that way, too?

Anyway, I'm obviously not a collector, LOL, and not much of an ebay guy, either....I have a problem gathering the courage to buy anything off of ebay, let alone a vintage Submariner.

It's not the first time. Here is a great story with a good ending
http://www.tz-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=133412

[HL65]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Then again, inspect before or after really doesn't make any difference.

I wouldn't bother even bidding without inspecting. To each his own. I have bought many extremely high end watches to date and fortunately have never been burnt by being extremely careful. At then end of the day--I am not bidding on it so therefore I need not worry and my guess is you are not either. For those who are--I hope you are carfeul as I hate to see any fellow WIS burnt!!!

[scottielover]

I think some of you guys are paranoid. Of course a face to face deal at the end would be mandatory in my opinion but why is it so odd to have something like an old "watch" show up starting at 9.95? I think the gentleman is legit. I don't aspire to owning a watch ( grail ) like this sub, but I have found grails in other collector fields, even on Ebay. I've purchased rare 1930's erector sets found in attics and under beds for 100's, not the 1000's they bring when I flip them. I bought a 1957 Pontiac convertible from a truck driver for 3,500. It was a fuel injected one, a Bonneville, 630 made. Guess what it flipped for. Same for a 40's Wurlitzer jukebox, 100's, flip for thousands. Some people have an "idea" what things are but they really don't............you see what I mean. So it will be interesting to see what happens. If Steve Mullholand is involved, we may even find out more! I am so glad somebody had a conscience to tell him the truth.

[Rolexcess]

Great detective work guys; a lot of interesting thoughts. Hopefully this plays out as a "win-win" for all sides involved.

[Paul B]

I hope that if it's legit, the old guy is being very careful and that someone who he can trust is helping him.
As for pre-inspection, whenever I bid on a watch (nowhere remotely close to this price point) I always request payment and inspection at a Rolex dealer in the sellers area, helps sort the wheat from the chafe.



Paul

[HL65]

I think we all hope it is legit. As for being paranoid-I have seen way too many watch scams on Ebay and other prominent sites. If a man is not careful--their money will be taken from them rather quickly in the watchworld!! That is a fact--better safe than sorry. Just check out our own watch out posts--majority of them on Ebay.

[Welshwatchman]

These $100K Ebay transactions are safer than the $2,000 Rolex transactions.

It will be a rare event that someone will travel the length of the country or globe to inspect a $2000 before handing over the dough so the element of faith is enormous on the part of the buyer.

$100k watches are paid for AFTER the chap handing over the notes is completely satisfied. That is the nature of someone who has managed to accumulate such spare sums in the first place.

[HL65]

My point is that I would never buy a watch like that on Ebay and I do agree with you about $2k watches being more dangerous--I would rather buy from a top dealer like I do when I buy high end vintage pieces. There are a lot of quality sellers on Ebay--many of whom I have dealt with too. There are also many scams on Ebay--and many hijacked accounts. I hope it is a real story for the sake of the buyer. I guess different strokes for different folks. I like dealing with guys like Mark Lerman and a few select others on high end vintage pieces--I know what I am getting and they are always amazing pieces. The same way I like dealing with Tony G, Greg G, Oscar, David SW , Brian G , Tom L, Gagan N. etc. I never have to worry about what I am getting and neither do they. Just my take--Again--I hope it is a real story and makes someone's day -including the seller!! Hopefully we all will find out too!

[dsio]

I wonder what the ratio is of high end (30k+) vintage pieces that have made it to the market as opposed to those that are sitting on the wrist of gentleman in retirement homes or sitting in desk drawers.

[Rolexcess]

Originally Posted by dsio

I wonder what the ratio is of high end (30k+) vintage pieces that have made it to the market as opposed to those that are sitting on the wrist of gentleman in retirement homes or sitting in desk drawers.

Good question. I wonder how many get tossed or end up at the Good Will store? Amazing that a watch in that condition can fetch that amount of money.

My hobby is American art pottery and Arts & Crafts era furniture (high-end pieces) and condition is very important when placing a value on a piece. Original patina, repairs, etc.

This watch looks original, but the condition looks terrible. Shows how much I have to learn about Rolex timepieces! Even if it doe not run properly, does it still have value? How does one prove provenance? Is that important? Just because it is rare, doesn't condition matter?

[dsio]

There is a show called "Chasing Classic Cars" that I quite enjoy where the guy hunts for high end collectible cars, he once said something along the lines of that he believes of all the highly collectible Ferrari's Maserati's and other similar vintage Europeans made, about 1/4 are owned by collectors, 1/4 are sitting in people's sheds, 1/4 have been destroyed and 1/4 you really, really want to pretend don't exist.

[Paul B]

Originally Posted by dsio

There is a show called "Chasing Classic Cars" that I quite enjoy where the guy hunts for high end collectible cars, he once said something along the lines of that he believes of all the highly collectible Ferrari's Maserati's and other similar vintage Europeans made, about 1/4 are owned by collectors, 1/4 are sitting in people's sheds, 1/4 have been destroyed and 1/4 you really, really want to pretend don't exist.

I am into the old car hobby, and two expressions come to mind that I think would fit here:

A) They're only original once.

B) They're still out there.




Paul

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by andrewproctor007

MMMM.....! Sounds slightly suspicious to me. The guy claims he is in his 90's.....

When one is in his ninth decade, he is in his Eighties.

Those who think that 80 year-olds are to old to post to a website are being ridiculous.

I was late getting into computers compared to many of my cohorts, but at 61 I have more than 20 years experience with computers going back to the days of MSDOS and Tandy computers.

Good Lord, give me a break.

[Singslinger]

Just bought my 79-year old dad an iPad. In 2 weeks, he's up and running, with an email account, downloaded apps and a dozen websites bookmarked. Previously, he had zero experience with computers but now, he absolutely loves it. So I'd agree with Grady - we shouldn't assume an 80-year old isn't tech-savvy.

Having said that, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the ultimate winner of this auction. Let's hope it all ends well.

[johnbeth]

Thats an awesome story if all true!

I am happy for the seller. John

[dsio]

Originally Posted by Singslinger

Just bought my 79-year old dad an iPad. In 2 weeks, he's up and running, with an email account, downloaded apps and a dozen websites bookmarked. Previously, he had zero experience with computers but now, he absolutely loves it. So I'd agree with Grady - we shouldn't assume an 80-year old isn't tech-savvy.

Having said that, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the ultimate winner of this auction. Let's hope it all ends well.

My mother uses an iPad, and she's... well dad didn't marry her for her technical expertise. Those devices are amazing in their accessibility to the non-IT-inclined.

[pyxis]

To be in his 9th decade means he's in his eighties! Could be a young 81 years old.

[rxonmymind]

Go to Okinawa. 90 is the avg there. That's still young in Okinawa standard!

[cocopeep]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

When one is in his ninth decade, he is in his Eighties.

Those who think that 80 year-olds are to old to post to a website are being ridiculous.

I was late getting into computers compared to many of my cohorts, but at 61 I have more than 20 years experience with computers going back to the days of MSDOS and Tandy computers.

Good Lord, give me a break.

Just gotta love those days of Dos and those IBM intel x80 computers with 200k of floppy disk memory!

[dsio]

Originally Posted by cocopeep

Just gotta love those days of Dos and those IBM intel x80 computers with 200k of floppy disk memory!

Floppy... is that one of those things you play on a turntable?

I'm only 23...

[mikester]

this is such an amazing story... who would've thought a $70 watch back in the 50s could fetch that money... man wish my parents could've picked up one of those...

[HL65]

I am now pretty sure this guy is legit-even though I am not a big believer in buying a watch like this on Ebay. The guy truly had no idea what he had and some sharks tried to eat him up--Good for those who helped him and great for him!!! Can't wait to see the end--Maybe one of our own will end up with it!!

[Brian J]

Originally Posted by dsio

There is a show called "Chasing Classic Cars" that I quite enjoy where the guy hunts for high end collectible cars, he once said something along the lines of that he believes of all the highly collectible Ferrari's Maserati's and other similar vintage Europeans made, about 1/4 are owned by collectors, 1/4 are sitting in people's sheds, 1/4 have been destroyed and 1/4 you really, really want to pretend don't exist.

I love that show, I don't get the last line about pretending they don't exist??

Also, anyone else notice this guy only has 90 ratings? Plunking down $60k+ on an ebay transaction from a guy with low ratings on an item that could be fake/needs to be inspected. Not for me.

[Route 66]

He states in the information that he added yesterday that he put it up for bids because he thought that he may be able to get $50 or $100 for it.

[HL65]

Check it out now--he says it is a 5510.........................