Watch auction recommendations?
Discussion
Can anyone recommend watch auctions for some decent bargains?
I’ve tried Fellows a couple of times via "the sale room .com" but they seem quite pricey especially once the 20% (then 3% online) buyers premiums are added and especially as many of the watches come without box / papers and need re-sealed and pressure tested. I’d assume this would be mainly for dealers, if they are it seems fairly small margins.
Anyway looking to add an AP to collection…
I’ve tried Fellows a couple of times via "the sale room .com" but they seem quite pricey especially once the 20% (then 3% online) buyers premiums are added and especially as many of the watches come without box / papers and need re-sealed and pressure tested. I’d assume this would be mainly for dealers, if they are it seems fairly small margins.
Anyway looking to add an AP to collection…
There are no bargains anymore.
Everything goes on the net and if its good then everyone knows about it.
Search local auctions or buy a scruffy thing or not working if your lucky or know what your doing then refurb/repair costs can be modest.
I was lucky a few years ago and got a scruffy navitimer watch head for 600 quid. New strap, buckle off eBay and non specialist refurbished cost 285. So good value in the end.
Everything goes on the net and if its good then everyone knows about it.
Search local auctions or buy a scruffy thing or not working if your lucky or know what your doing then refurb/repair costs can be modest.
I was lucky a few years ago and got a scruffy navitimer watch head for 600 quid. New strap, buckle off eBay and non specialist refurbished cost 285. So good value in the end.
Bargain AP? You might wait a while.
Bargains do exist, but they are rare. Generally you're taking ebay. You'll need a run of similar items to fulfil the wants of other buyers, an oddball auction end time (eg. 3am Christmas morning), a sniping tool and a dose of luck.
You'll need to recognise a good watch from bad photos. Bad photos put buyers off, which is what you want.
You'll know when a new crystal is all a watch needs to sort it out and be able to recognise a fake, a Frankenwatch, water damage etc. etc.
You'll also need to use the exchange rates to buy from abroad at a price lower than you can get at home and not forget to budget for import duties.
Finally you will need to be able to afford to lose what ever you spend, when you find out that you incorrectly identified your "bargain" and it is in fact a duffer.
Personally I'd not recommend doing all this for the first time with something as costly as an AP. Start cheap and learn the hard way, or go to Chrono24 or DomH to pay fair money.
Bargains do exist, but they are rare. Generally you're taking ebay. You'll need a run of similar items to fulfil the wants of other buyers, an oddball auction end time (eg. 3am Christmas morning), a sniping tool and a dose of luck.
You'll need to recognise a good watch from bad photos. Bad photos put buyers off, which is what you want.
You'll know when a new crystal is all a watch needs to sort it out and be able to recognise a fake, a Frankenwatch, water damage etc. etc.
You'll also need to use the exchange rates to buy from abroad at a price lower than you can get at home and not forget to budget for import duties.
Finally you will need to be able to afford to lose what ever you spend, when you find out that you incorrectly identified your "bargain" and it is in fact a duffer.
Personally I'd not recommend doing all this for the first time with something as costly as an AP. Start cheap and learn the hard way, or go to Chrono24 or DomH to pay fair money.
Not an auction, but how about giving some local pawn shops a gander. I don't think AP would be a frequent find, but you might be lucky in the Chelsea-Belgravia area, and you can always note your interest to shop owners in case one comes in. I did this when I was in my 'taking apart reputable brands to see if they're any good' phase. Once taken apart I'd put them back together again, throw away the bits that were left over and sell them on ebay.
Best part, of course, is when you've just left your house and your wife calls out 'where are you going?'
Edit: a lot of watches in the major auctions like Fellows etc are the left overs from pawn shops after the choice watches have already been bought.
Best part, of course, is when you've just left your house and your wife calls out 'where are you going?'
Edit: a lot of watches in the major auctions like Fellows etc are the left overs from pawn shops after the choice watches have already been bought.
Auctionata are good but there are no bargains as far as I can see. People have too much money and bid up anything.
I bought a mid nineties Rolex day date white gold for 9200euro including buyers premium. I saved on shipping by flying to Berlin to collect it.
I bought it only as it came with papers(no box) and appeared and is virtually unborn. But I wouldn't call it a bargain.
I bought a mid nineties Rolex day date white gold for 9200euro including buyers premium. I saved on shipping by flying to Berlin to collect it.
I bought it only as it came with papers(no box) and appeared and is virtually unborn. But I wouldn't call it a bargain.
buying from European dealers offers good value .....the exchange rate helps and watches generally are cheaper in places like Italy and Spain .....you can expect to save around 20% on UK dealer prices. Also no VAT expense between EU members so the price you see is the price you pay ..... good hunting 
Winners Curse has spread everywhere these days it seems. I've had one great bargain this year, but it was an overlooked lot that wasn't advertised too well and I still had to outbid three local guys who knew it was underpriced but just didn't have the cash after a full day of bidding.
mikeveal said:
Bargain AP? You might wait a while.
Bargains do exist, but they are rare. Generally you're taking ebay. You'll need a run of similar items to fulfil the wants of other buyers, an oddball auction end time (eg. 3am Christmas morning), a sniping tool and a dose of luck.
You'll need to recognise a good watch from bad photos. Bad photos put buyers off, which is what you want.
You'll know when a new crystal is all a watch needs to sort it out and be able to recognise a fake, a Frankenwatch, water damage etc. etc.
You'll also need to use the exchange rates to buy from abroad at a price lower than you can get at home and not forget to budget for import duties.
Finally you will need to be able to afford to lose what ever you spend, when you find out that you incorrectly identified your "bargain" and it is in fact a duffer.
Personally I'd not recommend doing all this for the first time with something as costly as an AP. Start cheap and learn the hard way, or go to Chrono24 or DomH to pay fair money.
I'm mostly into vintage watches, and don't have much of a budget by this forums standards, but this is exactly the path I have taken to get few relatively high end watches I have.Bargains do exist, but they are rare. Generally you're taking ebay. You'll need a run of similar items to fulfil the wants of other buyers, an oddball auction end time (eg. 3am Christmas morning), a sniping tool and a dose of luck.
You'll need to recognise a good watch from bad photos. Bad photos put buyers off, which is what you want.
You'll know when a new crystal is all a watch needs to sort it out and be able to recognise a fake, a Frankenwatch, water damage etc. etc.
You'll also need to use the exchange rates to buy from abroad at a price lower than you can get at home and not forget to budget for import duties.
Finally you will need to be able to afford to lose what ever you spend, when you find out that you incorrectly identified your "bargain" and it is in fact a duffer.
Personally I'd not recommend doing all this for the first time with something as costly as an AP. Start cheap and learn the hard way, or go to Chrono24 or DomH to pay fair money.
Crap pictures and a bit of a risk got me a very nice Breitling Datora for less than half the going rate.
Always go for the best watch cosmetically, the mechanics can usually be sorted by any decent watch repairer, but cosmetics usually require factory parts.
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