Leaderboard

Yes, this looks fantastic! Beautiful build. I'd really like to build a 5510. Would you recommend this case to those of us who don't want to shell out the Phong prices? So this is 1/3rd the price? Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk

So you finally choose the sa3135...thought you changed your order for the a2836

The British colonized almost half of the world and amalgamated the "British Isles" into the UK which no one pretends is an equal partnership with the other countries involved. Countless nations have fought for independent governance from the British in the past. Now they hold a referendum for independence from the EU because they don't want Britain to be influenced by the interests of politicians who weren't directly elected by the British. This could be a long winded definition for a word that is universally hard to define. The campaign to leave the EU was more ironic than it was racist and let's face it, it was pretty racist.

Makes me glad I haven't the money to worry about it!

508's post is very enlightening and "...would you wear it on the bus? " is a winner. Most of the 'Big Time' watch guys I know/knew are past their prime in the market and when I was trading watches, a super nice 5513 or 1680 was $1500 or $1800 to buy. I am behind the times now due to lack of interest (and $$) but I can tell when prices are getting out of bounds. I bet most of the dealers mentioned above have a 'secret mechanic' who swaps parts around from watch to watch and puts 'high dollar' watches together out of the best parts, all the guys I knew did. Out of all the 'Big Time' watch guys I knew...only one was basically honest and he had a professional 'detail guy' who turned average (mostly rolex) watches into 'near mint', a common practice. Imagine the expertise a 'vintage rolex specialist' is willing to employ when turning a $4k lemon/lime 1680 into a $15k creampuff. Laser welding?? 'Aged' replica parts in genuine vintage bracelets?? For sure. Thanks for the replies.

The price swing is the same as with antique/vintage cars. Collectors are driving the price of junkers to ridiculous levels. A 64 1/2 Mustang sold new for $1995.00. A rusted shell with no running gear can sell now for 5 to 10 grand! Collectors are driving the vintage watch prices as well...nouveau ruche with loads to spend feel like they must have a vintage Sub and will pay any price for it. This causes the overall price to rise a=on all of the vintage watches. The sad thing is most of them aren't ever worn. They buy them and stick them in a safe somewhere. Then there are the smart folks who love the smaller 34mm Rolexes and buy then used and worn out. If you can't overhaul the movement it only costs around $500 to $700 to have it done. This includes refinishing the case. So, for less than 2 grand you have a great vintage Rolex and thumb your nose at those guys paying top dollar for junkers.

This is bits from a convo I had with Sogeha on here. I hope he doesn't mind me sharing it, because I think he made a great point. My thoughts: I'm curious about the Franken market, ups and downs and such. I know some extreme watch freaks out there, like the guys at HQ Milton, Paul Altieri at Bob's Watches and Ben Clymer at Hodinkee, Bob Maron - I've talked to them all, and they're of the opinion that Franken's should be crushed just like $200 rep's. They drive the secondary market and are the current "knowledge-base" so that tide-turn might come much later than we think... they'd have to appreciate mechanical charm and build, and the parts and get out of their head that original #'s matching doesn't always mean the watch is worthless.. Look at classic bikes/cars. If you send a Franken to Paul, you'll get a watch back with "REPLICA" engraved on your inner or outer caseback, depending on the mood he's in. Sogeha's thoughts: I remember when a franken Ferrari 250 was treated the way top quality franken watches are. Basically they are the same thing. Some genuine parts from a lesser model that are identical or can be made so and some replica parts. A 250 GTO is what 30 Million Stering whatever that is in Dollars, a California or SWB is a solid 20. Those replicas are now accepted on historic rallies and races partly because nobody is going to risk a 30 Million car in racing. The prices and demand for the frankens is solid despite Ferrari not recognising them. Rolex is never going to recognise "put together watches" it doesn't suit the imagine they wish for. But the same thing will happen. A top end 5513 gilt is now 20. How many people are happy having that on their wrist everyday? When they hit 50? I wouldn't spend that on a watch but I could if I really wanted. Probably you could if you wanted it badly enough, but would you wear it on the bus? I know I wouldn't. Plus as genuine watches increase in value, genuine parts will track them or maybe outdo them. Rolex is seriously limiting access to genuine parts and even Rolex doesn't have parts for vintage watches. The guys you mention. I don't know any of them, but I know of all of them. They all make a living selling watches and they are all "bigging up" stuff they wouldn't have touched ten years ago. Hodinkee in particular bangs the drum for a watch for a while, then low and behold they just happen to find a few to sell at the newly inflated price they created.