Good thread. I have avoided the sales thread back and forth as I did not feel I had anything meaningful to contribute.
I know I have lost money on every build I have done... even those where I may have found a part or two under current market pricing. Doing high end builds is not usually a profitable venture, even if you do all the work yourself.
I generally view an item's worth as what I am willing to pay for it.
Generally with vintage parts, I will pay more from a friend or a trusted source. Too many scammers out there these days and too many junk parts.
On the subject of profiteering...
A fellow collector and friend sold me a 93150 for $500. Market value for this item is $650-750. We have exchanged watch parts, cigars, car parts and other things over the years. I sent him a nice cigar sampler just for fun the other day. He texted me a thank you. No big deal. A week later he sells me this bracelet on the cheap as he knew I was looking for one. Here is another variable. I also bought another 93150 bracelet a week later for $600 that is not in as good of condition but has a different date code. If I decide to sell one of them, is it profiteering if I sell it for market price? The price he gave me had less to do with value and more to do with our back and forth of proper deals and gifts. I think it would be hard for me to sell it below market value. I would just assume keep it.