How much $$ is a 1655 case worth?

[automatico]

After my fiasco with the 'shortcut 1655' I wondered if it was really worth it.

Turns out it probably was.

Q...How did I come to that conclusion?

A...You can see for yourself below:

 

I figured it cost me between $2500 and $3000 for the SC 1655 so I went to eBay and looked up a few 1655 watches that sold May through July 2021.

Here are the figures:

 

May, June, July, 2021, Rolex 1655 sold:
$29101.00  + $11.10 shp 124 bids
$36999.00  + $200 shp  Best Offer Accepted  ($28,000 my guess)
$20,957.00  57 bids  Free shipping
$24,950.00 or Best Offer Accepted  Free shipping  ($22,000 my guess)
$19,975.00  2 bids + $8.25 shipping
$15,000.00 2 bids + $17.82 shipping

I had to make guesses on the best offer accepted on the two priced at $36,000 and $24,950.

 

All the watches added together = $135,033USD

Shipping on them all added together = $237.17 rounded off to $240 for an average of $40 each.

Add the shipping to the watches and it comes out to $135,270USD rounded off.  I added the shipping to equal it out because free shipping on two and $200 on one was such a wide margin.  I am guessing the $200 shipping was lowered on the BIN for $36K watch but there is no way to know.

 

This is an average of $22,500USD each rounded off...but they are all supposedly genuine.  Mine is not except for most of the movement parts.

So...the next step is to see how much it would cost to stick a 'mostly genuine' 1655 together using eBay, watch show, internet etc parts.

 

Some eBay 1655/GMT parts from the same time period:

Ratty trit dial $1527.00 + $50 shpping 20 bids.
Good trit dial $2,004.19  Buy It Now + $16.59 shipping.

Movement for 1655/1675 ask $4500 + $80 shp from Japan OBO.  Best offer accepted, maybe $4000 or so?

 

Full set of hands:
$1,380.82 Or Best Offer + $20.73 shp. 
NOS $1450 bin free shp.

 

The parts prices above are examples from eBay and I would guess you might find a complete 1575 GMT movement for around $3500 if you searched one out.  If you bought a 1575 date movement for $2500 and added the needed GMT parts it might cost more than $3500 because the parts are so hard to find.

 

My guess on parts prices to stick one together using a Vn case and genuine parts (except for the bracelet):

Case...$700, my guess, someone chime in if they know.

High grade replica oyster bracelet, hoods, and spring bars...$275.

Movement...$3500.

Genuine dial...$2000.

Genuine hands...$1200.

Genuine case tube and crown...$125.

No labor added.

Total = $7800.

 

Why not a genuine bracelet?

Since the case is a replica, a replica bracelet just makes more sense (to me anyway).

 

Total = around $7800.  Not bad compared to $22,500 average for a genuine model from eBay...while remembering that 'High Line' internet/watch show dealers will charge a lot more if they can get it.  

The ONLY differences between the replica and a genuine example are the case and bracelet.  No doubt the exact same 'project watches' are selling as ' guaranteed 100% genuine' for $25K+ with a genuine bracelet and 'expert ageing' being the only major differences.

 

So...The Conclusion I came to in my little pointy head is:

1...A genuine 1655 case is 'worth' $15,000 to $20,000.  

 

Edit  8-2-21...After thinking it over, I have dropped my estimate down to a pretty good genuine case being 'worth' $12,000 to $15,000 at today's 1655 prices.  Still a LOT of $$ imho.

Q...Why drop it down?

A...Because $15K to $20K just seemed too high.  Maybe it was, maybe not.

 

Considering the term 'worth' is a relative term...

Q...How much would I pay for a pretty good genuine 1655 case considering I already have everything except a dial?

A...About $3K or $4k because I believe that an 'expert case modder' could turn a high grade $1000+/- replica case into a case that will pass for genuine so that means a lot when trying to determine what a genuine case might be really worth (to me) today.

After all, how could I know for sure it was really 'genuine'?

 

Since I only wanted the 'SC 1655' to wear now and then, having $3000 in it is basically a bargain in today's Wacky Watch World.

FYI...if I stuck my all genuine 1575 GMT movement (low mileage 1575 hack + nos oem GMT parts) in my Phong case with a pretty good aftmkt dial/hands/bracelet, it would probably cost between $4500 and $5000.

 

 

Some GMT 1675 and 1655 movement + 'shortcut 1655' info:

Building an MBW Sub + 'shortcut' rlx 1560/70 GMT conversions... - Page 2 - The Rolex Area - RWG

 

GMT conversion parts needed from:

Cal. 1570 GMT- tell me if I m wrong ? - The Rolex Area - RWG

 

Here is most of what is needed to convert a 1565/75 to a 1565/75 GMT:

#8038 - center second pinion 5.70mm

#8037 - Cannon Pinion 3.39mm

#8039 - double tooth hour wheel  2.44mm

#8040 - 24hr wheel 1.41mm

#8035 - Calendar Wheel nut

#8036 - Date Jumper

#8006 - Yoke for cam

#8008 - spring for cam yoke

#8011 - stud for cam

#8030 - Center wheel with Cannon Pinion

#8034 - Calendar Wheel

#8011 - Stud for Cam

#7965 - calendar spacer

 

Q...What is hard to find?

A...All of it.

 

Q...What is almost impossible to find?

A:

#7965 - calendar spacer

#8034 - Calendar Wheel

#8039 - double tooth hour wheel  2.44mm

7965 usually goes from $200 to $500

8034 usually $200 to $400

8039 used to be $200 or so...now close to $500   

8034  calendar wheel aka 'date flipper' on eBay a few  months back for $965 (!!)  They must be getting hard to find too. 

8036  date jumper currently on eBay  (7-27-21 item 184060183308) for $389 + $20 shipping  This is the part that centers the date wheel in the window and keeps it in place,  last one I bought new was $38 iirc.