Alrighty, let’s cut to it. We’ve got an Omega-heavy lineup, including a rare Speedy, an odd Swedish government financial strategy watch (scam, maybe?), a Soccer Timer, and a couple others. Don’t worry, the rest of the picks are good too. So, sit back, have a blank Excel spreadsheet ready to cover up your web browsing, and enjoy your weekly dose of Market Watch(ing).
Neil’s Picks
IWC Pilot’s Chronograph Edition Collectors’ Watch “CF3”
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship when it comes to IWC. I truly enjoy their vintage pieces, many of which have great historical significance and a uniqueness all their own. I want to love their modern pieces, many of which I enjoy but just can’t justify spending my money on them. Their watches are certainly high quality timepieces but just don’t have that little thing that speaks to my soul…or my wallet. My view changed somewhat when I saw this watch. The CF3 started as a special edition available only members of the IWC collectors forum and is limited to 250 pieces. Underneath, the CF3 is a Spitfire. It features a Calibre 89365 movement inside a 43mm anti-magnetic case. The hands and markers have been given a retro treatment which contrasts nicely with the matte black dial, which can appear dark blue in certain lighting. Thankfully the “altimeter” date window had been ditched for a proper one. The colors of the dial, case, and strap make for a striking combination. This is far more imaginative than many offering from IWC and it truly is one of the few modern IWCs I’d actually spend my hard-earned cash on.
Inquire For Price
Omega Speedmaster Mark II
Along with the Flightmaster, the Speedmaster Mark II is one of my favorite vintage Omegas. Specifically with the racing dial, it is one of the sharpest looking Omegas and probably one of the best values to boot. It has the venerable Caliber 861 inside a tonneau shaped case that oozed that late ’60s early ’70s flair. This is one of the nicer examples I’ve seen in a while. The patina is even but it’s the colors on the dial that truly stand out. This dial is incredibly sharp with no fading, corrosion, or blemishes to be seen. The one thing that stands out is the incorrect Flightmaster pusher, but that can be picked up on Ofrei for $60 per pusher. As of this writing, bidding is at $1,100 and the estimate is $2,000-$4,000. Considering the outstanding condition of this example, getting it within the estimated sale price is still a decent grab, but let’s hope it’s at least on the low end of that.
Editor’s note: The Hour and Minute hands are incorrect and look to be from a Seamaster ref 145.029. Can they replaced with correct hands? Yes. Does that lower the potential value? Perhaps. Do the orange hands still look cool? I think so, but that’s your call. Purists will no doubt disapprove but perhaps that will help keep the price down for bidders who aren’t deterred.
Bid Here
Isaac’s Picks
Omega 30T2 Suveran
Omega’s history is riddled with sometimes unlikely and interesting partnerships. Do a little browsing of market-specific variants, and you’ll quickly see pieces with backgrounds connected to small military forces and commercial diving companies, along with a number of models bearing what would soon become known as a temporary model name – all details that increase overall desirability. With such desirability, pieces can become out of reach for most, but that doesn’t mean some more obscure ones don’t pass by unnoticed. Case and point: Omega’s 30T2 equipped “Suveran”. A model that was commissioned by the Swedish government, to be sold at substantial premiums, in hopes to regain financial independence on an international scale. This may very well be one of the more complex stories associated with an Omega, though you can’t deny that this watch has a lot going for it (30T2, luminous dials and hands, relatively large case, etc.).
Facebook’s “Vintage Watches” group often points me in the direction of independent dealers with peculiar inventory, and that’s exactly what happened this week when I came across this Suveran from a Chrono24 trusted seller based in Vienna. Luminous is in decent shape, the dial hasn’t been refinished, and as an added bonus, the movement is said to have been serviced and regulated in 2015. The case has definitely been polished, though at their current asking price, I see it being reflected, and I don’t see this as a bad buy, by any means. They absolutely do not make them like this anymore.
€1,100
Rolex Datejust ref 1601
Sometimes as a collector, you find yourselves clinging to certain watches out of pure admiration, regardless of their value or popularity. In my collection, the piece that would go along best with that idea is my ref 1601 Datejust, a tremendously simple and elegant watch, made more compelling by a few subtle touches. I think they’re a great section of the vintage Rolex market to focus on, even though the market for them hasn’t seen a sizable amount of development in recent years. While this watch that I’ve found may seem from afar to be a nice, standard example of a gilt 1601, it’s quite the opposite. The case is made of white gold, for some rather rare, vintage stealth bling.
To be fair, a gilt 1601 in steel is a great watch, and I’d wear one any day of the week, but this example in white gold is just that much cooler. Plain and simple. For anyone that’s never owned a vintage 36mm Datejust, it’s an immensely elegant yet functional addition to any arsenal, and is a serious contender for a one watch collection. Its dial is clean, the lume is tidy and matching, and the case is nice and thick. An especially dreamy watch for a tasteful eye.
Inquire for Price
Dean’s Picks
When it comes to vintage watch dealers there are some things that really get my goat. There are a lot of people out there that are gonna try to sell you horseshit and tell you it’s, well, more valuable horseshit. The guys out there that are doing it right, either have the very best quality stuff or they price their product accordingly. Well, I think one of those guys is Kirill Yuzh, the proprietor of Lunar Oyster. He’s got a couple of watches up for sale at the moment that I quite admire, at least one of which is reasonably priced.
Omega Speedmaster Moonphase ref 3689.30.31
$8,850
Omega Speedmaster ref 2915-3
Inquire for Price
Shane’s Picks
Waltham Diver
Are you looking for a really inexpensive vintage dive watch that appears to be in great shape and recently serviced? Whelp. You’re in luck. I found a clean little Waltham Diver from the late ’60s/early ’70s on eBay that’s ready for a last second snipe bid. These aren’t expensive watches, but they have a classic vintage diver look, especially on the old school tropic strap (like the one on this example). It’s got about 48 hours left (at the time of posting), and it has one bid sitting at $99.99. Up to $300 or $400, I think it’s a solid buy.
Bid Now
Omega Seamaster Soccer Timer ref 145.019
It’s like déjà vu all over again. Here I am, once again, picking a Soccer Timer from Luxuwrist. I normally would want to avoid such repetition, but this time, it’s my favorite Soccer Timer variant. Since I own one, I’m admittedly biased, but the roulette bezel is indelibly cool. The example here is evenly faded…throughout the entire watch. I’d have to say I prefer a more vibrant example, but then again, I don’t mind the fading. Tom notes that the chronograph seconds hand is a replacement, but that should be a really easy one to correct (Ofrei). The other issue to note would be the corrosion near the hub on the hour and minute hands, but still not a deal breaker for me. Soccer Timers with the roulette bezel aren’t very common, and if you’re hot for one, it’s hard to let an example go buy. The price is right considering the issues, since a cleaner, more crisp example should fetch an extra thousand or so.
$2,950
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