Is this DJ worth 5K?

[WhatDaBlang]

Hey, folks:

As I've gone down my vintage DJ rabbit hole, I've noticed many things: a missing lume plot here, a shoddy second hand here, and the dinged up bezel being almost a ubiquitous occurrence. This example, though, seems clean. My only apprehension is that it is listed on Ebay and located in Australia, which means import and duties for me, a U.S. buyer. Anyway, if you could get it for 5K, would you do it?

[crowncollection]

The band does not fit very good look at the endlinks the at 6 o,clock be careful are there more pics to check the band


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[mattedialdoc]

You can do much better


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[1665fan]

Looks like 3500 to me

[offrdmania]

5000 Australian is $3800 US

[WhatDaBlang]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

5000 Australian is $3800 US

I should have been more specific. It is listed as $7500 AU. I am hoping he'd go to 5K.

[Yachtbuoy]

Originally Posted by WhatDaBlang

I should have been more specific. It is listed as $7500 AU. I am hoping he'd go to 5K.

As others have said, anyone quoting 3500 USD/5000 AUD haven't been watching the market in the last year or so. At the beginning of 2020, it might've been possible to snatch a 4-digit or early 5-digit SS DJ for around 5000 AUD, but those days probably started sailing around mid year. Anything available around this price range or cheaper now might require significant servicing or have some issues (and you could expect to pay approx 1k USD for servicing so you wouldn't make much of saving).

I looked at the eBay listing for the one you posted, and it looks like a clean example but lack of service history means you should be able to knock about 1k USD off the price because you'll want to get it serviced. I'm not sure why the seller wouldn't go to a friendly local watchmaker to get movement pictures either. Honestly I think you could get a better deal more local to you, and you remove issues with shipping internationally etc.

[Dan S]

Prices are definitely rising for these, and the watch looks ok. But no, personally I wouldn't pay $5k for it. For me to consider it at that price, it would have to have a more interesting dial.

[MorningTundra]

You might want to provide some context - currency, reference, year, accessories, service history, and why you’re drawn to this one.

... and you might dodge import duty if described appropriately in shipping docs.

[WhatDaBlang]

Originally Posted by MorningTundra

You might want to provide some context - currency, reference, year, accessories, service history, and why you’re drawn to this one.

... and you might dodge import duty if described appropriately in shipping docs.

It is just a standard 16014 from 1985. I really like this one because most of the ones I see have either missing lume plots, shoddy hands, very slight issues with the dial, or much stretching on the bracelet. This seems like a good example if I could get him to 5K, but then again, that's an assumption.

[MorningTundra]

Originally Posted by WhatDaBlang

It is just a standard 16014 from 1985. I really like this one because most of the ones I see have either missing lume plots, shoddy hands, very slight issues with the dial, or much stretching on the bracelet. This seems like a good example if I could get him to 5K, but then again, that's an assumption.

Mint examples are harder to find and priced accordingly. Average ones can easily be improved as loose dials and hands are abundant and inexpensive. If the fundamentals are sound (case, movement), cosmetic short comings can be addressed when you service it next.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by MorningTundra

...cosmetic short comings can be addressed when you service it next.

I often hear this, but in practice it's a pain in the A to source parts and get them fitted professionally. The opportunity cost, expense, stress and bother of fixing up a watch are so great that it's better to just pay for a good one in the first place.

[Vlad]

if the watch comes with warranty and has been recently serviced, then $5K is reasonable. if not, get it for $3,500 and spend the rest on restoration

[interestedwatcher]

7500 aud is a bit high... About 2500 to high.

[WhatDaBlang]

Originally Posted by interestedwatcher

7500 aud is a bit high... About 2500 to high.

Those were might thoughts exactly.

[Chiboy]

Wow, can I ask what a similar vintage TT (16013) with box, hang tags, papers, 1 owner might be worth? Bracelet is pretty stretched, but that’s not expensive to fix.

[MrChamfers]

Originally Posted by Chiboy

Wow, can I ask what a similar vintage TT (16013) with box, hang tags, papers, 1 owner might be worth? Bracelet is pretty stretched, but that’s not expensive to fix.

Sounds like at least 10k aus.

[WhatDaBlang]

Originally Posted by Chiboy

Wow, can I ask what a similar vintage TT (16013) with box, hang tags, papers, 1 owner might be worth? Bracelet is pretty stretched, but that’s not expensive to fix.

Ha! Honestly, I saw a NOS 16030 on Matthew Bain's website that was (is?) going for $7800 USD.

[zapokee]

5 k is approaching standard for these in good condition now. A little on the high end, but not ridiculous.

You'll probably look back in five years and kick yourself that you didn't grab it at that price.

[Chiboy]

Originally Posted by saltpeter

Sounds like at least 10k aus.

Interesting, thanks.

Originally Posted by WhatDaBlang

Ha! Honestly, I saw a NOS 16030 on Matthew Bain's website that was (is?) going for $7800 USD.

I didn't know of M. Bain, but see it's for a SS model. Mine is TT, but it's interesting to see that even old DJs are getting more expensive.

[swish77]

The days of finding excellent-condition vintage DJs for $3500 are long gone. And while DJs are plentiful on the secondary market, the vast majority are not in great shape.

The OP’s example looks nice with a fat case, although I’d want more and better photos and I’d want to know about service history. While $5K seems a little high, much better to overpay for an excellent example than get a deal on a mediocre example. This might seem like a bargain in a couple of years.

[WhatDaBlang]

Originally Posted by swish77

The days of finding excellent-condition vintage DJs for $3500 are long gone. And while DJs are plentiful on the secondary market, the vast majority are not in great shape.

The OP’s example looks nice with a fat case, although I’d want more and better photos and I’d want to know about service history. While $5K seems a little high, much better to overpay for an excellent example than get a deal on a mediocre example. This might seem like a bargain in a couple of years.

Right! That is what I have been seeing: lots of missing lume plots; bad second hands; over polished cases; over stretching of the bracelet! And folks still want 4.5k or so!

Here is another photo:

[AJMarcus]

Originally Posted by swish77

The days of finding excellent-condition vintage DJs for $3500 are long gone. And while DJs are plentiful on the secondary market, the vast majority are not in great shape.

The OP’s example looks nice with a fat case, although I’d want more and better photos and I’d want to know about service history. While $5K seems a little high, much better to overpay for an excellent example than get a deal on a mediocre example. This might seem like a bargain in a couple of years.

I agree. Those quoting $3500 must not have looked around lately. I think $4500 USD would be my offer.

[MrChamfers]

I'd like to see some DJ's with visible chamfers, but that seems to be rare for the 4-digits I'm seeing lately.

[Slimpee]

Originally Posted by saltpeter

I'd like to see some DJ's with visible chamfers, but that seems to be rare for the 4-digits I'm seeing lately.

Did the DJ have chamfers? I read somewhere that the 4-digit DJ and DD did not have them.

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by saltpeter

I'd like to see some DJ's with visible chamfers, but that seems to be rare for the 4-digits I'm seeing lately.

I'm pretty sure there was just a line differentiating the brushed top and the polished sides. No chamfers

[MrChamfers]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

I'm pretty sure there was just a line differentiating the brushed top and the polished sides. No chamfers

oh...

[swish77]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

I'm pretty sure there was just a line differentiating the brushed top and the polished sides. No chamfers

This is correct. Here is my (former) unpolished late '80s 16030 below for comparison.

Originally Posted by WhatDaBlang

It is just a standard 16014 from 1985.

Relatively minor, but that "G" clasp code puts the bracelet closer to 1982. What is the beginning of the serial number? Are you sure it's '85?

[Yachtbuoy]

Originally Posted by swish77

This is correct. Here is my (former) unpolished late '80s 16030 below for comparison.



Relatively minor, but that "G" clasp code puts the bracelet closer to 1982. What is the beginning of the serial number? Are you sure it's '85?

It's got a plexi crystal, so surely it's an early 5-digit reference. I found the listing and doesn't specify the first few numbers of the serial number. Personally I think the pricing on this one is optimistic and I'd look elsewhere.

[iliketime]

no, bit over priced for its condition