Question on a Sea Dweller

[Pep04]

Yesterday I am at a birthday party and an see an old friend. We start to talking and I notice he has a Sea Dweller.


Now this guys knows absolutely nothing about watches. It turns out he has a vintage. I ask him how old it is, but he doesn't know. His brother in law sold it to him for...... get ready for this....... $500 because he was never using and had recently bought a bluesy. My buddy has had it for 8 years now.


Now, the watch pretty beat up. I joked with him and told him I'd pay him $1,000 and he agreed to sell it to me. I let him know was kidding and quickly told him to NEVER sell that watch.


He asked me what it was worth. I couldn't answer him and that is why I am asking you guys. He thinks it is 1976-1979 because that it when he thinks his brother in law bought it. The bracelet has a lot of stretch but it keeps PERFECT time (we tested it with my GMT IIc). What range of value would you guess it has. I was him to appreciate it and take care of it. He uses it to dive (great spear fisherman) and work construction. I told him to never wear it to work because it is going to get worse. The dial has some patina and the minute hand is really skinny.

Can anyone help me out with a ball park figure. I know its hard without pictures. Thanks.

[Pep04]

Oh and maybe this will help: The dial said 2000ft depth.

[fusionstorm]

No pics make it hard to ascertain true value. Your lucky friend has a 1665. It should be worth at least $6K if it's not too beat up.

[Davvan]

sounds like SD 1665 to me.....ball park value is $8-10000 if it´s in good shape and still has original dial and hands

It was big of you to pass on his offer since it would have been unfair towards your friend,,,,but it would have been the score of the year!

[stevemulholland3]

It sounds like it's not in the best condition and most likely hasn't been properly serviced etc..so a new owner is going to have to spend most likely a couple grand getting it back into tip top shape..so a real world number is 5 grand,that way even if there's more wrong with it than you initially thought you will still be able to get out of safely..
Email or pm me if your friend wants it restored or possibly to sell.

[sakuraba]

Does it say Sea Dweller in red or white? he's only guesstimating the year right?

How many lines?

[Pep04]

Originally Posted by Davvan

sounds like SD 1665 to me.....ball park value is $8-10000 if it´s in good shape and still has original dial and hands

It was big of you to pass on his offer since it would have been unfair towards your friend,,,,but it would have been the score of the year!

I would never want to rip someone off. Specially not a friend. And even less, this guy. He has to be the most trusting honest guy in the world. If I had told him to sell it to me because I really like it, he would have just to appease me as his friend. That would be taking advantage of a good person.

Originally Posted by stevemulholland3

It sounds like it's not in the best condition and most likely hasn't been properly serviced etc..so a new owner is going to have to spend most likely a couple grand getting it back into tip top shape..so a real world number is 5 grand,that way even if there's more wrong with it than you initially thought you will still be able to get out of safely..
Email or pm me if your friend wants it restored or possibly to sell.

WOW! I didn't know it would be that expensive. I though $500-$700. Everything is original since he has NEVER serviced it. I think it needs a new bracelet because it is really stretched and the locking clasp slide out of the pin. But the dial looks good and has faded markers. I'll let him know and see if he want to service it. You do that sort of work?

Originally Posted by sakuraba

Does it say Sea Dweller in red or white? he's only guesstimating the year right?

How many lines?

No it is definitely white. I was looking for that. And he has no clue what year it is from. He was guessing based on what information his brother in law had given him. That is why I made the point of letting you guys know that it said 2000' not 4000'. I can't remember how many lines. I am going to try and hook up with him this week and take some pictures.



Thanks guys for trying to help with little information.

[fusionstorm]

Are the C's in Chronometer and, below that, Certified in line with each other (C is right on top/over the other C)?? Example would be:

Chronometer
Certified


Or did they not line up:

Chronometer
___Certified

[psv]

This type of thing never happens to me...

[sakuraba]

Originally Posted by psv

This type of thing never happens to me...

Me neither!

[fusionstorm]

Originally Posted by psv

This type of thing never happens to me...

Kinda like the scene in "Leaving Las Vegas" that always makes me cringe:


Nicholas Cage character in LV pawn shop - "How much will you give me for this watch?"

Pawnbroker (with thick Russian/Eastern European accent) takes a quick glance - "Five hundred."

Cage, with incredulous look and turning to customer next to him at the pawn shop - "Five hundred dollars for a '93 Daytona......but I'll take it!!!"