Fair price for vintage Seadweller?

[cerbfan]

Hi guys,

Wonder if you could help me out. Never had a rolex before but have wanted one for a while and currently have my name down for a deepsea and a SS Daytona. However these are both likely to be a while in coming, however I have been offered an older Seadweller for what I think is a reasonable price.

Its a work colleague, a saturation diver who is selling, he bought it off another diver about 15 years ago, he's selling as he has decided to start wearing his comex seadweller instead. So he believes the watch is 1972, he has no papers or box for it. It has just been serviced at his local AD and I have no doubts that it is a genuine watch. Its in good condition, a couple of slight scratches on the domed crystal and some light scratches on the bezel and strap but on the whole not bad at all. He has offered the watch to me for £2500 which seems a good offer.

So is the price reasonable and what should I check on the watch and look for?

[Tools]

Welcome to TRF........

You need to approach this very carefully..

the '71 through '77 Seadwellers are the era of the very valuable and sought after double red Seadweller...even the very, very valuable "Patent Pending" Seadwellers...

If it really was recently serviced at an AD, the value may have been affected... There should be a paper trail for this.........

The forum needs lot's more information to make a responsible recommendation..

[bodybump]

Originally Posted by Tools

Welcome to TRF........

You need to approach this very carefully..

the '71 through '77 Seadwellers are the era of the very valuable and sought after double red Seadweller...even the very, very valuable "Patent Pending" Seadwellers...

If it really was recently serviced at an AD, the value may have been affected... There should be a paper trail for this.........

The forum needs lot's more information to make a responsible recommendation..

WLECOME TO TRF BUDDY!!!!

hey larry i love your avatar!!!!!! really cool!!!

[cerbfan]

Thanks for the welcome, its unfortunately not a double red, he does not know to much about the watch however he does know that the red writing sea dwellers are valuable.

I'll try and borrow it today for a bit and take some photos. Is there anything else I should look at to keep you guys informed? Is the serial number on the lugs, if so is the strap easily removable?

[mike]

I would also take photos of the caseback.

[cerbfan]

Ok,

I'm wearing the watch, I'll try and get some photos up later however the serial number is 6655037 and its a 1665. He has told me the strap was replaced a few years ago as it was badly stretched and the bezel was also replaced. The dial and hands are all original as far as he knows, they look it to me, then again I'm no expert. I guess the new bezel and strap would devalue it a bit, but still a good price I'm thinking.

[Atlanta]

Originally Posted by cerbfan

Hi guys,

Wonder if you could help me out. Never had a rolex before but have wanted one for a while and currently have my name down for a deepsea and a SS Daytona. However these are both likely to be a while in coming, however I have been offered an older Seadweller for what I think is a reasonable price.

Its a work colleague, a saturation diver who is selling, he bought it off another diver about 15 years ago, he's selling as he has decided to start wearing his comex seadweller instead. So he believes the watch is 1972, he has no papers or box for it. It has just been serviced at his local AD and I have no doubts that it is a genuine watch. Its in good condition, a couple of slight scratches on the domed crystal and some light scratches on the bezel and strap but on the whole not bad at all. He has offered the watch to me for £2500 which seems a good offer.

So is the price reasonable and what should I check on the watch and look for?

I would only proceed after a detailed review from an experienced watchmaker, preferably at an AD - there are too many potential scams out there to not take proper precautions.

[cerbfan]

Well, I'm not sure how to put photos up, the internet is to slow out on the boat to be messing around with photos if I need to set up a hosting site, could I email them to anybody for a look. I do trust the guy and have no doubts about its authenticity. With the limited details I've given and please assume that it is not fake is £2500 fair value? I only see the guy on the boat as he lives at the opposite end of the country from me.

Cheers,
Dylan

[Atlanta]

Originally Posted by cerbfan

Well, I'm not sure how to put photos up, the internet is to slow out on the boat to be messing around with photos if I need to set up a hosting site, could I email them to anybody for a look. I do trust the guy and have no doubts about its authenticity. With the limited details I've given and please assume that it is not fake is £2500 fair value? I only see the guy on the boat as he lives at the opposite end of the country from me.

Cheers,
Dylan

On this site, the rule is 'buyer beware.' If you know its legit without having it personally verified and you trust the seller unconditionally, it is your decision. The price is low enough that my radar says to be cautious.

If you are asking for opinions, that is mine.

Good luck!

[pittster]

the price seems too good to be true, unless the owner is unaware of its true value.
approach with caution, maybe get it looked at in an independant watch shop/jewellers.

even with replacement bezel and strap, if its an original matt dial and hands with previous diver provenance and recently serviced its worth WELL over double what he's asking for (IMO).

[Tools]

Sometimes buying from a friend can be a true value... both monetarily and because of the mutual bond...

If you trust the guy, and he is truly a friend....take the deal offered with much thanks..

But, be sure you verify...

[cerbfan]

Originally Posted by pittster

the price seems too good to be true, unless the owner is unaware of its true value.
approach with caution, maybe get it looked at in an independant watch shop/jewellers.

even with replacement bezel and strap, if its an original matt dial and hands with previous diver provenance and recently serviced its worth WELL over double what he's asking for (IMO).

Thats what I was looking for thanks, so that is even without the paperwork and box? I do believe the guy, he's had it for 15 years and serviced a few times by an AD. He is only selling it as his jeweler recommends that he wears his Comex instead of just keeping it in a safe as they do not like lying around. He was given his comex by his Dad for his 21st, he was also a Sat diver. I going to go and tell him I'll buy it now.

To be honest after wearing it for half a day now, I really could not face giving it him back anyway. I'll post some pics of it up some day and I'll get it checked by my local dealer when I get home.

[pittster]

well if you want a DSSD early I'd gladly swap mine for your 1665 :-)