1986 16550 with service dial: Should I buy?

[geoffintoronto]

Apologies if I posted this twice. I'm new around here.

I have the opportunity to purchase a nice 1986 16550 for $7.5K CAD with my 1970 1500 on trade.

Dial and hands are service, rest is original. No box, no papers.

I'm looking for a watch I can wear regularly and that I can get my money out of fairly easily. I'd love some thoughts on this!

[indianmachine]

I'm not sure how much your 1500 would be worth but it would seem to me you could get pretty close to getting an original 16570? If so, that's probably what I would go for vs. a 16550 w/ service dial.

[Toronto Soup King]

$7.5K for that watch sounds cheap, an acquaintance was telling me the other day my Polar would get $5K more from Watchfinder. All depends on whether you just want a watch to wear (in which case who gives a hoot about service dial) or whether you want an all-original vintage piece. For me, the 16550 unless NOS or special cream dial, is not a special watch, they made tons of them and they're everywhere, I saw a guy wearing one on Bloor on Friday and I'm wearing mine today.

If all you want is a sports Rolex for a daily, you could do worse at that price. $7500 Canadian is $6K USD, give or take. As for the 1500, if I was dealing that one, I'd try for a part trade. You might take a long time selling it on its own. Anyway good luck.

EDIT and if you were to pay USD6K for that 16550 from say Jacek, you'd be paying 18% tax/duty on it when customs sees it. Local sale best, particularly if you can get round the tax

[geoffintoronto]

Thanks for the responses!

The watch asking price is actually $10.5K CAD, but I'd be getting $3K for my oyster date.

I'm looking for something to wear around and enjoy, but I also need to be able to get my money out of it and ideally see a little bit of appreciation. Definitely wouldn't be purchasing to flip.

[Toronto Soup King]

This is always a tough decision. I won't buy valuable pieces because I won't baby them, leading to my ragtag collection of half-service-parts watches - "good watches to wear" is what I want, no provenance, just the watch. Door jambs fear ME, not the other way 'round.

But everyone's different. If you want to resell that watch at some point, and maybe make money on it, you'd be better off buying all-original with B&P and taking good care when wearing it. Good luck eh

[geoffintoronto]

Thanks! Yeah, it's a tough balance.

Would it be considered a bad move if I bought it and then purchase period-correct dial and hands later on? Would that put it in 'frankenwatch' territory?

[Tools]

Only you can decide if the deal is for you.

Contrary to everybody's desires, when you are "purchasing", you will not expect to see an even-trade, or make money when you walk out the door.

Personally, I would take a 16550 over an OP any day of the week; even if the deal was at the edge of practicality. (not saying this one is)

[pk552502]

If I was in your position, I would probably end up getting a 16570 explorer II with original hands and dial. You can go for an earlier tritium version or a later version with the swiss only or swiss made dial. I tend to stay away from service dials even for a daily wearer but that's just me. And probably keep the 1500 or just sell that separately.

[geoffintoronto]

It's tough. I have a nice little Datejust with a ghost dial, so the OP feels a bit redundant.

Either way, it seems like there is no easy direct answer so I'll have to think about this one. It sounds like I should just chill out and wait for a nice example with original dial and hands.

But I also like the idea of getting this watch at a good price and sourcing a period correct dial and hands over the next few months.

Appreciate the help everyone!

[JBZ]

I'd agree with others suggesting a 16570 instead. For roughly the same money (or maybe even a little less), you can get a really nice 16570 with original dial and hands, either tritium or luminova. You'll pay a little more for a polar dial than a black dial, and you'll pay more for a complete set if that's important to you.

The only reason I'd look for a 16550 over a 16570 would be for one with an original white-turned-to-cream dial, and those come with a much heftier price tag.

That said, as someone stated above, I'd take either over the 1500, especially since you already have a datejust.

At any rate, good luck - the Exp II is a terrific watch.