As collectors, we find things at flea markets, from other enthusiasts, specialists, markets, antique and collectible shows, basements (and attics), auctions and retailers.
I had always thought flea markets would be the venue I'd find a grail or expensive watch at a ridiculously low price. My friends luck at flea markets (he finds genuine Rolex, Omega and others consistently) has always inspired me to scour through flea markets; alas nothing yet. But then again, my friend lives in a city of 7.5 million people and the population around me is only 350,000.
For me, its been a couple of reputable online auction houses (not eBay and certainly not the auction house recently trying to pawn off some far from genuine Seiko watches) and a local auction house where I've had some luck over the years.
The annual time pieces auction at my local auction house this summer featured a Jaeger LeCoultre chronograph but it was the multiple lots of Seiko (and others) that interested me. Truth be told, I wouldn't have come close to the $10,000 (Canadian) reserve on the LeCoultre so the estimates on the Seiko lots were more my speed.
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| A couple of "nuggets" in this mixed lot |
Like most auctions with multiple pieces offered up as a single lot, they're often a mixed bag. Despite this, there were a few gems in several of the lots. And as you may have read from a previous post on my Seiko obsession, there were plenty to bid hard on and I felt great about the ones I came away with.
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| A mixed lot at Lunds |
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| These came with their original boxes |
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| The Seiko World Time watch in the middle was the "prize" in this lot |
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| One of two Wittnauer perpetual calendar watches in one of the lots |
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| Gold Longines from a mixed lot |
While a number of the Seiko watch lots got away, there will always be another opportunity. After-all, part of the fun is the hunt.
BTW, the highest bid on the LeCoultre was $6,200; it was a nice watch though.
