My Patek Philippe

Posted By HARRIS A S on February 16, 2010

First Omega Seamaster Calendar (date) in 18k solid pink gold.

After I have ‘lost’ virtually all my better watches, I now peruse auction catalogues from established auction houses, eBay and Google to look for similar time-pieces which I once owned.

If I do come across anything like what I once had, I would get in touch with friends, begging them to buy. Of course, the asking price today is many times over what I paid, several years ago. I am confident that prices will appreciate, since we now have more vintage-watch collectors coming into the market. I reckon vintage-watch investment is better than investing money in stocks and shares, since vintage-watch investment cannot be manipulated by unscrupulous elements. Its actual market-price is genuinely reflected by supply and demand.

Recently, a long-time guest of mine wanted to sell me an 18k solid pink gold first calendar (date) watch, introduced by Omega in the late 40′s. It is called Omega Seamaster Calendar. Of course, I must be an be an idiot if I were to compare his asking price against what I paid many years ago.

I did a little research, looking through past auction catalogues and their results, as well as, eBay but to no avail. I then visited Google and clicked ‘Seamaster caliber 353′ and lo and behold, I managed to find a similar watch on page 16. It was auctioned by Antiquorum in Geneva, Saturday 14 and Sunday April 15, 2007.

This is the description:

“SEAMASTER CALENDAR”Omega, “Seamaster, Automatic, …

“SEAMASTER CALENDAR”Omega, “Seamaster, Automatic, Calendar”, No. 12527686, case No. 11082116, Ref. OT 2627. Sold in 1953. Fine, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K pink gold gentleman`s wristwatch with a cream “honeycomb” dial”, date and an 18K pink gold Omega buckle. This watch is sold with a box, Certificate of Authenticity and 2-year Omega guarantee. Property of an Asian Collector
C. Three-body, solid, polished, curved lugs. D. Cream “honeycomb” with faceted pink gold dart indexes and Arabic quarters, outer minute/seconds division, date aperture. M. Cal. 353, copper-colored, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring, bumper rotor. Diam. 35 mm. Thickness 11.5 mm.
Lot Estimates
1,000 CHF – 1,500 CHF
600 EUR – 1,000 EUR
800 USD – 1,200 USD
lot 112
Geneva, Saturday 14 & Sunday April 15, 2007
Sunday, April 15
Sold including buyer’s premium: 3,840 CHF

The first Omega with a date, the 18k solid pink gold Omega Seamaster Calendar (date) was sold at the auction for 3 840 CHF, approximately 250% above its estimates of between 1 000 and 1 500 CHF.

Based on the above results, what my long-time guest is asking for his watch, though appears exorbitant, I think it is reasonable, since he has already owned the watch for so many years. Of course, not many would agree with me. The many would be talking about paying only its market-price. There is no market-price for something that is rare. Its price is determined by supply and demand, just that. If I do not pick up at his price, at the moment there is none around for sale and it will be a long while before one appears. Generally, a better watch will double its value, every seven years but same may not not be likely with stocks and shares.

As always, it is not easy for me to get a friend to buy this very important watch at the seller’s current asking price. Come year 2017 or 2018, there will be many looking into buying this watch albeit at the price offered today. How short-sighted can we all be?

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