Inherited old watch collection - help/guidance request

Now I've been a member on here for more years that I care to remember and like to think that I have some knowledge of watches, however, I now really need the input of the TZ massive to help a friend.

This good friend of mine has recently inherited a collection of old watches from his deceased Father-in-law and has brought them to me (as someone with watch knowledge) to help decide what to do with them. Despite the curiosity and a little sentimental value his idea is to sell them to raise some money for the Mother-in-law who is old and in ill health.

To me the collection mainly seems to consist of military watches of varying ages. Not my particular field of expertise but I have hankered after one or two in the past so recognise them here. I've taken some pics of some of the more interesting ones which I'll post below. But I'm told there are more yet to be seem.

How should he go about getting these valued from a trustworthy source and similarly how should he sell them? Any comments, opinions, advice very much welcomed.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0e2d4160_k.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...88014835_k.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...313e482f_k.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c20b1c2c_k.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...29920fb1_k.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ed675d00_k.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f9edb67d_k.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...aacb8850_k.jpg

The condition of most of the watches is varied most working well but with a few looking quite worse for wear....the Tudor Sub particularly. Would it be worth doing anything about this one in particular? There are a few simple boxes but no paperwork at all.

Thanks all.

There are some belters there, the Lemania (£2-3000?) and Newmark (£1750-2500?) chronographs, the Smiths (£4-5000?) immediately caught my eye.

CYMA and Lemania WWWs (£1000 - £1500) each? RAF Omega £1500-2000?

For the military watches, MWR is a way to find values and sell individual watches.

For ease, then I guess go to an auction, WoK or something like that?

Ps. These valuations were fairly cursory from my memory of what might be initially asked by someone selling on MWR. As someone has pointed out below, optimistic in that a dealer would offer less and less achievable at auction.

The Smiths DeLuxe jumped out at me too, an absolute stunner. I agree Watches of Knightsbridge would be a great port of call with a view to both valuations and entering them into a future auction. I’m sure they would haggle on the sales commission.

That Smiths GS is a rare and lovely thing! If that checks out it’ll fetch a tidy sum for his widow.

Some other nice pieces there too, dirty dozen Cyma, Lemania, vintage Tudor Sub which is now very collectible, two very lovely Omegas, etc, etc… nice collection.

PS it would be nice to see more of the large black-dialled military piece in the middle. My guess is something modified for WW2 aircraft use. The folk on MWR would be interested.

No, they're not worth anything, I'll take them off your hands.. Seriously, there's some good stuff there.

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Can`t comment on the military stuff but I may be interested in the Omega. PM with some details if interested, I`m guessing it's an automatic but can`t be certain from the pics.

Lovely collection. The general tone suggests the middle Omega in the 2nd picture should be checked to see if it has CS(i) written in the caseback which may make it slightly more interesting. It also wouldn't surprise me if the half hunter on the right of the 3rd photo might have either W&D or RWC in the caseback which would indicate it is a Rolex - likewise the left hand one in the 4th photo.

What an interesting collection.
Nothing to add, it’s been said above but i do think she may struggle to teach the estimates above.
Always good to have a starting point though.

The monopusher Lemania is very nice. Seems someone had a keen eye.

If he knows NOTHING about watches, get them to Fellows auction house in Birmingham. Prices still go daft there - I can't remember the last time I picked anything up at what I consider under value. The seller fees are pretty high but they will describe the watches correctly, present them beautifully and get top dollar for them.

None of those are money to retire on, but combined your friend has really nice lump of cash coming in.

My fave is the square Omega Dynamic. Not the most valuable, maybe 500 quid, but its a watch you just don't see very often.

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Originally Posted by Neil.Ldn

PS it would be nice to see more of the large black-dialled military piece in the middle. My guess is something modified for WW2 aircraft use. The folk on MWR would be interested.

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It’s a cased up Zeiss-Ikon MBK1000 Clock from a German WW2 gun camera. Modified Valjoux 22 inside. The majority of these have been converted into wristwatches like this. Valuation is hard. Maybe £800-1000, but a very very small market.

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Originally Posted by BillyCasper

There are some belters there, the Lemania (£2-3000?) and Newmark (£1750-2500?) chronographs, the Smiths (£4-5000?) immediately caught my eye.

CYMA and Lemania WWWs (£1000 - £1500) each? RAF Omega £1500-2000?

For the military watches, MWR is a way to find values and sell individual watches.

For ease, then I guess go to an auction, WoK or something like that?

Ps. These valuations were fairly cursory from my memory of what might be initially asked by someone selling on MWR. As someone has pointed out below, optimistic in that a dealer would offer less and less achievable at auction.

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Lemania WWW prices are flying high at moment, like the Eterna. I reckon it’s should be closer to £2k as the condition is good too.

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Originally Posted by HookedSeven

It’s a cased up Zeiss-Ikon MBK1000 Clock from a German WW2 gun camera. Modified Valjoux 22 inside. The majority of these have been converted into wristwatches like this. Valuation is hard. Maybe £800-1000, but a very very small market.

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Here a pic…

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...cdc8436f09.jpg


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by HookedSeven

It’s a cased up Zeiss-Ikon MBK1000 Clock from a German WW2 gun camera. Modified Valjoux 22 inside. The majority of these have been converted into wristwatches like this. Valuation is hard. Maybe £800-1000, but a very very small market.

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Nice, thanks. Interesting.

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Originally Posted by watchlovr

What an interesting collection.
Nothing to add, it’s been said above but i do think she may struggle to teach the estimates above.
Always good to have a starting point though.

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I agree it’d be a struggle to achieve some of these results via an auction house (i.e. with the consignor only getting around 2/3 of what the buyer ultimately pays). However, the military stuff has fairly consitent market values and it should be easy to get these estimates in private sales. UK buyers will be easy to find too. The only one I’d be cautious about is the Smiths GS deluxe. These don’t turn up very often, and I wouldn’t like to hazard a guess what one would reach in an open auction. It’s the one that has the most potential to fly past what might be expected.

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Originally Posted by HookedSeven

I agree it’d be a struggle to achieve some of these results via an auction house (i.e. with the consignor only getting around 2/3 of what the buyer ultimately pays). However, the military stuff has fairly consitent market values and it should be easy to get these estimates in private sales. UK buyers will be easy to find too. The only one I’d be cautious about is the Smiths GS deluxe. These don’t turn up very often, and I wouldn’t like to hazard a guess what one would reach in an open auction. It’s the one that has the most potential to fly past what might be expected.

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Hard to tell obviously but worth pointing out that the GS looks to be in fabulous condition…

Was a valuable collection like that not valued for probate purposes?

I had the 1961 Australian Smiths GS and that was around the £4.5k mark a few years back, I’m guessing this one is mid 50’s and I agree it looks in superb condition. £5k to £8k hammer price easily with military dealers asking over £10k retail if they got their hands on it.

As with all things military the case backs are as important as the fronts and we haven’t seen those. Selling individually would be slow unless you had a good dealer who would do it on commission. Clearing the collection quickly to the right audience would be the like of WoK.

Here's a nice write up of the Square Geneve 166.081

https://stories.omegaforums.net/guid...6-145-cal-565/

Lovely !!! I'd be interested in the Newmark Chrono to complete my Fab Four set.

maseman

A quick eBay / Chronos24 search would suggest around £4K - £5K for the Lemania monopusher.

Thanks so much for all of the replies, enthusiasm and advice on this. Apologies for taking so long to come back.

My friend is going to contact a few of the suggested auction houses as that seems to be the most popular approach. Neither of us have had any experience of dealing with auction houses however, so any specific advice in this regard would also be very much appreciated.

A few people did express interest in particular watches and if you are genuinely interested then PM me as my friend is more than happy to consider sensible offers before going to auction.

Finally, he does quite like the idea of keeping the Tudor Sub and having it refurbed as a wearer. Any recommendations for where to have such a refurb carried out....surely going back to Rolex/Tudor is not the best route for such a battered old piece, or is it?

What I love is those watches all look to have lived a life.
A lovely collection.

That’s a rather special and carefully curated collection.

No advice on where to get the Tudor sub refurbished?

Has anyone had any experience with these guys, they seem quite well regarded?

https://www.shwr.co.uk/

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Originally Posted by skmark

No advice on where to get the Tudor sub refurbished?

Has anyone had any experience with these guys, they seem quite well regarded?

https://www.shwr.co.uk/

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Steven Hale is as good as you will get for vintage Rolex or Tudor.
Not the cheapest and busy though.
I have been told several times that Rolex send vintage pieces, including all Milsubs to him.

I have a vintage sub and when the time comes will be going to Steven hale.

Went the other week for a small job and was very impressed.

Ask Brendan.

https://www.webwatchmaker.co.uk

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Originally Posted by skmark

No advice on where to get the Tudor sub refurbished?

Has anyone had any experience with these guys, they seem quite well regarded?

https://www.shwr.co.uk/

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Genesis used to service older Rolex I don’t know if they will refurbish an older Tudor.

As someone else said you may want to contact Brendan (webwatchmaker). I do remember he refurbished a watch dial for someone here.

Please do not let Brendan loose on that Tudor dial.
Much as I like some of the others (ie Lemania and Cyma WWWs and the Smiths Deluxe) that Sub is the pick of the bunch, and a worthy watch to keep if that is what he wants. If I were to pick one to keep, that's be it.

But please express to your friend that he should not be persuaded to do anything with the dial and hands on it, other than possibly stabilise the lume (I recommend James Hyman, thealchemistrelumer for this).
I would even go so far as to ask whoever does the watch to get him to do the dial and hands.
Otherwise the originality and the value will be very compromised.

Vintage subs is no place for re-dials, unless you are repairing severe damage, and even under that scratched crystal, you can see that what is there is in commendably nice nick