How are we doing guys?
We're all about to die!
Introduction
The purpose of this newsletter is to provide guidance on which auctions on Yahoo Japan should be avoided, but also to highlight auctions that might be of interest. Additionally, each week I am also now providing details of a vintage Grand Seiko available directly from a Japanese dealer that is worth you taking a look at.
For those of you who are reading one of these newsletters for the first time, you can access the archive of all the previous newsletters on the Substack website (or the new iPhone app).
Important note for UK and EEA subscribers -
Yahoo Japan is now actively blocking connections from the UK and the European Economic Area due to the prohibitive costs of adhering to the GDPR regulations for a relatively small number of users.
To get around this for the purposes of this newsletter, links to the auctions detailed will be provided through one of the Japanese proxy companies - FromJapan. Please note that these links may not include every image included in the listing.
Whilst I have been a customer of FromJapan for many years, I do not receive any benefits from using these links.
Flipping things around
This week I thought I’d mix things up a bit. To kick things off, I’m going to take a look back at a selection of watches I’ve recommended in these newsletters and actually purchased myself.
Yes - I really do recommend watches here that I have a serious intent to purchase. Ridiculous behaviour for a “dealer”, but then, I’ve never really considered myself to be a dealer.
Next, I’ll take a look at two watches at dealers that I think are worth your consideration, before this week’s Yahoo recommendations.
Finally, I’ll wrap things up where I usually start, with the bad guys.
Watches I’ve recommended, and purchased myself
(click on the image to be taken to the newsletter they were detailed in)
Two recommended watches at Japanese dealers
Grand Seiko First (raised logo dial) at CTI
Back to Ginza for another recommendation from CTI, who has been turning up some lovely pieces of late. I’m sure there is some logic behind the rather specific 357,500 Yen asking price, but to my mind that’s a bit of a steal for a First in such nice condition, and with its original crown (a rarity), and of course - arguably most importantly - that peace of mind that comes with buying from a long established and trustworthy dealer.
If this watch is still listed 24 hours from mailing out this newsletter, I will be very surprised.