If we have to, overnight parts from Japan

Introduction

This week’s featured auctions will bring about a strong sense of deja vu, because for about three hours on Sunday evening (Japan Time), Yahoo Auctions had a serious technical problem resulting in nobody being able to place any bids.

I have an account with Yahoo purely for the purposes of searching the auctions, and whenever I see a listing that is interesting, add it to the watchlist (this is completely independent to any watch list one may create with a proxy company such as Buyee or From Japan). Oddly, this watchlist still worked in that I could refresh it and see the time ticking down on each auction, but it wasn’t even possible to click through to the auctions themselves. All you got was this (rather cute it has to be said) error screen -

It really was quite frustrating to see, one by one, all the auctions that I was potentially interested in, closing for some absolutely ridiculous prices.

Eventually, things were back up and running, but that was well after all the day’s auctions had closed. Yahoo contacted the accounts whose auctions were effected, and offered them the chance to relist, an opportunity that no doubt many of the sellers were all too keen on taking advantage of!

So, we have some active auctions this week that are repeats from those that were due to close last Sunday. Where this is the case, I will simply mention that the auction is relisted, and draw your attention to last week’s newsletter where you can read the write up of the relevant watch.

---

Dominic Toretto

Grand Seiko 43999 with SD dial

“Correct” examples of the SD dialed 43999 can all but be guaranteed of getting featured with the good guys. Unfortunately in this instance the one thing we can’t check is that the movement is a 430 and with a serial number starting with a 3 (for examples produced - as this one is - in 1963), but [edit - almost] everything else lines up.

The harsh lighting makes it quite challenging to assess the quality of the case - it’s almost certainly had some polishing in its lifetime, but the facets on the lugs remain very strongly defined. The case serial number identifies the watch as being produced in the very first month that finished watches were coming off the assembler’s workbench, and that all important original coarse-knurled crown is present and correct. but unfortunately the crown has been replaced at some point with one from a King Seiko (see the chat below).

Note that it is actually quite challenging to tell from the fourth photo in the listing whether or not the lettering on the crown is in relief or intaglio (get me with my fancy words this week!), however we can see from the second photo that it is the latter, which means this is the correct crown for the 43999, and not the similar one for the King Seiko. so challenging in fact, that I thought in the photo below it was intaglio, but seemingly that is not the case!

No issues with the dial, which looks to be in excellent condition, with just some very minor spotting (although it has to be said the images are very low resolution).

The caseback medallion has a few minor gouges, but all things considered, this is a very nice example of a first month production 43999 SD dial, and I suspect there will be quite a few people watching this one closely.

I wonder if it will end up joining a small family of the same reference in Hong Kong that I had the pleasure of seeing on my recent trip?!

---

Grand Seiko 6156-8000

These are the sorts of listings I really don’t like. Although described as being in “mint” condition, it’s been photographed so poorly (or is it deceitfully?) that it’s going to require a leap of faith on behalf of any prospective purchaser to take the seller’s word as gospel.

The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that this seller has in the past listed both superb examples of some vintage Grand Seiko references, and also some which were clearly misrepresented, refinished, and packaged up to appear more than they really were. Indeed, here we see a watch that is shown with a ridiculous hand written modern swing tag, the wrong buckle, and (arguably) the wrong box as well.

If it’s one of his legitimately described listings, then the prompt decision price of 266,000 Yen is a great buy. 10 seconds with the watch in hand is all it would take to be absolutely sure, but you’re not going to get that opportunity, which is why there is almost always a degree of risk when purchasing from an online auction where you don’t have the ability to directly communicate with the seller, let alone handle the watch in person.

The seller also has a 5722-9011 listed, to which basically the exact same commentary applies.

Caveat emptor, but as they say, fortune favours the brave.

---

Grand Seiko 6156-8001

Here’s one of the canceled auctions from last Sunday that has been relisted. There are a couple of (not particularly significant) caveats with this one, so do check the write-up from last week’s newsletter.

---

Grand Seiko 6185-8021 VFA

And here’s the VFA from last week. You didn’t really think the seller was going to let it go for 800,000 Yen without giving it another chance, did you? ;)

---

Box for a 44GS

I could have sworn I’d included this in last week’s newsletter - it’s another one of the Sunday evening auctions that has been relisted - but a quick look through and it seems for some reason I missed it out. Well, it was a busy week after all.

These boxes are rare, and have gone for big money in the past, although things do seem to have settled down a little. It will be interested to see what it closes for. Last week, bidding got to around 33,000 before the system failure kicked in.

---

Grand Seiko 4420-9000 early dial

There was an example of the highly coveted 4420-9000 last week, but this is a different watch, and one of the better examples to turn up this year.

There is some slight patination on the dial around the applied logos and at the very center, and the case has clearly had some light polishing, but the big challenge here is that the watch is not running “Since the second hand stops immediately, it becomes a junk exhibition”.

Might be an interesting project to take on for the brave of heart.

---

Certificate for a Grand Seiko Special

If you miss out on that 6156-8001, then here’s a certificate that is correct for any example of the Grand Seiko Special that you might pick up separately (or indeed, already own).

---

Box and certificate for a 56GS

What a bizarrely small lead photo!

---

Crystal for the 5646-7020

If at any time in your collecting journey you are planning to add a 5646-7020 to the stable - or if you already have one - I cannot recommend highly enough that you pick up a spare crystal for the reference. Most that turn up for sale have scratched crystals, and if you have one with a pristine crystal and wear yours regularly, it’s almost inevitable that you will bump it at some point! I already have a couple of these set aside for a rainy day, so am content to pass on this one.

---

Grand Seiko 1964-0010 at Alpha Omega

No “It’s not a Grand Seiko, but I like it” this week, so I looked far and wide for something I felt was worth recommending from one of the dealers this week and came up with this.

Note that the buckle is not correct, but these are just sublime watches to own and admire - even if you are never going to put it on the wrist - or even better, to gift to loved one!

This one gets a shout out because for the condition, the price is a very reasonable 108,000 Yen. especially when you consider this -

---

Johnny Tran

The first Grand Seiko in stainless steel

It’s been all of 8 weeks since we last saw a fake example of the first Grand Seiko in steel, which ended up selling for the rather concerning amount of 1,001,000 Yen. I suspect that everyone reading this newsletter will be able to spot these a mile off nowadays, but it goes to show there are plenty of people out there for unscrupulous sellers to take advantage of.

From the specific print used on the dial, we can tell that this is a relatively recently manufactured piece, which the seller (our usual supect) knows all too well. Indeed he actually suggests that it is “probably a custom item made by an enthusiast”, so at least for once the subterfuge is not entirely hidden.

As is the norm these days, this is the only watch I will be highlighting from this seller, but strongly recommend you treat anything listed by the same account with an abundance of caution.

---

Redone coloured dial summary

I close with the usual reminder to steer clear of any vintage Grand Seikos with coloured dials similar to the above. This is not a comprehensive photo - there are many references that get this “treatment” so be careful out there.

---

Ok so that’s a wrap for this week. Getting the newsletter out a little earlier than planned so I can devote the rest of the day to Starfield!