It feels like it’s VFA central around these parts lately! A couple of weeks ago I featured a rather lovely full set 6186-8000 at The Tokei Club that is still available, and whose price now looks rather more attractive given that the 4580-7000 featured in last week’s newsletter that was listed at online auction site Loupe This closed last night (well, it was last night for me!) for a very respectable $42,351.
Hi Gerald, on that VFA with matching papers, could it be possible that someone swapped in a desirable early applied Suwa logo (no-VFA) dial (perhaps from an earlier case that was in bad shape) into a later dated case (in good shape AND with matching papers) in hopes of enhancing its desirability? Similar to how some Print print dials were swapped into later dated First cases. Just a thought on such a possibility.
Well anything is possible here, but I think it unlikely to be honest. These 6185's are clearly all over the place! The bigger mystery to me is why we see the later dialed variants in such early cases.
The incorrect Seiko signed buckle made me feel like I should be extra cautious with this 'outlier' of an example. Feels as if someone tried to cobble something desirable together.
Re: the frequently relisted 5646-7010. I've won it twice (from two different accounts) and then I've immediately cancelled my bid on the grounds it's a fraudulent listing. I've been returned the money both times. Sadly, I had hoped it would slow the seller down but he just relists it almost instantly. I thought he'd wait at least a couple of weeks, but he just goes straight back to it. No shame.
Hi Gerald, on that VFA with matching papers, could it be possible that someone swapped in a desirable early applied Suwa logo (no-VFA) dial (perhaps from an earlier case that was in bad shape) into a later dated case (in good shape AND with matching papers) in hopes of enhancing its desirability? Similar to how some Print print dials were swapped into later dated First cases. Just a thought on such a possibility.
Well anything is possible here, but I think it unlikely to be honest. These 6185's are clearly all over the place! The bigger mystery to me is why we see the later dialed variants in such early cases.
The incorrect Seiko signed buckle made me feel like I should be extra cautious with this 'outlier' of an example. Feels as if someone tried to cobble something desirable together.
I would’ve thought this is the most obvious and logical assumption too - not hard to change a caseback and that’s all that’s been done right?
Yes, hence my preference to err with caution especially with the incorrect buckle too.
Only one short hands of interest out there at this time. The 6185 8021 transitional pictured
It has the wrong crown though Scott!
It does, and has for years now in your collection. Anything that doesn’t detract from the dial or its rarity is of little or no concern.
Price for your example is scary, but justified imo.
The most common and rarest VFA at the same time! Can’t touch this
Re: the frequently relisted 5646-7010. I've won it twice (from two different accounts) and then I've immediately cancelled my bid on the grounds it's a fraudulent listing. I've been returned the money both times. Sadly, I had hoped it would slow the seller down but he just relists it almost instantly. I thought he'd wait at least a couple of weeks, but he just goes straight back to it. No shame.