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VACHERON & CONSTANTIN

oldhippy

By oldhippy
in All Things Clocks

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oldhippy Distinguished Member

oldhippy

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I ask myself this. Why would anyone want to put such an outstanding clock of great quality such as this on ebay. Study the photo of the train and you can see all the wheels have been hand pierced. I’m assuming all photos were taken before a complete overhaul took place as the plates are very stained. It’s a little overpriced.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MASSIVE-VACHERON-CONSTANTIN-Fully-Signed-REPEATING-CARRIAGE-CLOCK/163009985175?hash=item25f426fa97:g:c88AAOSwKvJapVdt

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Neileg WRT Addict

Neileg

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I ask myself this. Why would anyone want to put such an outstanding clock of great quality such as this on ebay. Study the photo of the train and you can see all the wheels have been hand pierced. I’m assuming all photos were taken before a complete overhaul took place as the plates are very stained. It’s a little overpriced.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MASSIVE-VACHERON-CONSTANTIN-Fully-Signed-REPEATING-CARRIAGE-CLOCK/163009985175?hash=item25f426fa97:g:c88AAOSwKvJapVdt


People sell all sorts on eBay. There’s a ship for sale for 160000 gbp plus 30000 gbp postage!


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wls1971 Distinguished Member

wls1971

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I dont know seems very risky to me advertising anything of great value on ebay the possibility of being scammed are too great for my liking both as a buyer and seller. But what are the options auction houses have become very greedy indeed over the last 10 years 10 % commission used to be the norm now you are lucky to find one that charges less than 25%. 

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oldhippy Distinguished Member

oldhippy

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This type of clock made by the famous makers Vacheron & Coinstantin should be in the hands of a reputable auction house that deals in horology, not on ebay, who know nothing and leave everything up to the seller. Ebay are not going to attract the right crowd for such a piece.     

 

 

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jdm Distinguished Member

jdm

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21 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

This type of clock made by the famous makers Vacheron & Coinstantin should be in the hands of a reputable auction house that deals in horology, not on ebay, who know nothing and leave everything up to the seller. Ebay are not going to attract the right crowd for such a piece.

Maybe the seller likes Ebay fees and rules better than the ones of an auction house.

Ebay, like it or not, is universal.

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jdm Distinguished Member

jdm

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34 minutes ago, ecodec said:

Not good to Ebay the Vacheron clock. Too many pitfalls. A Specialist auction house will get top money for such a clock. Take old hippy`s advice, it is the best you will get. Regards, mike.

Advice should go to the seller, which is not a member here.

However from their profile (check yourself) and reputation seems to me that they know well what they're doing

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oldhippy Distinguished Member

oldhippy

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That is my point. What they have to sell are specialist pieces in horology. Any one in their right mind would have a reputable person in horology advising one on a particular piece. For starters, you would want to handle the piece in person, also seek a second opinion or a third. You cannot do that over the internet. No this is just all show. People use ebay expecting to pick up a bargain, they don’t use it to buy a watch or clock for 20 grand, you go to a reputable dealer.    

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jdm Distinguished Member

jdm

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On 22/4/2018 at 8:44 AM, oldhippy said:

That is my point. What they have to sell are specialist pieces in horology. Any one in their right mind would have a reputable person in horology advising one on a particular piece. For starters, you would want to handle the piece in person, also seek a second opinion or a third. You cannot do that over the internet. No this is just all show. People use ebay expecting to pick up a bargain, they don’t use it to buy a watch or clock for 20 grand, you go to a reputable dealer.    

That is exactly what you're missing. He claims to be a reputable dealer and to be working with auction houses as well.

Exotic watch collectors has placed over 35% of all major auction catalog covers, inside or back covers worldwide for past 5 years.We have been in business for over 40 years. We have introduced 5 of the most important timepiece discoveries in history.

Although, I'm skeptic especially about the last statement. But independently from this one be reassured that for high value items Ebay is used just like a public display. Once the contact is established, buyer can see the item in person and in most cases the transaction is conducted outside Ebay. There is no exclusive sales contract and they can't do anything about it.

Again, this is just facts and not to defend Ebay, which hosts much more terrifying listings in horology,  and which I don't even use to sell my watches. But since the Internet the world has deeply changed and what wasn't possible before, it is now. 

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rodabod Distinguished Member

rodabod

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Well, a large proportion of “real” auction house sales are completed online with the buyer never seeing the item in question. I do this regularly myself.

The typical buyers fees of 25% put me off, so I buy much more on eBay. A lot of auction houses don’t have a clue about what they are selling. 

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oldhippy Distinguished Member

oldhippy

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At some point in my career, I was an adviser to an antique shop that wanted to get into selling clocks. I would visit auction houses and get to know the people, also be present on auction day to see what the action was like pick out the dealers and see who was working with who because there’s a lot of backhanders. Some places I would not touch with a barge poll. You soon find out who the honest ones are. In the end, I like to think my advice paid off because clocks sold very well.  

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