Watch Fair

[peterv]

This sunday at Birmingham Motorcycle Museum if anyone is interested.

[P9CLY]

Never been to one,but I would guess most of what is left to sell by the dealers isn't of any great interest to MOST people.
And I would also guess it's full of people "hoping" to be the first to grab that long lost vintage Rolex sub from the bottom of a box for peanuts.....ha ha never going to happen much nowadays is it.

A few stories of boot sale finds perhaps,but these people know what they have.......don't they?.

So with this in mind I'd be curious to see what bargain they bagged posted on here,but please be honest because we can all post a pic of something we'd hope to find.........but didn't.

[TimeOut]

Few continental dealers with some bargains at the last one I went to. A group of little dealer types were trotting round buying up all the gold and TT date justs.

Well worth a visit.

[beechcustom]

I got there pretty late in the day and if my experience is anything to go by I don't think you'll find a mega bargain but there was a good selection of reasonably priced watches around. Great opportunity for people who are new to hobby to see a range of watches in the flesh. That's why I went anyway. I bought a nice condition Omega Geneve when I was there and I also tried on an Explorer 114270 that subsequently became a grail. I no longer have the Omega but I now have the grail!

Just a heads up, there are no cash machines any where on site so you'll need to take a pile of readies if you are serious about buying.

[walkerwek1958]

Can`t justify a 220 mile round trip thesedays, so I don`t go, but I guess it's worth a trip if you're local (ish).

Many years ago I used to frequent antiques fairs and carry a decent wad of cash. Used to keep some in my wallet, with the rest stashed in the beast pockets of a denim shirt (my 'dealing' shirt). If I saw a watch I fancied I`d try the old trick of filling my wallet with the amount I was prepared to offer, then making a show of getting the cash out and saying 'that's all I`ve got left'. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn`t.

Another trick is to start getting your money out as you make the offer. The sight of the cash sometimes persuades the seller to take a lower offer than they had in mind. You always take a risk when buying watches at fairs, so you have to get them as cheap as possible to allow some margin for service/repair etc.

Paul

[Gullers]

I'm here if there's any TZ's around


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[Neilw3030]

I'm here if there's any TZ's around


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Any pics of offerings?

[Sweepinghand]

I'm here if there's any TZ's around


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What's the admission?
Much Rolex omega or Cartier?

[jcoyne1]

Never been to one but sounds interesting

[gray]

I bought a brand new Speedmaster for £1150 and a Panerai base for £1650 (£600 of which was the trade value of a £160 Rolex bought at another stall) - but I haven't been for years

[P9CLY]

I bought a brand new Speedmaster for £1150 and a Panerai base for £1650 (£600 of which was the trade value of a £160 Rolex bought at another stall) - but I haven't been for years

Confusing!.

Having not been for years,are you saying you have been today and bought the two you mention?.

Or you bought them as you also said "years ago",because if you bought them years ago those prices won't sound as cheap as if bought today.

which was it,today or years ago?..........

[JasonM]

Confusing!.

Having not been for years,are you saying you have been today and bought the two you mention?.

Or you bought them as you also said "years ago",because if you bought them years ago those prices won't sound as cheap as if bought today.

which was it,today or years ago?..........

At those prices, what do you think is the more likely ? ;-)

[P9CLY]

At those prices, what do you think is the more likely ? ;-)

I know what is most likely,but some people assume a watch fair to have bargain finds.

So which is it,a bargain find or otherwise?.....be nice to know then these places might become a venue to visit.....highly unlikely tho tbh.

[burnsey66]

I know what is most likely,but some people assume a watch fair to have bargain finds.

So which is it,a bargain find or otherwise?.....be nice to know then these places might become a venue to visit.....highly unlikely tho tbh.

There is more to this hobby than making a quick buck from bargain finds...

[Gullers]

Having been there myself today I can promise you it's a wind up!
The joke not the watches :)


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[gray]

Having been there myself today I can promise you it's a wind up!
The joke not the watches :)


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Far from it. Those are the prices I paid - but not today.

RRP on the Omega at the time was about 2150. The Panerai about £2400.

[Gullers]

Far from it. Those are the prices I paid - but not today.

RRP on the Omega at the time was about 2150. The Panerai about £2400.

My apologies! It was the £160 Rolex that threw me.....


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[gray]

My apologies! It was the £160 Rolex that threw me.....


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That was an older thing. They regularly make a couple of grand now.

[Neil.C]

There is more to this hobby than making a quick buck from bargain finds...

Well said, indeed there is.

[Dave O'Sullivan]

I pop over the Uxbridge one sometimes. Only because I live 5 minutes away mind you.
9 times out of 10, it's a waste of time. Same old sellers selling the same old stuff but occasionally you'll get lucky. Over the years I've picked up a lovely issued Pulsar and a Breitling using a 7740. The Breitling was of particular note because I'd been looking for one at the time and only paid around £650 for it. Everywhere else they were touching a grand.

[walkerwek1958]

There is more to this hobby than making a quick buck from bargain finds...

+1.......unless you're buying to restore and sell on (as I occasionally do) it's best to focus on quality rather than look for bargains. There are few genuine bargains to be had thesedays, and a fair number of 'bargain' Omegas have ended up on my bench in recent years.

Buy good stuff and be prepared to pay a strong price, it works out cheaper in the long run.

Paul

[troymcclure72]

Is there a website where I can find up coming events? I'd like to go to one even if it's just to browse...

J

[gray]

Is there a website where I can find up coming events? I'd like to go to one even if it's just to browse...

J

Yes.

Searching the the clues in the thread "watch fair birmingham motorcycle museum" might get you what you seek

- - - Updated - - -

Is there a website where I can find up coming events? I'd like to go to one even if it's just to browse...

J

Yes.

Searching the the clues in the thread "watch fair birmingham motorcycle museum" might get you what you seek

[Neil.C]

I pop over the Uxbridge one sometimes. Only because I live 5 minutes away mind you.
9 times out of 10, it's a waste of time. Same old sellers selling the same old stuff but occasionally you'll get lucky. Over the years I've picked up a lovely issued Pulsar and a Breitling using a 7740. The Breitling was of particular note because I'd been looking for one at the time and only paid around £650 for it. Everywhere else they were touching a grand.

Been over there a few times myself in the past and had a few nice buys. Haven't been for a good while though.

Was always good for tools and the occasional bits of NOS.

[swanbourne]

The last time I went there were some very worn-out old Breitling and Datejusts with an alarming amount of stretch in the bracelets, all polished to death. In the main, the "bargains" aren't good and the good aren't bargains.

Eddie

[troymcclure72]

Cool when you've done that, post up the link for me.

[vortex89]

Cool when you've done that, post up the link for me.

http://www.clockandwatchfairs.com/

:)

[lewismark]

Sad but the fair seems to be on the wane a bit lately, used to be over 3 rooms but down to 2 for some while. I go every time as I live just up the road but haven't bought anything for ages. Hopefully it will pick up again soon.