Digital "collection" questions

[mercurym]

Hi, guys -

I've been collecting watches for a few years now, but haven't really gotten into digitals until recently. However, I buy many bulk lots, so I have acquired a good number of them over the past few years. Normally, they just go into my "Digital" box without much thought. Recently, I got the box out and went through them and was surprised by how many I've collected. Many work, many don't, and many may work but I can't seem to find the correct batteries for them.
Is there brand/model hierarchy in terms of popularity or desirability? Nothing too high-end; the most upscale digitals I have are a couple of Bulovas. Based on the pictures, do I have the seeds of a decent collection, or just a box of junk? Also, what is the best resource for dating a digital. I can usually get Timex and Seikos pretty accurately, as well as Bulovas, but on others such as Casio, Texas Inst., Tandy, National Semiconductor, I'm at a complete loss.

And, finally, while I generally keep just about everything I come across (once I get my hands on a watch it's like pulling teeth to get me to let it go...much to my girlfriend's irritation. Our house is quickly filling up with watches...), there are some I would sell. In the group's opinion, is Ebay the way to go? I'm not the biggest fan of Ebay, but if you guys think that's the best way to do it, I'll follow your advice. While I'm not looking to get rich, I don't want to get fleeced, either.

I know I'm asking a lot, and I thank you in advance for any help or advice you offer. I figured if anyone would be able to help, it would be in a place where the experts gather. Thanks again. Here are the pics:

ps. the Pulsar Spoon in the back corner is gone, sold to a fellow in Japan, of all places...

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[mercurym]

and, a few more...

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[Seiko&Casio Lcd's]

Hi,
Can't say much about the led's ,but i think there are enough people around that can tell you more about them .
The "brandless" lcd's are not worth that much imho, but maybe someone else has another opinion.
The Casio QS-14 however (6th picture, watch on the left) is desired by some casio collectors, i would try to sell that on ebay, but it's a pity that it does not have the original band fitted.
And i see a desirable watch in the 3th picture, it's the Seiko A829 sports 100, i would try to sell that on the bay too.
The seiko 0439 goldtone (1st picture, 5th watch from the left) could bring some money (same goes for the seiko ana/digi. if it works)
The timex and lorus brands i would try to sell too , but don't expect to get a fortune for those.
I can't tell you the amount that they could fetch, let the people on ebay decide, i guess.

[Seiko&Casio Lcd's]

The pulling of teeth in relation to selling watches goes for me too btw.

[bucko170]

With regard to the LED watches photographed.

........ Many work, many don't, and many may work but I can't seem to find the correct batteries for them.

The vast majority of LED watches will take either 357 or 386 batteries, these can be purchased really cheaply in small batches from eBay, it would be worthwhile buying some and testing the watches as a working watch will always sell for more than an untested watch, most (sensible) people will assume an untested watch to be none working when bidding.

With regards to the LED's you have photographed I would estimate the untested value as between £5 and £15 and the working value as between £30 and £50.

.....Also, what is the best resource for dating a digital. I can usually get Timex and Seikos pretty accurately, as well as Bulovas, but on others such as Casio, Texas Inst., Tandy, National Semiconductor, I'm at a complete loss.

The Bulova's are easy enough to date, if you have a Bulova LED it will date from the 1970's and the Bulova date code for the 1970's was 'N' so N6 is 1976, N4 is 1974 etc, all the other LED watches will date from between 1973 and 1977, the LCD watch had all but killed off the LED watch by 1977.

.....there are some I would sell. In the group's opinion, is Ebay the way to go? I'm not the biggest fan of Ebay, but if you guys think that's the best way to do it, I'll follow your advice. While I'm not looking to get rich, I don't want to get fleeced, either.

I would say that eBay would be the way to go, to maximise their potential try them with batteries, highlight the one's that work, take good photo's, add an honest description and offer them up with worldwide shipping, start with a low value, no reserve, cross your fingers and let them find their own value. I sell a few from time to time and have always found that whilst some sell for less than expected others sell for more than expected and overall it balances itself out to around about the overall figure that I had in mind.

.....Is there brand/model hierarchy in terms of popularity or desirability?

You have some nice one's in the collection but sadly nothing that is going to set the world on fire, the gold bezel LED watch looks nice and the Bulova name will help carry them a little further.

Good luck with what you decide.

[mercurym]

Wow! Thanks for the advice, guys. I'll definitely get a batch of batteries in both 357 and 386. As it is, I've just been scavenging from throwaway watches, hoping to hit upon a correct fit. I figured that the non-name-brands were not of much interest or value. Unfortunately, in terms of sales, I want to keep all the ones that might bring in a buck or two. Probably, to appease my girlfriend, who is not a watch nut, I'll parcel one or two out on Ebay when she starts to kick up a fuss. Not that it'll do her any good if they sell; the money goes right back into buying more watches!
It is surprisingly difficult (for me at least) to find approximate values for most of these. I know Ebay is usually considered a good place to start, but sometimes the 'sold for' amounts will be so disparate as to be useless as a guide. I suppose that like everything else, the value is whatever you can get a buyer to pay.

The Seiko goldtone is one that I was able to research on the web. It's up on Ebay right now. As much as I love Seiko, it just doesn't do it for me. As for the Sport Timer, I don't think I can bear to sell it, even if it never gets worn. Oddly enough, I have probably another two dozen or so digitals that I didn't post (in a box forgotten until this evening) and there is a Lorus that is just about the spit and image of the Sports Timer. The only real difference is that the Lorus has a split screen and is all plastic.

Also, I forgot to post my G-Shock. It was stuffed away forgotten until recently, having come in a bulk lot with a bunch of junk, but I'm starting to really get into the G-shocks now. Based on comparisons with a member's watches on another forum, it's a 1990s model. I could do without the nuclear green color, but otherwise I like the overall look and feel of it.

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Also, the gold bezel watch is an Armitron. I don't think it's readable in the pictures, but the front has raised lettering that reads "Quasar". It's a neat watch. Actually, a couple of the unmarked watches turned out to be Armitrons, based on the info on the case backs.

Anyway, thanks again for all the help and advice.


































9

[Old Tom]

The Seiko "A829" is actually a Seiko A827-6010 Yacht Timer and is probably the most valuable watch in your collection even missing the two polyurethane top/botton cheek pieces & the strap- I have had "silly" money for these, much more so than the A829 astronaut models. If it works correctly (dial up function ring is the killer on these, gets gummed up and has the tiniest O rings you have ever seen on the four pushers) keep it!

[Seiko&Casio Lcd's]

The Seiko "A829" is actually a Seiko A827

I didn't know it was a A827 as i don't have these watches, but learning all the time, thanks old tom.
What is the difference between the A829 and A827?


@ mercurym, like old tom suggests, keep the watch, and good luck selling the rest.
PS. It will be better to sell them working like bucko170 suggests.

[mercurym]

Thanks for the info on the Seiko Sports Timer, Tom. I had a feeling it was one of the more desirable items. I'm definitely keeping it.

While I'm imposing on your knowledge, guys, here's another watch that I assume has no real value, but I like it a lot and would love to get it repaired. Is the crystal in this type of watch replaceable? It looks to me like the crystal is printed or painted on the inside, which would mean it couldn't be replaced, I'm sure.
Also, for the second watch, the Aquastar, it works great, and has a cool scrolling display when a battery is installed. But, the solar panels don't seem to power the watch. Are things like that replaceable? If so, do you think it would be more expense than it's worth? I want to keep both watches, and would like to have them repaired, but I don't want to spend a mint on them. Any advice is most welcome.

And, finally, the Bulova; this is how it was when I got it. What the heck is that pillowy material inside it? And is it supposed to be like that?

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[mercurym]

Here's the Lorus Seiko-ish Sports Timer

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