Sherpa Graph Ia up for auction on June 11th

[Gopher]

With all due respect, what is the fascination with this first version with gladius/gladium hands? Is it just collectibility in that it is the original version and rarity? That I understand.

My first rule of collecting is that I must love the watch and while I do love the SG, not this particular version, so would not collect for only collectibility or value.

I think the paddle hands are more unique, interesting, and better looking on the SG. They scream Enicar to me.

 

[vintageanimation]

I know I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to Enicars, but I think all of the models of the SG look pretty cool, even the Mark 4. I guess I have an addictive personality when it comes to collecting. I only started collecting Enicars and already have four of them, I like my two SGs best, but I guess I could always use one more.

 

[Gopher]

I know I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to Enicars, but I think all of the models of the SG look pretty cool, even the Mark 4. I guess I have an addictive personality when it comes to collecting. I only started collecting Enicars and already have four of them, I like my two SGs best, but I guess I could always use one more.

I love the MKIV and do not understand why it seems to get discounted by many of the serious collectors (vs. MKI-III). It was my first Enicar and still one of my favorites,. Very sporty.

 

[Joe_A]

With all due respect, what is the fascination with this first version with gladius/gladium hands? Is it just collectibility in that it is the original version and rarity? That I understand.

My first rule of collecting is that I must love the watch and while I do love the SG, not this particular version, so would not collect for only collectibility or value.

I think the paddle hands are more unique, interesting, and better looking on the SG. They scream Enicar to me.

How to respond . . .

In my opinion, very little about mechanical watch collecting is rational. I see these watches as works of mechanical art and I can rationalize collecting a few watches just on the notion that they are subjectively beautiful. I may have collected firearms for similar reasons had I stumbled into that hobbyist activity before I got into watches.

In my time, I have collected stamps, coins and baseball cards as a child and teenager. Later in life, I started collecting stationary steam engines and gauge 1, 1:32 scale locomotive and passenger car models. I've built a couple of ships models - a Grand Banks fishing schooner and a steam-powered tugboat.

Then came watches which were a fascination from my very early youth. My dad brought back a chronograph as a 19 year-old from Germany at the end of WW 2 and I was fascinated by it as a child. Disclaimer: It did not even run! Something triggered a latent fascination later in life.

The gladius hands version of the Sherpa Graph is more rare than any other version. Paddle hands were used for the Mark Ia, b, c, d and the Mark II and III references, so the paddle hands are pretty common relatively speaking.

Initially, I found the Mark Ia with gladius hands to be unattractive. Part of the assessment had to do with an unpleasant mismatch of coloration between the hands and the lume plots.

But after seeing the example of the Bulang & Sons watch, I fell in love. ;-)

While it seems that many if not most of these watches had no lume at all in the spaces within the hand profile, I remain convinced that some did have lume.

But in any case, so what?

Is there anything rational about the prices of vintage Rolex Daytona watches?

Can anyone rationalize paying 19 million dollars for one of Paul Newman's two Daytonas?

One has to be a bit emotionally unbalanced to collect watches.

 

[SteveHarris]

Great answer Joe.

For me the 1a with gladius hands just grew and grew on me. Had to get one in the end!

There's a video of the watch posted up by the auction house here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CeO7ZG5FXwS/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

 

[JimJupiter]

Same here, on an esthetical view, I like the paddle hands more...and even the lume filled Gladium hands. But it is still the first version of the Graph and thats why the most important of all of em. Like a 1957 Speedmaster with Arrow hands, compared to later versions. And since I love obscure things, the skeleton hands also grew on me It was the first, its rare it's strange...I love it.

And sorry, I am not a big fan of the MK IV. For me it misses the clean 60s design of the first executions and I also have the feeling the quality in details (like on the dial) isnt the same.

But lets agree to disagree, this is what this is all about. Everyone can collect what he likes more

Nico

 

[Joe_A]

No matter how much money one has set aside to use for the purchase of watches, the amount remains finite.

So, even if one has a collection of 250 watches, there will remain millions of watches one will not ever own.

The Mark IV is a beautiful Sherpa Graph as well, especially in the blue dial version or the gray and white version, but if I were to set the money aside to buy a Mark IV, I know I'd spend it on another earlier watch or a 765AVI or an 806 or Speedmaster or a rare Longines . . . or something else.

I am happy that I do not know what I will acquire next, (after the one that should be inbound soon,) even if it is nothing.

There is just so much one can ever collect.

 

[Gopher]

As they say, taste is a matter of taste. If we all like the same thing, what fun would that be? And if everyone wanted the same watch, well, you get the idea.

 

[Joe_A]

I spoke with Justin Miller today . . .

Just an FYI . . .

If you register with them directly, you can save 5% on the fees when compared with liveauctioneers.

Edit: Name correction.

 

[JimJupiter]

Hammered at 19.000 Can $. Anyone here got it?

 

[Joe_A]

Not I.

I registered and was all set, but in the end, I decided not to bid.

As we know, I have another watch waiting for me on Monday and, as the hunt is part of the pleasure, I can wait for another early Graph to show up one day.

Besides . . . I need a little breathing room.

I hope the new owner is happy with the purchase and will wear the watch in good health.

Cheers,

Joe

 

[Gopher]

Hammered at 19.000 Can $. Anyone here got it?

Do you know the buyer's premium?

 

[JimJupiter]

18% direct by the auctioneer and another something percent (5% I think) with pages like liveauctioneer.

 

[Joe_A]

If one had bid direct and saved the 5%, I guess that would be $19,000 CAD x 1.18 = $22,420 CAD?

$17,550-ish USD
EUR 16,680
GBP 14,250-ish

 

[Gopher]

Are you surprised by that price (on low side)?

 

[JimJupiter]

For me it’s right in the anticipated (lower) range. If someone needs to import it to Europe, you need to add 3k €.

 

[SteveHarris]

I mentioned it earlier on the thread but now was the time to buy one of these. World economy is going through a squeeze and the cost of daily living seems to be increasing by the day. If you were one of the lucky few with the spare cash, you've just got a good deal I think.

 

[Marco]

I managed to get it! Excited after a series of misses on a Mark 1a to be able to land one!! Now the process of actually receiving it begins

 

[Joe_A]

Congratulations Marco.

Glad you got it.

Happy I did not have to bid against you. ;-)

 

[Gopher]

Nice, Marco! It's in good.hands now.