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Title: Complete Price Guide to Watches (COMPLETE PRICE GUIDE TO WATCHES) by Cooksey Shugart, Tom Engle, Richard E. Gilbert, Martha Shugart ISBN: 1-57432-402-0 Publisher: Collector Books Pub. Date: 01 January, 2004 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.45 (31 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Most Popular Watch Price Guide - But Its Flaws Show Quickly
Comment:
The mere fact that this guide is now in its 20th year is evidence of its popularity. It is unquestionably the most successful guide of its kind. Much of that success lies in its clear if sometimes oversimplified listings that make it easy for rank beginners to find the majority of popular watches, and the sheer volume of entries. I would rate the pocket watch section over the wrist watch listing for detail (e.g., coverage for high-end watches like Patek, Rolex and others is superficial and buyers should rely on some other book), but both are adequate for the most popular material.
However, evidence is that most of the prices are not updated annually, and publishing deadlines make the few updates old when fresh off the press. Some prices simply remain untouched for years when auction and other sales clearly show significant changes (generally increases). I wonder how many of the scarcer and "by-the-book-mint" watches the authors would be willing to sell from their collections for the prices shown?
Some historical information, such as the production dates and serial numbers are questionable. The section on Aurora watches is clearly at odds with documented factory records despite fresh editing done to that information in the 2000 edition. And where South Bend individual grades are priced in detail, Auroras are lumped into general groups -- a sad oversight, since many of those grades are very scarce (multi-stars). Other rather common grades from popular makers are unexplainably missing amid a hit-and-miss grade list.
The price grading system is dramatically skewed to the unobtainable, making one minute flaw justification to slash the price below half of its near-mint state (which is mint minus a box, yet most watches likely never had factory boxes). Certainly mint watches deserve a premium, but the book's definition of mint is toward the absurd, and extra fine is nearly unobtainable. The result is that most seller's simply redefine the grades. It would be better if the author would make that adjustment, which would also put prices in line.
And the insistance that all watches still be in their original cases? That likelihood vanished sometime during the Great Depression, when even a gold-filled case could be swapped for silveriod to pay back a few dollars, never mind how many solid gold cases vanished into pawn shops. The presence of other screw marks in the back of a case for anything short of a perfect mint watch is closely akin to the flap over used postage stamps mounted in albums with hinges: much ado about nothing.
Finally, the foreign pocket watch section has only about 75 maker's price lists, and they are highly generalized. While something is better than nothing, perhaps this guide has become too long in the tooth, relying on minor annual tune-ups when a complete overhaul is due. But it sells, makes money, and there is no incentive to enter a new effort. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend anything better, except to get out and see the real market for yourself.
In the meantime, treat it as a general guide, but seldom if ever the final answer - one that even in it newest release is actually behind except for items that have not changed prices in years (not many of those). Even the generalized empty case prices show no adjustment for gold market or demand, and can sit unchaged from one edition to the next. That should be your first clue something is amiss.
Perhaps one problem here is the modern world of Internet auctions, which appear to be totally ignored as a basis for market sales histories. It would additionaly explain why this guide increasingly becomes outdated, even if it is published each year, having failed to see a whole new arena of buyers and sellers. Being the only one of its kind annual guide clearly accounts for most of its success. Perhaps a truly timely price book covering 90% of what is in the market simply is not possible . . . at least not quite yet. When it does appear, I will be first in line for a more accurate reference. Until then, don't make this is your only watch pricebook.
Rating: 5
Summary: Still the best source
Comment: Despite some flaws, The Complete Price Guide to Watches is always the standard guide most often used by pocket watch and wrist watch collectors. As a military timepiece collector, I use the price guide to help identify type and date of manufacture. It is thorough and comprehensive. I can't imagine a book of this size and scope not have flaws.
Rating: 3
Summary: very good but.......
Comment: ...it could have been more comprehensive. since i do not collect pocket watches, i don't have the need or knowledge for that part of the book. which is quite a bit of the book. nonetheless, all information is good information. as far as the wristwatches, a lot of the newer models of established brands are not included and some brands are missing altogether. this i find to be a shortcoming for a most recent edition of a book dedicated to watches. would have also liked to see a more complete and detailed listing on comic character watches. needless to say, i collect these.
would i recommend this book? yes, while adding the above caveat. the price for the book is not unreasonable. so give it 3 1/2 stars in my estimation.
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Title: 100 Years of Vintage Watches: A Collector's Identification and Price Guide by Dean Judy ISBN: 0873494539 Publisher: Krause Publications Pub. Date: 01 December, 2002 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Wristwatch Annual 2004: The Catalog of Producers, Models, and Specifications (WRISTWATCH ANNUAL) by Peter Braun, Elizabeth Doerr ISBN: 0789208032 Publisher: Abbeville Press Pub. Date: 01 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: Pocket Watch Handbook by Max Cutmore ISBN: 0715314629 Publisher: David & Charles Publishers Pub. Date: 01 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $19.99 |
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Title: Collectible Wristwatches (Collectibles (Flammarion)) by Rene Pannier ISBN: 208010621X Publisher: Flammarion-Pere Castor Pub. Date: 01 March, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Practical Watch Repairing by Donald De Carle ISBN: 0719800307 Publisher: N.A.G. Press Pub. Date: 01 June, 1992 List Price(USD): $29.99 |
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