Wow this is amazing. Thank you so much for the info @aurelian

You have to do your research. Just like on any other site, there are scammers there too. But, if you buy from a reputable dealer with lots of reviews and good communication, the benefit for C24 is the amount of inventory to look at. There's basically limitless watches to research - prices are sometimes high so buyer beware.

I have bought a few watches off of C24 without any drama. They also have an authenticity service similar to Ebay's to help protect again fraudulent activity.

First Base in Watch Collecting:  Stepping into the AD after lurking outside on previous visits

Second Base of Watch Collecting:  Trying on watches that you definitely aren't buying at the AD

Third Base of Watch Collecting:  Borrowing a new watch from a friends collection or Buying a pre-owned gray market piece. 

Home Run: Getting that fateful call from the AD that your order is in! 

My late father-in-law was a Vacheron collector and had acquired this impossibly-thin skeleton in the early 1990s.  I don't know much about it or how he came to own it.  A few years after this purchase, he also bought one of the first Overseas editions as well.  

What I really wonder is whether the diamond bezel is factory, and, if so, what made him choose such a loud complement to an otherwise understatedly elegant watch.  In all of the similar pictures I've seen online, none have the diamond bezel.  But the movement is so so stunning -  It's so delicately designed, thin, and so graceful.  What a treat to wear it once before going back into my MIL's safe!  

(The president next to it wasn't too bad either!)

Omega on the rubber - it's still Summer after all!

And as a final update: the watch was randomly delivered to me today. No shipping notification or emails.  I just looked out my front door and found the box.  

I'm glad I have it back, but I'm still very discouraged by complete lack of communication in this whole process! 

Sending good vibes and good luck your way!