How much should I offer?

What's the context of the buy? Do they know what they have? Dealer? Watch collector?

Very cool peice!

It’s a friend of a friend, an estate and they know how to search the internet. Yes, they know it’s a valuable item.

Does it have any Provence as this will also effect the price

It must be rare as I can't find that model ,but to be fair I'm not the best on the internet

I mean - obviously you should be fair, but if they are not a watch expert/enthusiast I think you can put those google searches they have done in context (in terms of condition / cost of restoration / headache of trying to sell elsewhere) and make an offer that you will both be happy with.

Bugger… but fair play. It’s a bit beaten, so they need to be reasonable, but that is a £8-10k flex.

Hard to say due to lack of information about the watch.

My first opinion is:

As long this certain watch doesn't have a special unique story that can be prooven, it's is just an old wasted watch.

If it works well....maybe 5K?

If not 2 to 3K.

That's my opinion.

I personally wouldn't buy or atall.

I don’t even know what I would do in this position but I envy you for being there.

Can you know when the caseback was last opened and serviced as that is how I would inform it’s value John ,as the oldest rule in collecting is condition condition condition. Good luck 🤞

It was issued to the father of the seller, there is no paper trail but there is a vintage picture of him wearing it in uniform.

Yes it isn't going to be cheap, I'm aware. I'm torn because I won't wear it much because of the small size.

I think it's probably a buy at 5k and sell at 10k (maybe a deal to be done somewhere in the middle). Condition is quite rough, if was better would have been quite the "barn find". HQ Milton has had a later RI model in better (but not good shape) for sale for months offered at $19k. I bet the HQ Milton watch is buyable closer to 15k at this point and in better condition.

https://hqmilton.com/products/blancpain-50-fathom-bakelite-bezel#mz-expanded-view-986782602966

I’m not very motivated

To me this says walk away. Just my .02

I'm going to sleep on it and make the decision tomorrow. I appreciate and highly value all of you who took the time to weigh on this.

Ask them how much they want and if you think it's reasonable get it , explain it's a gamble without taking the back off ,if you don't intend to sell it on, you can always tell them they have the option to buy it back when you do eventually sell

If you can validate that it has not been modified, then I think you are talking anywhere from $25k-40k though it looks like it is in very rough condition and I am not certain that there hasn't been some tampering with the dial.

Tricky to find these watches in their original condition since they were used as tools and often had to be repaired and serviced.

Low estimate would be $10k if mostly original and original dial.

I'm just a little skeptical that the dial is original.

Great find if it is all original parts.

You may want to check in with Adam of Menta Watches:

https://mentawatches.com/

I'm not putting forth an offer, I am now very clear on this. It does not make sense on any level for me to acquire this watch. For the record I am 95% sure the piece is legit, I just don't think I will wear and enjoy it.

Thanks again for all of your insights, it helped and is very much appreciated.

Just reading on chrono hunter and found this ,it might help the sellers out

First up is The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms from 1968. Given an old school Bakelite bezel with signatures on the bezel, movement and dial from the old company owners “Rayville”, the model strongly relates to past acquisitions and the dawn of the Fifty Fathoms Milspec 1 collection. You can buy a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Milspec 1 from 1968 for around £45,000 at the time of writing. Can’t get enough of vintage Blancpain watches? Stick around there’s more.