Where to get vintage Japanese watches?
So I've been really into vintage Seiko and Orient watches as of late. Just bought a vintage Orient Star and currently waiting for it to arrive 😎
Does anyone know how to acquire these vintage Japanese watches from japan at the best / lowest price? I've read on forums some people use japan Yahoo auctions to hunt for vintage watches or sites like Mercari but I've never tried them and I don't know if there's a better way. I don't live in Japan so I need to learn how to use these sites and do international shipping on top of that.
I understand there are local resellers with vintage watches in stock but I want to try hunting for the watches myself. A senior watch collector told me that's where the thrill is 🤣
Any help or tips is appreciated! help a girl out please 🥺🙏
A girl just starting her watch journey. Itty bitty wrist committee member
I been looking into this a little bit for the same reasons as you. Recently signed up for a Buyee account, https://buyee.jp/. If I understand the service correctly you buy the product from sat Japan Yahoo through their site and it ships to them first. They make sure it's as described and then ship it to you.
I can't say much more than that as I've not actually purchased anything yet, been mostly using eBay. However, a few watch channels I subscribe to have spoken rather positively about it. Not sure that helps or not maybe I'll try it out this weekend.
I been looking into this a little bit for the same reasons as you. Recently signed up for a Buyee account, https://buyee.jp/. If I understand the service correctly you buy the product from sat Japan Yahoo through their site and it ships to them first. They make sure it's as described and then ship it to you.
I can't say much more than that as I've not actually purchased anything yet, been mostly using eBay. However, a few watch channels I subscribe to have spoken rather positively about it. Not sure that helps or not maybe I'll try it out this weekend.
a senior watch collector once told me he personally uses buyee so definitely will be checking it out. but buyee is essentially the middle man when we want to buy from Japan Yahoo, so is it true that Japan Yahoo is THE place to get these vintage watches? or is there some other source?
because I know the local sellers can buy them in bulk / buy them cheap for a "reseller price". I just don't know where from.
I‘ve been using YH via Jauce for the last few years and have picked up around 50 Seiko and Citizen in total - I’m in Los Angeles. You have to use a proxy site as YH is japan only. Fees in total for proxy sites come to around 30% over the closing bid which is good to factor in - the proxy holds your wins for 60days before more fees kick in so it’s best to accumulate, ship infrequently. The proxy will consolidate and ship international when you decide. Watches are light so my shipping comes to around 30$usd for as many as 10 pieces. I do restoration so I do buy almost always (90%) “Junk“ which there is a lot of. Definitely a lot more choice but you are still buying the seller so it’s best to assume youll need to have a watch maker do at least a service. Shoot, then there’s the actual bidding… very different than ebay… I could go on 😅
I‘ve been using YH via Jauce for the last few years and have picked up around 50 Seiko and Citizen in total - I’m in Los Angeles. You have to use a proxy site as YH is japan only. Fees in total for proxy sites come to around 30% over the closing bid which is good to factor in - the proxy holds your wins for 60days before more fees kick in so it’s best to accumulate, ship infrequently. The proxy will consolidate and ship international when you decide. Watches are light so my shipping comes to around 30$usd for as many as 10 pieces. I do restoration so I do buy almost always (90%) “Junk“ which there is a lot of. Definitely a lot more choice but you are still buying the seller so it’s best to assume youll need to have a watch maker do at least a service. Shoot, then there’s the actual bidding… very different than ebay… I could go on 😅
Thanks so much, this helps a lot! right so basically:
1. buy from Yahoo auction japan
2. use either Jauce , buyee as proxy
3. proxy can accumulate auction wins so make sure to win the auctions I want in the time period before shipping and ship all the wins together in one package.
4. be prepared to do some service for the watches once they arrive
so I guess my homework now is to choose a proxy. apparently there are plenty out there
yes that’s all correct 👍 I can only speak for Jauce but it works well for me. Jauce you have to ‘load’ money via paypal but I believe there are others you can’t pay directly. I like the Prepay system because it keeps me from going over my target spend. The last thing to be aware of is that auctions extend when a new high is reached. Some auctions will go for an hour after the “end” time. Way more fun than ebay.