I have a habit of looking at online auctions and sometimes I’ll play Russian Roulette by buying something unseen; often it costs as much if not more than if I’d taken my time and found a better one, but where’s the fun in that? Sometimes, I’ve found stuff undescribed by the auctioneer but which I can spot is worthwhile… like the silver Proof Pogue described only as “Vintage Seiko SS chronograph”, landed in hand for under £400. It’s cost the same again and some more to fix up and put a correct bracelet on, but it’s probably worth 4 or 5 times what I paid.

Anyway, a bunch of interesting watches appeared on an auctioneer’s block in March 2025. The auctioneer in question sometimes has good stuff on their books; thing is, they are a 2hr drive from me, and they don’t offer any form of post & packing so you’d need to go and collect or pay someone else £50-100 or whatever to do it.

They also charge fees handsomely and only offer one online platform, which adds their own fees on top so all in, that adds 35.4% to the hammer price So it’s case of, if you’re going to buy from them then best buy several lots, or be prepared to go and see the watches in the metal and bid on the day. I wasn’t really ready to do either but I had them in my watch list.

The watches

I thought this looked good but don’t know the first thing about them so maybe a bit wary in case it’s been fiddled with:
An Eterna Chrono stainless steel gentleman’s bracelet wristwatch, Ref. 154 FTP, circa 1968-1969,

Inside lurks an unsigned Valjoux 72 (or maybe 726) movement and what looks like an original bracelet. Part of me thinks the bracelet might even be Gay Freres but they don’t show the inner clasp. The case back is way too shiny so looks like it’s been prepped for sale, which raises my spidey sense a little. Hammered at £1250 (so nearly £1700 before delivery).

A Seiko Chronograph Automatic ‘Panda’ stainless steel gentleman’s bracelet wristwatch, Ref. 6138-

Awful dial on the Panda but I’d toss it on eBay at £0.99 starting price and I’m sure it would get a couple of £100s. The 6119 would offset the costs by £50 or whatever too. Hammered at £160 = £220 inc fees. I half wish I’d been bidding as the Stelux bracelet on the Panda is worth at least £150 IMO.

A Seiko ‘Bullhead’ Chronograph Automatic stainless steel gentleman’s bracelet wristwatch, Ref. 61 –

Bullheads are not my thing but this looked like an OK example. Hammer £300 (£406 inc)

A Seiko 5 Sports Automatic stainless steel gentleman’s bracelet wristwatch, Ref. 6319-6000, circa –

I like the 6602 and that Beads of Rice (BoR) bracelet looks good. Hammered at only £90 (£122 inc). Had I been in the room or online buying other stuff as well, I’d have definitely gone for this.

A Seiko 5 Sports Chronograph Speed-Timer stainless steel gentleman’s bracelet wristwatch, Ref. 70

I’m not that keen on any of these – the 6139 is OK but I’ve had a few lighter dial versions and never really bonded. The 7015 is unusual and has the 5 SPORTS clasp too. I reckon the 6119 and 6139 would return £250+ if disposed of on eBay. Hammer £260 (£352 inc)

A Seiko Chronograph Automatic stainless steel gentleman’s bracelet wristwatch, Ref. 6139-6002, ci – a Decent looking blue Pogue from 1971 but I think it’s on an aftermarket (AM) bracelet, and a 6139A movement from May 71 seems a bit late to me. I have several 6139B watches from late 1970 or early 1971 so I think this one could be a mash-up. Hammered at £240 but £325 isn’t much of a bargain…

‍Rough Rough

A Seiko ‘Pogue’ Chronograph Automatic stainless steel gentleman’s bracelet wristwatch, Ref. 6139- consecutive lot to the blue one so almost certainly the same vendor (ie the person or business who consigned these lots to be auctioned). In some ways, the auctioneer should pick up on condition issues and obvious replacements but to be fair to them, they have many lots to handle and they can’t know everything about each one. If the vendor shows up and says it’s all good, they’re likely to believe it.

This one has Big red flags – AM bracelet, AM dial, AM bezel, notch case and a June 74 6005 case back that looks a little too polished and crisply stamped for my liking. This Pogue is a shaggy dog. Hammered for £380 (£515 incl) and the movement looks as dry as an old sock. Someone is going to have buyers’ remorse.

A Seiko Chronograph Automatic stainless steel gentleman’s bracelet wristwatch, Ref. 6139-6012, ci

Again, I don’t care for the 6119 so that would be straight on eBay for some kind of funds recovery. The 6139 looks so-so, but I’d have the bracelet off it, whack it on a strap, and dump it on eBay right away. Hammered £200 or £271 inclusive. if the Bruce Lee bracelet is in good shape and a decent length, it’s worth £100 of anyone’s money all day.