Orient J39701-70 - Indianapolis 500 Logo Variants
Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2021 7:56 am
I've already written about these obscure variants of the Orient J39 'Diver' at some considerable length and in much more detail on the old forum. Unfortunately, I lumped them into this thread: Some wry observations on Orient J39 pricing, which obviously from its original title was more concerned with pricing than the watches per se. In hindsight, I probably should have created a separate dedicated topic, which I'm now doing retrospectively, 9 years later. In fact, I'd started that thread by complaining vociferously about the asking price for the very first example of an Indianapolis 500 logo'd Orient J39 that I ever clapped eyes on, which was listed on Yahoo Japan in the last week of December 2011:
http://page7.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/g104664844
★ORIENT by SEIKO-7A38ムーブメント搭載 1980年代・超レア品★
No matter how badly I may have wanted it, I stubbornly refused to pay anything like the YJ seller's asking price, with a predictable outcome, someone else bought it, albeit 20 months later. Needless to say I was extremely despondent.
That said, despite having deliberately missed the opportunity, I justified my inaction to myself on the basis of pricing, especially when in March 2019, I'd purchased 5 conventionally logo'd NOS Orient J39x01-70's for a mere $99 each !
There was still, however, a niggling void in my collection. From that sad day in August 2013 and for the next 6 years, the Indianapolis 500 logo'd Orient J39701-70 became one of my most sought-after grails. Now I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a patient person (quite the opposite), but there's an old saying: all good things come to those who wait. In September 2019 I finally spotted another example on listed on Yahoo Japan:
https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/u299733785
With the selfless assistance of Japanese forum member Daisuke, I snagged it for a remarkably satisfying 5,500 Yen.
In February 2020, I spotted this black dialed version, in virtually NOS condition, which came with its instruction leaflet:
http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f404447513
Needless to say, I was determined to win the auction, but there was rather more competition from other bidders this time and I ended up paying 31,500 Yen. A hefty price, but still somewhat less than the 'Serena_Special' example.
http://page7.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/g104664844
★ORIENT by SEIKO-7A38ムーブメント搭載 1980年代・超レア品★
No matter how badly I may have wanted it, I stubbornly refused to pay anything like the YJ seller's asking price, with a predictable outcome, someone else bought it, albeit 20 months later. Needless to say I was extremely despondent.
That said, despite having deliberately missed the opportunity, I justified my inaction to myself on the basis of pricing, especially when in March 2019, I'd purchased 5 conventionally logo'd NOS Orient J39x01-70's for a mere $99 each !
There was still, however, a niggling void in my collection. From that sad day in August 2013 and for the next 6 years, the Indianapolis 500 logo'd Orient J39701-70 became one of my most sought-after grails. Now I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a patient person (quite the opposite), but there's an old saying: all good things come to those who wait. In September 2019 I finally spotted another example on listed on Yahoo Japan:
https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/u299733785
With the selfless assistance of Japanese forum member Daisuke, I snagged it for a remarkably satisfying 5,500 Yen.
In February 2020, I spotted this black dialed version, in virtually NOS condition, which came with its instruction leaflet:
http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f404447513
Needless to say, I was determined to win the auction, but there was rather more competition from other bidders this time and I ended up paying 31,500 Yen. A hefty price, but still somewhat less than the 'Serena_Special' example.