Is this 6429 / Commando worth a look?

[Spoonage]

Hi all, new to the vintage game and searching for a piece that catches my eye. Been looking at various inventory online prepping for my New Orleans trip and going into the stores to handle pieces. I came across a reference (6429) that I've never heard of. I am in the military and the brief info I pulled up on it intrigued me. Is this example worth a look?

Attached are their pictures and I have yet to see this in person.

Edit: Not my pictures.

[Spoonage]

Another picture.

[andromeda160]

Very rare ref indeed, crazy how it went from being the cheapest model offered in 72, to a highly sought after vintage, one of the rarer ones there are, up there with the space dweller in the cool unique factor.

[linesiders]

Spoon - very sought after, rare, and easily faked. If you know the source and it is from one of your VN era predecessors, you may be in luck. Many of these were sold at the local PX. A few do pop up and they were often purchased by service members originally. If you have boxes and papers - that certainly helps.

Having said that, it is real easy and real profitable for someone to fake one. I would highly recommend verifying to the nth degree.

If it is real and you do get it, do not send it anywhere, especially Rolex, for overhaul. Evah. Give a shout if you do get it.

[adam78]

Frankly, for the same money as dealers are asking for a Commando, you could get a superb gilt chapter ring 1016, perhaps with box and papers! You know which I'd prefer....

[Spoonage]

The only things I'm concerned about with this piece is that it stated that although the dial is all original, some of the lume is missing and some of the tick marks are missing between the 3 and 6 o'clock positions. Case previously polished.

Hopefully still in a good overall condition. Anyone have anything specific I should be looking for in terms of originality, etc.

[Spoonage]

Also this has box but no papers. I do know that many older (and even newer) watches have misplaced papers.

[GGGMT]

i have looked at this watch for sale at ermitage, which has had it listed for a long long long long long long time. Now I see it's listed both as sold and for $6900. I couldn't tell what was legit on the watch and what was not. Although I've never bought a watch from ermitage, I've found them helpful and candid in discussing watches with them. Good luck.

[adam78]

I've seen these listed for north of 15K. Those are the prices I was speaking of...

[Spoonage]

Adam78 - I do agree with you that there are others in the range that I would consider, however this struck my interest because I've never heard of the reference and the fact it was sold to the military on post (PX).


GGGMT - Thanks for the heads up. Was there anything in particular you were concerned with on this watch?

[GGGMT]

Nothing I could point to, other than a commando is, truly, a very rare watch that is commonly faked and I knew I didn't have the expertise to make the authenticity determination without flying to Atlanta, which I wasn't going to do. So, I just moved on to other vintage and non-vintage pieces that I know and love from sellers that Ive done business with and trust. Plus, I only buy watches with boxes and papers, which this one didn't have. Good luck!

[MILGAUSS88]

Do you have the serial number? I think the known Commandos come from very close serial numbers.

[GGGMT]

Website says 207xxx.

[harry in montreal]

As noted above, the 1016 is such a beauty. I would much rather have one than this commando. Same for the 5500 explorer. I think Paul's n the for sale section is the first one I have seen I would trust.

[MILGAUSS88]

The other Commandos I have seen come from the 207xxxx serial numbers as well.

[Spoonage]

Serial is 2075559

[andromeda160]

Ones with commando on the dial fetch up near 20, without usually near 10, even though the commando is there, 1/4 of the dial is destroyed which really plummets the value. Your not going to find a replacement dial, and it's going to be tough to sell down the road i'd imagine

[GGGMT]

Website says serial number has SIX digits -- 207XXX, which would put the watch in the early 1940s which is way too early. So hopefully, it has a 7-digit number as you note above.

[Spoonage]

Thanks GGGMT. I got that serial off of a picture of the case that they posted on their site.

[Spoonage]

I didn't have the opportunity to see this one my drive through Atlanta on the way to New Orleans. I would have been likely to pass on it anyway based on dial condition anyway.