Mark-
Thanks for the great post that freshens up my memory from my twenty years or so in watch purgatory. That NY is inhospitable to vintage watches is strange, even for a flashy city. The fact is that in almost every other commercial aspect, there is a stratification of offerings based on class, wealth, specialized interest, etc. This is a city where, with a little digging, you can find highly specialized art, fashion, food, antiques, books, accesories, and pretty much anything under the sun--except decent collections of vintage watches!!

You are spot on in your assesment of Tourneau--I dealt with the owners a number of years ago when they were seeking a store to rent. They are a product of their success--on the one hand they have introduced many new brands to the US, but it is a gross oversight that they jumble vintage and "pre-owned." Where the "Time Machine" could have been a great departure point for a knowledgable source for vintage, it is vanquished to the basement with the budget brand offerings. Worse is the store's unwillingness to properly train its staff, who are like car salespeople of yesteryear: what Rolex do you want to buy today??

Kenjo has really nice modern collections and will take pieces in trade, but they clearly do not have an abiding interest in vintage, a pity because they are in a great location on W.57th Street.

I am very suprised that some of the boutiques: Lauren, Paul Smith, Armani, have not seized the gap here. Wth their European sensilbility and connections, they could have a lock on the vintage trade, which I think would complement their core business rather nicely.

Glad you found at least that one decent shop and the race display at Macy's (you mean you didn't buy a gold-plated Citizen Esquire?)--here and there, some dealers in Greenwich Village will have something decent, but it is usually just dumb luck and they will have virtually no knowledge about the piece.

As for 47th Street, it is like Hercules descending...