What's more rewarding than a perpetual collection? A collection capable of generating enormous financial returns whilst being enjoyable and practical. Beginning a watch collection has to be one of the best things I have ever done but you must ensure you know what you are doing.
Before you begin searching for the perfect timepiece, a search that can last a collector a lifetime, you must know what you are looking for. Will you go vintage or modern? New or second hand? Quartz or mechanical? Price point?
I wish I had read an article like this, heard the advice this article contains. This would have reduced my risk and prevented some very expensive lessons (also known as mistakes.)
I remember one of my watch catastrophe. After hours and hours of searching ebay I found an Omega constellation for $1000 and going up in a bidding war. I began bidding adding a third competitor to the auction. I didn’t notice until I received it the poorly stamped back or the perfectly square date window, both indicative of a fake. I won the auction for $1,500. Fortunately I was able to return the watch but I recommend you always pay attention to the small details, the subtle signs of fakes.
A real Omega Constellation courtesy of CataWiki
Ok so if you decide you want to go vintage you must keep in mind vintage can have impressive financial returns but increased risk. You can run the risk of purchasing a Franken watch, a watch that contains both original and replica or aftermarket parts. This can be hard to notice to an untrained eye and can make the watch worthless in some people's opinion.
Additionally, vintage watches require frequent maintenance which can be expensive and difficult to find reliable watch technicians. However, Brand new watches usually have this maintenance covered under warranty and therefore you can trust the technician but the warranty will still run out.
If you are purchasing a brand new watch from a reliable retailer you can also rest assured that your watch will be authentic and certainly not be a franken watch. Keep in mind that a brand new watch is more likely to depreciate but if you buy a limited edition or a watch brand like a Patek Phillipe it wont.
The next question is whether you want quartz or mechanical. These days quartz watches are not worth nearly as much as mechanical, however quartz watches are more accurate, rarely requires maintenance but quartz watches are more likely to depreciate compared to mechanical.
During the quartz crisis where most luxury watch companies moved to quartz, seeking accuracy and cheaper manufacture, mechanical watches became more collectable and important to the collectors in fear that mechanical watches would soon disappear.
Eventually mechanical watches became popular again but ever since then their value has always increased like their popularity. Mechanical watches are also engineering marvels and true 4 dimensional artworks.
Vacheron Constantin Meitiers D'Art courtesy of Vacheron Constantin
In conclusion, starting a watch collection requires time and money; which they usually return very quickly. A collection will be fun and rewarding but best of all everything you collect along the line will offer immortality as your watches become apart of you.
Before you begin searching for the perfect timepiece, a search that can last a collector a lifetime, you must know what you are looking for. Will you go vintage or modern? New or second hand? Quartz or mechanical? Price point?
I wish I had read an article like this, heard the advice this article contains. This would have reduced my risk and prevented some very expensive lessons (also known as mistakes.)
I remember one of my watch catastrophe. After hours and hours of searching ebay I found an Omega constellation for $1000 and going up in a bidding war. I began bidding adding a third competitor to the auction. I didn’t notice until I received it the poorly stamped back or the perfectly square date window, both indicative of a fake. I won the auction for $1,500. Fortunately I was able to return the watch but I recommend you always pay attention to the small details, the subtle signs of fakes.
A real Omega Constellation courtesy of CataWiki
Ok so if you decide you want to go vintage you must keep in mind vintage can have impressive financial returns but increased risk. You can run the risk of purchasing a Franken watch, a watch that contains both original and replica or aftermarket parts. This can be hard to notice to an untrained eye and can make the watch worthless in some people's opinion.
Additionally, vintage watches require frequent maintenance which can be expensive and difficult to find reliable watch technicians. However, Brand new watches usually have this maintenance covered under warranty and therefore you can trust the technician but the warranty will still run out.
If you are purchasing a brand new watch from a reliable retailer you can also rest assured that your watch will be authentic and certainly not be a franken watch. Keep in mind that a brand new watch is more likely to depreciate but if you buy a limited edition or a watch brand like a Patek Phillipe it wont.
The next question is whether you want quartz or mechanical. These days quartz watches are not worth nearly as much as mechanical, however quartz watches are more accurate, rarely requires maintenance but quartz watches are more likely to depreciate compared to mechanical.
During the quartz crisis where most luxury watch companies moved to quartz, seeking accuracy and cheaper manufacture, mechanical watches became more collectable and important to the collectors in fear that mechanical watches would soon disappear.
Eventually mechanical watches became popular again but ever since then their value has always increased like their popularity. Mechanical watches are also engineering marvels and true 4 dimensional artworks.
Vacheron Constantin Meitiers D'Art courtesy of Vacheron Constantin
In conclusion, starting a watch collection requires time and money; which they usually return very quickly. A collection will be fun and rewarding but best of all everything you collect along the line will offer immortality as your watches become apart of you.
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