Which watches retain their value? - Page 2

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Edited by merkur - 7/28/11 at 1:50am

So don't tell them it is.

Limited edition Panerais definitely hold their value. I actually sold one after about a year and 1/2 for a significant profit.

The OP is asking for sub-$1000 watches, so your suggestion that the OP "keep [his or her] choices" to the "harder to find" rolexes is not terribly helpful for this discussion. However, I find it hard to believe that the "run of the mill" Rolex watches do not hold "much" value. I believe a 1960's submariner will continue to appreciate...forever, and that value will be significant. Moreover, I was under the impression that any Rolex watch will retain a significant portion of its value.

However, I disagree that Omegas shouldn't be kept. If you purchase a used (vintage) omega, I see no reason to think you won't be able to sell it for equal or more money in a few years. Seamasters, for example, will continue to go up in value as they become more rare. I consider old omegas the watch equivalent to the 73-89 porsche 911 models. They are great performers, and when you want to sell them, you suffer no depreciation.

I've been telling my brother in law this for a while... then he thinks his next-level-shit is Tag.

Omega SMP should work out well for you.

with big shot financiers and hedge fund managers in distress this year, you will have plenty of chances to pick up [used] high-end watches at discount prices

On the low end, I think Hamilton watches may hold their value, at least the older ones. I am not a watch expert, though, and may be wrong.

[quote=stumy;1657765] The OP is asking for sub-$1000 watches, so your suggestion that the OP "keep [his or her] choices" to the "harder to find" rolexes is not terribly helpful for this discussion. However, I find it hard to believe that the "run of the mill" Rolex watches do not hold "much" value. I believe a 1960's submariner will continue to appreciate...forever, and that value will be significant. Moreover, I was under the impression that any Rolex watch will retain a significant portion of its value.

[quote]

There has been a surge in auction prices for rare vintage Rolexes. But that was probably driven by asset-bubble wealth and the desire among certain high-flyers to wear a conversation piece on their wrists.

Some of the more outrageous prices on stuff like Paul Newman Daytonas, James Bond submariners and Double Red Sea Dwellers probably won't be matched for a while, so if you bought a rare vintage Rolex at some kind of auction in 2006-2007, it may be difficult to recoup the loss.

In general, the secondary market for submariners is pretty good. The watch hasn't changed significantly in a long time, so unlike a lot of other brands, the watch from 15 years ago is pretty much the same as the one in the jeweler's case. In a lot of cases, the depreciation of the watch based on its year of manufacture (which can be identified from the serial number) is less than the inflation in the used market that results from a price hikes on new watches.

The Submariners, GMTs, Daytonas and Sea Dwellers seem to hold their value well because they are very iconic watches. The Milgauss is a new watch that has been sought after because it is scarce. Not sure how Yachtmasters and Explorer IIs are on the secondary market.

I know DateJusts hold their value poorly, as do Air Kings and ladies' models.




Omega took a big hit to their brand value in the 70's, but they've been building it back up with marketing and endorsements. That said, they make too many varieties of watch, and they look too different from year to year. There's no consistent design like the Submariner, and that means that the watch is less of an icon and less sought after.

On the other hand, rolex is criticized for its pervasiveness. There are a lot of submariners out there.

On the low end nothing retains its value. When they are readily available from grey market dealers at 40-60% off MSRP why should I buy your used watch when I can get BNIB for say $100 more. FWIW Omega was recently outed for bidding up the price/ purchasing some of their vintage pieces at auction annonymously. Your best option is to find said grey market dealer or buy used. I should add arecent attempt by a friend to sell an Omega SMP dd not garner any worthwhile bids.

If you buy the right Omegas they hold value well enough, the key is the purchase price. You shouldn't pay retail for a new Omega, last I got was at 22.5% off, the dealers get 45% so it seemed fair to split it.

>FWIW Omega was recently outed for bidding up the price/ purchasing some of their vintage pieces at auction annonymously

They have long bid and won on stuff for their museum, everybody knows its them, they don't hide it.

this should work Ebay listing 120363711967

Panerais are a bit fashionable at them moment. Get a more traditional watch.

http://www.timezone.com/

Patek
Rolex
Panerai
Cartier


According to a jeweler broad from a local store whom I saw a couple days ago.
She claims the whole Panerai thing is just a fad driven by dopey rich kids who fuel the demand.
BTW, I was under the impression that Cartiers stank @ holding their value
She showed me a Rolex Oyster in rose gold ($28K) which simply was suh-weet !
Ordinarily I'd have zero reaction toward Rolex watches, but that was one handsome piece.
Supposedly there's a no-dicker sticker policy for that particular maker.

I would remove Cartier from that list.