So if something is priced to sell, those people will be all over it. Watches hammering below market price are a rare occurrence. Don't mistake what I'm saying here though. Register and bid as if you are going to snag the watch for a steal! Do it. You'll learn a ton about how auctions work, the way your heart will start to race a few lots out, and the crazy thoughts that start to pulse through your brain when you get outbid.
I found out later that the watch went to an acquaintance, who, as far as I know, still has the watch. C'est la vie. The watch world all too often falls into the habit of making things black-and-white issues.
I could write a whole story about how that's a terrible thing and how it forces people out of collecting and encourages negative ways of interacting with one another, but I'll save my preaching for another time. Except on this point. You do not need to be "a vintage watch guy" or "a modern watch gal. Jack recently reminded me that watchmaking has been going on for roughly years, so to say that you only want to learn about wristwatches from a 10 or 20 year period is rather foolish.
Sure, you can specialize and figure out what you really like, but that's something you should do over time and come to organically. It doesn't need to be a motto you tattoo on your forearm the moment you buy your first watch. Here's a suggestion: Find a modern watch and a vintage watch that are related to one another and wear them on alternating days.
Whether that means a vintage Sub and one with a ceramic bezel or juxtaposing a ref. You'll learn a ton about what differentiates these pieces, despite their shared core, and in the process, you'll figure out what works for you. And if that's "both," all the better.
Bracelets are all the rage these days. Watches like the Royal Oak and Nautilus, which are defined by their integrated bracelets, have multi-year waitlists, and I dare you to try to find a modern steel-bracelet Rolex in a display case anywhere on planet Earth.
Even gold watches on bracelets are popular right now, despite the fact that they can be rather heavy and those bracelets take scratches if you breathe on them funny. Don't get me wrong, I love a good bracelet. In fact, I bought my Rolex Explorer largely because it came on a special bracelet Google "Rolex Oyster stretch bracelet" , but they're not the only option. Straps can be incredible. Swapping a strap can take a watch that you're totally bored with and make it the star of your collection.
That can mean trading out unlined cordovan for roughed-out suede or changing a well-worn leather strap for a nylon NATO. There are almost endless options out there, and tons of makers are finding new materials, new finishes, and new colors to make things even more exciting. There are two basic bits of advice here.
First, don't limit yourself to watches that can be paired with bracelets. You'd be missing out on many of the greatest watches of all time, and that would be a damn shame.
Second, try taking the bracelet off one of your watches and giving a strap a go. I bet you'll find things you love about the watch that you didn't realize before, or you'll find ways to wear the watch that just didn't work before.
It's an easy way to get more out of something you already own. In this article's predecessor, Ben encouraged everyone to own an Omega Speedmaster at some point in their collecting journey. I still think that's solid advice. Even if you end up selling it, you can't truly appreciate the Speedy until you've got one to strap on in the morning, and there might be no watch that more perfectly encapsulates a mix of history, watchmaking, and culture in one piece. I'm going to add something else to your must-own-at-some-point list: A vintage Rolex sport watch.
Modern watch collecting was basically built around vintage Rolex, starting in the late s and hitting new highs over the last 10 years or so. This includes Daytona-mania, the '70s Submariner becoming the de facto "cool dude watch," and much more.
To really understand how vintage watch collecting became something that even approaches mainstream, you have to start with vintage Rolex.
I say that you should start with a vintage Rolex sport watch because those are the pieces that really define the category as it exists today. I'd suggest going with a Submariner or GMT-Master with a faded bezel, a quality dial, and maybe something interesting about it if you can swing it underline dial, small GMT hand, etc.
You'll learn a ton in the process of hunting for the right watch, and you'll get the full vintage Rolex experience. Daytonas are incredible, but maybe an aggressive start.
Explorers are my personal favorite, but you don't get the bezel factor. And if these watches are too expensive, just find yourself a great Datejust or Air King. This might be the most understandable mistake on this list. I think it's pretty universal among new watch enthusiasts to experience some sticker-shock. Even if you're familiar with the idea that quality watches can be expensive, I don't know many people who see a five-figure price on a year-old sport watch and don't think "Wait, what?!
And what comes with this is the idea that if you're going to sink your hard-earned money into a watch, it had better be more than just a purchase. It doesn't always work out that way though. Like art, cars, or any other collectible, watches are subject to market forces, whether we're talking pre-owned modern watches or vintage classics. You can do your best to buy pieces that have large followings, you can buy the best quality you can see point one above , and you can make sure you're getting the real deal by not grabbing watches from sketchy sources.
Ultimately, though, you can't control what comes in and out of fashion. You can't control global economic forces. You can't control what happens to the watch collecting hobby at large. Definitely buy smart, and don't throw your money away, but buy what you love. If you're looking to earn a steady return rate, there are financial vehicles for that. If you're looking to have fun, learn a lot, and maybe not lose money down the line, watches are a great option.
And if you sell something at a profit, all the better! These brands also do not simply just insert these movements into their watches.
They assemble and modify them as they see fit. Although a smaller brand, the Ming The ETA movement base was so heavily reworked, the resulting movement aesthetic is completely different. Even Ming himself noted the work that went into overhauling the movement architecture was so great they may have been better off designing their own caliber from scratch.
A great example of the value of workhorse-powered watches are vintage Tudor Submariners versus vintage Rolex Submariners. They were effectively the same watch, with the only difference being the Tudor was powered by an ETA movement versus a Rolex manufacture movement. Military services around the world recognised this fact and eventually opted for Tudor watches for personnel instead of their more expensive Rolex counterparts.
They were able to obtain the same quality watch at a lower cost, and this is no less true today. Auction houses are dominated by Swiss Made watches. This is not only due to their exceptional quality, which cannot be refuted, but the fact that collectors have historically ignored watchmakers from other countries. This sentiment is slowly being eroded by modern collectors, but the resale value of non-Swiss watches have a bit more catching up to do to match their Swiss peers.
Is an A. The good news for the consumer is that these expectations and stereotypes currently benefit the educated consumer. Grand Seiko watches are very competitively priced in an effort to draw more attention to their timepieces — creations that are crafted to a very high degree. Most companies would be hard pressed to have black polished components in their movements. Grand Seiko black polishes its cases, hands and markers, presenting a much higher level of quality at a lower cost. Ask any of the top watch collectors around the world about watches as investments and they will all have the same answer: there are far better ways to invest your money.
Yet, we as a group still value a watch on its resale value in favour of its horological merits. This is extremely damaging to the larger watch industry, as well as the buying experience for consumers. It is the overwhelming demand for these watches that is generated by a blend of scarcity and perceived value. For those who cry that the industry lacks risks and originality, these brands are all driven by how we choose to spend our money.
The more diverse our watch purchases are, the more diverse the creations will become. But if we all opt for the same brands and designs, we only encourage watch aesthetics to become more and more homogenised. That being said, the best flex is one of originality and having an honest connection and affection for the timepiece you own.
I see this all the time in Facebook groups, Instagram posts and comments, and in forums across the internet. I am bitter. We all are, as the majority of us are denied the ability to get Rolex watches at our AD. I had to trade a Patek Philippe and an Omega watch in order to fund my own Rolex Submariner, which fortunately for me was not listed too far above its retail price.
But bitter sentiment aside, Rolex manufacturing is the pinnacle of industrial watchmaking. I will not deny the aura of the crown and that prices are higher than ever as a result of brand name and power, but I will defend the quality of their watches and level of work it takes to make them.
Rolex watches are extensively tried and tested in their laboratories before they reach the cases or safes of their Authorised Dealers. Rolex boasts that it takes a year to actually make one of their watches, which may seem like a false narrative based on the fact they produce a million watches per year. The reality is that the time-intensive labour of creation is due to a balance of meticulous fabrication and testing of their components.
Hahah Quote:. The more I read, the more I like the Watch Snob. We may not always like what he says, nor how he says it, but it's often difficult to argue his basic message. Originally Posted by Timber Loftis. Absolutely agreed. If you don't like the Snob, then buy a better watch. Originally Posted by cedargrove. The watch snob is a great read. Nah, he would hang me out to dry for owning, and liking, a Panerai.
Originally Posted by MoBe. I get the feeling that the guy asking the question was having some fun and I wouldn't expect anything less from the watch snob in response:.
You can checkout any time you like, But you can never leave! The Watch Snob thrives on criticism. That's why he they calls himself the Watch Snob and not the Watch Maven or the Watch Font of Knowledge or some such and why he adopts the condescending air. I think his advice is pretty much right on, besides being entertaining. I don't like the watch snob. That is because he doesn't know. To him, if a watch is expensive then it is good and the more expensive, the better the watch must be.
This shows his limited knowledge of watches. It's a bit like me and kettles random object as example. I can't tell you what makes it better though. I actually like the Snob. Usually pretty funny and I confess that I agree with him more than not. Not a fan of the three editors in charge of the content, it's base level drivel created for shock value.
Either way it's like shooting fish in barrel, not challenging or interesting. Thread Tools. The watch snob gets attacked! User Name.
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