What determines the value of a watch?

caesar

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May 30, 2010
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When I look at watches like Rolex, I think of rich people who have no taste. When I see Pateks, I think of rich people who lack creativity and imagination. When I see any Panerais, I think their owners should be locked up.

Call me a simpleton, but I base my decisions on design. My favorite watches are Omega Planet Ocean and Porsche Design Flat 6.

http://www.omegawatches.com/gents/seamaster/planet-ocean/23232422101005

http://www.porsche-design.com/inter...6000timepieces/flat6/automatic/4046901701321/

But again, I am a simpleton. So other than diamonds, what determines the value of a watch? Any watch brands actually appreciate in value?
 

rockitman

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Sep 20, 2011
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provoctive thread. I own Rolex, Blancpain and Omega...Planet Ocean Chrono. I like it better than my rollie cosmograph. I do not think of watches in the way you do however...status symbols ? Weak sauce..
 

JackD201

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Apr 20, 2010
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I'll be brutally honest as to how I choose my watches.......fashion accessory.

Where am I going? What will I do there? What will I be wearing for that activity?

Women dress top to bottom. We guys are lucky. Nice watch, nice shoes, good to go. Number one criteria for me is comfort. It has got to feel good on my wrist. Criteria number two is that my watch should never be louder than I am and I'm not a loud guy. In other words it's got to reflect my personality which is relaxed and casual. Even my watches for black tie occasions have a bit of sportiness to them.

I have nothing against any of the brands mentioned by the OP. There are people that can carry those watches and those that can't. To me its how those guys behave and deal with other people. I never judge people by what they wear or what car they drive or whatever.
 

FrantzM

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Apr 20, 2010
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Hi

Indeed provocative thread. My take on it is however we want to dress it, vanity is human and a watch is that.We call some of those "fine" watches and frankly they are as Jack says fashion accessory , I will add, and status symbol. let's be honest and admit that much. Their basic function is always better accomplished by specimen costing thousand time less or by a cell phone, an accessory, the way it is going every single human being on this planet will soon possess...
The choice of a watch doesn't confer any superiority (or inferiority) to its wearer.Be it a Porsche Design or a Rolex or a Panerai ... It just an expression of taste and personality.

I love watches but no longer actively try to acquire them or even inquire about them. As for their true value ... If you think Audio is overpriced ...
 

Kingsrule

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Feb 3, 2011
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Number one for me it is reliability. And in my experience that means Rolex.
Second is resale. Other than the very obscure stuff, that means Rolex and Patek.
Other than that I could care less what anyone thinks about my watches.
 

JackD201

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Apr 20, 2010
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What determines the value of a watch?

Demand.

That would be the one word, yes. Like anything else there are fads and there are classics. I don't own any ultra-expensive watches. I've never even bought a gold watch for myself. The few expensive watches I do own I only bought when we finally had a son. Watches make great heirlooms. Good watches can last forever but most importantly they are personal. I have one passed down from my grandfather, all of us male grand kids got one. Seeing it and holding it brings back many happy memories. I'd like to pass some on to my grandkids someday.
 

edorr

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May 10, 2010
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What determines the value of a watch?

Demand.

Keep in mind that without marketing / branding, demand for luxury watched would be non-existent. So the "value" of a Rolex (or any other luxury watch) is the premium a buyer is willing to pay for it above the price of an equally reliable watch with similar aesthetic appearance/appeal. This premium is a function of Rolex' marketing / branding (supply) strategy. This strategy results in "demand" and a value premium.
 

Jazzhead

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For a watch collector it is the movement or type of complication that sets it apart . A tourbillon is a highly sought after movement , it was the very essence of a horological marvel back in the day . Today a much cheaper basic movement is capable of greater accuracy , however the tourbillon is still a highly priced and sought after movement amongst collectors . The other popular movements are the world timer , dual time , seven day power reserve to name a few . A well worked movement , is most often displayed in a see thru case back . My personal favourites are the A. Lange & Söhne pieces , works of art . Never tire admiring their workmanship and finish . Here's a nice bunch .... picture.JPG
 

flez007

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Aug 31, 2010
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For a watch collector it is the movement or type of complication that sets it apart . A tourbillon is a highly sought after movement , it was the very essence of a horological marvel back in the day . Today a much cheaper basic movement is capable of greater accuracy , however the tourbillon is still a highly priced and sought after movement amongst collectors . The other popular movements are the world timer , dual time , seven day power reserve to name a few . A well worked movement , is most often displayed in a see thru case back . My personal favourites are the A. Lange & Söhne pieces , works of art . Never tire admiring their workmanship and finish . Here's a nice bunch .... View attachment 8930

Nice!

For me is design, complications and POO.
 

Jazzhead

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L1130384.jpg
 

Jazzhead

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L1040987.jpg
 

Jazzhead

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_8001414-v1.jpg
 

Jazzhead

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DSC_6265.jpg
 

cjfrbw

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Apr 20, 2010
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I think that watches are amazing, and I like seeing people wearing them, but as veblens I can't get into them.

I wear a lime green timex waterproof with large LED that I got for $4 from Goodwill, I wear it when I go stand up paddle boarding, and a big knobby Casio sport type that lights up that I got online for $30.

Supposedly, only old gomers wear watches anymore, it is an age discrimination thing, because young hipsters use their cell phones to tell the time. I heard that they recommend that job seekers in tech who are older than 40 NOT wear watches when going for interviews.
 

LL21

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Dec 26, 2010
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Stunning...all great watches and one of the best manufactures out there. Compare second hand sweep of many Patek and Lange to some of the others. Quite interesting. So smooth it's like there is no ticking.
 

mep

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Apr 20, 2010
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Carl

I agree completely with your last paragraph. My older kids wear watches whereas my youngest use their cell phones for time

My wrist feels 'naked' without a watch. I hate it when I forget to put my watch on in the morning and then go to work. I will look at my wrist at least a dozen times a day because I'm so used to my watch being there and feel like a big dummy every time because I forgot that I forgot to put it on.
 

microstrip

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(...) Supposedly, only old gomers wear watches anymore, it is an age discrimination thing, because young hipsters use their cell phones to tell the time. I heard that they recommend that job seekers in tech who are older than 40 NOT wear watches when going for interviews.

An old guy as me feels happy with your comment - very seldom I wear a watch - I also got used to look at the cell phone, my preferred watch is too noisy to be carried permanently with me. And, yes, it is one of the reasons why I listen to both analog and digital - if people could tell the time looking in analog and digital centuries ago, why should we listen to both formats? ;)

The upper dial legend says HEURES DE JOUR and the bottom one HEURES DE NUIT .
 

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docvale

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Mar 21, 2011
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As a "fine" watch enthusiast/owner, my 2 cents.

What it really counts is the value for you.
I've never consider resales, after the purchase of a watch. Nor my father, who's buying periodically new ones and has initiated me to this passion. The value of a watch, to me, doesn't stand on the second hand market value or the level of precision (for that goal, just buy cheap quartz machines...), but on the tradition that is behind the manufacture. The real thing, to me, is pride of ownership (matched with design, of course). I cannot find any other justifications for such those expenses: if a watch doesn't "click" with me, I consider it a non-sense.

My favorite brands? Jaeger LeCoultre and Vacheron Constantin. Currently, I'm wearing a IWC GST, which is not full manufacture (IWC just modifies mechanisms from 3rd parties) but took me for it's design and versatility.
 

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