Hypothetically.
Discussion
Imagine for a moment that you're me. You don't have to be this fat, but you can if you like.
I wear 'boutique' watches, around £500-£1,000, and I am happy with them. However, I know they don't represent a very safe place to put money, although I do have a Seamaster. So; what watch(es) should I be buying for investment?
I know somebody (Hackett, I think) recently had a buy-back guarantee on Rolexes, so that would suggest they're pretty safe. I don't need instant return, but I'm not looking to lock something away for fifty years. So if you were me (but knowing what you know, not what I don't know), where would you put your money for3, 5 or 10 years.
Budget is flexible. £5k or £10k, maybe £20k for a sure thing
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I wear 'boutique' watches, around £500-£1,000, and I am happy with them. However, I know they don't represent a very safe place to put money, although I do have a Seamaster. So; what watch(es) should I be buying for investment?
I know somebody (Hackett, I think) recently had a buy-back guarantee on Rolexes, so that would suggest they're pretty safe. I don't need instant return, but I'm not looking to lock something away for fifty years. So if you were me (but knowing what you know, not what I don't know), where would you put your money for3, 5 or 10 years.
Budget is flexible. £5k or £10k, maybe £20k for a sure thing
.All IMO, but if you buy something that's already rare and coveted for a reason then you might lose money, but not as much as you risk by "buying something you like" like a Ulysse Nardin or something with a diamond skull on it.
A Cal 321 Speedmaster will always be an early Speedmaster, for example. And nothing anyone does can change that. Likewise early Heuers. Wheras the Seamaster Professional seems to be being pushed aside by the PO now and may look unfashionable in twenty years (although I can't see anyone ever saying no to one with sword hands!)
Of course with vintage you then have the dilemma of whether to wear a watch when the bezel alone is worth so much. Away from vintage, anything that's stayed more or less the same for years has a price that has some kind of stability.
Speedmasters & Subs have always been around and always will be (so long as the companies survive). If I were really boring and safe, that's where I'd go.
None of this takes into account fashion, of course. In 30 years we might all be back to wearing elegant gold dress watches and wonder why anyone would want a dull military Rolex that's been through the mud or something associated with those dirty rockets we used to fire into space when we were competing against our fluffy Russian overlords.
A Cal 321 Speedmaster will always be an early Speedmaster, for example. And nothing anyone does can change that. Likewise early Heuers. Wheras the Seamaster Professional seems to be being pushed aside by the PO now and may look unfashionable in twenty years (although I can't see anyone ever saying no to one with sword hands!)
Of course with vintage you then have the dilemma of whether to wear a watch when the bezel alone is worth so much. Away from vintage, anything that's stayed more or less the same for years has a price that has some kind of stability.
Speedmasters & Subs have always been around and always will be (so long as the companies survive). If I were really boring and safe, that's where I'd go.
None of this takes into account fashion, of course. In 30 years we might all be back to wearing elegant gold dress watches and wonder why anyone would want a dull military Rolex that's been through the mud or something associated with those dirty rockets we used to fire into space when we were competing against our fluffy Russian overlords.
Watches are a stupid investment. If you want to invest, consider a cash ISA. If you want a riskier investment, consider a stocks and shares ISA. If that's not enough of a gamble for you, stick some rubles under the mattress.
If you buy second hand and buy wisely, some watches will hold their value.
If you buy a new Rolex, get lucky and pick the right model, put it in a safe and never wear it then you might get lucky and see an increase over inflation. More likely it will hold it's value.
Its quite easy to say "Model xyz was worth £1234 when bought in 199x and now its worth 3 times that." the difficulty lies in picking which model to buy today to achieve a return in the future. You might get lucky, you probably won't.
Buy a watch you like. Buy second hand, buy something that isn't odd ball, buy a decent brand. You'll probably get your cash back. Don't treat it as an investment and you won't be disappointed. And if you do get lucky, that's a bonus.
If you buy second hand and buy wisely, some watches will hold their value.
If you buy a new Rolex, get lucky and pick the right model, put it in a safe and never wear it then you might get lucky and see an increase over inflation. More likely it will hold it's value.
Its quite easy to say "Model xyz was worth £1234 when bought in 199x and now its worth 3 times that." the difficulty lies in picking which model to buy today to achieve a return in the future. You might get lucky, you probably won't.
Buy a watch you like. Buy second hand, buy something that isn't odd ball, buy a decent brand. You'll probably get your cash back. Don't treat it as an investment and you won't be disappointed. And if you do get lucky, that's a bonus.
mikeveal said:
Watches are a stupid investment. If you want to invest, consider a cash ISA. If you want a riskier investment, consider a stocks and shares ISA. If that's not enough of a gamble for you, stick some rubles under the mattress.
If you buy second hand and buy wisely, some watches will hold their value.
If you buy a new Rolex, get lucky and pick the right model, put it in a safe and never wear it then you might get lucky and see an increase over inflation. More likely it will hold it's value.
Its quite easy to say "Model xyz was worth £1234 when bought in 199x and now its worth 3 times that." the difficulty lies in picking which model to buy today to achieve a return in the future. You might get lucky, you probably won't.
Buy a watch you like. Buy second hand, buy something that isn't odd ball, buy a decent brand. You'll probably get your cash back. Don't treat it as an investment and you won't be disappointed. And if you do get lucky, that's a bonus.
I have money in both cash and Stocks and Shares ISAs. I have money in a couple of start up companies, and in property. I have no particular wish to wear the watches I would invest in, just looking for something fun which might return more than 4% pa, ideally.If you buy second hand and buy wisely, some watches will hold their value.
If you buy a new Rolex, get lucky and pick the right model, put it in a safe and never wear it then you might get lucky and see an increase over inflation. More likely it will hold it's value.
Its quite easy to say "Model xyz was worth £1234 when bought in 199x and now its worth 3 times that." the difficulty lies in picking which model to buy today to achieve a return in the future. You might get lucky, you probably won't.
Buy a watch you like. Buy second hand, buy something that isn't odd ball, buy a decent brand. You'll probably get your cash back. Don't treat it as an investment and you won't be disappointed. And if you do get lucky, that's a bonus.
I had been told that Rolex's pricing policy will always ensure a buoyant pre-owned market, so was thinking of maybe a Sub, a Deepsea and a Daytona, but then I wondered about the wisdom of putting all my eggs into one proverbial basket.
An authentic (make sure to check) Rolex 16650 Explorer II with the cream dial. Will post pics/more details later, but for <£10k I should think it's a very safe place to put money, whilst being a great and rare watch, that manages to be both a stainless steel Rolex sports watch and something a bit different.
Days Like These said:
An authentic (make sure to check) Rolex 16650 Explorer II with the cream dial. Will post pics/more details later, but for <£10k I should think it's a very safe place to put money, whilst being a great and rare watch, that manages to be both a stainless steel Rolex sports watch and something a bit different.
I bought my Explorer 2 white face, from Lesley Davis Oxford Street, brand new in 1995.Paid £1750. I still have the original receipt, box, papers even the business card from the store manager.
I think realistically I could sell it now for £2750.
I know you see them for more but that's from a dealer so I'd say £2750 would be a private price. It's been worn every day (almost) and bears the scars but I think a day with a refurbished would see it in a window for £3,750 with maybe a sale c£3500.
So that would be better than inflation and not by much, a new one also retails at close to £6,000 so although it's easy to say my £1,750 watch us now a £6000 watch it isn't.
So I think realistically your only chance is to buy a used watch.
Mine isn't gif sale by the way :-)
Doofus said:
I have money in both cash and Stocks and Shares ISAs. I have money in a couple of start up companies, and in property. I have no particular wish to wear the watches I would invest in, just looking for something fun which might return more than 4% pa, ideally.
I had been told that Rolex's pricing policy will always ensure a buoyant pre-owned market, so was thinking of maybe a Sub, a Deepsea and a Daytona, but then I wondered about the wisdom of putting all my eggs into one proverbial basket.
In that case you don't need to read further than my first sentence above. I had been told that Rolex's pricing policy will always ensure a buoyant pre-owned market, so was thinking of maybe a Sub, a Deepsea and a Daytona, but then I wondered about the wisdom of putting all my eggs into one proverbial basket.
It might return more than 4%, but in all probability all you'll manage to do is break even. If you're looking purely as an investment, the advice is: "Dumb investment choice, look elsewhere."
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