Investment watches
Discussion
Recently read an article in the Guardian...(I think) about the values of certain watches which seem to have been unaffected by the 'credit crunch'. It mentioned the Rolex Explorer with orange dials as one which gained a signifiacnt amount.
What would you consider as a good watch as a long term investment...I seem to recall the article mentioned the Panerai Radomir as one to look out for. How about some of the recently discontinued Rolexes ..i.e GMT 2.
Any Thoughts?
What would you consider as a good watch as a long term investment...I seem to recall the article mentioned the Panerai Radomir as one to look out for. How about some of the recently discontinued Rolexes ..i.e GMT 2.
Any Thoughts?
?I read that article too and I believe it was in the FT.
Mark Twain once said, "Buy land. They're not making it anymore!" and I think the same approach to collectables for investment is appropriate. With that in mind, I think the most collectable watches are older vintage models that just won't be made anymore.
My personal belief is that Panerais, Omegas etc are a kind of Fool's Gold because though they may issue a "limited edition" from time to time that won't be repeated, brands like Panerai, that are owned by the commercially minded Richemont, group or Omega, owned by the equally commercially minded Swatch group, will continue to issue "limited editions" until they debased the term and ultimately their brand. By that point they won't mind as much because they will have made their money. As an example (though perhaps extreme) think what GUS did to Burberry.
However, older watches (admittedly even by Omega) simply will never be made anymore (there are only a finite number of 1930 Pateks one can buy). They hark from a time when watches were really in limited production and didn't have the advertising spend behind them that today's brands do. In addition, this history and kudos is increasingly being sought after by a whole new emerging market of consumers: the Chinese, Russians, Indians etc. (just look at the prices from the last Antiquorum) so I actually think there is a good investment to be made here.
As you may have guessed by now, I'm talking up my own position in antique watches. I have purchased some pieces and they are sitting in a bank vault somewhere until an appropriate time. I can highly recommend the knowledge and experience of a couple of guys that run a store in Grays Antique Market off Bond St in London called Collected. They also have a website www.collected.co.uk which displays many of the pieces they have. At the very least it's worth going in and chatting with them about the market and maybe even ogling a few of their watches. After that, the decision is yours but that is my 2 cents worth on the topic. Good Luck!
Mark Twain once said, "Buy land. They're not making it anymore!" and I think the same approach to collectables for investment is appropriate. With that in mind, I think the most collectable watches are older vintage models that just won't be made anymore.
My personal belief is that Panerais, Omegas etc are a kind of Fool's Gold because though they may issue a "limited edition" from time to time that won't be repeated, brands like Panerai, that are owned by the commercially minded Richemont, group or Omega, owned by the equally commercially minded Swatch group, will continue to issue "limited editions" until they debased the term and ultimately their brand. By that point they won't mind as much because they will have made their money. As an example (though perhaps extreme) think what GUS did to Burberry.
However, older watches (admittedly even by Omega) simply will never be made anymore (there are only a finite number of 1930 Pateks one can buy). They hark from a time when watches were really in limited production and didn't have the advertising spend behind them that today's brands do. In addition, this history and kudos is increasingly being sought after by a whole new emerging market of consumers: the Chinese, Russians, Indians etc. (just look at the prices from the last Antiquorum) so I actually think there is a good investment to be made here.
As you may have guessed by now, I'm talking up my own position in antique watches. I have purchased some pieces and they are sitting in a bank vault somewhere until an appropriate time. I can highly recommend the knowledge and experience of a couple of guys that run a store in Grays Antique Market off Bond St in London called Collected. They also have a website www.collected.co.uk which displays many of the pieces they have. At the very least it's worth going in and chatting with them about the market and maybe even ogling a few of their watches. After that, the decision is yours but that is my 2 cents worth on the topic. Good Luck!
I found a little shop in Amsterdam, when I was over visiting friends the other weekend... They had a nice, antique Daytona in the window, so I tried it on...
It was a 1966 model and it was up for 32,000 Euros! Although, I expect there was some haggling margin in there! Boy, would I love that watch, it was absolutely beautiful! I guess it's the sort of watch that will continue to appreciate and I will never be able to afford one, or have that sort of money to spend on a watch!
It was a 1966 model and it was up for 32,000 Euros! Although, I expect there was some haggling margin in there! Boy, would I love that watch, it was absolutely beautiful! I guess it's the sort of watch that will continue to appreciate and I will never be able to afford one, or have that sort of money to spend on a watch!
I believe this is what is known as a Steve McQueen one as it was his day to day watch, when he wasn't wearing Heuers on set. They sometimes come up on the normal suspect sites, one who do seem to get a good range of good watches is Blowers Jewellers - never bought from them mind as have had a wedding to pay for!
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