Author Topic: Watches - info and discussion  (Read 19429 times)

Phantom Spunker

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #25 on: July 28, 2023, 12:35:56 PM »
I own 2 watches of any value. a 1990's Rolex Submariner date as my daily, and a Citizen solar powered for travel abroad. A few others that are likely under $40 each to match particular occasions. My questions are, when did you start collecting watches, what do you look for? What would be the watch you would love to have if price was no problem?

For me, I always had cheap watches that could take a beating. It's only fairly recently that I've really paid any attention to collecting them as a hobby. I used to dive a little, and I find myself drawn more to tool watches, but I also love the aesthetics of a nice dress watch.

I'd love the 18ct yellow gold Submariner with blue dial if money weren't an option. It's flashy but it would be nice to wear for special occasions. A GMT would actually be quite useful for me these days, though.

My father's best friend was one of the old-school saturation divers involved in some of the early tests that Rolex carried out. He had an original Rolex Comex watch that he eventually sold for peanuts a long time ago. He found out more recently what it would be worth these days and was absolutely raging, lol.


Agnostic007

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #26 on: July 28, 2023, 08:29:44 PM »
For me, I always had cheap watches that could take a beating. It's only fairly recently that I've really paid any attention to collecting them as a hobby. I used to dive a little, and I find myself drawn more to tool watches, but I also love the aesthetics of a nice dress watch.

I'd love the 18ct yellow gold Submariner with blue dial if money weren't an option. It's flashy but it would be nice to wear for special occasions. A GMT would actually be quite useful for me these days, though.

My father's best friend was one of the old-school saturation divers involved in some of the early tests that Rolex carried out. He had an original Rolex Comex watch that he eventually sold for peanuts a long time ago. He found out more recently what it would be worth these days and was absolutely raging, lol.

I can only imagine...

I'll likely pass this Rolex on to my son.... it just fits so many occasions. I live on the water in Florida and always in a pool or the ocean, as you know, that has no ill effects on the Submariner. Plus, it's accepted in almost every social circle when socializing. It's not ultra fancy but it carries a pedigree. I wear it playing poker and get some comments. One young guy tried to tell me it was a fake. He was certain of it. But his knowledge didn't encompass the fact mine was purchased in 1998 and he's only seen the newer ones that are 41mm.


mops

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #27 on: July 28, 2023, 10:06:23 PM »
I can only imagine...

I'll likely pass this Rolex on to my son.... it just fits so many occasions. I live on the water in Florida and always in a pool or the ocean, as you know, that has no ill effects on the Submariner. Plus, it's accepted in almost every social circle when socializing. It's not ultra fancy but it carries a pedigree. I wear it playing poker and get some comments. One young guy tried to tell me it was a fake. He was certain of it. But his knowledge didn't encompass the fact mine was purchased in 1998 and he's only seen the newer ones that are 41mm.

Pre-ceramic submariners and GMTs are the best. They look like tool watches, and as the saying goes, use your tools, don't baby them.

The late 2000s introduction of the ceramic bezel marked a turning point for the brand.  Since then, Rolex has trended towards a sleeker, more polished look which I personally dislike.

Additionally, the unethical and outright despicable practices of Rolex Authorized Dealers pushed me further away from this brand.

FitnessFrenzy

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #28 on: August 06, 2023, 12:51:20 AM »

mops

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #29 on: August 06, 2023, 09:48:33 AM »


Pre-owned market isn't doing great either

Bloomberg's Subdial 50 index.

This index is made up of the 50 most traded models on the pre-owned market. Together, they account for over 20% of total spend globally.

Calculations take into account the latest market price of each of the 50 models as well as their relative weighting based on sales value.





the 50 models in question :















Agnostic007

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #30 on: August 06, 2023, 09:21:51 PM »
Pre-owned market isn't doing great either

Bloomberg's Subdial 50 index.

This index is made up of the 50 most traded models on the pre-owned market. Together, they account for over 20% of total spend globally.

Calculations take into account the latest market price of each of the 50 models as well as their relative weighting based on sales value.





the 50 models in question :













If I read that right, my Rolex Submariner date is worth about $9K. Cool...

Agnostic007

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #31 on: August 06, 2023, 09:24:09 PM »
Pre-ceramic submariners and GMTs are the best. They look like tool watches, and as the saying goes, use your tools, don't baby them.

The late 2000s introduction of the ceramic bezel marked a turning point for the brand.  Since then, Rolex has trended towards a sleeker, more polished look which I personally dislike.

Additionally, the unethical and outright despicable practices of Rolex Authorized Dealers pushed me further away from this brand.

Do you mean asking $700+ for a service?

mops

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #32 on: August 07, 2023, 09:28:19 AM »
Do you mean asking $700+ for a service?


Authorized Dealers have been playing dirty games for a long time now. Gamea of BS, snobery and market manipulation.

They simply refuse to sell watches to customers under the false pretext that the supply they get is very limited.

They will require you to visit one of their "showrooms" and personally make a registration of demand list against a "high demand" Rolex model.

If you have the right "profile" , buy other luxury items from them, buy their overpriced in-house insurance policies and, generaly speaking, kiss the sales clerk's behind, you will "increase" your chance to receive "the call" sooner rather than later.

It can take from several months to a year+ depending on the model.

Interestingly, the flippers never seems to have any problem purchasing 5 submariners from them every year. ::)

It is also a well known fact that they discreetly sell their production to the grey market at a premium. The watches are then sold to customers at RRP x2-x5 ( RRP = Recommended Retail Price)

At their showrooms, they always try to convince you their models are hard to get and what you are seing are exhibition models only. Yet, the gray market is literally flooded with them.

Rolex has also been complicit in hiding the stolen details of their watches. They aren't always returning stolen watches to their rightful owners....

Phantom Spunker

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #33 on: August 08, 2023, 03:11:40 AM »
I met up with one of my mates the other day to catch up. He's not really a watch guy but he had a nice Rolex on, and he confessed to basically being peer-pressured into buying it, haha. One of our more 'flash' mutual friends that he works with persuaded him to come to the Rolex dealership with him and put his name down on some waiting list. He was told that he'd likely be waiting around a year. 'Great', he thought. 'That gives me loads of time and I can get out of it'. About two weeks later they rung him up, informing him of how lucky he was that the particular model he liked was now in and he could come and collect it.

Wearing the Seamaster now on its SS bracelet. I must confess, I really don't like the feel of it. I'm used to a NATO, so it feels very bulky and just seems to get in my way. Needs another link taken out, I think. It is big but not comically so.

Phantom Spunker

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #34 on: July 27, 2024, 12:32:58 PM »
This hobby has become a little obsession for me these days. I'm in the ME all year, and whenever it's a safe country, it seems that all I do in my spare time now is visit various boutiques and chat shit with the staff. I Purchased another two this year: an incredible vintage Longines for formal occasions, and a 2024 124270 Explorer. The Explorer is the perfect daily for me and I much prefer its smaller size and understated look. It's also cool to take it to some obscure places and use it as intended. I almost went for the JLC Reverso, though.

The nice thing is I've dragged my partner into it and she's started to enjoy the charade of getting offered champagne and trying things on, although she doesn't care about owning one herself.

FitnessFrenzy

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #35 on: July 31, 2024, 10:40:16 AM »
very interesting chart, mops. I think the high interest rates are to blame, but who knows...

FitnessFrenzy

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #36 on: October 20, 2024, 12:09:29 AM »

Irongrip400

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #37 on: October 21, 2024, 08:34:04 AM »
I have a 20 year old Movado in bought out of college when I got a promotion and one about 14 years old I bought on my honeymoon. I have a few Tags that are probably 8-10 years old, one a Carerra I couldn’t even find if you paid me. I also have two Breitlings I’ve bought in the last 3-4 years. A Superocean Heritage I bought in Mexico on a Disney cruise and another I bought a year or two ago, an Endurance Pro both of which I like. I didn’t realize until reading about it in threads like this, that most watches go down in value except for Rolex and Patek Philippe. There are more but I don’t know any of the names off the top of my head but it actually got me wanting to look into buying one or two of those and “Flippin up” for better watches. I go to the Caribbean a few times a year and although they have Rolex AD, all of them are used. Fuck a waiting list.

Phantom Spunker

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #38 on: October 21, 2024, 11:41:01 AM »
I have a 20 year old Movado in bought out of college when I got a promotion and one about 14 years old I bought on my honeymoon. I have a few Tags that are probably 8-10 years old, one a Carerra I couldn’t even find if you paid me. I also have two Breitlings I’ve bought in the last 3-4 years. A Superocean Heritage I bought in Mexico on a Disney cruise and another I bought a year or two ago, an Endurance Pro both of which I like. I didn’t realize until reading about it in threads like this, that most watches go down in value except for Rolex and Patek Philippe. There are more but I don’t know any of the names off the top of my head but it actually got me wanting to look into buying one or two of those and “Flippin up” for better watches. I go to the Caribbean a few times a year and although they have Rolex AD, all of them are used. Fuck a waiting list.

I couldn't be bothered with flipping them. It's too much effort for basically a few grand each time until you build up enough of a spend history to get offered the few highly coveted pieces, and even then there's a wait unless you're connected or a VIP. And with Rolex, you'd still likely be stuck with a few OPs and Datejusts that they made you purchase to 'build a relationship', and you won't make a profit on them.

With Patek, forget about it. The money is astronomical before you'd even have a hint of getting one of their sports models at retail. I chat to a Patek boutique manager and AP boutique manager every few months. They're cool guys and they let me try some pieces on but they have very strict rules on who they sell to, and the demand for the popular pieces is insane. To even get on a list for, say, a Royal Oak, you have to buy their crappy Code 11.59 first. Same deal with Patek.

My mate has said he will give me his spot for the new Rolex GMT at retail when it comes up soon (he already has a few GMTs and has moved onto Patek) and I may take him up on it.  He doesn't mind if I sell it on after 12 months or so, but as I was saying, I don't know if I can be assed. I like the look of it and might just keep it, but I'm tight-fisted and it will sting to part with the cash.

Phantom Spunker

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #39 on: October 26, 2024, 11:33:07 AM »



Patek's new release has been met with almost unanimous scorn. I guess I must be the only person who thinks they look great. It does look like a Santos, but I like that, and I like rectangular watches. Perhaps it is a lazy design but to have a current Patek with this aesthetic is nice.

My complaint would be that it's far too big, but I'm sure they'll release it in a smaller size. Also the price for the stainless steel is silly and means it is still unobtainable for most, but on looks alone, I like it.

Irongrip400

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #40 on: October 28, 2024, 04:23:48 PM »



Patek's new release has been met with almost unanimous scorn. I guess I must be the only person who thinks they look great. It does look like a Santos, but I like that, and I like rectangular watches. Perhaps it is a lazy design but to have a current Patek with this aesthetic is nice.

My complaint would be that it's far too big, but I'm sure they'll release it in a smaller size. Also the price for the stainless steel is silly and means it is still unobtainable for most, but on looks alone, I like it.


What’s old is new I guess. Looks like a 1980’s Casio or something.

Phantom Spunker

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Re: Watches - info and discussion
« Reply #41 on: November 12, 2024, 09:16:20 AM »
Went and saw the Cubitus in the boutique. It looks nicer on screen than it does up close; it's just too damn big. It would look fine on wrists over 7" but the stainless steel model just isn't that exciting.

It's always amusing how different Patek is to Rolex ADs when you visit, though. Here, they can't do enough for you, even when just browsing. Most Rolex ADs, the retards always seem like they're 2 seconds away from a nervous breakdown and just want everyone out of the shop.