Mr.Gatsby
2972
I actually did not read the article
Because the decision process is pretty simple to me. Why did you buy the watch? Because you like it, and not because you think it’s gonna appreciate in the future. In the future if it appreciates will you sell it ? The decision is binary. Yes or no, and there a ton of reasons why you would and would not sell it. Buying watches is meant to be an enjoyment and for me and it’s the process/journey that matters. When the watch depreciates as expected, truth be told I’m not very concerned because I’ve consciously made the decision to buy it. But let’s be honest with ourselves. Some of us (including myself) don’t like to buy into something that unexpectedly depreciates, and even more so if it depreciates significantly. Because to most of us (the average man on the street) money is hard to come by and finite. And to answer your question. Does the valuation affect me? Well yes and no. I hate to lose money that’s a fact. But it’s a hobby, so the heart rules over my head. And so at the moment I’m sitting on a bunch of stuff that is ITM and a bunch that’s headed to no man’s land. Am I affected? Not really. I’m pretty cool about it.
Regards
Gatsby
Hodinkee article about how current second hand value affects the ownership experience.
This one hit particularly close to home, Bc I bought the same watch at around the same time and paid for it with many a sleepless night on a second job. And it’s the watch that was with me as I welcomed my first born to the world ( ( photo from 2017 ) Say...
Great photo! I read the Hodinkee story. Interesting to read how the rising value of a watch has potentially affected the collecting experience.
The comments section was particularly interesting. I’ve had to grapple with it in terms of rising insurance premiums and being more deliberate about what to wear on certain days and in certain situations. The rising values issue has also led me to occasio...
The gains and losses associated with my watches are implied and unrealised, because I don't sell.
So while current market price a marker of an overheated market (in some cases), I derive more satisfaction from knowing that my watches will never see the market again during my lifetime. In fact, a significant part of my enjoyment comes from the feeling ...
“ far from the madding crowd one can occasionally find fine and sometimes significant watches”.
That’s where I’ve looked more and more, of late. If you don’t have a Rolex/Patek/AP/Journe itch to scratch (which, some of us do, understandably), then there are lots of other great offerings.
Indeed. I appreciate the makers you mention - a lot - and study and appreciate their offerings past and present. I have one or two, but...
... at the same time, like you, I use what the market is saying to look elsewhere for watches that seem to be good value propositions in my eyes. It's obviously not a scientifically precise method - just hunch work but I'm okay with that. We all have our ...
I’m privileged to have scratched all of the itches for said brands.
And now I can see the inner beauty in the ‘small indies’ and under-appreciated manufacturers from swatch, richemont etc
?
Such as? I think I've seen everything and the only one watch that I really like is the Grand Seiko SBGW231, but that one has been on my radar for quite a while now. Even regular Seiko's have become expensive to be honest. What is entry level that is still...
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So what do you suggest? I think there are a lot of other overpriced watches at 6-12k at JLC and the likes. And then the prices goes up really fast up to 20k and more for the regular pieces of the 'other' brands. If you wanted to be quirky +6 years ago you...
6 years ago. For 22k USD.
I walked away Bc it wasn’t quirky enough 😂😂😂. Still, no regrets ...
SO Well PUT
My eye is on Habring at the moment ……does the little member of the family have a hobby or two Yet???
I, too, am in a habring2 state of mind.
And as for the little guy, he’s into watches as well ...
Personally… I definitely would not trade markers of happy memories for money.
Traded up a couple of watches when I first started collecting… and occasionally wished I hadn’t done that.
My first watch has papers dated on my birthday
My second watch was with me when I welcomed my second child. Easy to decide whether to sell or not.
I love your posts but especially this one…
As time goes on my material possessions really serve to remind me of the sacrifices and hard work that the generations before me put in so that I can have what I have. My grandfather sold his overcoat in the middle of winter during the depression to feed ...
I enjoyed your post, and beautiful child. I agree that things have gotten crazy.......
I'm on the sidelines for the 'hot desirable' pieces being trumped up by the social media influencers. My view on things is best summed up by one of the commenters where he said that the only good thing to come out of this craze, is that overlooked brands/...
Definitely
It's interesting for sure. My Zeitwerk went up quite a bit due to Lange's new policies and I opted to sell it.
Amazing post....
.... And the definitive Purist's way of commemorating the arrival of a child! Wear yours in good health, and hope it will grace your child's wrist one day. Cheers!
I actually did not read the article
Because the decision process is pretty simple to me. Why did you buy the watch? Because you like it, and not because you think it’s gonna appreciate in the future. In the future if it appreciates will you sell it ? The decision is binary. Yes or no, and t...
I want to quote off a very wise man
Who said this to me recently. Never take anything too seriously. Emotional reward over financial reward. And we all know who this man is. Riddler (Mo), thanks for your wisdom. Regards Gatsby
What a well thought-out response. Thank you.
I guess I should start by stating that, I too, have finite finances which directly affects my watch collecting journey. When a beater watch (bought to restart a watch collecting journey that got interrupted when I sold my Rolex no-date sub and PAM 359 to ...
You’re welcome
I enjoy such discussions — there’s no right or wrong. Only continued learning and continued refining of the collecting experience. Cheers Gatsby