RM as the "new" FM

Hey guys - I read something in one of the postings on the forum and it had me thinking - I had eventually picked up the APs I wanted over a period of 10 years. It was a long journey to get my first and I relish the fact that when I finally got it, I did off my own hard work. I enjoyed making that first purchase because it was truly significant for me. Then I picked up a second and third and each symbolised an event of significance that I valued.

Over the past year, I had been getting increasingly curiously about RM and I have to admit, the fascination grew due to the influence of a specific person and I have now come to aspire to eventually pick up the one I want the most.

Today, I came across an interesting comment and it raised something I had not really thought of - the comment (paraphrasing it) is that "Richard Mille is the new Frank Muller" - the context of this is in relation to the value (actual and perceived) and how the perception may be eroded over a period of time and also due to waning interests.

Now, I had never really considered the watches I have from that perspective - I bought the ones I liked the most and meant something to me. However, if I step back, I would still not be horrified by the fact that these watches had literally depreciated in monetary value over a period of time.

I do of course accept that there are few assets that actually can appreciate the way some sought after watches tend to.

So, I am curious whether the members here, upon taking a step back, have ever looked at a watch and said "ok, i paid USD$x for this watch and even though I did, at least I know that the watch has not depreciated in an "open-market" value by 45% because the public's interest is now gone".

As mentioned before, I do not own any of the watches because I thought they would be "investment" pieces because I simply do not think in those terms.

But (perhaps wrongfully for some) I have taken the perspective that the watches are just a store of value for me i.e. if I had paid USD$8 for a watch, I know that even in 5 years time, the watch would ever only be worth USD$6 - not any much more or less.

So back to the title - what is the view here for RMs - will they eventually go the same way as FM i.e. the interest has eroded and subsequently the "store of value" perception is completely misplaced?

P.S> Just for the record, I am still a few years way off from picking up the RM I really like so this is not a pitch for advice for the sake on any impending purchase but just a muse over how perhaps I may succumb to a perceived fad (in the eyes of some commentators) and then regret my weakness.

Cheers!

💰228 Marketplace Listings for Richard Mille›

i never buy my RMs from ADs and thus never pay retail price

By: Mohannad (aka Riddler) : July 22nd, 2012-13:36

Sorry to do this but on PuristsPro we dont discuss price or discounts. If you want to discuss price or discounts then private email. If you wish to discuss RM as the new FM, from a brand perspective, go right ahead. Thanks Andrew H

That was my post that you refer to!!

By: nautilus : July 23rd, 2012-05:50

To be clear I was only repeating what my dealer said to me when I said I wanted to buy one, but in addition to value he was also referring to the shape / design of the watch and also the fact that there is currently momentum behind the brand but little hi...

Yes you are!

By: rakis73 : July 23rd, 2012-09:19

Yes indeed - hope you don't mind that I wrote this out as you did inspire this! And I am also considering the RM11. I narrowed my thoughts to just the issue of value retention for what it is worth - I did overlook the comparison to FM and although I never...

It's the same for me

By: nautilus : July 23rd, 2012-10:37

Next for me I think will be either: RM 11, PP 5980 or ALS Datograph.

OVER PRICED

By: steventarmac : July 23rd, 2012-12:01

HAD THREE RM,S 005, 010,, 028 NONE KEPT TIME ,,LOST 20 SEC A DAY ,,DUST INSIDE EVERY CASE ,,YOUR RIGHT OVER PRICED JUST LIKE FM,S

brand loyalty

By: neogeo : July 24th, 2012-02:04

Incredible. Steventarmac must really like RM, otherwise he wouldn’t have bought 3 of them. Talk about brand loyalty. Yes, definitely overpriced, but that's part of what makes the...

The question was are rm,s overpriced,,, not like or dislike [nt]

By: steventarmac : July 24th, 2012-09:08

brand loyalty its a watch not my wife

RM vs FM

By: gasterus : July 24th, 2012-08:28

You must have liked RMs to previously owned 3 pieces. Sorry to hear you have issues with them. Mine has been working fine from the moment i bought it 3 years ago. From my point of view RM is different to FM. First, it is targeted to a different level of c...

The question was: RM the new FM? Not about being priced one way or another. You

By: 219 : July 24th, 2012-10:53

obviously like the designs and the watches. To own three suggests you do. That you had such a bad run of luck with your watches is regretable. What I dont understand is why you did not visit your local AD and chew his/her head off about it and get somethi...

I have also heard this same statement from a dealer.... [nt]

By: mrmar23 : July 25th, 2012-16:58

RM can't be the the FM

By: mams : July 23rd, 2012-23:38

I would say that Richard Mille watches are exceptional and produced to a very limited number per year.. it will never reach to the point of being compared to FM.. actually i would say that with the finishing and the details put in RM watches, no other wat...

Not about "overpriced"

By: rakis73 : July 24th, 2012-09:41

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences. I was quite careful in how I raised this and I tried not to dabble on the issue of price but rather on the issue of retained value/perceived value as dictated by the free market. In a haza...

RM is certainly not the new FM.... there is a world of difference

By: 219 : July 24th, 2012-11:02

between someone who basically copies old watch (mainly Patek) designs, uses and adapts off the shelf movements, and does little in the way of new material/new use research that pushes the boundaries of micro-mechanicals and material science. Richard's wat...

even Vaucher movements are actually great

By: Mohannad (aka Riddler) : July 25th, 2012-12:14

personally i think they are one of the best non complicated movements out there I've owned 3 Rm10s and all have performed outstandingly of course my previous RM004 was the best and definitely not comparable to the basics but still the 10s i truly think ar...