dshao1
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I believe VC's most well known motto is:
"Do better if possible, and that is always possible", written by Francois Constantin in 1819 I believe.
And something our passionate VC lover and member, Doc:
From 1950 ( ! ) Vacheron & Constantin wrote in their little folder to their AD's :
" But the firm Vacheron & Constantin have no need of titles of nobility or of commonalty.
Their true title of nobility is obtained from that love of perfection
which is handed down from grandsire to father to son. "
(ring any bells?)
As to the market value and perceived quality of VCs vs. PPs:
I think that during the pre-quartz era the 2 were perceived to be closer than they are now (some saying that VC was ahead for a period). VC may have stumbled during a period (between the late 70s-90s?), when PP really picked up the pace and the new interest in mechanical watches started and has become what we know it to be now.
Best Regards, Dan
Resale value and quality of VC watches
Dear forum participants, I recently talked to a watch dealer (no AD) about the difficulty or easiness to resell premium watches like PP, VC, Rolex or Omega. He stated that for unknown reasons VC would be very difficult to sell and the resale values would ...
It's enough to look
at CM & auction results and see that your conclusion about PP vs VC is correct whatever murky reasons are. Don't think that there is superior watches in question just in one moment VC lost his aura... real reason why is unknown to me I'm also hoping some ...
I believe VC's most well known motto is:
"Do better if possible, and that is always possible", written by Francois Constantin in 1819 I believe. And something our passionate VC lover and member, Doc: From 1950 ( ! ) Vacheron & Constantin wrote in their little folder to their AD's : " But the fir...
Personally, much to do with branding...
Though I'm new to VC, I'm impressed with the finishing with what I saw with a few pieces of Patrimony and I've read positive comments of VC movements. (I've no experience of its after-sales service.) I feel that PP and Rolex have very successful branding ...
I think you are right
Quality and the public perception of quality are different things. "Perform well and talk about it", could be the motto. Best regards, anaesdoc
Hi....
From my experience, the resale value is quite low.... Actually much lower than many others, which I find hard to understand on horological merit..... VC is one of the best manufacturers, yet its general public image is much lower that Panerai, foe example...
..nor would it stop me, PP!
Nevertheless, it´s a puzzling observation. Kind regards, anaesdoc
i believe that there are two major causes for this
The first being the different models that patek offers and those that vacheron offers.. Vacheron releases different models of watches with different shapes and designs that are all unique in some way, this constant change greatly decreases the resale valu...
That sounds convincing, Marwan!
Model stability and generation of a public image even among non-WIS are quite understandable explanations. Kind regards, anaesdoc
Can't argue about the resale value gap
The markets indicate clearly enough that PP and Rolex have the best resale values. VC's resale value, overall, is definitely lacking in this area. Which I haven't minded at all since I primarily collect vintage pieces and this environment has been advanta...
Interesting comment, Dan!
Thanks a lot for your post. It contained some insights hat were new to me like the "unsteadiness" of VC models in contrast to PP/Rolex or the lack of technical info spread into the watch community. I just observed that VC follows a sort of "submarine phil...
I'm still a relative newbie to the watch world...
and have focused on trying to learn as much about VC as I can. I just have a thing for them, their watches "talk to me the most" and their history fascinates me. VC has had fluctuations, some more noticeable than others, but they have always been at the t...
There are a lot of interesting points raised in this thread....
and I agree with many of them, though I would not necessary agree with the premise made right at the start. I've seen more than a few late model Rolex and Patek Philippe watches trade at a material discount to MSRP on the secondary markets. While there ar...
Good on you, Dan!
As I stated in my answer to Bill´s comment, I have a lot of sympathy for this attitude as well. My starting post did not only aim at the financial aspect (resale value), but also at a probable underlying factual difference (quality). I have learned by oth...
I'll leave what should be considered appropriate/objectionable to our esteemed moderators
Hi Anaesdoc, In terms of watches being investments or vessels of stored value, I'm nowhere savvy enough to make good decisions based on those criteria [if you could see my stock portfolio, you'd know what I'm talking about. Heck, I can't even pick the rig...
Not my words, nor my intention, Bill!
"If you want an investment, then discuss your options with your financial advisor. If you want a nice watch and can afford it, then go out and buy it and wear it and enjoy it and photograph it and share your ownership experience here with other people who...
Don't worry anaesdoc
No topic of sincere debate is off the table! Sometimes the brief nature of posts, like emails, leads to implied criticisms that aren't intended. What this forum needs are smilies
..., be happy :-)
Yes, tick-talk, that´s only too true. If our interest in watches becomes too "strict", even watch enthusiasts may turn into grim warriors defending the right cause. Whenever I re-read the guide of conduct here, I do not find such an attitude and to b...
Perhaps I was gruff.....
because I do not want to host a forum with many threads dedicated to the value of watches. But I am enjoying everyone sharing his thoughts in this thread, as the tone is more general than about specific watch valuations. Having sold a number of Vacheron C...
, but this post definitely wasn´t!
Thanks Bill for this extended comment on your VC resales experiences concerning vintage and new watches. I do well understand your general thought on this forum and money stuff. As I said, I would deeply regret to reduce our watch dedication to numbers. B...
Well said!
Couldnt have been worded any better! It really bothers me to see people turn beautiful things into commodities to be traded for a profit whether it is a painting, a car, or a watch. But theres nothing we can do to stop it, where ever there is a dollar to ...
commodification
i agree in theory that it is a shame when objects of beauty are converted into commodities. but don't the companies themselves do that? my watch purchases are always, perhaps foolishly, emotional. if a watch makes my heart sing, and i can somehow afford i...
i agree with you
watch companies are businesses, and a business's goal is to make money and not to make you and I happy. But it still does upset me when other very good brands dont get the recognition they deserve.. the watch industry, to us, could be compared to football...
VC has historical value!
Well this is evolving into a very meaningful thread, at a higher level than simply watches! While having a very engaging discussion on vintage collecting with VC folks at SIHH, one commented that it must be difficult to part with the pieces that I aquired...
I totally agree with you!
A watch is not an investment. And I love VC more than PP though I respect PP a lot too. Best regards, Baxter
ALL my watches are investments...
in my mental health. I'm addicted and obesessed so it's healthier and more productive to buy a new watch every once in a while than to think about them 24/7 Now I just think about them a few hours per day This message has been edited by emcquillan on 2011...
Vacheron Resale Values....
Hello and thank you for posting this excellent question. I must say I am surprised that Vacheron is so cheap for certain models. I must say that the modern pieces - pieces made after 1990 - do not appear to be cheap at all. There is an initial drop howeve...
Very detailed analysis
Thanks for your thoughts and many interesting observations, archie and congrats to your vintage VC! anaesdoc