WatchProSite|Market|Digest
WatchProSite|Market|Digest

Horological Meandering

I think as watch market is booming,

 

many companies are successful in inflating their prices through HYPED marketing and of course with the help of growing (robust?) world economies, many people can afford a "little" more luxuries... Now, you see good watches everywhere. Collectors have always been there, but new 'collectors' who are after more recognition/social status, rather than passion for watches, are also adding up...fast. Those who haven't had ROs or ROOs before suddenly have all the LEs. Nothing wrong with that but they did so fast 'coz the hype is so strong (everyone has one so I got to have it as well-kind of mentality), fortunately these people have money, lots of them.

That's why as the law of economics take place, supply < demand ---> prices go up.

Those brands which are not hyped (maybe not YET) stay low and therefore the public ignores them. Take VC for example, I can understand why PP 5070 is priced way higher than Le historique chrono. Some say Patek made the alternation, bla...bla...bla... I think 2 things: a. Patek is THE brand to have; you own a Patek, you're ok; b. The size is 42 mm (?) compared to Vacheron's 37mm. Big watches are in now (again, the hype is there), small watches are for granpa's...so I was told.

Thomas, excuse me for rambling. As always, with this kind of post I always write that these are "my personal opinions". 
MANY will disagree with me, of course...

Thank you for a wonderful forum.

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31 Comments view entire thread 

Let's talk prices...

 
By: ThomasM : March 21st, 2007-10:22
AP End of Days Juan Pablo Montoya XX La Boutique Lange 1815 Moonphase PP - basically, any high complication also, Nautlius 3712; 3970; now, seemingly, the 5959 Various LE and the more rare Panerais (especially pre-Vendome/Richemont models, including origi... 

I thought price discussions were not in the spirit of this site>>>

 
By: . : March 21st, 2007-12:42
I thought the watches themselves are supposed to be the focus and as such price discussions and auction results and increase/decreasing monetary value, investment potential are taboo.

Should we always and forever strictly follow any and all rules ever laid down?

 
By: ThomasM : March 21st, 2007-14:36
Even those that were, from the start, more ideological than practical? And when a large majority of the reading audience seemed to prefer it otherwise? By that same ideology, your post would be deleted because it was posted anonymously, where the poster d... 

No, of course not . . .

 
By: Mous, A. Nony : March 21st, 2007-15:14
that's why I wrote "I THOUGHT it was not in the spirit . . ." Along the lines of standing behind your words, I have seen quite a few posts by you (as the moderator/owner) in the past lecturing other posters who wrote about investment potential and auction... 

The intent of the post

 
By: JC : March 21st, 2007-15:28
Maybe we should take this particular part of the thread elsewhere coz the original post was interesting! I think it has to do with intent. This was not a post which is asking "I want to buy a watch. Which of the following will rise in price the most? or w... 

But that's precisely the problem of pricing . . .

 
By: Anonymous Postumous : March 21st, 2007-15:48
Placing an emphasis on the price of how much a watch sells for at an auction or on the secondary market cheapens the watch. That was the very original intent behind not discussing the prices, but rather the watches themselves, what they have to offer, not... 

Thanks, Mr. Mous.

 
By: ThomasM : March 21st, 2007-15:44
Seriously, I think the fact that your post remained was, hopefully, a powerful statement in itself. BUT, many readers seem to only want to see what they want to see, read into what they want to read into... You raise some awfully valid and important point... 

Vacheron

 
By: JC : March 21st, 2007-15:21
Vacheron much less popular in the Western world but a significant brand in China. In China this is THE brand to own along with PP..... but due to price point this is more popular. Nothing in their line up excitws me that much..... most interesting is thei... 

One brand that seems to hold it's value well . . .

 
By: Dr No : March 21st, 2007-16:03
. . . is Dornblueth . . . a friend of mine was offered a few hundred dollars over retail for his steel 99.1 by a watch salesman at a major NYC retail store. The degree to which they're hand-built is, I think, an attraction for many enthusiasts. Cordially,... 

Very Interesting Post

 
By: Mally : March 21st, 2007-22:03
Its great the way the initial issue was quickly closed (with JF not initiating an invitation to a shoot out at dawn!) - being a regular visitor to this site, I can quite understand where the Anonymous pitch came from; however, having said that, I feel TM'... 

I think as watch market is booming,

 
By: れい : March 21st, 2007-18:06
many companies are successful in inflating their prices through HYPED marketing and of course with the help of growing (robust?) world economies, many people can afford a "little" more luxuries... Now, you see good watches everywhere. Collectors have alwa... 

Can't think of any more examples of watches going for over retail..

 
By: Allen : March 21st, 2007-21:22
As for undervalued watches, I like Steve's picks a lot. The GP 3 bridge tourb has got to be the all time undervalued watch. All VCs are no brainers. Of all Blancpains, I think the Perpetual Chrono is the best buy. I would also like to add the UN Freak, AP... 

Not so sure...

 
By: PeterCDE : March 21st, 2007-23:23
G'day, picture courtesy of Antiquorum one aspect which might be recommendable to keep in mind is the age of a specific piece. In the 1990´s, the list price of a GP Three Bridges was in the neighbourhood of 40K US-$; that´s what pieces of that age seem to ...  

You are really talking about present time queues - long for the sought after,

 
By: 219 : March 22nd, 2007-05:35
short for the 'available'. Prices in the secondary market as a spot price merely reflect an individuals propensity to queue (or jump the queue). I never have figured out the prices for the following: 1. MJLC Rose Gold Reverso series. Iconic case, finishin...