Theory

I think the good 'stuff' - i.e. top condition, provenance, rarity or all combined - sells as or even more quickly than 4-5 years back. Most of the NOS with B&P don't even make it onto the dealer's websites or CM anymore. BUT: I think - at the same time - collectors have become more discerning and more educated (not least through forums liks this and through experts sharing their knowledge) and the 'bad stuff' sells less easily. Maybe 4-5 years ago a watch in average or below condition was still sold - now there are watches where price doesn't even matter anymore (collectors simply don't want low quality anymore). So, even a 30 or 50pc discount to 'good condition' doesn't sell you the watch. So, maybe some of these watches you see on the CM for a long-time have an obvious issue (re-dialed, re-cased etc. etc.) that now people spot - and the seller simply hopes one day somebody less informed will come and pick it up.

Anyway, just a theory - but I am confident that the demand and hence price spread of top-quality versus average/below is augmenting dramatically. And 'normal' or 'doubtful' simply doesn't sell anymore - collectors are more sophisticated.

Unsold Watches

By: michaelbwolf : September 23rd, 2014-11:50

I have, for the past several years, regularly followed the Collectors Market. My impression, for which I have neither statistical nor even anecdotal evidence, is that in far larger numbers than in the past, the same watches are offered for sale by the sam...

I don't watch the Collector's Market regularly.

By: mkvc : September 23rd, 2014-20:56

However, I don't see anything wrong with a seller's waiting to get a price he or she thinks is appropriate.

Agreed...

By: pplater : September 24th, 2014-02:56

Logically, it suggests a slowdown (and quite a drastic one) in the 'pre-loved' market. Either that or (which seems unlikely) our CM has fallen out of favour as a resource for on-selling. Those who have tried various resources would be better placed to com...

Theory

By: RDL : September 24th, 2014-04:49

Very normal ...

By: nilomis : September 24th, 2014-06:18

By my experience, some sellers stays with a price forever and ever, hoping that one day a buyer agrees to pay the price. I know a seller that once he sets a price that's it. He has watches, that are being offered for more than five years and he don't move...