Horological Meandering

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 same sellers, generally at the same price, over and over, as if on a loop, without finding a buyer. I am curious whether anyone else has noticed this phenomenon or whether I am wrong about what I perceive as a change from past activity on the site.

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

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 comment.

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.

By my experience, some sellers stays with a price forever and ever, hoping that one day a buyer agrees to pay the price.