Comments:
... Or is the 'big watches' market in general dead ?
referring to my last post about Panerai
Seems like The Audemars Piguet Offshore is another victim
Hot, popular, sought after between 2000 and 2010 ... and lets not forget their LE sold out in a fraction of a second, waiting lists were huge and these watches sold for a huge premium
Today they almost crashed
15.000 euro ALL FEES inculded for the once so popular T3
16.500 and this time a TANTULUM case
I could post quite a lot other references that sold for half or less than what they once sold for
I guess the market changed, however I still like some of these 
As I have already said in the Panerai post.
I do feel there is a move towards smaller watches whether this is just a blip or a trend that will accelerate I suppose no one really knows and only time will tell (pun intended). But also I think due to the risks of wearing a large and noticeable watch due to the rise in theft maybe many are now looking for more discrete watches to put on their wrists to reduce the risk of being a victim.
Personally I have never really been a fan of the Royal Oak Offshore and sacrilege I know that although I can appreciate the initial design of the Royal Oak find that there being so many versions and so many special LTD Editions to really not care much for most of them especially with the sales tactics requiring customers to buy watches they don't really want to get what they do plus all the other games involved find I can actually live without one quite happily.
Marc
Bigger watches still sell
I heard several people say Watches & Wonders that the internet fascination with smaller watches is not reflected in sales. Most men are still buying 39 - 42 mm watches. Having said that I think the Offshores were always exercise is extreme design, along with some of the Panerais. They basically appeal to the hyper-masculine thing that was happening twenty five years ago... Hummer SUVs, Sly and Arnold, and so on. In case of the Panerais the additional problem is that the company has basically been making slight variations of the same watches for twenty five years, and the market is full of them.
IMO, this is not a question of size. There are watches which are made to be big. Others which are made to be small. It is a question of consistance.
Big and Little, there is a trend going on.
I went quickly to small sized watches.
I am done with oversized watches.
My last watch i bought is 36mm in case size, and it feels i got the jackpot.
I am done with oversized watches.
My last watch i bought is 36mm in case size, and it feels i got the jackpot.
I think if you want to report auction trends (not sure is an interesting topic but..) you should use reputable auction houses
as examples not this one. For instance Christies, Sotheby's etc.
As Nico said …
…. Some watches are born to be large and some not.
I’ve always preferred small watches and my best size is still 36-38mm (and my smaller watches are is 31mm).
I’ve tried a few RO Offshore and found them great but too large for me.
I’ve loved and owned a few large watches (a 45mm Radiomir, the JLC Tributes to Deep Sea and Polaris, an Amvox1), they were clearly too large for me and I ended up selling them.
And quite often large watches are also thick watches.
I’m sure there are many guys around with larger wrists than mine to wear them so the real problem with those « sport » watches is probably somewhere else.
I find the market for new watches has been boring since 7 or 8 years. I can’t really name a watch from that time that I’d really like to own out of some very expensive indépendant or ultra complicated piece.
Watches from the 90s or 20s were far more appealing IMVHO and that drives us to smaller pieces, more elaborated, more refined, with a stronger positioning, and not aimed at pleasing everybody.
Reverso Tribute pieces for instance are perfect watches, but I can’t really feel appealed by any. Not that they are too perfect, but you know that the next one will be as pleasing and will make a perfect alternative.
Just my 2 cents.
I’ve always preferred small watches and my best size is still 36-38mm (and my smaller watches are is 31mm).
I’ve tried a few RO Offshore and found them great but too large for me.
I’ve loved and owned a few large watches (a 45mm Radiomir, the JLC Tributes to Deep Sea and Polaris, an Amvox1), they were clearly too large for me and I ended up selling them.
And quite often large watches are also thick watches.
I’m sure there are many guys around with larger wrists than mine to wear them so the real problem with those « sport » watches is probably somewhere else.
I find the market for new watches has been boring since 7 or 8 years. I can’t really name a watch from that time that I’d really like to own out of some very expensive indépendant or ultra complicated piece.
Watches from the 90s or 20s were far more appealing IMVHO and that drives us to smaller pieces, more elaborated, more refined, with a stronger positioning, and not aimed at pleasing everybody.
Reverso Tribute pieces for instance are perfect watches, but I can’t really feel appealed by any. Not that they are too perfect, but you know that the next one will be as pleasing and will make a perfect alternative.
Just my 2 cents.
You have highlighted some oddball examples. How about titanium Montoyas? They sell well over MSRP.
T3 is way under, that has never been a sought after watch. It is much too large for most.
Generally, there is a trend to move to smaller watches.
This community often loses sight of the fact that a watch is not supposed to be an appreciating asset. It's OK. It is a material thing, buy and wear what you like, don't worry so much about resale. If I bought a Survivor from the AP Boutique for MSRP 36k, and today it is worth 26k, that does not bother me. I buy what I like and prefer to focus on all the pleasure such a watch provides me.
All that said, for those who missed out, it is a great time to buy such pieces.
They actually did have a titanium Juan Pablo go for 120k hkd. Seems like a great deal, but I just got an EOD that I'm pretty happy with
Bought a 44mm watch last year
About to buy a 45mm... I've got 37, 39, 41... horse for courses, it's actually a great time to buy things considered unpopular, imagine buying up Piaget stone dials and Cartier 10 years ago, the ebb and flow of watch trends... buy what you like.
Like Nico said some watches are made to be bigger then others.
I still like some big watches . Would love to own a Breguet Tradition tourbillon 👌🏻😉 or a nice older GF , these aren’t small watches.
I think some brands were overhyped and maybe overpriced and they are getting back to ,, normal,, maybe. Some ,,collectors,, (investor’s are out of the game and i think thats good for us crazy people.
I think some brands were overhyped and maybe overpriced and they are getting back to ,, normal,, maybe. Some ,,collectors,, (investor’s
are out of the game and i think thats good for us crazy people.