So, I got this idea to figure out which watches keep their value over time. Sounds simple, right? Well, it turned into a bit of a journey, let me tell you.
First, I started by hitting up the internet. I typed stuff like “watches that hold value” and “best investment watches” into Google. I found a bunch of articles and forum posts. Man, there’s a lot of opinions out there! Some folks said Rolex, others swore by Patek Philippe. It was a bit overwhelming, honestly.
Digging Deeper
After getting a general idea, I decided to narrow it down. I made a list of brands that kept popping up: Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Omega, and a few others. Then, I dove into specific models. I spent hours on watch forums and auction sites, just soaking it all in. I checked out prices of new watches and compared them to what used ones were going for.
- Rolex Submariner: These things seem to really hold their value. Even older ones were selling for a pretty penny.
- Patek Philippe Nautilus: Super pricey, but they seemed to appreciate over time. If only I had that kind of cash!
- Omega Speedmaster: A classic for a reason. They weren’t appreciating like crazy, but they definitely weren’t losing much value.
Hitting the Shops
Next, I figured I should see these watches in person. I hit up a few jewelry stores and authorized dealers in my city. I pretended I was interested in buying, just to get a feel for the market. I asked about waiting lists and how often certain models came in. The salespeople were pretty helpful, although I’m sure they could tell I wasn’t exactly rolling in dough.
One of the best days was when I went to an event hosted by a local luxury watch store. The owner talked about how they started with a particular brand. Then, I saw that people were very interested in purchasing them, and they sold out on the same day.
My Takeaway
So, after all this, what did I learn? Well, it’s not as easy as just buying any old luxury watch and expecting it to be a goldmine. There are a lot of factors that play a role in whether a watch keeps or increases its value like if the design is classic, the watch brand reputation, how many they make, if any famous person uses it, and all that stuff. The most important thing is that if you want to buy a watch that holds its value, you need to do your homework. You need to research different brands and models. You need to compare prices and track trends.
It was a fun little project, though. I definitely learned a lot about watches, and maybe one day I’ll actually be able to afford one of these investment pieces. For now, I’ll stick to my trusty old watch.
