What was collecting like before the forums?

[sdwtchlvr]

I'm just wondering what the days of collecting, buying, & selling were like before watch forums? I'm sure there are plenty here who remember the days. I myself have only been at it for a few years so the forums are all I know. Please share your stories...

[rijowysock]

im too young to even have a clue... bet it was a pain and there were a bunch more watch trade shows..

[Omega_Precision]

It was hard to source preowns and certain models and few people to showoff the collection. When you were sharing your collection to people, they thought it was bragging.

Now with the forums, you can share with other members and GTG's are common unlike the past.

[Wolfgang427]

Originally Posted by rijowysock

im too young to even have a clue... bet it was a pain and there were a bunch more watch trade shows..

Actually it was a lot of fun looking thru the want ads and the classifieds in newspapers. There was the thrill of the hunt and many watches which now go for thousands(5-figures and up) could be found for a few hundred $'s. Back then vintage wasn't vintage it was just a used old model watch and most people were glad to get rid of them cheap. Now a days anything vintage including beat to hell models, people think they are sitting on a gold-mine.

[082013]

Good question...I used to buy a publication in the UK called Exchange and Mart.

Sign of the times: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...line-only.html

I had to phone someone, from a landline!!, meet them in person, and give them cash!

Now, I e-mail, sms, skype or MSN with a seller, wire transfer, and they send by mail.

How times have changed

[Yume-sama]

Lonely!

[acce1999]

Originally Posted by wolfgang427

Actually it was a lot of fun looking thru the want ads and the classifieds in newspapers. There was the thrill of the hunt and many watches which now go for thousands(5-figures and up) could be found for a few hundred $'s. Back then vintage wasn't vintage it was just a used old model watch and most people were glad to get rid of them cheap. Now a days anything vintage including beat to hell models, people think they are sitting on a gold-mine.

Yes, I agree completely with Wolfgang, especially on prices... but it is much more fun now, since you get to see watches that NEVER surfaced before - but I have a long list of watches that I let go because I felt they were (at the time) too expensive. The list includes non-shoulder subs and and early GMT's. I remember a 5508, a 6542, an early 1675, a mint 1675, a red sub, PN Daytonas... The current asking prices are silly, but that is what happened when the Internet completely changed the market situation, going from slow and local to fast and truly global; A lot of informed buyers, and a lot more buyers with money.

I like it, and do not regret all my "missed opportunities"... ;-)

Best,

A

[toph]

great question as I am also too young to know. interesting answers and I look forward to more

[yannis]

I guess as with almost every aspect of life the Internet definitely changed the way the market is...same applies to collecting, purchasing, tracing and trading watches! One thing for sure: People who had the "knowledge" before that time really had lots of research to do!! It is so much easier now!

[frostie]

It all started when i joined this place

My life used to be stress-free

[yannis]

Originally Posted by frostie

It all started when i joined this place

My life used to be stress-free

Peer pressure mate!!

[frostie]

Originally Posted by yannis7777

Peer pressure mate!!

Tell me about it

[f16570]

The internet has changed the way we do everything from now on.
There are still people who do not trust it but I would suggest they are in the minority.

[JimSnyder]

If you knew your stuff it was great. In the classifids I once bought a 5513 for $500. I also bought a Explorer for $450. And I passed on a Daytona for $400 (it was rough, needed alot of work, head only and you had a hard time seeing the dial because the crystal was so scratched as was the bezal)

[Dan Pierce]

The difference for me would be the physical location of items I'm pursuing. Hard to calculate the knowedge achieved and the products purchased due to the power of the internet.
dP

[yannis]

Exactly what Dan said...it would be much more difficult for us Europeans to find/track/purchase watches from the States (or elsewhere around the world) and vice versa prior to the evolution of the Internet to its current form (it was a military American DARPA project at the start right?). Today we can chat to each other, know if someone is a trustworthy dealer, exchange knowledge and information in an unprecedented manner.

[JJ Irani]

Before the forums.....well, I was lucky in that wherever I lived, I had an AD nearby to help me out with my passion!!