How often do you buy watches that you might not keep long-term?

[Norbert]

Same, never. I alway buy a watch with the intention to keep it. And I never buy a watch for its investment value. Unfortunately, my Rolex interest makes me look like a wannabe now that it's so popular. I started when Rolex was still under the radar and you could walk into a dealer and get a pretty good discount, and ship the box to another state to save on tax too.

[geoach]

if anyone buys with intention not to keep it is a flipper

[TonyD]

I'll go against the grain here and say that I do sometimes buy a watch I may be "on the fence" about. If I love it then its a keeper. Worst case I can always sell it or trade it. I try not to just buy stuff and flip for a quick buck, but when there is no downside then why not?

Example white dial Sky Dweller. Was on the list for blue dial for 100 years. I was offered the white and went for it. Its been 4 years now and I'm glad I bought it. It may get traded soon but I wore it for a few years and will not take a loos on it. Who knows if I would have ever gotten blue.

[Pacamack]

I’ve bought a couple of watches that I liked on paper (on the web) but once they were on my wrist I just didn’t connect with them and sold them on. The intent was always to keep and not to flip, they were low value anyway. I have one more in the collection that I might let go of and six others that are lifers.

[zengineer]

I've never bought a watch with a specific plan to sell it and definately never with the hope of making money. But I like variety and go through spurts of refining the small collection based on what I like while avoiding exceeding my personally imposed limit of 10 total.

I had a black non-GV Milgauss but fell for the simplicity of a 39mm Explorer. They were too similar to keep both so the Milgauss was sold. I went though 3 or 4 Speedmasters before settling on a few keepers. I haven't bought or sold anything for several years but it probably took 20 watches to settle on the 9 that I kept. Many were bought used. The only one I took a beating on was a Zenith bought new but even that wasn't to bad.

[JSCP]

Buying with intention of not keeping long term is a flipper mentality.

Buy what you like but yes you can change mind later, and sell it, in my case usually only to try to downsize or get another watch.

[AD337]

OP what you said makes perfect sense to me - no brainer - get it, try it, enjoy it for however long then let it go to someone else who will love it - nothing wrong with that

[ArtVandelay0]

Once again, glad to have some folks that know what I was talking about instead of just saying “if you don’t commit to a blood pact with a new watch, you’re a flipper!”

For what it’s worth, I tried on the watch Friday and ending up passing. I’m feeling a little regretful. It’s a 36mm OP, black dial, so by no means a hype watch but still selling enough above above retail that I don’t feel comfortable buying anytime I want.

For some reason in the store I wasn’t in love but now I’m regretting it. This market creates such fomo. I’m also realizing not many watches fill the void of the OP line (great bracelet, very limited polishing, water resistance, understated look but a great brand) - both by Rolex and by other brands.

Genuinely considering calling the AD tomorrow and seeing if they still have it (doubtful). Otherwise, maybe I’ll go for an older reference OP like the 116000 or the 114200.

[Rolex1982]

Originally Posted by ad337

op what you said makes perfect sense to me - no brainer - get it, try it, enjoy it for however long then let it go to someone else who will love it - nothing wrong with that

+1!

[gtnator]

Originally Posted by Rolex1982

+1!

+2


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[bluestreak]

I never buy a watch, knowing that I’m going to sell it later.
But also, I never buy a watch, knowing I’m going to keep it forever.

I never know if I’m going to *love* a watch unless I own it. And as far as I know, the only way to own a watch is to buy it.

I do not have unlimited money. I only want some of that money tied up in watches. It seems silly to me to tie up some of that limited money in a watch just because I liked it enough at some point in the past to buy it. If I no longer love it, it should be sold.

I’m buying the watch, not marrying it.

Hell, I feel like some people here have a higher level of commitment to watches than they do to spouses. Which is kind of insane.

[bluestreak]

Example: I have a Blue OP. I also like the Green OP. So I’m on the list for one. If I get offered it, I will buy it. I do not want two OPs. So if I wear the green OP and like it better than the blue one, I’ll keep it and sell the blue one. But if I don’t, I’ll sell it. I’ve got no problem with that, and I’ll buy it knowing full well it might be sold. If that make me a “flipper,” so be it. But better that than keeping two redundant watches, just because….


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[worldfamoussam]

I've done it more times than I'd like to admit, and I'd say predicting the longevity of a piece in my collection is not one of my stronger suits.

That said, I did once keep a watch for 6 years; or really, 8 years if you consider that the insurance had to replace it with the same one after I lost it.

[Lalo007]

Its simple. If you are worried about selling the the watch later on and losing money on it then dont buy it. You are better off having that cash on hand for other purchases. Nothing is guaranteed when it comes to you getting that money back. The good thing about Rolex is that if you do end up selling a watch, you will get back at least a 60% of what you paid sometimes more depending on the model and of course if its a stainless steel Daytona you will get a return. Yeah you wont lose any money on some watches and we all know which ones they are. So I would say go ahead and buy the watch and wear it only if you are willing to lose some of the money you paid.