Flipping your beloved Rolex.

[Mick P]

Chaps

I have an Omega that I bought in 1986, a JLC I bought in 1990, a 39mm Explorer and Sub Date I bought last year and a Freccione that I bought a few months ago.

I bought each of these watches because I like them and can see no reason to get rid of them. They will, in all probability, be passed on to my sons and grandsons when I eventually ascend to the immortal mansions above.

I think we would all accept that a watch is one of the few things that are regarded as personal and a part of each and everyone of us. I absolutely love my Explorer and will never part with it because it is almost a part of me.

Ever since I joined this forum, I have been amazed by the high number of what I would call serial flippers. They seem to know that when they buy the watch in the first place, they will be flipping it some time later.

I can understand someone buying say a Sub and then selling it to finance the purchase of a Daytona but some chaps seem to be constantly rotating their Rolex for the sake of pure rotation.

The simple question is - do serial flippers really love a watch for what it is or are they simply aiming to have owned a massive amount of Rolex over the years ?

Regards

Mick

[DCheeta]

That's a great question, Mick.

I am no serial flipper, but I have sold a couple of my watches. For me personally, my goal is to arrive at a perfectly balanced collection of watches, with each of certain classic elements represented. My selling and buying has been a process of trial and error as I approach that perfect (for me) collection.

A watch doesn't instantly become part of me upon purchase. It has to earn that status. For example, I will never sell my 14060, as it has been with me for over 16 years and was my first Rolex. That one is personal. Maybe some day the others will be too.

[Mick P]

Hi Dave

Thanks for the reply but my question is that if you want a "balanced" collection, surely you would plan to have say a Sub, an Explorer, a GMT and a Daytona etc.

If that was my aim, I would simply buy the four watches over a period of time. Surely most collectors lose money when they flip, so over the long term, they may end up with less watches in their collection.

Regards

Mick

[DCheeta]

Originally Posted by Mick P

Hi Dave

Thanks for the reply but my question is that if you want a "balanced" collection, surely you would plan to have say a Sub, an Explorer, a GMT and a Daytona etc.

If that was my aim, I would simply buy the four watches over a period of time. Surely most collectors lose money when they flip, so over the long term, they may end up with less watches in their collection.

Regards

Mick

You are absolutely right. In my case, I was not focused on building a balanced collection in my younger years. I just bought whichever shiny thing caught my attention. In this way, I ended up at one point with five diving watches among my collection, three of them black Rolex divers. Not very balanced.

Also correct in your assertion that I would have lost money - I have. But that is just the cost of doing business, for me. Where I have arrived at the end is more important than what it has cost to get there.

[Shopguy]

Before I bought my first Rolex a buddy who owns several said "Buy the watch you really want, don't settle for the first one, or one that is close to what you want. Wait." Around this site one hears "Buy the one that speaks to you."
Well at the cost of these things that's good advice, as I don't spend this kind of money without due diligence. So my two watches are with me forever. I'll add to the collection over time I hope. But I will not sell what I have now to do it. My children are free to do with my watches what they want when they get them. They'll make those decisions.
I like to think of it as "Accumulation not rotation". I'd like some gold in a watch, but I won't sell my SS Sub to get it.
I can't tell you how flippers think, nor will I tell you they are doing something wrong. They're not. I can only tell you how I think.

[flathead59]

Originally Posted by Mick P

Hi Dave

Thanks for the reply but my question is that if you want a "balanced" collection, surely you would plan to have say a Sub, an Explorer, a GMT and a Daytona etc.

If that was my aim, I would simply buy the four watches over a period of time. Surely most collectors lose money when they flip, so over the long term, they may end up with less watches in their collection.

Regards

Mick

Not all of us are "collectors" in the traditional sense of the word, but rather, in my case at least, more of an enthusiast. Several years ago when I got bit by the bug, a guy could pay a reasonable amount for a used watch, wear it for a while, then either sell on the boards without taking too much of a bath or trade pretty much straight up for a similarly valued piece. There's a lot of competition in the used market now, so I've sidelined myself for the most part. I enjoy what I have (a Rolex TT TOG and the old style Omega GMT) and don't see the need for further experimentation at the moment.

Mark

[Tseg]

I can only think chronic flipping is a personality trait. I was into camera equipment a while back and there were a lot of flippers there... but at least technology advancement with digital cameras could better justify why one would flip... but I think ultimately that was just a plausible excuse that justified economic loss better than "I was ready for a change", or "it wasn't doing it for me any more".

[Bfd70]

Buying a watch is like taking a girl on a date. She may check lotsa boxes initially, but only time will tell if she's a keeper. You simply cannot determine things like comfort in a try on.
That being said, I think some enjoy the hunt more than the watch. It doesn't click with me how someone could buy two high end watches in a week.

Side note: another theme (one that I have been guilty of) is the notion of passing on watches to sons and even grandsons. The kid may not even like you let alone watches. It's a nice dream, but the likelyhood that a child who is 5 today would in twenty years choose an old beat up sub over an Apple watch V26 seems specious.

[Wcdhtwn]

People's tastes and perhaps needs in a watch evolve over time. Buying and not becoming attached is the best way to evolve your collection, assuming you aren't in the position to keep adding without selling. But keeping a nice watch in a drawer that someone could enjoy seems like a crime.

That said I've bought 3 watches and all with the intention to never flip them and to save and be patient for the next. I just bought my first Rolex his year and I've had the inevitable conversations in my mind of selling my IWC to finance a DSSD or even get farther down the path of a Smurf. But I always remind myself of my initial plan when acquiring watches and remain patient... Rolex will always come out with something new which I'll be able to enjoy eventually.

[Chadridv]

I'm not quite serial, but I'm not opposed to flipping watches. Aside from crazy rare vintage pieces, most of the watches that are being flipped are not rare at all and always easy to find another.

Think of it like cars, sure you may buy a nice Porsche and own it forever, but realistically people buy/lease cars every 3-4 years. They wAnt something new. They want new tech, the latest and the greatest, and it's simply a fun hobby that after the initial hit, and if spaced out properly really doesn't cost that much.

Respect to those who can choose to keep their watches forever (and of course those who can afford to own everything and anything) and to all others flip away and have fun! Life is short.

[Chadridv]

Additionally, I have some nice watches that sit in the safe and are never taken out into rotation. Some gifts so I won't be selling/flipping them but This kills me to know something's not being used. We all favor certain watches. Not saying you should be flipping watches every three months and I agree with the idea of due diligence, but I prefer rotation to accumulation. I don't need watches sitting around that eventually don't work well because they are never used.

[Sam Crow]

Everybody is different. I'm on the other side of the spectrum and I tend to hold on to my watches almost to a fault - like they're my kids or something. I kinda wish I had the detachment like some flippers here to let some of them go. They're just watches after all.

[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by Sam Crow

Everybody is different. I'm on the other side of the spectrum and I tend to hold on to my watches almost to a fault - like they're my kids or something. I kinda wish I had the detachment like some flippers here to let some of them go. They're just watches after all.

Valuable perspective! Thanks.

[Rashid.bk]

Tastes change, needs change. But for me, I can't afford them all so I make a compromise and get the ones I like the most.
In other cases, after owning the watch I find that it's perhaps not comfortable, or the aesthetics aren't what I thought after wearing it and living with it. Trying it on in the store is one thing but then experiencing the watch over time you get to really decide if it's right. Sometimes, you get affirmation but often you discover it's not what you thought.

Aesthetically, a good example can be the Sub LVc, green looks amazing in photos and on the internet but then a person living with the watch may then want something more traditional, or the black dial Daytona, looks and feels great, but after living with it, one may conclude that the time is hard to distinguish at times with the disappearing hands.
I sold my Omega PO 8500 because after a few weeks it felt to thick for a 42mm watch, and owning a DSSD, I didn't want to have two thick watches.
If money were not an option, I would have kept most of my flips, with the exception of a couple that I just didn't like after wearing them a while.

[SemperFi]

I think the OP's point was that the so called "serial flippers" know before they even buy the watch that they'll eventually unload it and is questioning why they would take such an approach.
Personally, I do not yet own a Rolex but I fully expect to never let go of my first one. Finances aside it's one of the reasons I'm taking so long deciding on just the right one.

[cangelosijeff]

For me (being a semi rehabbed flipper), it was the hunt more so than the watch that became the fun part. Checking the usual sites, squinting at pictures, talking shop and closing the deal is just a fun process, not to mention awaiting the delivery man and unboxing.

Financially sound? Not really, but as you go you learn how to minimize loss by buying used, sticking with brands with good resale, etc. In all, it's a hobby like anything else. Some collect, other flip. As long as you can afford the game, it's all good.

[Copasetic]

I have collected many different things in my life and have learned a lot about collections and collectors.
I'll just make two brief comments:
--collectors with out super deep pockets can experience and temporarily live with more pieces by flipping. If they're careful it can be done without huge losses each time.
--collections evolve because knowledge increases and tastes change. Would be keepers (at first) may continue to be keepers or may not be at all. Sometimes you grow to love something you were lukewarm about at first.

[beer]

for some people watches are not at all of sentimental value

to a flipper they are just like owning liquid cash with the benefit of being able to wear it

[FTX I]

In my case (only) I stopped flipping watches when I found 'perfection'. Fortunately, Rolex took many years to upgrade their Submariners, and the upgrade came when I was mature enough to know exactly what I wanted. Can't talk about others though.

[rolepam312]

Flipping rolex is easy, there are so many out there that should I ever want another, it can be easily had...on the other hand, few of my higher end pieces, I will not part with...

I enjoy the hunt for those few rare or special pieces and if funds are an issue, then rolexes are the first to go, I guess it's saying a lot about their liquidity... In the end, they are just watches, nothing more nothing less,

[Cru Jones]

It's just a hobby. Different people enjoy it differently.

[AK797]

Nearly every luxury watch I have bought I thought was a keeper, but as time has gone on the more I realise that no watch is really safe, new models are released every year after all and our tastes and priorities change and evolve, and as I don't really want to own more than 4/5 watches any more I have decided to sell to buy.

[EWC]

I'm the same with everything? Once I've had it I've had it. To me it's just all stuff and you can't take it with ya.
Can't believe I've still got the same wife after 22 years. Oh yer I can't work the washing machine so she has to be a keeper!

[kilyung]

People change. Some watches that I thought were keepers are less appealing now than when I bought it. Some were just impulsive buys. At the end of the day, all that matters is that you're happy.