Be careful what you wish for...

[Sherio]

Hello all,

I’ve been following this forum for some time now, only recently have I subscribed and this here is my first post.

I have been on the hunt for a “Batman” on oyster for some time now ( I love the colors and the functionality, and I already had the black on black ceramic ), and when I say hunt I literally mean it, it seemed to be eluding me, and it became a sort of an obsession just to obtain one to add to my collection.

Being an airline pilot, during any layover I’ll hit the local AD, since I prefer, like most, paying MSRP, but as always with no luck finding one readily available or even getting a chance to go on a waiting list, regardless of which country I’m in. Same applies to duty free shops, I’m not about to list all the countries but believe me it’s a long list.

I bought my Sky Dweller this way, as well as the Explorer II polar and a date just Wimbledon on oyster with a fluted bezel all from different countries and at MSRP.

After the watch was discontinued it became even harder, so I gave in eventually and just paid the premium and got hold of a brand new one originally sold in London on March of this year with full stickers for around $16,500.

Now I have a problem!! Knowing that the watch became a collectable, and the fact that it has full stickers, and the fact that as more time passes it will become harder to obtain one in similar brand new condition, I can’t get my self to de sticker it and wear the freaking thing.

I just wanted to share this, and I wonder if it is a common thing among collectors that spend so much time and effort looking for something, but the moment they find it it becomes a burden...

[dxbtousa]

Wear it; enjoy it.

[garbanzo]

I’m convinced that today’s hot references won’t be collectible.
Why ?
Because there are tons of people with the the same thinking as you.
So, just take off the stickers & enjoy.

And what comes to future collectible references - I don’t have the slightest.

[BisonHead]

Rip the stickers off with glee. Pop it on your wrist and enjoy it as a watch should be.

[yoniman]

Originally Posted by BisonHead

Rip the stickers off with glee. Pop it on your wrist and enjoy it as a watch should be.

Best rhyme and reason here.

I will definitely buy one regardless if it's from AD or Grey.

And I will wear it until it has scratches and that OK.




Cheers

[-Ally-]

Sad times.

[Sherio]

Eventually I will

[Sherio]

Originally Posted by -Ally-

Sad times.

Ironically I kind of agree.

[Jamesw20]

Wear that watch.

[macrowatch]

I wouldn't sweat it. Worst case scenario you can always get the new BLNR, pair it with a shiny new oyster bracelet and for all intents and purposes it is the same watch (or slightly better watch with more time reserve).

[zengineer]

I think you need to reconsider why you bought it. Paying a premium to get a watch you really want to wear I understand (I won't do it but I get it). But why buy at an elevated price just to be able to say you have it? There are better investments.

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[maxymax]

Originally Posted by zengineer

I think you need to reconsider why you bought it. Paying a premium to get a watch you really want to wear I understand (I won't do it but I get it). But why buy at an elevated price just to be able to say you have it? There are better investments.

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You nailed it!

[burnthesehills]

If you stick it in a safe and never wear it, it “might” be worth more money in 20 years. But even then are not going to retire on the profit.

It sounds like you have a decent job and finally got your grail watch. It would be foolish not to wear and enjoy it.

[Nikrnic]

No no it's not all about the money. Enjoy wearing it with the thought that you will never lose money on it if you don't sell it. If the market drops and you have to sell it I'm sure you wont really get hurt
Wear and Enjoy. Lifes to short...I have a Blnr on oyster and I can't imagine just storing it away. The pleasure of wearing it is more than having the money.

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[brucethemanlee]

just wear it. what are you going to do get buried with it?

sure its discontinued but its not like this pay for your retirement and any material increase (if that even happens) won't happen for like 30-40 years. Will 2x in value make or break you in the long run? if it will break you then you should be buying the watches you have

[mmmmp]

Deleted. Topic covered, my post was redundant.

[rmlovett1]

Originally Posted by brucethemanlee

just wear it. what are you going to do get buried with it?

sure its discontinued but its not like this pay for your retirement and any material increase (if that even happens) won't happen for like 30-40 years. Will 2x in value make or break you in the long run? if it will break you then you should be buying the watches you have

⬆️⬆️⬆️ THIS....1000x this!
To see any “real” return on a Rolex you’ve put away with stickers on it, you’ll need to wait a LONG time! I mean, even if you double your investment in 2,3,5, years...will that be your retirement money? Hardly....put that thing on and enjoy!

[Sherio]

Actually I never buy anything I can’t afford, I use my watches daily and ride my car hard, the money didn’t hurt compared to the joy of having the watch, the thing is I’m bewildered by this feeling I got, maybe for the first time, it’s all this talk about the market, it can really get to your head sometimes and you kinda forget what it’s all really about.

[Juantxo]

Originally Posted by Sherio

Actually I never buy anything I can’t afford, I use my watches daily and ride my car hard, the money didn’t hurt compared to the joy of having the watch, the thing is I’m bewildered by this feeling I got, maybe for the first time, it’s all this talk about the market, it can really get to your head sometimes and you kinda forget what’s it’s all really about.

The Internet is hazardous to your mind.

[Muxi]

Originally Posted by Sherio

Actually I never buy anything I can’t afford, I use my watches daily and ride my car hard, the money didn’t hurt compared to the joy of having the watch, the thing is I’m bewildered by this feeling I got, maybe for the first time, it’s all this talk about the market, it can really get to your head sometimes and you kinda forget what it’s all really about.

I fully understand how you feel. And it is totally normal. Just try to look inside yourself and find the real reason you wanted the watch in the first place. You deserve it. The difficulty finding it just temporarily clouded your appreciation.

I agree with the other members here that the number of collectors nowadays will prevent several models from being unicorns of the future. The real value of a future collectible is for the most part brought about by the unpreparedness of the present to collect it.

[Juantxo]

I own a Batman Oyster, paid some $8,200 at an ad, I’ve seen the same watch many times in NY and Philadelphia, and see it here often too. Life is short.

[brandrea]

Just wear it.

[PeterC4]

Interesting. As the watches rise in Market Value, purchasers begin to flirt with a speculator's mentality. If you are going to keep it in perfect condition and leave the stickers on, do yourself a favour. Commit to putting it up for auction 12 months from now with a reserve bid. Test your like of the watch versus your like of money. There are many Rolex speculators now. Rolex has reduced supply of SS models to a trickle, creating more demand and fostering alternate sales channels.

Tell me, if someone offered you $40k in a year, assuming it was basically unworn, would you sell it?

[ademarco]

Trade up for the updated movement on jubilee.


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[Potawatomi]

I've flown with a guy who takes 2 vintage gmts wherever he goes. 1 is a pam-am and the other is the brown and gold on jubilee. Both are very beat up and I would love to have either of them. It doesn't take away from them if they are worn, I would say the contrary is more accurate..

[Jacksh]

Its beyond my understanding why you want to punish yourself instead of enjoy your reward. It will be such a shame if someone else will take those stickers off and enjoy its first scratch. I say wear this little fella like there is no tomorrow.


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[danicasi2002]

No I never had to face the situation of wanting a watch for so long, paying a lot of money for one and then not wearing it. Are you having second thoughts re the purchase of the Batman at a premium. Unfortunately, it has been discontinued so you can only get it from the grey/second hand market.

[GMT Aviator]

I am in the same profession as you and obtained some of my Rolex the same way you did.
I have three in my collection still stickered. Not for collectibility reasons but simply because I’m waiting for the right occasion to break them out. They were references I really wanted and as you know, these things don’t hang around, so if you’re lucky enough to find the reference you want, then buying it on the spot is the right thing to do, but I like to christen them when the occasion calls.
If you’re not into that sentiment and want to wear the watch, just de-sticker it, wear and enjoy. Don’t keep it stickered because you’re concerned about it’s future collectibility, life’s too short.

[SUPERDOC]

I think you've been a bit brainwashed here...

Do you really think that the price will keep rising and that no Bubble is forming?

Do you still have a Shaquille O'neal rookie card in perfect glass protection?

The ones that are valuable are never the ones that the masses preserve in mint condition... and trust me, there are plenty of people out there with this model "in the vault"...

add to this the fact that they are still producing this watch (with an upgraded movement, and a bracelet that the next generation will prefer as it will be the signature of GMT vs Submariner... and those preferring the Oyster will be losing their shit over a new movement sub)... as they continue to produce more watches, those who didn't get one this year, will get one next year, and those who don't get one next year, still have the year after to look towards... as more and more are getting it a MSRP, how many people will look around and still decide that it is worth paying 16k for a 9k watch?

Factor in a potential economic downturn, and where exactly do you value this watch?
$50k?, $30k? $100k?

You're being influenced by a selection bias if your only source of information is coming from a group of enabling strangers on social media... many of whom have vested interests in keeping the hype alive...

Bottom line - why would you not wear it? you have already paid 2x MSRP... ho wmuch do you think that value will continue to rise??

I think you need to step away from this FOMO heavy cult, and think about this..


BTW - I have a green crystal Milgauss in **MINT** condition, and a rare Princess Diana beanie Baby, also **MINT** that I would like to sell...

[Sherio]

As anyone in my profession knows, we are trained to listen to other opinions and then make our own decision. I am enjoying this debate, believe me you I have no intention of throwing this watch in a safe for the chance of reselling for a profit down the line, simply speaking the return on investment versus to the time needed to yield such return is not worth it by any means.

Unless you’re a watch dealer, you won’t be making much by stocking a single watch for no matter how long.

I just wanted to share a feeling I got with fellow watch enthusiast, this would have not been the case a couple of years back when all this hype was non existent. I used to buy a Rolex after passing by it time and again while it’s sitting idle in a display window waiting for a customer to decide, that is not the case any more, thus the momentarily dilemma.

At the end of the day it is a mere object, and if you can afford to indulge so be it, I totally get it, as do all of you.