Need advice on buying my first 1665

[kensklo]

Originally Posted by zapokee

I'd go for a Double Red if you can afford it. They're only going up in price. They'll be in Paul Newman territory in a few years.

The double reds are no doubt very attractive looking. But isn’t betting them on becoming the next Paul Newman a bit premature yet?

[Dan S]

Just wanted to add that I don't necessarily think that "specialists" at a high-end auction house are a good unbiased source of information. I doubt they will lie blatantly in a way that can be caught, but if you really want to know if a watch's parts are consistent and plausibly original, you need to do your own research or ask an independent expert. Often these watches are prepped and optimized for sale, and the auction house will be careful to avoid saying too much.

[kensklo]

Got it, Dan. Thank you and really appreciate your candid comments. As you can probably tell I am pretty thorough in conducting my own research before committing to any buy.

Fortunately I’ve developed a close friendship with the same specialist for the last 15 years. He had helped me obtain my grail watch back in 2010 which remains my favorite watch. Overtime he has now become the Head of Watches for all of Asia at one of the most prominent auction houses. I am certain he doesn’t treat me as any other customer but will give me his full attention and very honest and objective opinions.

At any rate I will keep your advice in mind and once again I am grateful for every comment I receive here on this forum.

[Dan S]

On this forum, we see a lot of people who buy watches from dealers or auction houses, and one look from experts here reveals that the watch has an insert or dial or something that is not original to the watch, but added to increase the appeal. As a generalist collector, I'm often amazed at the amount of knowledge true specialists have accumulated when they focus on one or two references, often studying them for decades. When I first became active on forums and posted photos of my own watches, I sometimes learned things about them that surprised me.

Of course, not everyone is so pedantic, and many buyers are happy just to have a nice-looking watch with authentic parts, and the sellers are counting on this.

[kensklo]

What is amazing about this forum is that there are so many knowledgeable experts here who are happy to contribute regularly and help others. We novices are truly grateful.

Whether a collector is meticulous about everything or purely aesthetic driven, they will always be able to learn new things from reading and participating in this forum.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by kensklo

The double reds are no doubt very attractive looking. But isn’t betting them on becoming the next Paul Newman a bit premature yet?

I actually don't think so. There's no way you're getting one cheaper than they are now, anyway.

Get in while you can, if you can. Today's prices will look like a bargain in a few years.

[kensklo]

My strategy now is to hunt for a Double Red with possibly a tropical mk2 dial. Due to the poor global economy auction prices have been soft lately so hopefully can find a good one in the coming Autumn/Fall sales.