Watches don't stay minty if worn, or why high prices make it less fun.

[francoamerican]

I bought a fairly minty 14270 to take the wear off my daily driver white gold 5296 calatrava, as well as have something nicer to wear on the weekends than my late Sinn.

It's only been about a month, but it's interesting how much "value" has come off the watch in terms of very small marks or two on the edge of the razor sharp lugs and bezel. I'm not doing anything i would think would be inappropriate even if it were a nautilus or something.

I had always looked at those Eric Ku impossibly NOS watches with great desire, but the reality is to actually wear them would be economically too irresponsible for someone with my approach to reasonably minimize consumption.

I'm not investing in watches at all, i do like the theoretical appeal that they lose value more slowly than other things i am interested in - that's all.

Maybe there's nice middle ground of tritium, 5 digit pieces that have some wear that would hold value but not be too expensive?

But it has changed for me the justification to put much more money into a small collection because the dings just show up.

[m j b]

This is why my last purchase was an Omega.

[derekhayden]

That's why I bought a Tudor.

I have my eye on an AP but I know it will only look new for about an hour. While I am not careless with my watches they do get used.

[RoyalOac]

Wear the hell out of it, and if you need to bring it back to NOS look, take it to LA Watchworks to work their magic... isn't that what a lot these shady vintage dealers do?

[tkc324]

My beater is gmt2c. The maxi case has a lot of metal for polishing so I don’t feel too bad. The 5 digits has slimmer case and imo easier to show over polishing.

[Loevhagen]

Bought a NOS 2008 16618 to wear.
Bought a 16610LV in mint condition to wear and enjoy
Bought a beat-up 16710 to enjoy and wear
etc.

Why put so much concern into it, OP?

Just wear your watches.

[mickyd329]

I buy watches to wear them. If I loss is minimized at time of sale or pick up a few bucks, that's just a bonus. What's the point of having a collection of watches you don't wear due to fear of depreciation?

[francoamerican]

I completely agree with sentiment about wearing them and not worrying. Like I mentioned my daily beater is a Patek!

However, since the wearing them is a bit more of a matter of consumption than i had previously known, i'm just not going to buy as many as i thought i would at one stage - and certainly not pay a big premium.

[hitman23]

actually, it was always a great idea to buy pre-owned in the past and let someone take the depreciation hit. but in this market, even pre-owned pieces are too overpriced.

[MinMay]

This is why i wear a Rolex..because it's not a Patek level. Rolex is cheap from a luxury high end watch.

[francoamerican]

Originally Posted by MinMay

This is why i wear a Rolex..because it's not a Patek level. Rolex is cheap from a luxury high end watch.

Absolutely - a slightly used OP 39 from David SW is one of the best values going in watches write now.

A lot of the other fun rolex stuff has drifted recently out of the fun zone for my personal approach is all!

FA

[TswaneNguni]

Well,imagine you got a ss Daytona 10 years ago,kept on stickers and sold it now ?
That is the facts of the crazy market and it dictates action from all involved ..ADs/Collectors/Flippers/Grey dealers etc.

[jrs146]

I buy to wear. But I feel your pain. Scratches and dings happen. I don't like them. I won't pretend to. But it's part of life. So wear and enjoy. Come on here to cry about the scratches. and keep calm and carry on!

[BobDyl]

Originally Posted by francoamerican

impossibly NOS watches

You have summed up the state of the "high-end" vintage market perfectly.

[AEC]

I wear them, and I'm careful, and they stay looking great. It's not that difficult to do.

[Frits1980]

Just pay a little attention and take it off for a minute if you are doing some repairs or something. Couple of light scratches are unavoidable true but those are not realy an issue. No need to baby but also no need to abuse.

[KBM]

I get where you're coming from. This crazy market has made some watches so expensive it's almost silly to get one at market price and wear it. The solution to this, I suppose, is buying slightly used or, if new, never paying more than retail.

[francoamerican]

Originally Posted by jrs146

I buy to wear. But I feel your pain. Scratches and dings happen. I don't like them. I won't pretend to. But it's part of life. So wear and enjoy. Come on here to cry about the scratches. and keep calm and carry on!

Cheers - and also evangelizing buying a Bergeon 7825 if you ever get the NATO bug or choose to clean under the end links!

[Calatrava r]

Just forget all that and wear the watches. Otherwise, it is really not the fun it was intended to be.

[enjoythemusic]

This is why i beat the sh*t out of the daily beater SS SkyD blue. So epic, handles whatever i throw at it... never take it off.... and she's +5 seconds... a month. In 10 or so years will send to service if/as needed and then get to start all over again.

Wear 'em. Enjoy your time.

[ccaballero]

Originally Posted by loevhagen

bought a nos 2008 16618 to wear.
Bought a 16610lv in mint condition to wear and enjoy
bought a beat-up 16710 to enjoy and wear
etc.

Why put so much concern into it, op?

Just wear your watches.

+1

[polaris72]

Watches are nothing more than materialistic possession. I beat them down equally. And cherish friendships.

[Lemonvr6]

Originally Posted by AEC

I wear them, and I'm careful, and they stay looking great. It's not that difficult to do.

This.

[francoamerican]

Originally Posted by AEC

I wear them, and I'm careful, and they stay looking great. It's not that difficult to do.

Different strokes for different folks - can't simultaneously wear them carefree carefully.

[Red81]

I have one nice watch. My explorer 214270 mk II. I didn’t buy it to open a safe and gaze at it, nor did I buy it to only wear on “special” occasions. But I did buy it as an investment, in a way. I bought it to wear it, to represent and tell the “time” in my life. It’s on my wrist almost always. It has been on adventures with me, it’s present at memorable moments, my kids know it and recognize it as dad’s watch, and I still smile whenever I check the time even on the most ordinary days. This market hype and unavailability is disappointing because of how much it dominates the discussions and how we talk about and experience our watches. But I won’t let it sap the joy out of actually wearing mine. Even if it seems it could be a while before I get another Rolex SS reference that I want. And if I ever do, you’d better believe I am going to be wearing that one, too.

[Shamorai]

You’re looking at it all wrong!

[Onikage]

You're on the right track. Keep buying more. Spread the mileage baby!

[mattfa999]

You have to wear them. They are called wrist watches for a reason. Have purchased 4 watch's over last 24 years. First one was a 15200 date purchased in 1995. Wore that baby every day till fall of 2004 when I bought a 16700 Pepsi that I wore everyday everywhere till 2016. November of 2016 purchased a 16622 platinum dial yachtmaster that I now wear everywhere. The only watch I somewhat baby is my white dial 116520 that I also bought in 2016. My 3 daily wearers have accompanied me faithfully the last 20 odd years everyday on my mail route. I'm probably the only mailman sporting a platinum yachtmaster on his route in the post office. Its banged up and I wouldn't have it any other way. I gave the blue dial 15200 to my son who now wears it proudly. Last September I had open heart surgery and believe me, when your on the table getting that intravenous to put you out the last thought you have is not about value, condition, etc of your watch. So get your watches where they belong...on your wrist. Enjoy the hell out of them. That's why we buy them. To wear, not to worship. Just my 2 cents....

[Greg 59]

Whilst I fully understand the problem that the OP highlights, let's be honest, we don't really know how much these photos on Chrono24 et al have been doctored and generally that is what we are comparing our own personal collection with. At the end of the day, the watch that you are wearing now will probably remain in your possession for the next few years (unless you are a flipper). In that time, the cost of a brand new watch would have increased in addition to market forces driving prices up as well. So, whilst your watch may have a few battle scars which may affect its future value when comparing with NOS of the same vintage however, you would have benefited from the enjoyment of wearing it and like acquiring anything second-hand, buyers are far more discerning these days and prefer to see something that clearly shows its age rather than a product that has been 'dressed' for sale. To use an analogy, wise people tend to steer clear of resprayed second hand cars these days.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by francoamerican

I bought a fairly minty 14270 to take the wear off my daily driver white gold 5296 calatrava, as well as have something nicer to wear on the weekends than my late Sinn.

It's only been about a month, but it's interesting how much "value" has come off the watch in terms of very small marks or two on the edge of the razor sharp lugs and bezel. I'm not doing anything i would think would be inappropriate even if it were a nautilus or something.

I had always looked at those Eric Ku impossibly NOS watches with great desire, but the reality is to actually wear them would be economically too irresponsible for someone with my approach to reasonably minimize consumption.

I'm not investing in watches at all, i do like the theoretical appeal that they lose value more slowly than other things i am interested in - that's all.

Maybe there's nice middle ground of tritium, 5 digit pieces that have some wear that would hold value but not be too expensive?

But it has changed for me the justification to put much more money into a small collection because the dings just show up.

Just cannot understand why some buy Rolex watches if they worry about a few scratches and value this or that,perhaps just to wear the brand.Gone are the days of buying and owning to wear and enjoy now it all value this or that.And just cannot get over the term nicer than a Sinn, do you mean more expensive,and because its more expensive its better.Below a picture of my own personal working tool watch SD,it was used and many many times abused for several years with well over 600 hours underwater used as a real working tool.And has been serviced and polished by 3 different RSC world wide,picture taken in Singapore after last service.This working tool watch has seen more use that today's mainly pampered watches will see in ten lifetimes.And in general today's Rolex watches do not have a hard life so the amount of metal removed in service is just a few tiny microns.And in general today's mainly pampered watches could have 5-6 services when done correctly before you would notice any real case difference around 45-50 years of wearing but Rolex are no longer watches now little more than seen as £££££$$$$.