Sticker removal or not...that is the question

[Maxy]

Originally Posted by Rochester585

im new to the forum and this may have been discussed before but what if the moderators made a new sub forum section for collectors and investors.

i would be interested in just about anything that i could buy brand new for 10K and sell the same day probably within hours for minimum 20-30% profit, most likely a lot more than that

As you said you are 'new' to the forum - you have 2 options - to get 'old' on the forum and get knowledgeable or 'die young' on the forum!

[1William]

Wear your watches and enjoy them.

[cchris]

As with other things in life, it’s more pleasurable if a layer of plastic isnt between you and your object of desire.

[rmlovett1]

I get what you’re saying and I might do that if I had an interest in collecting vs wearing....although I personally would find an untouched SD4K.
BUT...I’m a wearer, not a collector.
To each their own, do whatever you like and makes you happy!

[illiguy]

Originally Posted by cchris

As with other things in life, it’s more pleasurable if a layer of plastic isnt between you and your object of desire.

[jamesbondOO7]

Originally Posted by cchris

As with other things in life, it’s more pleasurable if a layer of plastic isnt between you and your object of desire.

This is quite funny, and if you make the distinction between love and lust, probably safe.

[brandrea]

If it brings you happiness then absolutely go for it OP.

For me, I’ve never understood the sticker thing. It ruins the enjoyment of wearing the watch.

Rolex took the time to design your watch with polished and brushed surfaces and they are beautiful to look at. Stickers ruin that experience for me, but I understand YMMV

[garyk]

40 years ago, it was kind of a silly game to leave the case back sticker on. I don’t remember any specific reason why but we just did?!

[jamesbondOO7]

Originally Posted by garyk

40 years ago, it was kind of a silly game to leave the case back sticker on. I don’t remember any specific reason why but we just did?!

Yeah and when one buys a vintage, often one has to spend hours trying to get it off.

[Bladeshot]

I wear them. Nothing in my collection sits around as a collectible. You may enjoy keeping some NOS with stickers. That’s fine. Several collectors do. But it will be many decades, if ever, that a 2019 DJ is collectible. These are mass produced watches. Enjoy yours!

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Bladeshot

I wear them. Nothing in my collection sits around as a collectible. You may enjoy keeping some NOS with stickers. That’s fine. Several collectors do. But it will be many decades, if ever, that a 2019 DJ is collectible. These are mass produced watches. Enjoy yours!

This!


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[daysky1]

My collection is just that, "my collection", I don't care if they are pet rocks, I don't collect for you...or anybody else. And I could care less if they ever rise in value, they are not investments. A collectible item is in the eye of the beholder. Not anybody else. I buy and collect what "I" like. And in my opinion "any", Rolex is high end. Not just the ones others like. And while I know some people walk out of the AD, and in the parking lot call somebody to flip it, so they go after the steel sports models. Not the "Classic Collection", which Rolex lists as "Day-Date, Sky Dweller, Date Just, Oyster Perpetual, Pearl master, and Cellini...A fine "Collection", in my book...High End Watches All...

[jimcarver]

Originally Posted by daysky1

My collection is just that, "my collection", I don't care if they are pet rocks, I don't collect for you...or anybody else. And I could care less if they ever rise in value, they are not investments. A collectible item is in the eye of the beholder. Not anybody else. I buy and collect what "I" like. And in my opinion "any", Rolex is high end. Not just the ones others like. And while I know some people walk out of the AD, and in the parking lot call somebody to flip it, so they go after the steel sports models. Not the "Classic Collection", which Rolex lists as "Day-Date, Sky Dweller, Date Just, Oyster Perpetual, Pearl master, and Cellini...A fine "Collection", in my book...High End Watches All...

Also, just because I can't resist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om7O0MFkmpw&t=54s

[daysky1]

Good point, that u-tube makes. :-)

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by daysky1

My collection is just that, "my collection", I don't care if they are pet rocks, I don't collect for you...or anybody else. And I could care less if they ever rise in value, they are not investments. A collectible item is in the eye of the beholder. Not anybody else. I buy and collect what "I" like. And in my opinion "any", Rolex is high end. Not just the ones others like. And while I know some people walk out of the AD, and in the parking lot call somebody to flip it, so they go after the steel sports models. Not the "Classic Collection", which Rolex lists as "Day-Date, Sky Dweller, Date Just, Oyster Perpetual, Pearl master, and Cellini...A fine "Collection", in my book...High End Watches All...

Given all that, why are you asking us what we think? It's YOUR collection...at least I think that's what you are trying to drive home up there. I lost interest part way through to be honest.

Knock yourself out.

[envuks]

Peel those stickers off and take those puppies skateboarding! They’re meant to be enjoyed


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[beshannon]

Originally Posted by daysky1

So my question is, does anybody else feel the same...?

No

[Uggi]

Originally Posted by daysky1

So my question is, does anybody else feel the same...?

Originally Posted by beshannon

No

[alphadweller]

Originally Posted by daysky1

So my question is, does anybody else feel the same...? Do you have enough to wear, so that a fully sticker ed Rolex would be a collectors item, enough so that you would just keep it that way? Are you a collector that finds it is ok to just have a rare piece that you don't wear and just enjoy having and perhaps checking on every once in a while.?

OP, if you're not going to wear the watch because you have enough other watches to wear, I don't see where the problem is in keeping it fully stickered. It’s your collection, you do as you please, you’re not harming anyone.

I know I’m going to be flamed for this, but I’ll tell it like it is. I myself own a watch I never worn other than when I tried it on at the AD back in May 2017. It’s also fully stickered and the bracelet is not even sized. I managed to get away with it despite the insistence from the SA to peel it off and size it. My reason was I really wanted to swap the bracelet. I was wearing my YM40 on a red Hirsch tiger strap that day, which the SA found amusing. Leaving the stickers on and not sizing the bracelet would be impossible these days of course.

The watch in question is the Sea-Dweller 126600 50th anniversary a.k.a. SD43 which after one year became the mk1. I didn’t buy it as an investment, it was my absolute favourite sports steel watch and my original intention was to wear it. I decided to wait for RubberB to make a band for it which they did after a year, but they didn’t offer a tang and buckle option at the beginning. Two years later they came up with the band I wanted. Problem is two years is a long time and the watch had been stored away. During this period I never really felt the need to wear it because I had several other similar watches (extreme divers). Also, in time the watch became too “valuable” to me, being an anniversary edition and even more so with the mk1 dial being a short production run. This strange sensation never happened with any other watch. When I got my YM40 in 2015 for example I instantly removed the stickers and worn the heck out of it, same thing this year with my TT Bluesy (AD removed some stickers, I did the rest).

Call me weirdo if you like, but truth be told I’ve realized I get an uncanny satisfaction from having a new and fully stickered piece in my collection. It’s like keeping something great in the back burner for a rainy day. At some point I did consider trading it in for a gold Sub. However, as it turns out this watch happens to be my 7 years old son’s favourite watch. I remember the day I mentioned I might sell it as I wasn’t wearing it, he held his hands together as if he was praying, got very emotional, almost sobbing, raised his voice and said : “Nooo daddy! Do not ever sell the sea-dweller with the red letters, please daddy please not the sea-dweller, I love it I love it. You can give it to me when I’m grown up, daddy. You can sell any other watch, but not this one”. What can I do, hey? I’m kind of screwed now.

I might start wearing it someday, put some memories into it. If there’s something I’ve learnt in this hobby, it’s that everything is subject to change. If anyone has a better idea, feel free to let me know.

Pictures of the culprit or it didn't happen.

[daysky1]

awesome

[Mendota]

This reminds me of an old boss I had, who suffered from undiagnosed OCD. He owned the business so we were in his little fiefdom. He walked around the office obsessing over things like the garbage bags showing through the tops of the stainless steel garbage cans he bought and the edges being wrinkled. He would get so mad at the cleaning people and wanted to set up cameras to watch and catch whoever was creating the wrinkles in the bags.

He would obsess over the stainless steel paper towel holder in the kitchenette and how the paper roll would show wrinkled hand prints after someone removed a sheet with wet hands.

He would walk around with 3 or 4 single ounce gold coins in his pocket, clanking them and fiddling with them like worry beads. His precious. This was in 2003 when gold was only $350/ounce, but still weird to be carrying around $1,400 in coins in your pocket.

I remember one morning he came running in, panicked, and said he lost a coin. We all had to stop what we were doing and help him search the office. Turned out he was driving and it fell out of his pocket and under the seat. His precious was returned! I can still hear him saying how we had to invest in physical gold, silver, guns, and spare food because there was going to be a breakdown someday.

This is a guy who bought a $100k Hummer H1 right after Bush had pushed through a tax code revision for business vehicle expenses, allowing 100% of the purchase price to be deducted in the first year. We heard about this thing for weeks while he was waiting for it to arrive and how it could go through anything. The first day he had it he went driving through the construction site next door and promptly got it stuck. He drove up to the top of a huge dirt mound that the excavators were creating from all of the dirt from digging the foundation for the office building. He got to the top, got stuck, and literally was teetering with all 4 wheels just free spinning. He had to call a tow truck to get him unstuck because none of us had an SUV or tow cables.

I could go on and on with dozens upon dozens more examples, and should probably write a book or screenplay for a movie like Office Space. Between all of the HEPA filters everywhere, the no fragrance rule with penalties, or the collection and sending in of saliva samples from his family every 6 weeks for Bird Flu, it was a busy place just dealing with these endless obsessions.

Stickers on a watch? Trust me, I've seen it all! Try an ultrasonic cleaner in the kitchenette for everyone to use on a weekly basis so our jewelry wouldn't be dirty and introduce germs into the air system. He silicone caulked and sealed all of the air vents in his office and had a hospital grade HEPA filter running 24/7 in there.

What saddens me about your post is the fact that you've taken your dad's watch, that he enjoyed and that you remember so fondly, and you've turned it into your precious. You can do what you want, of course, but I would think your dad would want you to enjoy it from time to time and think of him, rather than keep it cooped up in a safe and just stare at it. It's not a one of a kind Breguet or a piece of art like a Picasso. I want my boys to have my watch collection after I pass and I hope they enjoy them like I have. That's what they are for. They are just things.

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[daysky1]

My dads watch is so old and out of service it is off at least 10 minutes per day. My wrist is larger than his and it is on a flex bracelet that could break if I try and force it onto my wrist. I do have it on my side table and occasionally wind and set it. Even putting it up to my ear and hear it ticking away, all the while knowing that is the same watch and sound he heard when he did the same, as I remember him doing. I have a lot of watches, but this is the only one from him, so I think I will just enjoy it as I am doing, and wear my newer ones...no need to degrade the memories it brings...kind of like the pictures of the family from of old that I have. Wonderful, these things called memories are..

[Mendota]

Originally Posted by daysky1

My dads watch is so old and out of service it is off at least 10 minutes per day. My wrist is larger than his and it is on a flex bracelet that could break if I try and force it onto my wrist. I do have it on my side table and occasionally wind and set it. Even putting it up to my ear and hear it ticking away, all the while knowing that is the same watch and sound he heard when he did the same, as I remember him doing. I have a lot of watches, but this is the only one from him, so I think I will just enjoy it as I am doing, and wear my newer ones...no need to degrade the memories it brings...kind of like the pictures of the family from of old that I have. Wonderful, these things called memories are..

I agree. I was just giving you a hard time. I am sorry for your loss. While I haven't lost a parent yet, my wife lost her stepmom 8 years ago (who was more of a mother than her biological mom and she had known her since she was 4) and she still has moments where it was just like yesterday that she got the call about her sudden passing. I know what it is like to have an empty seat at the dinner table for holidays. I am glad that you are able to wind it and recall fond memories of your dad. That's priceless!

[daysky1]

Just for clarification I have a collection not an investment. I have bought physical ounces of gold and silver etc for investments but my watches are a collection, I also have other collections I enjoy having. Like, knives, even Zippo Lighters, even though I don"t smoke. I am a wildlife photographer and have 8 custom Zippos with my pictures on them signed by me. I have never considered my watches as an investment. I remember when I first started a lot of reviewers I listened to said the same, watches are not an investment.

[daysky1]

ok, time to correct some misunderstandings, I don't consider any of my watches rare nor do I consider them as investments. It is only a collection, that's all. I'm tempted to list what I have but resist the urge. From the least to the most complicated is about all I will say about my Rolex collection and for the informed, you know what I am talking about. From the highest places to the lowest places on earth, I would like Rolex to make a watch for parachutist but I digress and yes I have jumped at 12,500 ft and fell 2 miles before pulling the ripcord, I also have my PADI cert but have jumped more than scuba'd Enjoy life to the most when you can and while you can. from muscle cars to motorcycles and all things inbetween...now I am enjoying some of the best watches on earth....

[alphadweller]

Originally Posted by daysky1

ok, time to correct some misunderstandings, I don't consider any of my watches rare nor do I consider them as investments. It is only a collection, that's all. I'm tempted to list what I have but resist the urge. From the least to the most complicated is about all I will say about my Rolex collection and for the informed, you know what I am talking about. From the highest places to the lowest places on earth, I would like Rolex to make a watch for parachutist but I digress and yes I have jumped at 12,500 ft and fell 2 miles before pulling the ripcord, I also have my PADI cert but have jumped more than scuba'd Enjoy life to the most when you can and while you can. from muscle cars to motorcycles and all things inbetween...now I am enjoying some of the best watches on earth....

ok, now I really want to see your collection!!!

[jimcarver]

Originally Posted by daysky1

ok, time to correct some misunderstandings, I don't consider any of my watches rare nor do I consider them as investments. It is only a collection, that's all. I'm tempted to list what I have but resist the urge. From the least to the most complicated is about all I will say about my Rolex collection and for the informed, you know what I am talking about. From the highest places to the lowest places on earth, I would like Rolex to make a watch for parachutist but I digress and yes I have jumped at 12,500 ft and fell 2 miles before pulling the ripcord, I also have my PADI cert but have jumped more than scuba'd Enjoy life to the most when you can and while you can. from muscle cars to motorcycles and all things inbetween...now I am enjoying some of the best watches on earth....

Err cool story. In all seriousness you just seem to contradict yourself.

If it’s a collection, not investment, presumably a collection is purely for you enjoyment, ie removing the stickers and possibly reducing the value shouldn’t matter. Put simply the watch looks nicer with the stickers removed so you would probably enjoy it more.

“Enjoy life to the most when you can and while you can. from muscle cars to motorcycles and all things inbetween...now I am enjoying some of the best watches on earth...” I would suggest you are not enjoying them (well obviously some of the others in your collection but not these particular ones). Imagine seeing a collection of muscle cars and someone telling you he is enjoying life to the most….by never driving his cars and keeping them covered in plastic.

[daysky1]

A friend of mine has a collection of muscle cars, he really enjoys them, but he is "legally" blind...they bring back great memories and is his gift to his kids when he dies,,btw they are really into them also...and when you say "I", would get more enjoyment out of my two Rolexes by removing the stickers you are assuming you know me...I just got a watch in today, not saying which one except to say this, is was fully stickered when it arrived and now is not and is on my wrist. I enjoy what "I" enjoy, not what you do, at least some of the time. We both share the enjoyment of watches, both high end and for me at least even a $10.00 Casio...purchased from Amazon, a Casio AD as I understand it. I really like that watch...I like all the watches in "my", "collection", no matter what condition they are in or what they cost..and I enjoy all the watches each person on this site posts pics of...but that's just me...

[jimcarver]

Originally Posted by daysky1

My collection is just that, "my collection", I don't care if they are pet rocks, I don't collect for you...or anybody else. And I could care less if they ever rise in value, they are not investments. A collectible item is in the eye of the beholder. Not anybody else. I buy and collect what "I" like. And in my opinion "any", Rolex is high end. Not just the ones others like. And while I know some people walk out of the AD, and in the parking lot call somebody to flip it, so they go after the steel sports models. Not the "Classic Collection", which Rolex lists as "Day-Date, Sky Dweller, Date Just, Oyster Perpetual, Pearl master, and Cellini...A fine "Collection", in my book...High End Watches All...

Originally Posted by daysky1

A friend of mine has a collection of muscle cars, he really enjoys them, but he is "legally" blind...they bring back great memories and is his gift to his kids when he dies,,btw they are really into them also...and when you say "I", would get more enjoyment out of my two Rolexes by removing the stickers you are assuming you know me...I just got a watch in today, not saying which one except to say this, is was fully stickered when it arrived and now is not and is on my wrist. I enjoy what "I" enjoy, not what you do, at least some of the time. We both share the enjoyment of watches, both high end and for me at least even a $10.00 Casio...purchased from Amazon, a Casio AD as I understand it. I really like that watch...I like all the watches in "my", "collection", no matter what condition they are in or what they cost..and I enjoy all the watches each person on this site posts pics of...but that's just me...

I am not assuming to know you at all they were just opinions hence the use of "probably" and "suggest".

Interesting concept though, starting a thread that literally questions if you should remove the stickers, then making it quite clear you have no interest in opinions that are not in line with yours. As you mentioned, we don't know you. If you ask most people on here if you should remove the stickers they will say yes...for varying reasons. If you think you might take offence to those reasons, don't pose the question.

[daysky1]

Your right I did get into this too much,,,my bad,,,thanks for your opinions they are interesting and who knows maybe the day will come when I.........hmmmm