For once ... let's talk about investments and watches

[L-16610]

I know, I know.
Most of us will tell that you need to love a watch when you want to buy it and watches are no investments.

On the other hand, let's be honest ... some watches (might be less than 1%) are good investments.

So, could you name a few examples of which you think they ARE a good investment.

1 rule, let's stick to modern watches, NO vintage pieces because you can't get those anymore at a good price.

Maybe we should seperate them in 3 price levels
- less than 10K
- more or less 50K
- more or less 100K


I'll start :-)

- less than 10K
--> LE Panerai like the 232, 249, 26 (217 and 127 too but they're already more expensive).
--> Rolex Daytona 16520

- more or less 50K
--> AP ROO End of days

- more or less 100K
--> Patek Philippe 5070 in Platinum


Thanks.

[JJ Irani]

Well, unless you can pick up a Rolex real cheap (like I did my Bluesy), only then could you hope to turnover a profit.

Today's prices are so exhorbitant that you'd proabbly have to wait for a couple of decades before you came up with any kind of profit......so then you'd be better off investing that same amount of money in bonds, stocks or even a bank term investment.

JJ

[WatchTimes]

Daytona???

Dealers are discounting them new right now....

Still with small production handmade pieces.....
OR very high end pieces like Patek complications

[gettocard]

Patek. That's it.

488.000 Euro one,limited to 50 pieces.

[topcat30093]

Don't think that I can name any watch in the first 2 categories.
But in the $100,000 plus range there are several. Most of which usually have a Minute Repeater and Tourbillon complications.
The first watch - PP 5002 IMO is probably the Grand Daddy of them all. Which is currently still being produced, albeit at only TWO per year.
But my favourite is the next one -5207P.
Unfortunately you won't get much change from a million dollars for either of them.
Of course you can buy many watches that are covered in diamonds, such as the Rolex GMT ICE. But in my eyes you can't count watches that are "Blinged" out.

[gettocard]

The 5270 P is the new one with the feb 28th date thing...right ???

[Jedi]

The real investment pieces these days apart from Patek's high complications, are the independent watchmakers.

Names include:

Kari Voutilainen

F.P. Journe

Max Busser & Friends

Roger Smith

Volker Vyskocil

Philippe Dufour

These guys all make limited pieces due to their small operations, with most things handcrafted in their own workshops, or using specialty outsources.

There's more to the watch world than 'big brands'. But whether you can get your hands on the 'other' stuff is another matter altogether. In any case, hardly any body would know you're wearing one of their watches because 99% of the watch collecting population don't know they exist.

[topcat30093]

Lee
Thanks for including the independents, how could I have not included them. DUH!

Jackie, if you mean does the watch account for leap years, then the answer is yes. Also the 5002 has a perpetual calendar. It in fact is one of the worlds most complicated wrist watches.

[jtvision]

The Philippe Dufour pieces are stunners!

[Gaijin]

If you can get a good price on a Zenith SS Daytona in this economy, that might be a good investment long term...

[seedgun]

If i was into watches as an investment i'd buy Anastasios new SD with tags and plastic and put it in the safe and not look at it for at least 10 years. I'm pretty sure it would be a good value. In 20 years it may actually beat inflation.
Andy

[fmohajer]

In 1980 a SS Rolex Submariner was $801. And today its OVER $6,000. Not a bad ROI. And it keeps on going... UP. ;) LOVE it. Simple, classy and a ROI better than most stocks nowadays.

[WatchTimes]

Yes but also in 1980 Rolex did not make the #s they do today.
People were not buying Rolex watches to stash in the safe
NIB

Times have changed and Rolex is now produced in HUGE #'s,
faked all over the world and while a great watch not likely a
great investment when it comes to the current production.

Proof??? Look at the Daytona, a few mths ago you couldn't get
them at MSRP now Rolex is producing more, less people are able
to afford them and finding them at a discount is very easy.

[stusrt]

if you're looking to make money - it seems to me PP is the only sure fire bet over the long run.
if you're worried about losing money, try to find a really good deal on a used rolex. at least you shouldn't lose money on it.

I see plenty of "limited editions" out there on ebay. Bought by people thinking they where going to flip them, and now can't even get their money back.

one thing I like about the auctions, if you win the watch, there is someone out there willing to pay just a few dollars less then you did.