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sdwtchlvr · 1 February 2009, 04:18 PM

I'm just wondering what the days of collecting, buying, & selling were like before watch forums? I'm sure there are plenty here who remember the days. I myself have only been at it for a few years so the forums are all I know. Please share your stories...

rijowysock · 1 February 2009, 04:20 PM

im too young to even have a clue... bet it was a pain and there were a bunch more watch trade shows..

Omega_Precision · 1 February 2009, 04:39 PM

It was hard to source preowns and certain models and few people to showoff the collection. When you were sharing your collection to people, they thought it was bragging.

Now with the forums, you can share with other members and GTG's are common unlike the past.

Wolfgang427 · 1 February 2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rijowysock

im too young to even have a clue... bet it was a pain and there were a bunch more watch trade shows..

Actually it was a lot of fun looking thru the want ads and the classifieds in newspapers.

There was the thrill of the hunt and many watches which now go for thousands(5-figures and up) could be found for a few hundred $'s.

Back then vintage wasn't vintage it was just a used old model watch and most people were glad to get rid of them cheap.

Now a days anything vintage including beat to hell models, people think they are sitting on a gold-mine.

082013 · 1 February 2009, 06:22 PM

Good question...I used to buy a publication in the UK called Exchange and Mart.

Sign of the times: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...line-only.html

I had to phone someone, from a landline!!, meet them in person, and give them cash!

Now, I e-mail, sms, skype or MSN with a seller, wire transfer, and they send by mail.

How times have changed

Yume-sama · 1 February 2009, 06:35 PM

Lonely!

acce1999 · 1 February 2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfgang427

Actually it was a lot of fun looking thru the want ads and the classifieds in newspapers.

There was the thrill of the hunt and many watches which now go for thousands(5-figures and up) could be found for a few hundred $'s.

Back then vintage wasn't vintage it was just a used old model watch and most people were glad to get rid of them cheap.

Now a days anything vintage including beat to hell models, people think they are sitting on a gold-mine.

Yes, I agree completely with Wolfgang, especially on prices... but it is much more fun now, since you get to see watches that NEVER surfaced before - but I have a long list of watches that I let go because I felt they were (at the time) too expensive. The list includes non-shoulder subs and and early GMT's. I remember a 5508, a 6542, an early 1675, a mint 1675, a red sub, PN Daytonas... The current asking prices are silly, but that is what happened when the Internet completely changed the market situation, going from slow and local to fast and truly global; A lot of informed buyers, and a lot more buyers with money.

I like it, and do not regret all my "missed opportunities"... ;-)

Best,

A

toph · 1 February 2009, 09:18 PM

great question as I am also too young to know. interesting answers and I look forward to more

yannis · 1 February 2009, 09:23 PM

I guess as with almost every aspect of life the Internet definitely changed the way the market is...same applies to collecting, purchasing, tracing and trading watches! One thing for sure: People who had the "knowledge" before that time really had lots of research to do!! It is so much easier now!

frostie · 1 February 2009, 09:24 PM

It all started when i joined this place

My life used to be stress-free

yannis · 1 February 2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostie

It all started when i joined this place

My life used to be stress-free

Peer pressure mate!!

frostie · 1 February 2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yannis7777

Peer pressure mate!!

Tell me about it

f16570 · 1 February 2009, 10:24 PM

The internet has changed the way we do everything from now on.
There are still people who do not trust it but I would suggest they are in the minority.

JimSnyder · 1 February 2009, 11:38 PM

If you knew your stuff it was great. In the classifids I once bought a 5513 for $500. I also bought a Explorer for $450. And I passed on a Daytona for $400 (it was rough, needed alot of work, head only and you had a hard time seeing the dial because the crystal was so scratched as was the bezal)

Dan Pierce · 1 February 2009, 11:42 PM

The difference for me would be the physical location of items I'm pursuing. Hard to calculate the knowedge achieved and the products purchased due to the power of the internet.

dP

yannis · 2 February 2009, 12:03 AM

Exactly what Dan said...it would be much more difficult for us Europeans to find/track/purchase watches from the States (or elsewhere around the world) and vice versa prior to the evolution of the Internet to its current form (it was a military American DARPA project at the start right?). Today we can chat to each other, know if someone is a trustworthy dealer, exchange knowledge and information in an unprecedented manner.

JJ Irani · 2 February 2009, 02:53 AM

Before the forums.....well, I was lucky in that wherever I lived, I had an AD nearby to help me out with my passion!!

1 February 2009, 04:18 PM	#1
sdwtchlvr "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SoCal Watch: Rolex Posts: 1,308	What was collecting like before the forums? I'm just wondering what the days of collecting, buying, & selling were like before watch forums? I'm sure there are plenty here who remember the days. I myself have only been at it for a few years so the forums are all I know. Please share your stories...

1 February 2009, 09:18 PM	#8
toph "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: ChrisTOPHer Location: Sydney Watch: Rolex, Brellum, Posts: 12,601	great question as I am also too young to know. interesting answers and I look forward to more __________________ "Where no counsel is the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." Member No.# 11795

1 February 2009, 09:23 PM	#9
yannis "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Real Name: Yannis Location: Europe Watch: maniac Posts: 9,070	I guess as with almost every aspect of life the Internet definitely changed the way the market is...same applies to collecting, purchasing, tracing and trading watches! One thing for sure: People who had the "knowledge" before that time really had lots of research to do!! It is so much easier now! __________________ Rolex Submariner 116610LV \| Tudor 79220N DSSD MEMBERS - OWNERS CLUB

1 February 2009, 09:24 PM	#10
frostie 1,000,000th PostMember Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Earth Posts: 14,048	It all started when i joined this place My life used to be stress-free __________________ GMT - Master II C - 116710 LN

1 February 2009, 10:24 PM	#13
f16570 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Real Name: F Location: Scotland Watch: Exp II White Face Posts: 4,272	The internet has changed the way we do everything from now on. There are still people who do not trust it but I would suggest they are in the minority. __________________ Why have what's new when you have what's best. f

1 February 2009, 04:20 PM	#2
rijowysock "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Real Name: Riley Location: 41.89° N, 87.62° Watch: URWERK Posts: 499	im too young to even have a clue... bet it was a pain and there were a bunch more watch trade shows..

1 February 2009, 04:39 PM	#3
Omega_Precision Banned Join Date: Dec 2008 Real Name: Henry Location: CA, US Watch: ing basketball Posts: 2,977	It was hard to source preowns and certain models and few people to showoff the collection. When you were sharing your collection to people, they thought it was bragging. Now with the forums, you can share with other members and GTG's are common unlike the past.

1 February 2009, 06:22 PM	#5
082013 Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London Posts: 689	Good question...I used to buy a publication in the UK called Exchange and Mart. Sign of the times: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...line-only.html I had to phone someone, from a landline!!, meet them in person, and give them cash! Now, I e-mail, sms, skype or MSN with a seller, wire transfer, and they send by mail. How times have changed

1 February 2009, 06:35 PM	#6
Yume-sama "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: CAN / SIN Watch: Plat. Masterpiece Posts: 1,959	Lonely!

1 February 2009, 11:38 PM	#14
JimSnyder "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Real Name: Jim Snyder Location: Ohio Watch: Ask me later..... Posts: 7,726	If you knew your stuff it was great. In the classifids I once bought a 5513 for $500. I also bought a Explorer for $450. And I passed on a Daytona for $400 (it was rough, needed alot of work, head only and you had a hard time seeing the dial because the crystal was so scratched as was the bezal) __________________ "You ain't lived, 'til you've had your tires rotated by a red-headed women."

1 February 2009, 11:42 PM	#15
Dan Pierce 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Real Name: D'OH! Location: Kentucky Watch: Rolex-1 Tudor-3 Posts: 36,217	The difference for me would be the physical location of items I'm pursuing. Hard to calculate the knowedge achieved and the products purchased due to the power of the internet. dP __________________ TRF Member# 1668 Bass Player in TRF "AFTER DARK" Bar & NightClub Band Commander-in-Chief of The Nylon Nation The Crown & Shield Club Honorary Member of P-Club

2 February 2009, 12:03 AM	#16
yannis "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Real Name: Yannis Location: Europe Watch: maniac Posts: 9,070	Exactly what Dan said...it would be much more difficult for us Europeans to find/track/purchase watches from the States (or elsewhere around the world) and vice versa prior to the evolution of the Internet to its current form (it was a military American DARPA project at the start right?). Today we can chat to each other, know if someone is a trustworthy dealer, exchange knowledge and information in an unprecedented manner. __________________ Rolex Submariner 116610LV \| Tudor 79220N DSSD MEMBERS - OWNERS CLUB

2 February 2009, 02:53 AM	#17
JJ Irani Fondly Remembered Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: JJ Location: Auckland, NZ Watch: ALL SOLD!! Posts: 74,319	Before the forums.....well, I was lucky in that wherever I lived, I had an AD nearby to help me out with my passion!! __________________ Words fail me in expressing my utmost thanks to ALL of you for this wonderful support during my hour of need!! I firmly believe that my time on planet earth is NOT yet up!! I shall fight this to the very end.......and WIN!!

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