Do You Think Resale Value is that Important when Choosing a Watch?

[impalass]

Yes with a "but"

I've been drinking the Rolex koolaid since childhood, and have no interest in other brands, although I've tried.

Ironically I never realized Rolex was one of the few brands to have a good resale value till later in life, and am guilty of spouting the "good investment bull s#!te" to friends and relatives.

Don't know if I'd own three Rolex's and be dreaming of a fourth if the resale was'nt as high as it is.

[floater156]

No, I choose the watch that appeals to me the most. Isn't that the point?

[kilyung]

Buy right from the beginning and you don't have to worry about anything except enjoying your new watch! If you don't like it enough to keep it, you'll get most of your money back.

[novan3]

Good point, totally get it.

Originally Posted by impalass

Yes with a "but"

I've been drinking the Rolex koolaid since childhood, and have no interest in other brands, although I've tried.

Ironically I never realized Rolex was one of the few brands to have a good resale value till later in life, and am guilty of spouting the "good investment bull s#!te" to friends and relatives.

Don't know if I'd own three Rolex's and be dreaming of a fourth if the resale was'nt as high as it is.

[GOB]

I started collecting a few Rollies about 10 years ago with the intention to "never sell", but when I lusted after different brands/models (namely Panerai/Audemars), I sold my Rollies to fund these new purchases and was very happy to sell them quickly and in some instances, at a profit. Got the Panerai and AP and after 3 years, got tired of them. Sold/traded them losing ±35% on each.
If you want a watch that holds its value relatively well and you want to change once in a while, only two brands allow this: Rolex and Patek. The rest, buy them because you want them knowing when you want something else, they will be worth a lot less than you paid. If you have the disposable income to do so, then go for it.

[kerytch]

Yes of course! A watch isnt good at all if it doesnt keep a high resale value. Watches nowadays are more of a jewelry than a timepiece.

[caryyee]

A Rolex is a luxury item. An expensive 'something' that is nice to have, to make us 'feel' good. Money spent on luxury items should be from your discretionary savings. Money that could be just as well be spent on a top shelf holiday, or a new car, or expensive camera or home theatre equipment, fancy clothes, 5 star hotel accommodation, food at a Michelin star restaurant or blowing at the casino. Discretionary savings are for exactly those types of things, things where you don't expect your money back.

Whereas investment savings are for making money. Rolex's should never come out of that fund.

My watches have come from my discretionary savings, money that I've allocated to 'blow' on whatever I like. If I didn't 'blow' them on watches, I'd blow them on something else. If I had spent it on 1st class airfares, 5 star hotels, $500 meals etc, it's money gone forever. That's perfectly ok with me, as it's purely discretionary or 'throw away on whatever you like' money. The fact that a Rolex, bought from your discretionary savings, can get most of your money back is just a bonus. If re-sale value is super important to you, then you may need to re-assess from what savings fund you are dipping in to, in order to fund your watches. If it's from your investment fund, then you're perhaps making the wrong investment decisions in investing in watches unless you really know what you are doing. :-)

[nalika]

From another perspective, if it holds it's value it also shows how desirable it is on the secondary market.

[azguy]

I buy what I like and what I will wear.......

[braningan]

I always like to get a watch liked by all,which has good resale value ..so dat i can sell for good price, if i want to change :) ..if i buy wht i like i have to keep it with myself

[Adam.]

Originally Posted by theken

For me, Resale value is part of the decision process when buying an expensive watch.
A Rolex watch is something that I "want", not something that I "need."

X2. Resale value is important.

[Sam Philip]

Yes.

[LLCMan]

yeah it would be smart to have resale value but what does this mean, somehow it means that we have to settle for a rolex a little bit uglier or "conservative" than what we would like... A real estate guy isn't going to buy a puff daddy rolex watch is what you are saying..

[A.J.R.]

No, because I don't plan reselling my watches.

[YoyoGift8]

being able to hold value is impt. to me secondary to liking the watch.

[LightOnAHill]

no

[00Seven]

It is to me. I like knowing that if I had to "liquidate" I wouldn't lose much, if any, of the capital that I have invested in watches.

[ManUtd]

I have never sold a watch and don't plan to in the future so it's a no for me.

[GradyPhilpott]

I will never sell my watches.

Consequently, resale value is meaningless to me personally, but I do know that when I'm gone someone will have some valuable watches to wear or sell as that person sees fit.

[TSW]

As long as your buying right no worries!

[herbie911]

Although I vote yes, I don't really care less as I tends to keep my watches for years. However, for a car which always tempt me to change every three or four years, resale value is much more important.

[caryyee]

In general, people don't buy luxury handbags, designer suits, golf clubs, home theatre equipment, jewelry, furniture, top end bicycles, jetskis, motorbikes with resale value in mind, so why would you with a wristwatch?

[petesjag]

Whenever I buy anything, I contemplate resale value because most purchases are things I don't need to survive and could be sold if necessary. I don't contemplate resale value on food though..

[Brenngun]

I only consider if I like it and if I can afford it. Not what I can sell it for at some later date.......

[paverman]

I voted yes, but its somewhat dependent on the value of the watch in question. I enjoy several "lower cost" watches and don't even consider resale value when purchasing. I just get what I like. However, when contemplating a high end piece, such as a complicated AP, ALS or PP, I think that potential resale value enters anyones mind. It's not that we're thinking about selling or flipping at the time of purchase, but it's a "value thing", knowing that it'll hold it's value into the future, whether sold or given as an heirloom.
That's my 2 cents

[cont]

IMHO, there are various kind of WIS

1. The ones that's just start with not too many watch in possession, they are divided in three : "whatever I like" kinda guy and "a consideration" guy and somewhere between. In the timeline of WIS journey, they're gonna find out for whatever reason they start at the first place, might be changed, slightly or drastically.

2. The ones that's "been there done that", is the next kind of guy. They still might be standing up for whatever reason they start it all, but find out that some others with different angle of view is actually there and somehow can affect their way of thinking.

3. The other with lots of load, and nothing to worry about. No classification for this, since they can do whatever they want for whatever reasons

This kind of thing is just a matter of "which comes first" in your list.
I'm pretty sure that value is in all WISes lists.

For me, I choose yes, although I don't have any plan to sell my watch right now, and value is not on the top of my list.

How can I consider to sell my watch while I can only effort to have one in my possession

[fenderu2]

Originally Posted by caryyee

In general, people don't buy luxury handbags, designer suits, golf clubs, home theatre equipment, jewelry, furniture, top end bicycles, jetskis, motorbikes with resale value in mind, so why would you with a wristwatch?

Because it's a ton of money for a WATCH. NOBODY would be buying $8,000 to $50,000 watches if they were worth $200 a year later unless they liked losing money. People fall in love with a watch on an emotional level, but the rational mind says: I may get bored with it, I may find something else I like even better, or I may find something else to put my money into. A $200 to $1,000 watch I can understand not caring about depreciation. But when you're spending $4,000 or more on a watch, it's nice to know you may get something back if other things come up.

[gwalker]

Getting the best deal I can usually means little or no loss in the long run but I don't factor it in when I'm purchasing something for enjoyment. My boat, cars, RV, etc all take hits but I enjoy them all and don't worry about resale. As with watches I look for the best deal before I buy.

[gimpex]

At least a part of the reason ( and not a small part) I have more than one , is because I know I will get at least what I paid for it should I WISH to sell it. I also know that I will get something substantial for it , should I NEED to sell it.

[watchfun2]

Originally Posted by jdc

i would not buy a watch if i thought i was going to sell it, to me its a purchase for something i really like and want. If i started considering a resale value i would would be compromised in my choice.
I have been lucky in the fact that all of my watches have either held or increased their value but as i have no intention of selling this does not matter. In fact its something i don't like about the collecting aspect of this hobby, the dollar value seems to out weigh and have an influence on what watch to buy, especially in rolex circles.

x2