To flip or not to flip, that is the question.....

[DiamondJack]

Hey guys and gals,

Just wondering what your views were on the serial flippers amongst us????

I'm an accumulator when it comes to things I like and, so far, I have not sold any of my watches to fund another.

They all have a special place and each took research and deliberation to buy, some more than others but everyone of them was an investment of time and money to a greater or lesser degree. I love the variety and try to wear them all, even if, with some, I just swap them every few hours at the weekend if I'm lucky enough to have free time to lounge at home.

I therefore struggle to understand the impatience of the flipper since, to me, the watch effectively becomes less of an item to be savoured and enjoyed and more of a tick box acquisition. Indeed, as soon as it has been acquired and paraded in front of all of us in "forum land", presumably satisfying some form of need to exhibit those acquisitions, the desire for something new takes over. Almost like a child with an attention deficit disorder wanting a new game or toy to play with.....

Now, clearly, I appreciate that watches are expensive and it is simply not possible for many of us to continually acquire new pieces whenever we like. But to continually buy and sell, whether moving sideways or upwards, just seems to place zero emotional attachment to any of the watches owned and turns them into pure commodities to be traded like you would any other goods or services.

Now, clearly, some will argue that a watch IS simply a commodity, nothing more. There is also no doubt that flippers can be great entertainment in terms of new watch volume for the rest of us...... But somehow to me it just lessens the joy factor from seeing these new acquisitions compared to someone who has worked, saved and invested the time and energy into acquiring that new piece.

I would be interested in your comments........and opinions........And I definitely would like to hear from a serial flipper as to what drives their passion to flip...... An insight into the mind of a serial flipper

[Lion]

I am a collector at heart so I do not flip watches.....but it will be interesting to see the reason why some do!!!

[superdog]

Wait....what was the question?

[FremStar]

Hi everyone, my name is Sam and I have a confession to make... I am a serial hoarder of horological references I can't seem to let any of my timepieces go from my disliked 116264 to some of my power pieces this hobby has taken over my life Thank you for helping me realize I am not alone All jokes aside I can only assume that the mind of a flipper is one that believes the next greatest thing is right around the corner... Mortageguy should be able to elaborate more eloquently

[freddyttt]

Since i am of middle class and it takes me song long to save what i buy i hold and will only add to my collection-

was that the question

[errol0_7]

I flip as the next watch has turned my head and when I no longer want to flip it I have a keeper.

I would rather have the money to keep adding but I am not Floyd Mayweather!!

[nauticajoe]

To each their own.

[winston]

Selling any of my collection has always only come after much wrestling of the mind and heart, I currently am considering flipping to aquire a solid gold GMT or WG Sub but its hard to sell something you have had on your wrist for years in the hope that you will like the new piece as much or more. It usually takes me months to pull the trigger.

It always amazes me that people sell discontinued modela like subs SD etc to get the NEW model when the older the Rolex the more valuable it becomes!!

Just my thoughts for what they are worth.

[thewatchguy93]

I guess this thread was inspired by me..


I agree with you Steve Hands down, everything you have said above is 100% correct. I had a huge emotional attachment to my LVc, and I am sad to see her go, if I didn't let her go the saving process would have been extended atleast another 5 if not 6 months; impatient may spring to mind, which I guess in some ways may well be correct. If I had a huge bank account (which I don't) I certainly wouldn't have let the LVc go!


The only reason which makes me flip watches is because I purely can't afford to hoard them as others do here..


Once I have achieved my 18k timepiece, she won't be going anywhere! I'm currently working my A.. off saving for it, so I will treasure it for a long long time

[Z-Sub]

I sell it so others who love it more than I do can enjoy it!

[bluemartinifan]

Great Thread. I am a modest serial flipper.
My Rolex passion results from the entire process of hunting, owning, posting here, and selling (the full life cycle )

I owned my 1st Rolex for 17 years, sold it and have been buying and selling Rolex since. When I acquire one, I truly enjoy it - then I have a reason for selling - so I do - it's always for a reason. Different model, trying vintage, many other solid excuses. I have only really really missed (still do) 1 watch and it was my A series 14060.
I just received a white dial Daytona yesterday. I really like it - but I don't think I'll die with it (don't have a son to pass it to). I have enjoyed owning many different Rolex, Zenith, Omega, Sinn models by buying and selling. Many watches I would not have owned if I only collected.

I am having a helluva lot of fun with this passion.

[Dan2010]

I have never flipped a watch in my life so I have no advice...............................

[Michael M.]

Originally Posted by Dan2010

I have never flipped a watch in my life so I have no advice...............................

[liptonnr]

I am of the same philosophy as you, I plan research and buy for a specific reason. Mi also would not flip a watch to buy another one! So no to flipping!

[dsio]

I still have all of mine...

I just can't sell them, they've all been with me through interesting times.

[Rollie2011]

Originally Posted by Dingoo93

I guess this thread was inspired by me..


I agree with you Steve Hands down, everything you have said above is 100% correct. I had a huge emotional attachment to my LVc, and I am sad to see her go, if I didn't let her go the saving process would have been extended atleast another 5 if not 6 months; impatient may spring to mind, which I guess in some ways may well be correct. If I had a huge bank account (which I don't) I certainly wouldn't have let the LVc go!


The only reason which makes me flip watches is because I purely can't afford to hoard them as others do here..


Once I have achieved my 18k timepiece, she won't be going anywhere! I'm currently working my A.. off saving for it, so I will treasure it for a long long time

Dino what finally happened to the LV-c? Did it get bought up?

[thewatchguy93]

Originally Posted by Rollie2011

Dino what finally happened to the LV-c? Did it get bought up?

Its sold

[tattooedfagin]

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

I'm an accumulator when it comes to things I like and, so far, I have not sold any of my watches to fund another.

i'm a keeper

and, deep down i know you're really keeping the WG Sub C for me, i'm not proud, i'll take charity

[xjeeunitx]

Originally Posted by Z-Sub

I sell it so others who love it more than I do can enjoy it!

That's a great one!

[speedo]

i am very far from being a hoarder in real life due to my limited watch fund but i would not sell any of my current watches to fund a new one. I have an emotional attachment towards my watches so i cannot imagine selling any of them.
and i tend to think very very thoroughly before purchasing anything.

[tattooedfagin]

rather than flip watches (which i wouldn't anyhow) i've just had a check on some of the 'Man Crap' i've managed to accumulate over the past few years, the little investment bits n' bobs, speculative buys etc etc.....and i reckon i could flip that little lot instead & manage to grab the last piece of my Rolex jigsaw

last piece of the jigsaw

who am i kidding

[esm]

im only a newbie and im a horder

i never had to flip to fund another purchase. all of my purchases to dates has special association attached to them...

but, if a situation comes up and require us parting ways, i will have no problem in doing so. (lets hope the day wont come )

[MoBe]

Flipping is a lifestyle choice I suppose,one that I don`t understand.

[superdog]

Still not sure I understand the question. However, I flip in hopes of finding my perfect watch. I can afford to buy whatever I like at this point. Yet, I don't know what the future will be and it's hard to justify so many expensive watches. I flip simply to enjoy the process more. I'd personally feel guilty if I had too many. I need to save for my future.

[sprtrlx]

i dont try to justify this hobby.all i know is that it gives me great pleasure to wear different timepieces.one time i did trade to get a watch that i wanted to add to the stable.generally im a buy and hold type of person.inmho a rolex if kept in great condition is not squandering money like alot of people do on frivolous things.its a passion that you either get it or dont get it.i would never try to convince somebody to buy a rolex if a timex suits their need.

[Maxtor]

Sometimes you go after something because you think it will be great for you... but it doesn't click when it arrives. To me the best thing is to recognize it was a mistake and send it on to someone who may love it. No sense in leaving an unloved watch in a drawer or safe. Once something has been in the rotation for a while though, I think I would be less likely to let it go. Even if it is no longer a favourite now, you may re-discover it months or even years later and fall in love all over again.

[JP(Canada)]

My name is JP, and I'm a serial flipper. Serially! I mean, Seriously!

Wish I could give a good reason, but I truly think it's OCD or ADD, or perhaps some other sort of disorder.

I have tried justifying to myself that it's because I want something else more, but I often sell and re-buy the same models I had before, so that cannot really be it then.

At any rate, trying to understand what goes through any of our heads is going to make this the longest thread ever posted on this forum...

[kilyung]

I guess I'm a flipper as 75% of my collection has changed in the last year. Even the keepers may someday go towards another watch.

[RC2]

I am in the middle of the flipping debate now. I have a 1994 GMT master II and want a birth year 1675. I would only flip if I felt more attached to the 1675 birth year. It's a tough internal debate. Rich

[mike]

Interesting answers and I agree with some of them.

I think there's a difference between "flipping" a watch and selling a piece to fund another or because of a change in one's goals/direction.

I've gone through periods of accumulating and periods of purging as goals change.

There are those however that simply try to hose someone. That I have never done.