Surely the papers belong to the watch owner from day one?
If the owners want to flip them for a quick profit then again, it’s their property. They can do what they like with it.
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Quite a lot of dealers do this. The idea is to ensure that watches aren’t bought and immediately sold at what can be a very significant profit. My local dealer generally sells to people they know - you usually have to be on the waiting list anyway - and will hand over the papers on day 1, but not always. I guess it’s about trying to ensure they go to people who really want them rather than those who simply want to make a fast buck.
I love the Seiko Turtle reissue. Is that a dark blue & black bezel? I couldn’t resist a very good offer on a new Pepsi a couple of years ago. It’s a great fun summer watch. Shown here with a Jean Paul Menicucci leather NATO.
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All are simply sub-functions of time. Dress it up how you will, they are time pieces. Agreed, some are more mechanically complex than others, but that doesn’t necessarily improve their accuracy or ability to perform their one function.
If there’s big profit to be made then doesn’t that just mean that Rolex aren’t charging enough (or producing enough to meet demand)?
I didn’t buy mine to flip it, I’d just always wanted one after seeing them in the window.
The guy in the shop says they could always tell who was going to eventually purchase one by who times they’d stop by the shop window to look. Yeah, that was me. Lost count how many times I did this and it took a good 6 -7 years to save up for it!
I doubt I’ll ever sell it either.
You’ll know as well as me that if you buy the right GMT for £6,500 or whatever it would fetch £12,000 plus the next day on a watch website. There is a handsome profit to be made for both purchaser and website. If they were sold by the dealer at the £12,000 they’d be even less obtainable to ordinary mortals, which would be a shame I think.
I see them as things to be worn. I wear mine every day - they’ve been in the sea, the pool, the shower and don’t sit cocooned in a box. Maybe I’m a fool, I don’t know.
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Does that mean your dealer might refuse to sell to an unknown passerby with the necessary funds?
My two watches that are my favourites the Seiko on the left which I purchased in 1977, a mate was on his last trip working in the Middle East and brought back some watches I paid £70 for this one and still have the receipt from the shop in Jeddah where it was purchased.
The bracelet is not original although very close in appearance to the original which lasted some twenty five years or so. When the bracelet broke I wasn’t to bothered on getting it repaired but the jewellery shop said it was well worth taking the time to source a bracelet explaining that the movement was one of the best Seiko had made which probably explains why it is accurate to within a minute a year.
The Citizen watch is my everyday watch this has a Seiko Eco drive movement no batteries, no winding a nice simple accurate watch.
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It wouldn’t come up. The sports watches never make it to the window, there is a waiting list.
It is hard to get on the list for one of the “submariner” (as in the style, rather than the actual model) but I have done it by buying more “run of the mill” watches like and oyster or milgauss (no disrespect is meant by that at all, I have a milgauss and love it) and built up a reputation with my dealer. My day to day watch at the moment is the attached Batman but now they are up in the 13k range I think its days are numbered. I have had it 18 months so OK to move it on. Trouble is I am niot sure what I would replace it with as I do love this style of watch, very iconic.
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Nice BLNR, if you’re looking to move it on then perhaps the Sea Dweller 4000 ref 116600, already discontinued and the last in the 40mm size, as you probably already know.
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Agreed, and with all the back house dealing between the AD’s and Grey’s, some sports models never see the light of day.
Agreed, Rolex is indifferent to the value of a watch that comes in for service and will replace everything to restore it to new, an independent with a Rolex account is the only way for a vintage timepiece.
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IMO Rolex could surely do both but by holding back, it increases the exclusivity of the Sports model line. Rolex is the master of marketing strategy.
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Very nice Richard, Seiko recently released a “Mini Turtle" line and the models have a ‘cyclops’ date reader, suits my wrist size better and I hope to pick one up later this year.
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The regular Turtle is a big watch but it somehow wears smaller than its size suggests. Main issue is that it’s quite heavy, especially with the bracelet, which is why I like to wear the Pepsi with Natos.
I’ve seen the mini Turtle, and but for two little details, it would be fantastic in my book; unfortunately I’m not so much a fan of cyclops dates, and I would have much preferred the winding crown to be positioned at 4 o’clock. Other than that, it looks great.
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Another lovely automatic Seiko is the Seiko Sports SNZH53 “Fifty Five Fathoms”. It’s only rated for 100m (which is still about 99 metres deeper than most people will ever go) but it’s just gorgeous and incredibly good value too.
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I’m a big fan of Oris watches, which are all mechanical and which are fantastic value. I’ve had a BC3 for 17 years. On my lust list is this BC 80th anniversary day/date pointer in bronze and green, a steal at just £1,500.
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Not a fool at all. I did the same thing when I was wearing mine.
I genuinely had no idea about the values shooting up though. I’ve been wearing the Apple watches for the last 3 odd years so hadn’t paid any attention to Rolex watches.
This wasn’t the case years ago. You’d see jewellers shops with plenty of sports watches.