OPINION: Buying a new watch? Don’t even think about investment value
Being in the watch writing line of work it’s no great surprise that friends and acquaintances often ask me for watch-buying advice. Call it an occupational hazard, call it a compliment that they should consider my advice worth seeking but (unlike a doctor friend, who gets irritated by being asked for free clinical advice at dinner parties) I never tire of talking about watches. But something has changed: as watch auction prices have gone relentlessly up over the past few years (not to mention the retail prices of many brands), the two questions I’m most often asked are: “I’m tossing up between an X and a Y [pick any two modern watch brands]. Which one is going to hold its value better?” And: “I’d like to buy vintage and I can’t afford a Daytona or a Patek, so which other brands would make the best investment?” (To clarify: these are people with around $10,000 to $30,000 to spend. Not $100,000 plus – that’s a different planet.) Those two questions are essentially the same one in different clothes – and my answer to both is: “Stop. You’re asking the wrong question.” Not because I don’t have a crystal ball (I don’t)…
The post OPINION: Buying a new watch? Don’t even think about investment value appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
There are few things more frustrating than seeing pictures of an incredible watch, reading the news and reviews of just how great it is, only to discover that it won’t be hitting actual stores for months. It’s a very specific feeling (in fact there’s probably a word for it in German, uhrenverbotenangst or some such), and one we can relate to. Well, today we’re hoping to ease that pain just a little with five watches you can buy right now. And what’s more, they’re all under $5k. You’re welcome. Tudor Black Bay S&G It’s gold, it’s steel, it’s David Beckham’s choice. What more do you need to know? $4540 on leather Baume & Mercier Clifton Club Looks good, can handle everything you’d reasonably throw at it, comes on a neat strap. $2750 Raymond Weil Freelancer Calibre RW1212 Sick of having to take your watch off to look at the movement? Raymond Weil has got your back. $2950 Montblanc Summit Tempted to get into the smart game, but want something with a little more panache than Apple? Meet the Summit. From $1330 Rado Centrix Open Heart Got something against watch dials, and a penchant for avant-garde watch design? Try this Rado…
So far this week we’ve looked at the larger 45mm Captain Cook and the smaller vintage versions. To round out the trifecta, we’re taking this bright and beach-ready number for a spin. Now, this isn’t your typical ‘on the wrist’ review, as the mesh bracelet is intended for wrists smaller (and less hairy) than my one. But you can still see how the all-white colour scheme really makes this design pop, especially when helped out by the diamond hour markers and the field of reflections that is the Milanese-style bracelet. Rado HyperChrome Captain Cook 37mm (white) Australian pricing The Rado HyperChrome Captain Cook 37mm on mesh, $3100
