Watch collectors out there.

[dwentzel228]

I am just seeing how many other people on here collect watches. I have always been interested in watches since I was little. In the past year I finally took the leap and started to collect vintage watches. As of now I have over 200 wristwatches and around 100 pocket watches. The bext wristwatch I have so far is a rare Cshion Hamilton from 1929 in white 14 k gold. I have lots of others including Elgins, Bulovas, Mido and ect, but my 1929 Hamilton is my favorite. My best pocket watch is a 1865, Key wound and set, Am Waltham 18K, hunter case pocket watch. This is my best watch period, in mint condition, I had to buy a whole collection to get this one. Its been a journey with my collection, learning how to clean and repair them on my own.

[Iron Patch]

I don't collect them, but often associate with those that do on various forums, but plan to sort of get away from that in the future.

Like you, I have some "watch DNA" along with my interest in coins, but the coins took me until I was in my 20s to find again, and the watches not until my late 30s. Interestingly enough I have used one to fund the other so I guess it works out fairly well.

I'm definitely more into modern and for the last few years have switched a bunch of times but these are the three I decided to settle on. Unlike coins which I can make money on, watches are a loss if I sell, and it's not quite as much fun to play when it's costing you money. What is comparable to coins is how expensive it can be depending on your taste and unfortunately for me it seems what I like is always the stuff I can't afford, and yet another good reason to cool it. But if you have the budget for what you like, and can actually fix vintage pieces yourself, it sounds like a worthwhile hobby to be into.

[dwentzel228]

Yeah being able to fix up watches a little bit does pay for itself, even with simple cleaning and repair I can turn a $1 watch into a $40 watch, or a $100 watch into a $400 watch. I only sell what I collect to get better and more rare watches. I love working with watches, it takes time but when I am done I have saved a piece of history.

[Iron Patch]

Originally Posted by dwentzel228

Yeah being able to fix up watches a little bit does pay for itself, even with simple cleaning and repair I can turn a $1 watch into a $40 watch, or a $100 watch into a $400 watch. I only sell what I collect to get better and more rare watches. I love working with watches, it takes time but when I am done I have saved a piece of history.

If I could do that I definitely would! Can't beat making money at something you enjoy doing.

[minnowtizer]

I just like the craftsmenship in the older stuff,my father inlaw works on pocket watches,alarm clocks and mantle clocks,he is 70 and learned old school,not to much on the pockets any more,parts are way to small for him,he has done well fixing and reselling,(the time to money just isnt there he says)but he just enjoys working on them.I like watching him take some of that stuff apart and get it running smooth,I do have a few pocket watches and a mantle clock that he has given my wife and i.The mantle clock is nice to listen to.sorry for the long post.

[Lightningjack]

Vintage watch collecting is a awesome hobby, I couldn't even begin to guess how many I've bought & sold over the past decade.. I currently have a few hundred & like you over the years I've also learned to repair them myself..

[IMShooter]

I used to have quite a few watches, but sold them off. I'm down to 2 now.

An original Movado Museum (mint cond) that I wear for weddings/funerals etc.. and my daily which is a TX 770.

Lately I've been hankering for a Hamilton Khaki. Either the Pioneer or the Field. but will most likely snag a Gshock mudman for bottle digging and the like. (practicality/need vs want)
I do love vintage watches. My grandfather had a vintage Heuer that he'd had since he was younger.

There's one decent auction site that not many people hit up for vintage watches. Sometimes you'll see the bids go up a bit, but most of the time they stay from fair pricing to bare minimum. Except pocket watches. Even crappy beyond common ones will go for 200bucks..go figure.

watch forums are my guilty pleasure. I'm afraid to spend "real" money on a timepiece. my wife is like, oh, 2k..go ahead and get it...i cringe at spending that kind of money for myself...now if she were to buy it for a gift..that's different..

[Iron Patch]

Originally Posted by IMShooter

my wife is like, oh, 2k..go ahead and get it.

Does she have a sister?


Here's how you can justify it...


But gray market from a well known trusted dealer which will get you a very good discount. Then think of it as either equity, a bad investment that you'll lose a little on, but enjoy, or a low rent per month to have a nice watch... meaning if you were to sell after 2 years and lose $500... $500 divided by 24 isn't that much per month. But chances are, once you spend the money, if you love the watch, a few months down the road you won't even think about it. The real problem is turning out like me and not wanting to stop!

PS: About a year ago I was ready to pull the trigger on a Hamilton X Wind but couldn't find the one I wanted, so went with a 2nd choice (Ham. but not X Wind) and quickly fell out of like once it arrived. So another tip is to take your time and get the one you really want.

I have a Breitling Steelfish I'd sell you for a good price. (under 2k anyway) Your wife says it's ok, remember!

[demyansk1942]

How about this watch, anyone interested its a new holland quartz

[joee5]

I own (1) one. And it's a TIMEX so she's all I'ma need in my lifetime.

[IMShooter]

If I were going to spend "real" money on a timepiece now, I'd probably get a Ball.

[KingTotsalot]

KT once visited Japan back in 1988...while there He was in a small alleyway in Fukuoka City on the south island, when He spied a pocket watch and wristwatch store.

Using His Royal Yen to Dollar calculator, He became absorbed in figuring out how much money the watches in the window cost....some were in the 10s of Thousands of dollars! And many brands He had, at that time, never heard of, like philip patek and such.

Later when asking His Host Family, He was told....many people save their entire lifetime and when they retire, they go and buy the best watch they can. They pass that on to through their family....a form of transfer of wealth, because when they die, the government comes in and takes about 1/2 the hard cash of the estate, but they do not mess with worldly goods.

Now that my friend is watch collecting! And KT loves the justification for it!



KT has 2 pocket watches Himself....One was His Father's purchased in 1922 when he went to work for the bank and the original order form and catalog it was purchased from....and the other was The Queen's Uncles....a nice pocket watch that was purchased in the 1930s...both run fine...KT has one wristwatch from the 1940s, with the masonic emblems on it that He got reasonably off of ebay several years ago. And KT's daily wearer....A Citizen eco-drive! Love not havin to by batteries for it!

Wonder why Garrett or someone cannot come out with an MD with eco-drive!?! Hmmmm.

[zeemang]

Terrible pictures, but my favorite watch....Hamilton khaki day date chrono...
I'd really like to pick up a Frederique Constant heart beat retrograde someday.... The way the second hand sweeps across the bottom of the dial and jumps back mesmerizes me for some reason....

[Iron Patch]

Originally Posted by IMShooter

If I were going to spend "real" money on a timepiece now, I'd probably get a Ball.

I had a Ball Spacemaster, and it was nice, but felt brutal. The bracelet pinched the skin so bad to this day I can't see how people wear that particular watch. Needless to say it made a very quick exit. That experience sort of turned me off the brand, but they are nice... just try before you buy!

[DougF]

I'm not a watch collector, but was reading (in a doctor's office) a magazine published by Forbes about a year ago, and there was an article about high-end wristwatches being manufactured nowadays which cost between $200,000 and $500,000, if I remember right. I don't remember what made them so expensive (super accurate, status item?). Don't remember the brand names. The magazine was basically for rich people.

[Iron Patch]

Originally Posted by DougF

I'm not a watch collector, but was reading (in a doctor's office) a magazine published by Forbes about a year ago, and there was an article about high-end wristwatches being manufactured nowadays which cost between $200,000 and $500,000, if I remember right. I don't remember what made them so expensive (super accurate, status item?). Don't remember the brand names. The magazine was basically for rich people.

For sure, and on watch forums it's nothing to see watches pretty much every day that are equal in value to cars or houses... well at least equal for what was paid. Patek would probably rank at the top, and there's several things that make some watches way more valuable than others ... History, how complicated, quality, demand etc.. I had to laugh about a year ago when one guy was debating a new watch, or a new corvette. Sure would be nice to live in that world!

[IMShooter]

these two run 500k each....

the Zenith "superman, nothing going to ever destroy me" piece

and the Claret.. which boasts "The watch comes with 582 parts, 73 jewels and a 50-hour power reserve.There is also the belt drive system which is not usually seen in today’s watches".

[Iron Patch]

Originally Posted by IMShooter

these two run 500k each....

the Zenith "superman, nothing going to ever destroy me" piece

and the Claret.. which boasts "The watch comes with 582 parts, 73 jewels and a 50-hour power reserve.There is also the belt drive system which is not usually seen in today’s watches".

They'd be ugly at 1k. Zenith is a big name, never heard of the other one.

[dwentzel228]

Well I am glad to see I am not the only one on here. Right now my current everyday watch is a TV style dial, Hamilton, Selfwinding. This is a 1970's Swiss Hamilton, to me not a true Hamilton but still a neat watch to boot. Here is one of my current real Hamiltons. It is a "Sea-Lectric II" from 1962. It is pretty good shape, I cleaned it all up and added a battery and it works. I am afraid to wear it since the movements are really hard to repair and expensive to buy parts.

[zeemang]

Great piece there. Some of the older Hamiltons just have such a great look to them, functional and beautiful....