so if i wanted a 5 grand watch

Tigger

saw this http://www.watchfinder.co.uk/IWC/Portuguese%20Automatic/IW500109/4266/item/19824

on the bargin thread

so what in your opinion is the best "INVESTMENT" watch i can wear?

bren2002

Tigger wrote: »

saw this http://www.watchfinder.co.uk/IWC/Portuguese%20Automatic/IW500109/4266/item/19824

on the bargin thread

so what in your opinion is the best "INVESTMENT" watch i can wear?

Few watches could be considered an investment. Certain Rolexs and original Omega Speedmasters hold their value, but the idea of an investment and a daily wearer are a contradiction.

Wibbs

Plus one to B's post, I'd maybe add the exception of actual vintage watches as opposed to more recent second hand sometimes described as 'vintage', pre 1960 kinda thing. In those cases they've the patina of age anyway so you can get away with daily wear as not being "mint in box" is far less an issue. Indeed with some "like new" would raise more suspicions than anything.

So those kind of watches IF you buy quality and name and know something of what you're doing will appreciate over time(by varying amounts of course). EG if say you had bought an 1950's ex UK military issue IWC in the early 90's for say 1000(probably less if you got lucky) you'd have a 5000 quid watch today. Looking at my own modest collection of the vintage stuff all of them have gained in value over the last decade to varying degrees and I'd expect them to keep doing so, again to varying degrees.

However, IMHO the huge jumps in value we've seen in the past won't happen for a while, if ever. There was a jump towards the end the quartz revolution (early 80s) as people realised the value of some mechanicals. There was another major jump with the internet. That increased the amount of collectors and sellers. The web did this in a few areas of collecting. Film posters being a good example, where prices went from feck all to through the roof for some examples.

Secondly as I said you need to know what you're buying and thirdly and maybe most of all, such watches are not as robust as modern watches. Think of them like vintage cars, more delicate and need more maintenance and parts can be hard to come by. Water resistance is pretty much not going to be present so forget about that. Shock resistance won't be as good either, so I'd not be risking playing tennis with one on. Like vintage cars you could run one daily, but it takes more work and carries more risk. Oh yea and the vast majority are smaller in size than men would generally wear today.

Marcusm

Plus 1 for much of the above although I would also note that if you want it as an appreciating investment, I wouldn't wear any watch too regularly.

That said, I have 2 IWCs both black face, a Big Pilot and Portuguese Auto Chronograph. If I had it over I would have stuck to my original idea and purchase a white dialed Port with blue hands.

bogmanfan

Most manufacturers are raising prices year on year. A used Rolex Submariner will continue to increase in value, as long as the new price keeps increasing. I sold a used Sub for £2k a few years back. They're now going for well over £3k.

Tigger

Marcusm wrote: »

Plus 1 for much of the above although I would also note that if you want it as an appreciating investment, I wouldn't wear any watch too regularly.

That said, I have 2 IWCs both black face, a Big Pilot and Portuguese Auto Chronograph. If I had it over I would have stuck to my original idea and purchase a white dialed Port with blue hands.

I didn't mean daily wear I ment mabey three times a year
I have a daily (a g-shock with a dial) and a couple of big "good wear watches"
I collect classic cars and bikes and I only use them sometimes they are and they aren't investments as in I get to have a nice thing and the cost to keep them good is balanced by the fact they could be resold at no loss.

So what second hand good condition watch could I buy and have a nice watch with no depreciation and a little increase.

Tigger

I don't want something small I lift weights have done for 20 years and have very thick square wrists.
I don't want so fragile I'm thinking seventies or eighties I guess but I know ery little.

Wibbs

Well the wrists rule out the majority of pre 70's vintage stuff, with the rare and pricy exceptions of some military and diving watches. If you've truly huge wrists you might be able to get away with one of these, which will defo hold it's value and has historical importance but at 60mm across maybe not.

70's watches may be your best bet as they got larger at that time. Stylistically they're pretty fashionable at the mo. Names like Omega and Heuer would be suggestions that would regularly be 41MM across. Longines another possibility. Here's one of their special edition models for the 72 Munich olympics at 42mm(the one famous for the PLO terrorist attacks). They'll hold and likely go up in value. They go for around the 1000-1400 euro mark.

Tigger

Wibbs wrote: »

Well the wrists rule out the majority of pre 70's vintage stuff, with the rare and pricy exceptions of some military and diving watches. If you've truly huge wrists you might be able to get away with one of these, which will defo hold it's value and has historical importance but at 60mm across maybe not.

70's watches may be your best bet as they got larger at that time. Stylistically they're pretty fashionable at the mo. Names like Omega and Heuer would be suggestions that would regularly be 41MM across. Longines another possibility. Here's one of their special edition models for the 72 Munich olympics at 42mm(the one famous for the PLO terrorist attacks). They'll hold and likely go up in value. They go for around the 1000-1400 euro mark.

I like the flight watch I like the idea of military as well
And no I don't think 60 mm will work

bren2002

The one watch that will always have a collectible interest (thus maintaining value) is an Omega calibre 321 Speedmaster, a premoon watch.

Bullseye1

That watch is one of the finest watches made IMO. However I don't think it comes with full paperwork. Just compare prices to the regular Portugese. This one is the 7 day power reserve with an amazing inhouse movement. A true grail. But unless you can get some paperwork even replacements it might not hold its true value. I would take this over any Rolex Sub C.

Wibbs

I'd second the premoon Omega, if you can source a nice one. Others in the premoon era(and military/pilots) would be thisHanhart as issued to the German airforce around the same time. One of only 1000 made, so more rare than the Omega, expect to pay around 3k for one. Another one of the same would be the Heuer. These vary in price a lot and also vary in originality, but around the 1500-2000 mark. If you can source an earlier Leonidas version of that as issued to te Italian airforce, you'll pay around a grand more, but it would be a much rarer watch. Both of those around the 40mm mark, with the Heuer topping out at 43mm. Going further back to the 40's you have this Longines so called "Czech airforce" model for around the 2000 mark . Very large on the wrist, though just over 40mm, it looks bigger. These would be quality pieces, within your budget, pretty robust and as much a "sure thing" as any investment wise.

Tigger

That Heuer is nice alright

The omega on a leather strap with a food over clasp is very nice however.