Watch Help (Budget 2000, good investment)

QuackQuack11

Hi all,

Just received a bonus in work and want to finally put it towards buying a good watch. I have about 2000 euro to spend and ideally I'd like to wear the watch for a few years, enjoy it and then sell it on. So a watch/brand that retains a decent chunk of its value would be ideal or even one that would appreciate over time. I've looked at Tudor, Omega and Sinn watches so far and like the styling of those but what brands/models can you see growing in popularity over the next few years and becoming more sought after? I'm open to buying used if that will get me the best bang for my buck also. TBH I'm only a casual watch enthusiast and know its hard to predict these things but would appreciate some wisdom from the forum!

Onecoolcookie

Tudor Black Bay might fit your criteria, seems to be a very popular at the moment and is also a lovely watch!

Eoin

A secondhand Omega planet ocean might fit the bill. I'd never buy a watch as an investment though - I'd hope not to lose too much on it, but that's about it. Sinn make great watches, but it's a smaller audience if you're concerned about resale.

I had a Black Bay and it's a great watch too.

blue5000

Welcome on board, buy used if you are thinking about holding value.

Trigger Happy

I would look to get a watch that you like from a current established brand. Buy it and if you sell it on for a few quod more in the future then that should be an unexpected bonus. But buy a watch for wearing and admiring!

It’s a fools game to try to predict which brands would get more popular or sought after as the years go in.
I doubt anyone who, for example, bought a speedie in the late 50s did it as an investment but they or their heirs got extremely lucky with what they sell for these days.
Even with the big brands only a few of their models ever appreciate in value.

hoganj

As others have said a Tudor Black Bay of some sort would be my choice. A Rolex steel sports (tm Archie) if can find one for that price. If buying second hand you probably should take note of when the movement was last serviced. It may never have been.

Edit:
Just had a thought. For around 500-750 there are plenty of old Omega Seamaster 600 vintage watches (or similar). Buying vintage is a whole different story though that you probably should be more cautious with.

893bet

blue5000 wrote: »

Welcome on board, buy used if you are thinking about holding value.

If residuals are a factor then this. Any new watch for 2k will drop 30-50% the second you sign the warranty card.

2k second hand will pick up a 4-5k new watch.

QuackQuack11

Thanks for all the advice guys, very helpful!

Investment probably wasn't the best choice of word, of course I will wear it and enjoy it just hope when I get a bit bored of it after a few years that I can sell it on to fund my next watch purchase.

QuackQuack11

OmegaGene wrote: »

If you need help price wise on a certain male or model I’m sure between us here someone will be able to say if it’s a bargain or rip off, just don’t rush into anything that seems too good to be true and check out the seller

Thanks will do. I've heard Chrono24 is quite reliable? What are the other places I should be looking to get the best deal on a used watch? Appreciate the help

Eoin

QuackQuack11 wrote: »

Thanks will do. I've heard Chrono24 is quite reliable? What are the other places I should be looking to get the best deal on a used watch? Appreciate the help

Chrono24 is a marketplace, not a shop. Their buyer protection does not get rave reviews. I've bought and sold watches there and it's been fine, but do your homework on the seller.

As OmegaGene said, there is a bit of luck in guessing will have the best residuals, but buying secondhand can offset a lot of the risk.

Having hummed and hawed over getting a Planet Ocean for a few years, I've kept an eye on prices and they are pretty steady. 2K will get you one, and I doubt you'd lose much over a couple years.

What kind of style do you like?

QuackQuack11

Eoin wrote: »

Chrono24 is a marketplace, not a shop. Their buyer protection does not get rave reviews. I've bought and sold watches there and it's been fine, but do your homework on the seller.

As OmegaGene said, there is a bit of luck in guessing will have the best residuals, but buying secondhand can offset a lot of the risk.

Having hummed and hawed over getting a Planet Ocean for a few years, I've kept an eye on prices and they are pretty steady. 2K will get you one, and I doubt you'd lose much over a couple years.

What kind of style do you like?

I tend to prefer more simplistic watches so more dress style as opposed to divers. Love the look of some Nomos watches in particular but I must admit the Tudor black bay also appeals to me

Eoin

A Tudor Heritage Ranger or North Flag could also be an option then. For the Omega, check out the Aqua Terra.

micks_address

Something like a secondhand Omega Aqua Terra should be doable at 2k and should hold its value.. you need to consider size, weight, automatic, manual wind, quartz etc.. also style. Do you want a watch for dress ocassions? Sporty, swimming, etc.. there's a nice Omega speed master on adverts at 2.6k that looks tasty.. it's a slippery slope

There's lots of value to be had secondhand..

2shea

893bet wrote: »

If residuals are a factor then this. Any new watch for 2k will drop 30-50% the second you sign the warranty card.

2k second hand will pick up a 4-5k new watch.

What can you get for 2k that would have cost 5k new?

Thirdfox

I think Tags drop a pretty massive amount when being resold - Zeniths do too (sadly).

In the world of watch collecting it seems that Rolex is somewhat of an outlier (as a brand rather than specific pieces) - most of their models have good residuals. And that's fair enough as a business marketing/decision for their brand.

I would say that buying a luxury watch the main thing is to enjoy the piece rather than thinking of residuals - if (hypothetically) that Cartier Santos you get will drop 50% on resale but you loved wearing it over say a Rolex day date then it's worth it (in my eyes). Since no-one has to wear a watch any more so any watch you choose should be something you'll love.

If there's an Omega Speedy for 2.6k that might be good - I really enjoy my Speedmaster - but I needed a date feature on my daily wearer piece so went with a moonphase speedy.

I have a Tudor Pelagos up on adverts/watch buy/sell thread too - that one works as a daily wearer too and as a nice tool watch.

Main thing is to take your time in deciding - if it's a significant outlay for you then buy something you love and not something you need to keep an eye on prices. It may be your forever watch (as my Omega Speedy is for me - after a burglary I immediately went out and got a replacement moonphase speedy - residuals for that watch matter not an iota for me).

Anjobe

Thirdfox wrote: »

I think Tags drop a pretty massive amount when being resold - Zeniths do too (sadly).

In the world of watch collecting it seems that Rolex is somewhat of an outlier (as a brand rather than specific pieces) - most of their models have good residuals. And that's fair enough as a business marketing/decision for their brand.

I would say that buying a luxury watch the main thing is to enjoy the piece rather than thinking of residuals - if (hypothetically) that Cartier Santos you get will drop 50% on resale but you loved wearing it over say a Rolex day date then it's worth it (in my eyes). Since no-one has to wear a watch any more so any watch you choose should be something you'll love.

If there's an Omega Speedy for 2.6k that might be good - I really enjoy my Speedmaster - but I needed a date feature on my daily wearer piece so went with a moonphase speedy.

I have a Tudor Pelagos up on adverts/watch buy/sell thread too - that one works as a daily wearer too and as a nice tool watch.

Main thing is to take your time in deciding - if it's a significant outlay for you then buy something you love and not something you need to keep an eye on prices. It may be your forever watch (as my Omega Speedy is for me - after a burglary I immediately went out and got a replacement moonphase speedy - residuals for that watch matter not an iota for me).

For example Tag Heuer Link Calibre 36, on Watchfinder as well! https://www.watchfinder.ie/Tag%20Heuer/Link/CT511A.BA0564/1023/item/127644

micks_address

2shea wrote: »

What can you get for 2k that would have cost 5k new?

You might get an aqua Terra Omega.. they rrp close to 5k?

I've seen them around 2k...

893bet

2shea wrote: »

What can you get for 2k that would have cost 5k new?

Loads of omega’s, tags, breitlings would have RRP of 5k ish and are readily available for 2k ish.

E.g I have a Monaco for sale and would take 2.5 euro....RRP was 5900 sterling....it’s fair depreciation, even assuming that they got 20% off the RRP when buying new.

micks_address

893bet wrote: »

Loads of omega’s, tags, breitlings would have RRP of 5k ish and are readily available for 2k ish.

E.g I have a Monaco for sale and would take 2.5 euro....RRP was 5900 sterling....it’s fair depreciation, even assuming that they got 20% off the RRP when buying new.

Are Rolex the only brand that seem to appreciate in value?

893bet

micks_address wrote: »

Are Rolex the only brand that seem to appreciate in value?

Only certain models of Rolex appreciate. Most just hold their value better that other brands. Power of marketing and market control.

Cienciano

2shea wrote: »

What can you get for 2k that would have cost 5k new?

Here's one. No box or papers though.

https://www.chrono24.com/zenith/watch-class-01020451680--id7411837.htm

That's about €1900.

Thirdfox

893bet wrote: »

Only certain models of Rolex appreciate. Most just hold their value better that other brands. Power of marketing and market control.

And conversely if one is too focused on resell value/making "sound" financial choices then you should really be putting funds into property/investment vehicles.

Look at it this way - my wife never considers if her luxury bags will appreciate or depreciate in value, same for her jewellery pieces.

Watches are mainly jewellery for men as the reason for needing a watch has been replaced by phones/dive computers/other more useful tools.

While a rolex may increase in value at a rate of 1-5% per annum if it's a particularly sought after piece, if you put the same money into Google's/Apple's stock you might see returns of 10-20% per annum.

And of course this market becomes a self perpetuating truth - if people "expect" to pay higher for a rolex or lower for a tag then that becomes the truth. When dealing with luxury products logic goes out the window - hence why large luxury firms spend millions/billions on advertising - I remember seeing somewhere that Omega spent as much on advertising as on R&D - arguably they should have spent more on advertising

Homer

Anjobe wrote: »

For example Tag Heuer Link Calibre 36, on Watchfinder as well! https://www.watchfinder.ie/Tag%20Heuer/Link/CT511A.BA0564/1023/item/127644

I can testify as I purchased that exact watch many years ago and lost my shirt on re sale! People didn't care that it was a calibre 36 Zenith movement.. they just saw it as a tag sports model and it was a b!tch to shift!

2shea

Thirdfox wrote: »

And conversely if one is too focused on resell value/making "sound" financial choices then you should really be putting funds into property/investment vehicles.

Look at it this way - my wife never considers if her luxury bags will appreciate or depreciate in value, same for her jewellery pieces.

Watches are mainly jewellery for men as the reason for needing a watch has been replaced by phones/dive computers/other more useful tools.

While a rolex may increase in value at a rate of 1-5% per annum if it's a particularly sought after piece, if you put the same money into Google's/Apple's stock you might see returns of 10-20% per annum.

And of course this market becomes a self perpetuating truth - if people "expect" to pay higher for a rolex or lower for a tag then that becomes the truth. When dealing with luxury products logic goes out the window - hence why large luxury firms spend millions/billions on advertising - I remember seeing somewhere that Omega spent as much on advertising as on R&D - arguably they should have spent more on advertising

I agree with you here.