Do I waste my time and money with my collection?
I remember watching a YT episode of Federico Talks Watches where he advised to stop wasting time on some brands. I understand that he makes a living out of selling watches, and therefore he will always see them first as a source of revenue. With this in mind, he may be right in believing that it doesn't make a lot of sense to buy a watch that will be re-sold at a considerable loss.
However, what I didn't like was the way that it was presented as if it was some kind of irrefutable and universal truth. Therefore allow me to present a contrarian opinion that is bound to annoy a lot of people: Stop wasting your time and money on luxury brands. Forget price, don't mind the reputation or heritage and focus instead on the unusual and unique.
Firstly, buying watches as an investment is stupid. I'm sure that we can all find an example or two when a watch was sold for X10 the amount of money that it was originally bought, but these are outliers and I was taught that we can't build a statistics by gathering anecdotes. By far and large holding on a stack of S&P 500 is a wiser choice for long term investment.
Next is the position of the leading luxury brands. They already made it to the top and therefore their prime concern is maintaining the status quo. Those looking for something new, original or daring are better advised to seek it elsewhere.
The last is exclusivity. There is nothing exclusive about wearing a million dollar watch. The next idiot who will be willing to pay more will get another one. There's also nothing wrong about owning a luxury brand watch, as long as you don't mind that everybody else in your social circles is wearing the same same watch.
I already explained my opinion about limited edition and what is inherently wrong with them, and I don't care if @Mr.Dee.Bater doesn't agree with me. There's nothing special about them because they were never limited nor exclusive in the first place.
Which conclude with my final thought about the Dietrich SD-1 that I'm wearing today. In my opinion this is the type of watch that is worth collecting because I can see that it was designed by someone who cared and had enough balls to try something different.
I'm a big fan of watches that are interesting because they are either unique, have interesting features, well designed or simply offer a great value for their price.
I agree that you shouldn't buy only as an investment. My take is, wear what you like the look of, and only spend what you can afford. Micro brands offer a little something, which certainly appeals to me as they are usually unique and not very common.
I've been collecting watches for nearly 40 years and have never made a loss on a watch..... 🤔
Ok
I've been collecting watches for nearly 40 years and have never made a loss on a watch..... 🤔
It's not a gain or a loss until you sell...which I will very likely never do, so we're in the same boat!
i would say wear what you like and don't worry about resale. Hell considering the drop in the market lots of people who bought grey at the top even on the "good" brands like rolex lost boat loads of money when the market corrected. I don't think people should be putting themselves in a position where the money you spent on a watch will mean that much to you. If you can't afford to eat the cost of the watch you shouldn't be buying it period in my opinion. Also agree on the fact a lot of these luxury brands pretend they are exclusive but pump out boat loads of watches.
I either buy new Chinese watches or vintage on Ebay.
I don't like the "watches as investment" mindset. I could be wrong or blind to some aspects of it, but in my eyes it strips the hobby from its individuality and the self expression one gets from owning and wearing a watch. I'm sure there are watches that might give you a good sum if you sell it, but what good is a watch if you don't wear it? Buy what you like, wear it and love it in good health
Good post and point of view.
I tend to agree with Fed on this one, BUT I can't see why an individual can't be into both & appreciate them for what each has to offer 😃
I just love watches. Have done eversince I was a little boy with a scratched up Timex/Smiths.
Whether I'm wearing my Grail SM300 or my British microbrand alkin model 2 I find joy in both when I look at my wrist.
I tend towards Fed's opinion because it's easy to get addicted to that dopamine hit from a new watch purchase,and end up endlessly chasing that hit -whilst accumulating a lot of money's worth of hard to sell watches that aren't really appreciated because we've already moved onto the next chase..
We're nearly all guilty of that, I certainly am.
Guess what I'm trying to express is microbrands can be great value and can have fantastic original designs if you buy carefully and buy to keep.
Don’t buy DIAMONDS 💎 as they can only be resold at a considerable loss as their value is artificially inflated… and yet
It's a hobby, and by nature it's suppose to be a waste of money in the first place
I tend to agree with Fed on this one, BUT I can't see why an individual can't be into both & appreciate them for what each has to offer 😃
I just love watches. Have done eversince I was a little boy with a scratched up Timex/Smiths.
Whether I'm wearing my Grail SM300 or my British microbrand alkin model 2 I find joy in both when I look at my wrist.
I tend towards Fed's opinion because it's easy to get addicted to that dopamine hit from a new watch purchase,and end up endlessly chasing that hit -whilst accumulating a lot of money's worth of hard to sell watches that aren't really appreciated because we've already moved onto the next chase..
We're nearly all guilty of that, I certainly am.
Guess what I'm trying to express is microbrands can be great value and can have fantastic original designs if you buy carefully and buy to keep.
Microland is certainly the place where most of the interesting stuff happens now.
Agree. Buy what you like.
On the occasion of his official retirement from being a well respected psychiatrist, I invited an old high school buddy to a cheap lunch at a favourite neighbourhood dim sum joint. We were seated next to a mature couple who did not speak a single word to each other, both were wearing gold Rolex watches. After they left my doctor friend said the couple’s watches might tell interesting stories about their story together. Somehow we transitioned to content creators on YouTube including Federico whom according to my lunch companion appears to be dealing with anger management and weight gain/loss issues.
I have been collecting mechanical watches for more than 50 years, it is a mindless carefree affectation so I see both Fed’s and your point of view regarding watches but neither align with my own interest in watches.
That is a nice looking watch, hadn't heard of them before. Unfortunately, it appears they are no longer making anything.
As to your pronouncements, I agree with most of it, but your wording seems a bit extreme as though you're trying to justify your viewpoint by doing exactly what you accuse Fed of doing. While he's my favorite YT character (I think he's the most objective and knowledgeable of the lot) I keep in mind that, first and foremost, he's selling used watches. Please let us know in which episode he says this as an absolute pronouncement, as I'm curious. One reason I watch him is that he usually avoids doing that. Maybe you heard it that way as it conflicts with your opinions?
Also, I feel you're given to hyperbole saying things like "there's nothing exclusive about wearing a million dollar watch." How many million dollar watch wearers have you run across lately?
As to your pole, I knew the results before I voted. This has been done here many times before and in other fora, always with the same result. While we collectors can't agree on much, there's almost universal agreement that we should collect what we like and can afford and that collecting is a money-losing proposition. These are givens and there's no need to go on about it, we're virtually all in agreement.
Point of view makes sense. I have never given any importance to anyone’s opinion regarding watches I own. My collection is diverse and has some heavy hitters and also has some inexpensive yet gorgeous pieces. Guess which ones ironically get all the attention… Buy what you like is my motto! 😎✌🏻
Nope, I’m in love with Tudor and want to marry many of their watches 🤤.
I buy what I like and what I can afford and then I wear them and use them like the tools they are! I don’t think I have ever sold a watch however I have gave a lot away to ppl to try and get them into watches.
Interesting.....enjoy the hobby..I do not buy with the intention of making money. I know I will loss money when and if sold..but I dont lose near as much on a major brand than I do on some outliers ..JMO
That Dietrich ticks all the boxes 😊
I buy what I like, period.
Totaly agree but I have to confess I still love limited edition watches despite all the arguments I heared against it
Don’t buy DIAMONDS 💎 as they can only be resold at a considerable loss as their value is artificially inflated… and yet
Last I checked, the markup on diamonds was 1000%. Not even kidding.
It you're having fun and feeling satisfied with the way you're engaging with your hobby then good on you, you're winning!
Unsolicited suggestions however to others on how they should engage in a hobby is messy whether it comes from Federico, anyone with a hidden agenda or someone else.
I've been collecting watches for nearly 40 years and have never made a loss on a watch..... 🤔
Which might indicate that you never sold a single piece. Either way, unlikely a repeatable experience for most.
Which might indicate that you never sold a single piece. Either way, unlikely a repeatable experience for most.
Exactly 👍
As a fellow skin diver owner, I agree. I’m guilty of buying a few watches with retention in mind, but it’s also because I like the watch. That being said, now that I’ve experience most of the large brands either through handling other peoples watches or my own luck, the small brands are more exciting to me these days. Plus I always enjoy rooting for the “little” guy.