Overhyped or Undervalued?
The watch market is ridiculously subjective. What causes one colorway to be more pricey than another on the grey market? Why do Hublots have such terrible resale value? Why do we prefer less reliable, less accurate mechanical watches to quartz models?
These querys form a beautiful union on the secondary market which is always changing. When a watch gets hyped up, the used prices go up. We saw it with Christopher ward, when a stainless steel "The Twelve" was going for $1,500 and the titanium version was over 2k. We saw it with the Tissot PRX, the Studio Underd0g chronographs, and the Baltic MR01. These prices are slowly coming down as the hype wears off, but there's always going to be a new watch.
Which watches do you guys think are overhyped and overpriced on the grey market, and which watches have great quality but bad resale value resulting in sleeper picks?
Let me know in the comments!
Forreal I don’t get why Salmon watches are more
I think it's simply supply and demand.....hype generates demand and when supply cannot keep up with demand, prices increase...as demand decreases or supply increases...prices adjust commensurately
Good point. The next Christopher Ward Bel Canto release isn't for a while, so the used prices are like, 6-8k
It’s a good question and a ton to unpack as there are several points. I will tackle the obvious one first; the Twelve, Watermelon, and MR01 were batch releases to start. If you did not get the first wave, it created hype around it. Of course when one cannot buy it, it drives up demand and with it price. The more batches released, the less demand. It’s not so much a hype cycle vs. inventory. Each of those watches deserves the praise.
I know I’ve said this, but to be clear, the grey market refers to dealers like Jomashop that buy unsold overstock. They are not technically authorized dealers, but are selling AD overstock, thus the grey vernacular.
Used dealers are trying to co-opt the term to dodge the tag of flipper, but they are just that; secondary market sellers trying to make a buck on a quick flip. Not knocking it, but they are not grey dealers.
As far as which are great watches but bad value? The market prices watches exactly where it feels they are worth. A brand trying to sell a $5k ETA 2824 movement is going to get blasted and rightfully deserves their secondary prices to reflect the $2000 watch it is.
The difference in price between a steel Twelve, and a Ti one is based on materials and movements. The Ti versions have COSC SW300s, the steel plain SW200s.
The difference in price between a steel Twelve, and a Ti one is based on materials and movements. The Ti versions have COSC SW300s, the steel plain SW200s.
Great point! I just meant that both models were over their retail prices.
Great point! I just meant that both models were over their retail prices.
Ah... Makes sense now. Yeah, some people really need to have the latest of everything.
I'm more prone to wait a few years and see what sticks, rather than jump on every new trend.
There's no doubt that the watch market has & continues to suffer from the previous hype, rapid rise & now inevitable fall in prices. I personally believe it was a passing fad & that the normalcy will return.
The lasting issue is that it did give certain brands a heads up in just what crazy people were prepared to pay for their products. We are now seeing this reflected in new launches where prices are way higher than what we'd seen in the past. Supply & demand pricing has long been known but I would doubt that even Rolex would have imagined people were prepared to pay $25,000 for their entry level Oyster Perpetual in "Tiffany Blue".
You mean secondary. Only those who are impatient will pay over retail on the secondary.
I think the seiko SLAs are the best under valued watches period. The Grand Seiko 221 is the the most overpriced on the grey market. It’s a great watch though. Breitling B09 is also one I keep my eye on.
Any watch over $1000 dollars that is using an ETA2824 or Sellita SW200 is over priced and justify the price hike because of some certification . I don’t care about the META, COSC, ISO, certifications.
Certification of benchmark achievement does not mean that watch will perform to those standards always.
Great point! I just meant that both models were over their retail prices.
I don't get why as they aren't limited editions. The only limiting factor is how fast they can make them.
Any watch over $1000 dollars that is using an ETA2824 or Sellita SW200 is over priced and justify the price hike because of some certification . I don’t care about the META, COSC, ISO, certifications.
Certification of benchmark achievement does not mean that watch will perform to those standards always.
Isn't that exactly what those certificates mean, that it is the worst they will perform.
I tried the CW, PRX and SU on. The CW12 is a great watch but it should be a couple hundred $ cheaper. I didn’t think much of the SU. The PRX is definitely overhyped. I cannot comment on Baltic, but they are smart because they release small batches, thus impacting supply/demand.
I would say Rolex... But I don't want everyone to shoot me here sooo.... ROLEX! Or to be fair 99% of your Swiss watches. Your paying too much for a basic tool. No matter how many pain staking hours the person took to make sure your bezel is just right.
I think the Paul Newman Daytona was a little overpriced. I believe it has been serviced though.
Now that the hype is worn off the Seiko Speedtimer Panda I bought one new for 20% off retail. They were going over retail two years ago.
Definitely The PP Nautilus 5711. It’s a great watch, wears comfortable, great movement and finishing but is it worth the price? No. Better watches at that price from PP
PRX, most microbrands, most haute horology that are too impractical to wear, anything Wilsdorf, G-Shocks, Genta integrated bracelet designs, legibility on Hamiltons, date complications, leather straps....😂