How important are ‘box & papers’ for you.

I second your rationale. Full set is nice and certainly preferable but if the box is by no means available no dealbreaker.

It really depends on your preferences and experience with timepieces. I’m very comfortable buying a watch naked if it’s something I’ve been looking for. But if you don’t have any experience and buying it used from Kazakhstan because of its price point. I would tred lightly.

Full sets FOREVER. I know its a compulsive behavior, but since its compulsive i musu accomplish it 😂

The advantage of buying without papers is the reduction in cost and if your keeping it does it matter , I've had 2 from a reputable dealer, then got them serviced by the AD , absolutely no probs with them

I’d say only for the big guns…. PP, AP, VC & Rolex . As there are so many super clones of these and it’s hard to tell if they are real or not.

Mid to low tier it’s not as important.

IMPO

In my opinion it depends on two things:

1. Do you intend on possibly selling it one day?

2. Are you paying top dollar for a relatively expensive piece?

For me, if the answer is “yes” to either of them, the ‘full set’ is preferable, at least the box.

That said, it’s always good to go ‘full set’ because you never know if you’ll have to sell and that definitely helps the resale.

Great subject! 😎👍🏼

I want the full set. It's worth it to me even if I never sell.

Depends. For my vintage pieces I never expect box and papers. For newer valuable watches I want box and papers. It tells me that earlier owner cared about the watch but also that the watch less probably was stolen.

When I started collecting 20 years ago, I remember all watch nerds cared were the watches. Now they gotta come full package 😆

Full Set for the more expensive one … too many fakes and super clones … buying from a reputable buyer is a must too … old vintage at a lower price point can be negotiable but … I’ve been looking at tag heuers and even those I’m finding myself looking for full set as clones are rampant in the market

For everything properly vintage (which is a loose term; for me it means older than ~ 40 years) I don’t even expect a box or papers. As has been mentioned: if i were to get say a 10 yr old JLC - yes, I’d want the full set.

I like box and papers also like mint condition,but there's exceptions to the rule,I've bought boxes separately and saved a lot of money,don't intend on selling them just the collector in me likes the extra bits and original as possible 👍

I hate boxes. They take up space and annoy me. I have sold boxes of some of my watches in the past. People pay money for that... somehow. I keep the papers, assuming the watch had then to begin with, but I prefer watches at a discount that come without either.

It depends for me. If I intend on keeping it forever, it doesn’t matter as long as I buy from a reputable source.

Not important. They make the watch more expensive to buy, and do not guarantee authenticity.

I don't sell watches so box and papers are kept but not really that important to me.

Papers are important. Box, if it’s unique and great looking, like some Omegas. Surprised that AP has a very plain standard looking box.

Full set always.

For the watch you posted in the jpeg above -- B+P? essential. For a vintage Seiko Willard B+P - nice to have but not so much...

Looks like the consensus is we want the box and papers with some exceptions. I’ll buy that.

Box is nothing, papers only matters in important pieces ( not sport rolex for example )....its my very personal opinion !!!

Important on ones I'm unsure I'll keep, not bothered in the slightest on expensive keepers.