Do boxes matter?

Boxes only really matter if you may wish to sell in the future. When I bought my Seamaster a dozen years ago, I left the boxes at the AD for them to throw out. Wore the watch out of the shop and kept it on for a decade...

Nowadays I keep the boxes, as I never know when I'll sell on a watch. (Aside from that Seamaster, of course!)

I think the big boxes are added to make the item feel more special. I have always just bought cheap watches in little boxes, the more expensive the watch it seems the grander the box. It adds a sense of occasion.

I think the Casio G-Shock metal can is good packaging and can be used for travelling

I agree that fancy packaging is kind of pointless. Make it "nice" looking, but cardboard is more than enough for me.

I get why brands offer the fancy "unboxing experience", but at least give me the option to select basic packaging.

They are pointless and I appreciate the less is more approach. I do not keep them for inexpensive watches, but still maintain them for others in the event I want to move on from the watch.

I really appreciate leather travel cases or something that I can reuse.

G-Shock tins are great for storing miscellaneous nuts and bolts / all the odd stuff in my drawers.

I like a nice wooden box or similar for a more expensive piece. For me at least, the initial impressions and unboxing is a sense of occasion, especially if it’s something I’ve wanted for a while.

With that being said, I completely understand why it would be wasteful. A delightful surprise was when I unboxed my Rado Captain Cook. The watch was sitting in a concealed travel case that made up a lot of the inner packaging. That’s the sort of stuff I really love.

Is hey matter 0, you’ll never convince me otherwise. They are a waste.

Add no value? A brief perusal for any particular watch in the original RRP range of 2k g up will tell you that used watches with boxes do sell at a premium over the same used watch without.

I understand where you are coming from and sort of agree, but the no value part of your post is provably untrue.

I like when a watch is shipped in/with a watch roll.

If you're selling in the future - and frankly, most people do at some stage - then retaining the packaging is a very nice thing. Both to help with the shipping, and for the buyer.

As a part of the classic 5 P's of Marketing, it must matter. Ask Apple on their product pkging and other brand triggers. Obviously it does from a recall perspective and frames the brand promise/ethos. My McKinsey fellows would agree... and Yada-yada-yada, blah-blah-blah- I get it. That said for me, not really😂

I could add bracelets and straps to packaging. Why can't we buy watches without them?

I'm of the mindset that I want a worthy presentation for my money. If I buy off AliE for $50, I don't expect much. Heck, some of these micro brands put the big boys to shame. Ask @ImNevix about his Towson Watch Co or E. Stohlman unboxing experience. Sure they are big and heavy and completely unnecessary, but you feel like you have received something special.

I've kept most of my boxes but have thrown away so many I've lost count. It's not necessary for me. I still have the watches I've bought over the last few years. So nope, companies can keep the boxes

Yep, sell that seamster for sure

I have seems one or two brands offering a “package free” option. I like that.

I hold onto many for resale too. The bigger the box, the greater my resentment.

Value for resale, yes. Value to the experience of owning the watch, no.

Love this

I didn’t say I wanted no boxes, just sensible ones. My toaster did not arrive in a lacquered presentation box 5x its size.

In your opinion...

Boxes are pretty uselss once you get the watch home.

I would really like to see some creative, compact packaging made using recycled materials. The big, heavy boxes, that have become standard for many premium brands, really don’t do anything to differentiate the watch, and they are a waste of resources and space.

Exactly.

I did not measure any particular box, I just pulled 5x out of the air for the toaster example to make a point. That said, a typical watch on a bracelet and wrapped around a cushion fits comfortably into a 3x2x3” space. My point is how much box do you need with that, and what should it be made from? I’d prefer something like a Seiko blue box but if you want big, there are ways to do that. OWC used to ship in a 10” wide polyethylene box that was absurdly heavy. WT Author’s boxes are about the same size but cleverly constructed cardboard and a small fraction of the weight. I can tell you which one impressed me more.

Yes, it was an exaggeration. I thought that was obvious. I have explained my point. If you believe watches are packaged only in modest cardboard and have no experience with anything else, great. That is what I was advocating.

I already gave an example, so have others in this discussion. I also gave examples of what I prefer, which are minimal, biodegradable, and lightweight.

Go back and read again. I’m done. I see no need to spoon-feed someone who is being deliberately obtuse.

Love the boxes.I keep my boxes with receipts in them. Plus when I change straps out ,I,put original strap inside box, good for storing extra links etc.