Personalized watches, what do you think?!

The vintage experts would know if it does or does not affect value but personally I think it is very cool…it’s part of the history of the watch…adds to the story

I am a vintage guy but wasn't talking value. Value as per the PN Daytona's that were sold in auction, both were engraved and did not affect the value whatsoever in a negative way, actually for the better. A lot of people back out of purchases for engraved watches, I find they give personality and history to watches.

Duh! Sorry, I see you are a vintage guy…agree

Agree and can add provenance if necessary for added historical value.

Engraving or personalization on famous people's watches enhances monetary value, as long as the personalization relates to the famous person.

Engraving or personalization on normal folks watches does not generally enhance monetary value.

This is why a number of famous people that sign photos and other memorabilia for fans are now adding the name of the fan to what they write on the piece. Personalizing it to the fan means that the piece relates to less potential future buyers making it less likely that multiple fans will engage in a bidding war to own the piece.

A famous person putting their name-only signature on a photo or other item makes the piece relate to more potential future buyers, making it more likely multiple fans will engage in a bidding war to own the piece.

Me? I'm no one and personalizing my pieces only enhances the sentimental value to my family. I'm pro-personalization.

Do you remove the caseback for the engraving to take place or just applied onto the watch in its entirety?

I quite like the fact a personalised engraving on a vintage timepiece adds to its history.

This engraving on a newly acquired Seamaster I've picked up makes me wonder about the original owner and how/where it may have been worn in the past.

I have had as many as five or six engraved backs at one time. Only two them have any connection to me (one is for me, the other for my grandfather). If they affect value, I don't care. They help me narrow down a date and always leave a little mystery. For example:

I don't know who this was or what the group was. Oddly, the watch company seems to only have trademarked their name after the date of this inscription. That may, or may not, be significant.

A collateral subject is presentation watches. These watches were often sold by a separate division of a company that would case movements and dials that did not necessarily fit a catalog model and were given usually as retirement presents. They are fine watches, but they are not always recognized models. I know that Bulova, Hamilton, and Omega did this. I think that Rolex may have as well.

Beats a display case back for sure. I like that it has a permanence of ownership to it. I have a very subjective bias depending on what is engraved. Some inscriptions are tacky enough to be almost total dealbreakers. Others are enticing mysteries.

Personalization is always a good touch. It makes the watch more thoughtful and symbolic, especially if it's a gift, or an heirloom.

When I see watches w/ engravings being sold on secondary market, it always makes me wonder what happened? Did a friendship go sour? A divorce? Economic hardships?

Honestly, if my watches didn't have display case backs, or designs on the case back, I would consider engraving em'. That is one of the reasons why I dislike display case backs.