What Makes a Watch Valuable?
My own humble take on this question is simple.
The value of any time piece is always given by the owner. It may be retailing at $1M, or at $10. Price is never the real indicator of value. Nor is what movement is inside (mechanical or quartz), its specs or features, its resell-ability, etc., etc. These all do play a part, yes. But, it's not what gives a time piece its value.
End of the day, we each have our own unique criteria of what is of value. Some criteria are more important for you, but are not as important for others. And, vice versa. To each his own.
So, one person may highly value a Cartier Tank, a bejeweled AP or Patek, a rare Rolex, or a masterpiece F.P. Journe. Another may rave about a Casio, a Timex, a Tissot, a Tudor, an Omega, a favorite microbrand, or a vintage piece from the 40s. Whatever is of value to that person, you can guarantee that I will celebrate with him or her. Always. 🍻
That's the beauty of this hobby, or any hobby for that matter, and life in general. Bottom line, value is, and will always be, a subjective matter. No one, and I mean no one, can smugly dictate, insist, or judge, with a raised eyebrow and nose, or with a dismissive, contemptuous tone, which watch is crap, and which one is to die for.
Value is, and always will be, assigned or given by the owner. No one else. "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder." Let's celebrate each one's right and freedom to do so.
For me, what is of greatest value in my humble collection, is this simple, yet classic Citizen quartz dress watch given to me by my Dad.
He had this piece for many years, while a distinguished Commodore (1-star general) in the Navy, and then as President/CEO of his maritime consulting company. He looked particularly handsome when he wore it to special occasions, or official formal functions garbed in his handsome all-white Navy uniform. Or, in his equally dapper Barong Tagalog. I think he wore it too, to my wedding, and my two other sisters' weddings. It was definitely on his wrist during my parents' 50-year wedding anniversary celebration in 2012.
He passed it on to me in 2019, over a year before he passed away the following year. It was this moment, I believe, or shortly thereafter, that I finally decided to begin a humble watch collection, with this heirloom as its centerpiece.
@dcjayy aptly asked in his post, which watch would you wear on your wedding day? https://www.watchcrunch.com/dcjayy/posts/wedding-watches-9562
Without hesitation, I answered that IF I were to get married again, I'd wear this time piece. For me, this is the M.V.W. -- Most Valuable Watch -- in my humble collection. I will always wear this piece with the greatest pride and honor. It's value is priceless.
When a glorious sunset begins to descend, Bringing warm and lovely hues, Burnt orange, gold, dusky purple, Pink, mauve, and blue, No timepiece on earth, With all its sunburst, textures, and polish, Co...
What I consider valuable in a watch changes based on my situation.
When I'm at a computer, with a phone by my side, a watch is not that valuable.
When I'm at sea, or in the field, my watch is worth a year's pay, because it keeps me on time, and valuable.
Wise words. It's such a complicated and fascinating mixture of psychosocial and cultural factors that must play a role in determining what is desirable to each of us, and I completely agree that only the wearer (and Nico Leonard) can judge a watches worth.
Your Citizen is awesome 👌
Great to hear more of the story and a great looking Citizen!
I think you're on point with your post. For me, my GP (maybe $800 or so on Chrono24) is my one watch I would never part with. My other most prized watch isn't even mine, it's a Sinn 6060 I gave to my Dad a few years back. Walking around with essentially atomic clocks in our pockets, mechanical wristwatches are of little practical value. I'm not saying anything new here, but it's all about the value we assign it, either in materials/workmanship or some other meaning.
Love the story behind your watch. One like that is irreplaceable.
On another note, I see that you have a cat as well. You carry the markings 😉
Depends all on person to person. Some people find an expensive watch valuable because of grail status, a mile stone, job promotion, a wedding. Me personally is all about memories and also to be completely honest all my watches even the ones that I don't like or wear I find special because I paid hard earned money and I don't impulse buy even a cheap 15 dollar Casio I took days to see if that is the right watch to buy.
Here are some of my valuable watches:
My wife gifted me this Guess watch (and many more) when we were dating in like 2008. So this is my good luck charm.
I fell in love with Pilot watches and I searched for months and months looking for a nice pilot watch with a non printed dial. I finally bumped into Alpina Startimer and it was love at first sight. I even went and got another one so both I found very valuable.
Value is definitely subject, especially to the owner of whatever the item may be. Personally I wouldn't part with my first watch which is a Seiko 5 I purchased when I was in my teen's. I mowed lawns and all sorts of odd jobs to save up for this watch so it has a special place in my collection and heart. If I could only keep one watch this would be the one.
You can buy expensive watches and even get that grail watch, but you can't buy memories.
People mistake value for worth, as been said already a gift can mean so much more than you'd think or even a watch that reminds you of an event or person
beautiful story, you should take a good care of that citizen. for me watch value came from two factor, the value of the watch itself (not gonna lie, im gonna be more proud to wear luxury piece 😂) and the memory that came a long with it. the one im not gonna part is my orient kamasu. its not an expensive piece but its a start for my watch hobby
It is great if you have a watch with a true positive emotional connection - and it helps if it is a decent watch to boot.
Alas, I don't have that. The only watch with a family connection is a gift from my mother (long before I collected watches). I had many fondly remembered gifts from mom over the years, but... Unfortunately, that watch primarily reminds me that mom does retail therapy on QVC and buys all sorts of crap over there on the whim, and that watch is literally a glaring example. We are talking Certina prices and Lige quality and design. I simply cannot look at this garish monster without feeling that way, and I rather not.
So, that out of the way, how do I value watches I purchased myself, watches without emotional baggage? I am not into luxury watches, but the watches I own cost between £1 and £250, and price is only a secondary consideration here. I like it when a watch is just right, no compromises, no design details where I go "I wish they did feature X differently". Which of my watches get full approval?
Now, these are watches that carry no emotional baggage, and as they are not vintage they are mostly replaceable if need be.
Wise words. It's such a complicated and fascinating mixture of psychosocial and cultural factors that must play a role in determining what is desirable to each of us, and I completely agree that only the wearer (and Nico Leonard) can judge a watches worth.
Your Citizen is awesome 👌
Thanks, mam. Totally agree with your comments. Who is Nico Leonard? 😂😜🤣
Memories; childhood memories = priceless .. like my very first Casio on my wrist
What I consider valuable in a watch changes based on my situation.
When I'm at a computer, with a phone by my side, a watch is not that valuable.
When I'm at sea, or in the field, my watch is worth a year's pay, because it keeps me on time, and valuable.
Yup, indeed, the value is based on what is uniquely needful for you in your changing situations. 👍
Love the story behind your watch. One like that is irreplaceable.
On another note, I see that you have a cat as well. You carry the markings 😉
Thanks, bud! Truly irreplaceable. No cats here, though. That's from the catwoman. 😂
Depends all on person to person. Some people find an expensive watch valuable because of grail status, a mile stone, job promotion, a wedding. Me personally is all about memories and also to be completely honest all my watches even the ones that I don't like or wear I find special because I paid hard earned money and I don't impulse buy even a cheap 15 dollar Casio I took days to see if that is the right watch to buy.
Here are some of my valuable watches:
My wife gifted me this Guess watch (and many more) when we were dating in like 2008. So this is my good luck charm.
I fell in love with Pilot watches and I searched for months and months looking for a nice pilot watch with a non printed dial. I finally bumped into Alpina Startimer and it was love at first sight. I even went and got another one so both I found very valuable.
Precisely, bud! Love your collection and the stories behind them too. Let's keep enjoying and celebrating what we love and have. 🍻
Value is definitely subject, especially to the owner of whatever the item may be. Personally I wouldn't part with my first watch which is a Seiko 5 I purchased when I was in my teen's. I mowed lawns and all sorts of odd jobs to save up for this watch so it has a special place in my collection and heart. If I could only keep one watch this would be the one.
You can buy expensive watches and even get that grail watch, but you can't buy memories.
On point, bud! Your Seiko 5 is indeed priceless, what with all the memories, stories and moments it has gone through with you. It's also quite stunning, my friend. 😎You made quite a good choice as a teen. Hats off! 🍻
I fear you give my collection a little too much respect, because that selection was not representative - these are simply the watches I cherish the most, because they got everything right. But I also own watches that do not live up to these high standards:
But that is exactly my point, bud. Regardless of where we are in our collecting journey, we each must give respect to why one chose a timepiece. Because to each his own. You may personally think you made mistakes along the way, but note that they are lessons learned based on a sharpening of your own criteria, tastes and preferences. I cannot, nor do I have a self-entitled right to judge your choices. It is you, and only you, who decides what is perfect for you, and consequently what is valuable and invaluable to you.
For me, 2 things:
This piece will never leave my collection. Though it does not get much wrist time anymore, it still runs good and reliable. This is the first watch I bought with my own money. Means a lot to me probably because it marks a milestone for me for being financially independent. I remember at that time I was thinking of framing my first paycheck 😂. However, I needed the cash for my essentials and while at the grocery saw this piece in the display case of one of the small booths near the counter. It was also on sale! That was when I decided to buy it. I figured if I could not frame my first paycheck I would just buy the watch to commemorate that important milestone 😄.
I'm glad I did and the watch has served me for decades and still runs to this day. It will always remind me of my humble beginning and how I started being independent and responsible. That after a not so stellar or remarkable academic stint as my Mom would tell me 😂.
Boom! Rejoicing with you, pare! I agree, that Seiko diver is much better than a framed paycheck. 😁 It is priceless compared to the amount written on your paycheck, especially with inflation hehe. By the way, what's the model, and what year is it? Looks like a solid vintage piece.
The ”Time” it gives.
Boom! Rejoicing with you, pare! I agree, that Seiko diver is much better than a framed paycheck. 😁 It is priceless compared to the amount written on your paycheck, especially with inflation hehe. By the way, what's the model, and what year is it? Looks like a solid vintage piece.
Model# 7002-7000 or SDS001. When I looked-up the serial# it is estimated to have been manufactured in June 1991. Agreed on the paycheck. That would have been fragile and moisture-damaged by now. At least the watch still stands as a tangible and concrete memorabilia of that event in my life though not being used often 😊.
The ”Time” it gives.
That's it. 🎯💯
Model# 7002-7000 or SDS001. When I looked-up the serial# it is estimated to have been manufactured in June 1991. Agreed on the paycheck. That would have been fragile and moisture-damaged by now. At least the watch still stands as a tangible and concrete memorabilia of that event in my life though not being used often 😊.
Really cool and robust piece. 💪 Great job maintaining it. It will continue to be a great companion in the next chapters of your life. Cheers, pare! 🍻
That's it. 🎯💯
You got me teary with the Barong Tagalog… brought some memories…
Yupyup, my friend, your preferences are your own. No shame in that. Will celebrate with you what is of value for you. 🍻 Great shot of your MVW Kamasu, as always. 🎯😎
thx, love to read your stories. thats what i love about this forum 👍
Price is an estimate of worth. If its worth the world to you than it's priceless. To sell it it's only worth the price someone else is willing to pay for it. You have a memory trigger there which is worth far more than the the sum of its parts working or not.
Price is an estimate of worth. If its worth the world to you than it's priceless. To sell it it's only worth the price someone else is willing to pay for it. You have a memory trigger there which is worth far more than the the sum of its parts working or not.
Exactly, good sir. 🍻
It’s important to mention that there are different types of value. Ex. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
Intrinsic value.
Extrinsic value.
Sentimental value.
Etc.
Take my wedding band for instance. It may only be worth $1000, but I wouldn’t sell it for any amount of money because it has an irreplaceable sentimental value.
What I find is that many of these conversations can end in argument because different people are speaking about “value” from completely different standpoints.
Multiple people can be right at the same time. One watch may have very little intrinsic value, but may hold an immeasurable amount of sentimental value.
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
It’s important to mention that there are different types of value. Ex. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
Intrinsic value.
Extrinsic value.
Sentimental value.
Etc.
Take my wedding band for instance. It may only be worth $1000, but I wouldn’t sell it for any amount of money because it has an irreplaceable sentimental value.
What I find is that many of these conversations can end in argument because different people are speaking about “value” from completely different standpoints.
Multiple people can be right at the same time. One watch may have very little intrinsic value, but may hold an immeasurable amount of sentimental value.
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
Good addition to the convo, bud, re. different types of value. It complements and reinforces my point. End of the day, whatever "type" of value a person assigns to a time piece, or however one defines value, it is still a subjective and personal matter. We may or will have different views, and may or will agree or disagree how one assigns value. That is the nature of life and freedom. But each "valuation" needs to be respected, instead of judged and criticized as crap, or as worth dying for. To each his own. Thanks too, for listening to my TedTalk. 😉🍻
I fear you give my collection a little too much respect, because that selection was not representative - these are simply the watches I cherish the most, because they got everything right. But I also own watches that do not live up to these high standards:
Those "non-sense" time pieces you posted are actually quite unique and have their own vibe and feel. 3 crunchers gave their cool recomms. And it turns out, in the end, you went ahead and got 3 of the 4 options. For sure, you browsed through dozens and dozens of watches, before you finally boiled it down to 4 pieces, based on your personal preferences and criteria... what is of value to you. So, congrats to you, bud! Enjoy these new members of your collection! 🍻
For me, 2 things:
Apologies for the late reply, bud. Got swamped. But yeah, those are the 2 criteria you use to assign value to a time piece. As for me, when shortlisting potential additions to my humble collection, I use 6 broader criteria: Versatility, Adaptability, Beauty, Comfort, Budget, and X-Factor. 😉