| The world of watches is exciting and | | | | Determine its value based on how many are |
| fascinating. Watches are like perfumes | | | | flooding the market. The fewer the numbers |
| objects of desire and it is hard to say | | | | the more "collectible" a watch is. Or if it |
| whether the asking price is right or | | | | belonged to a great personality like |
| exorbitant. This problem of price occurs only | | | | "Einstein" or if it participated in "making |
| when you want to buy a rare, antique, or | | | | history," was worn when someone climbed the |
| limited edition watch. If you are just buying | | | | highest mountain for the first time or flew |
| a model mass manufactured by wrist watch | | | | around the world. 4. Consider the demand for |
| giants then the maximum retail price is | | | | the watch. Some watches are popular among |
| always given in catalogue and on company web | | | | collectors not because they are rare but |
| sites. How does one know the worth of a | | | | because they are funky or "different," they |
| watch? It is hard to value a watch from | | | | have great curiosity value. A watch may gain |
| pictures placed online. What is important is | | | | import because of their brand name for |
| to check the condition of the watch including | | | | example many like to posses a "gold Rolex." |
| its movement. It is hard to judge a valuable | | | | 5. Weigh the pros and cons of reputation. |
| watch from pictures on the World Wide Web. | | | | Many watches sell just because x,y, or z made |
| Sadly people randomly label things as | | | | them. Very often a manufacturer sourced |
| antiques or valuable but in actuality the | | | | watches from others and sold them with his |
| watch is one of thousands. Just because it is | | | | "label." And these watches are renowned |
| "old" does not mean it has a high value. | | | | because of a "brand name." 6. Know what the |
| Today people all over the world collect | | | | watch will fetch in the market by doing a |
| watches for functionality, aesthetic value, | | | | survey. Ask whether the owner will furnish an |
| and vintage value. Evaluating a watch must | | | | independent evaluation by a watch expert. |
| include aspects like: quality, craftsmanship, | | | | Brands that are popular are: Rolex, |
| availability, history, reputation, | | | | Breitling, Heuer, Omega, Patek Phillippe, |
| uniqueness, and more. 1. Consider carefully | | | | IWC, and Girard Perregaux among others. World |
| the "quality" of the watch. Find out about | | | | over collectors and connoisseurs consider: |
| the design and construction. Examine the | | | | the age of a watch, uniqueness, the |
| case, dial, and movement. Important factors | | | | manufacturer, date of issue, rarity, |
| are functionality, accuracy in keeping time, | | | | mechanics, movement, and repair. Another |
| reliability of manufacture, and longevity. To | | | | possibly important factor is ownership. Learn |
| become a "collectible" a watch must bring | | | | about watches through the World Wide Web, |
| with it a piece of history. 2. Find out the | | | | from auctions, and watch exhibits. If you get |
| minute details of construction. Aspects that | | | | a chance view famed collections. Make notes |
| play a role are innovativeness, complexity of | | | | and weigh the pros and cons of collecting. |
| movements, and the mechanical functions. | | | | Decide do I want to collect by mechanics or |
| Sometimes a watch gains value as it represent | | | | use. Or am I interested in who wore the watch |
| a change in way watches work say for example | | | | when. Find your own niche and level and "keep |
| the first digital or automatic watch. 3. | | | | a watch on the watches. |