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