Which brands hold their value best?

[Ken Sington]

Thinking about treating myself and putting some spare money into a nice watch as it is earning nothing in the bank. However, if push comes to shove and I need to realise funds and sell the thing, then I don't want to lose much if any money. Are any brands or models better than others for keeping value? I have got a Breitling already and like the look of Omegas and Bremonts. Not a great fan of Rolex though. Chopard? IWC? Patek Phillipe?

[Pesty]

Panerai seem to hold their values

[CmdrBond]

What is it about Rolex you don't like?? I am not a huge fan, but there are a few of their watches that I would part with my money for - in order of preference -

1. Milgauss - dark faced
2. Exporler II - again, black face
3. GMT IIc
4. Exporler I

[tubbystu]

Ken Sington said:

Thinking about treating myself and putting some spare money into a nice watch as it is earning nothing in the bank. However, if push comes to shove and I need to realise funds and sell the thing, then I don't want to lose much if any money.

I'm not convinced watches are an investment vehicle. The only true way of them holding value would be to buy wisely and never to wear them, keeping them in their boxes with all the delivery protective wrappings on, which kind of misses the point surely

[Stuart]

They say that a Rolex sub is a good way of taking £2500-£3000 anywhere in the world, and I reckon that's just about right.

[deejuic]

Ken Sington said:

Thinking about treating myself and putting some spare money into a nice watch as it is earning nothing in the bank. However, if push comes to shove and I need to realise funds and sell the thing, then I don't want to lose much if any money. Are any brands or models better than others for keeping value? I have got a Breitling already and like the look of Omegas and Bremonts. Not a great fan of Rolex though. Chopard? IWC? Patek Phillipe?

buy a used rolex (as already mentioned) or a used patek. they've probably lost a good amount of their original value and will hold steady or go up at a minimum rate. not sure if it's the best way to "earn" money as most watches will not really gain value, but a good used purchase won't lose too much either.

Dom H will probably have a good take on this.

[deejuic]

Pesty said:

Panerai seem to hold their values

I think this depends on your definition of "hold their values."

I bought mine 4 years ago and while I bought it for half of what they're currently selling for new. The prices on the used market are about 10% lower than what I paid for mine new, so I'm fairly happy with that. However, compared to the same watch brand new today, it's roughly 50% lower in price, which I find to be insane...not to mention that when I bought mine, i had to scour to even find a single Panerai in a shop and now every shop has literally a dozen sitting in the display. Not sure how long the value on these is going to hold.

I love my Panerai, but not sure how long the value will hold.

[sparkyhx]

anything second hand

[Pesty]

deejuic said:

Pesty said:

Panerai seem to hold their values

I think this depends on your definition of "hold their values."

I bought mine 4 years ago and while I bought it for half of what they're currently selling for new. The prices on the used market are about 10% lower than what I paid for mine new, so I'm fairly happy with that. However, compared to the same watch brand new today, it's roughly 50% lower in price, which I find to be insane...not to mention that when I bought mine, i had to scour to even find a single Panerai in a shop and now every shop has literally a dozen sitting in the display. Not sure how long the value on these is going to hold.

I love my Panerai, but not sure how long the value will hold.

This is good to hear.

I nearly bought a Pam 279 in a shop a few years ago for £4.5k I have not seen one since second hand or not for less than 5k.

Maybe its model specific

[cjpwood]

Rolex's are the way to go if you want to hold value and a second hand Rolex is even better! Because of their massive brand their is always a hunge market for them.

Sub's are good, daytonas are good, GMT's are good. datejust are ok but there are so many of them and they arnt really in fashion at the moment...

hope that helps

chris