Second Hand Watches
Discussion
Other than the charity store bargain anybody else feel as though a watch is such a personal item that having a second hand one somehow seems like you are wearing personal belonging of a stranger?
Or is it just me that's a weirdo and feels as though watches are best owne from new (excluding pieces that have been handed down etc)?
I know there is a fair saving to be made but they seem so personal that they have all the experiences of the previous owner that mean they are hard to own second hand for me.
Yeah, just me then I guess.
Or is it just me that's a weirdo and feels as though watches are best owne from new (excluding pieces that have been handed down etc)?
I know there is a fair saving to be made but they seem so personal that they have all the experiences of the previous owner that mean they are hard to own second hand for me.
Yeah, just me then I guess.
Know what you mean. I keep teasing myself with buying another watch, looked at second hand ones but unless it’s basically new without any mark I think I’d be disappointed, and that thought that it’s not new and been used previously.
Probably stupid thoughts since I never feel the same about a car or a phone etc.
Probably stupid thoughts since I never feel the same about a car or a phone etc.
I’ve bought new and second hand and I don’t think the used purchases have felt any less special.
Watches don’t tend to hold value particularly well (with some obvious and recent exceptions) so used really does open up the options available.
Despite the above I wouldn’t argue with anyone who felt buying new was more special, or used, less so.
Watches don’t tend to hold value particularly well (with some obvious and recent exceptions) so used really does open up the options available.
Despite the above I wouldn’t argue with anyone who felt buying new was more special, or used, less so.
pistonheadforum said:
Other than the charity store bargain anybody else feel as though a watch is such a personal item that having a second hand one somehow seems like you are wearing personal belonging of a stranger?
Or is it just me that's a weirdo and feels as though watches are best owne from new (excluding pieces that have been handed down etc)?
I know there is a fair saving to be made but they seem so personal that they have all the experiences of the previous owner that mean they are hard to own second hand for me.
Yeah, just me then I guess.
Why would a charity store bargain be any less of a personal item? It was still previously owned by somebody. I have no issues wearing second hand watches. If anything it adds to the intrigue. It could have been on all sorts of adventures around the globe that I have no idea about. If anything I prefer owning second hand watches and to me they feel more special than new ones.Or is it just me that's a weirdo and feels as though watches are best owne from new (excluding pieces that have been handed down etc)?
I know there is a fair saving to be made but they seem so personal that they have all the experiences of the previous owner that mean they are hard to own second hand for me.
Yeah, just me then I guess.
If a watch is really important to somebody they will not have sold it anyway. Financial issues aside and I do not buy in the price bracket where that will likely have been an issue.
I've bought a few second hand and sold a few too.
Buying new is more special I would agree but it depends why you 'want' that watch.
Bought a Moonwatch new for my 30th, ladies datejust new for my wife one Christmas (not sure what I had done wrong that year
) and a DJ41 for myself when my first child was born. Otherwise i go second hand/grey market generally.
Stuff like IWC, Panerai, Omega second hand are great value imo. Sports Rolex' and such less so.
Buying new is more special I would agree but it depends why you 'want' that watch.
Bought a Moonwatch new for my 30th, ladies datejust new for my wife one Christmas (not sure what I had done wrong that year
) and a DJ41 for myself when my first child was born. Otherwise i go second hand/grey market generally.Stuff like IWC, Panerai, Omega second hand are great value imo. Sports Rolex' and such less so.
Not at all, lots of bargains to be had and I love being able to wear something of a previous period - I've had really interesting meetings and conversations because of vintage watches - one very memorable one being in the Omega store in the Bellagio after a big win when I was wearing a '63 De Ville and the sales assistant commented on rarely seeing vintage pieces and they tickled it up for me while they were sorting the purchase of a couple of new pieces.
Similarly, at an client meeting wearing a vintage 70s Radio and the client commented about it and he was an avid collector / amateur horologist.
Similarly, at an client meeting wearing a vintage 70s Radio and the client commented about it and he was an avid collector / amateur horologist.
Most of mine are pre-owned, I've never thought anything less of them than any watch I've bought new. As soon as a watch is in my possession it's mine and the fact that it may have previously been someone else's barely crosses my mind.
Having said that, two of my Tudors were bought new and they'll most probably be the last watches I'd part with. One was bought with part of a small inheritance from an uncle and aunt and the other to celebrate a birthday so I'm sentimentally attached to both. I may well have gone pre-owned with each of them if it wasn't tricky, at the time at least, to get them at much less than (discounted) retail.
Having said that, two of my Tudors were bought new and they'll most probably be the last watches I'd part with. One was bought with part of a small inheritance from an uncle and aunt and the other to celebrate a birthday so I'm sentimentally attached to both. I may well have gone pre-owned with each of them if it wasn't tricky, at the time at least, to get them at much less than (discounted) retail.
I have bought 95% of all my watches second hand, it’s never crossed my mind they were once someone else’s. There are watch enthusiasts all over the world who mostly buy second hand due to cost. Example Omega Professional 300 new £5.5k used 18 months old and mint £3800. I know where my money would go
Because I’m not a powerfully built director, all but two of my watches are used. Personally, I think it can add to the specialness of them.
To give just two examples;
I own a late 1970’s Sturmanski 3133. These were only issued to Soviet Navel Commanders and Navel Navigators. If that watch could talk, just think of the state secrets it could tell?
I also bought my daughter a 1930’s Breguet. On the back is inscribed ‘to Mary, New York, 1938’.
That watch has witnessed WW2, the atom bomb, Sputnik, man on the moon, the fall of the iron curtain, the internet and countless other historical events.
OP, I understand what you’re saying, but with a used watch, all you’re doing is adding to that history, adding to the watch’s personal history before passing it on to the next custodian.
That is something special to be cherished IMO.
To give just two examples;
I own a late 1970’s Sturmanski 3133. These were only issued to Soviet Navel Commanders and Navel Navigators. If that watch could talk, just think of the state secrets it could tell?
I also bought my daughter a 1930’s Breguet. On the back is inscribed ‘to Mary, New York, 1938’.
That watch has witnessed WW2, the atom bomb, Sputnik, man on the moon, the fall of the iron curtain, the internet and countless other historical events.
OP, I understand what you’re saying, but with a used watch, all you’re doing is adding to that history, adding to the watch’s personal history before passing it on to the next custodian.
That is something special to be cherished IMO.
Currently have 2 that were bought new, 4 bought used and 1 inherited.
Of the 4 I bought used, 1 was an eBay bargain which was to good a price not to buy and the other 3 were all watches I wanted when they came out but I did not have the cash to buy them at the time.
When I get a used watch I give it a really good clean and put a new strap on it as I think the leather is more likely to absorb the previous owners sweat.
I have bought and sold a few second hand watches as you can get some real bargains if you dig deep enough and are patient. I give them a good clean, new strap (with tags) then sell them. I find a good write up with great photos will add 30% to sale price of a watch alone.
It's amazing how cheaply some people sell their used watches! The watch I am wearing now was £650 used I could easily get £1,200+ if I wanted to part with it.
Of the 4 I bought used, 1 was an eBay bargain which was to good a price not to buy and the other 3 were all watches I wanted when they came out but I did not have the cash to buy them at the time.
When I get a used watch I give it a really good clean and put a new strap on it as I think the leather is more likely to absorb the previous owners sweat.
I have bought and sold a few second hand watches as you can get some real bargains if you dig deep enough and are patient. I give them a good clean, new strap (with tags) then sell them. I find a good write up with great photos will add 30% to sale price of a watch alone.
It's amazing how cheaply some people sell their used watches! The watch I am wearing now was £650 used I could easily get £1,200+ if I wanted to part with it.
x5tuu said:
'sales assistant commented on rarely seeing vintage pieces and they tickled it up for me while they were sorting the purchase of a couple of new pieces.
Prisoner 24601 said:
What does this mean please?
The sale assistant doesn't see old(er) models very oftenThey took the old watch while being served on the purchase of 2 new watches and gave it a surface clean (ultrasonic I expect), polished the case and glass up and fitted a new strap (they did ask first - and gave me the old back).
grumbledoak said:
Another one here on the OP's side...
I'm amazed used watches hold as much value as they do. It's like wearing someone's old pants. Thinking about it makes my skin crawl.
One generally changes the strap when buying a used watch that has been worn. The metal case obviously cleans up as well as any other metal; a sweat-stained strap on the other hand is indeed a little unpleasant.I'm amazed used watches hold as much value as they do. It's like wearing someone's old pants. Thinking about it makes my skin crawl.
I have some watches I’ve bought new and some I’ve bought used. I wouldn’t say I have a preference… one of my favourite watches was used and I’ll never part with it, another of my favourites was new. I can see what others are saying (and I would always change a leather strap) but I tend to lean towards 105.4’s way of thinking, that a used watch has so much history to it! It is nice to add your own scratches and scrapes to something that has already lived a life. I feel the same about cars… it’s nice to have a new one, but think of the stories a classic from the 60s or earlier can tell!
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