Second Hand Watch Phobia

[DOT2015]

Like you lot I enjoy watches, and as an interest it’s grown very organically over the years. I like looking at and reading about all watches but I’d consider a £500 pound watch expensive. I have about 15 watches, each different: quartz, mechanical, automatic, some customised but all different. That’s a bit of background, now to my point: I don’t think I could wear a second hand watch. Ever. Like never ever. A second hand watch to me has lost any specialness it might have had, as a direct result of someone else having worn it first. Hand on heart, if I got offered one of my grail watches like a Rolex Explorer or an Omega Speedmaster that were barely worn and half price, I might buy them to see if I could sell them on at a profit but I wouldn’t wear them. I’m not like this about other vaguely comparable objects in life. I think it’s because I find watches very personal, it my wrist and my time and the watch has to be mine, is the best way I can put words to it. It’s become something I’m curious about, is this a weird or unusual outlook, or is it something that affects other watch aficionados?

[okgo]

I’d say that was unusual, yes.

Do you only buy new cars?

[DOT2015]

okgo said:

I’d say that was unusual, yes.

Do you only buy new cars?

Nope, I’ve actually never bought a new car. Like I say, it’s just watches really, it’s not something that applies to anything else I can think of.

[944 Man]

There there...

[Maxym]

I sort of empathise, OP. I’d prefer to buy new but sometimes it just makes sense to buy pre-owned - maybe availability or letting someone else take the initial depreciation hit.

[DOT2015]

944 Man said:

There there...

Thank you for the kind words, they are indeed a soothing balm in these troubled waters of mine

Ah I know it probably comes across as snobbish but I wouldn’t consider myself so, I was more curious if it was irrational or in any way common. Seems like it might be veering toward the irrational….

[bristolbaron]

Different strokes and all that… personally I’d probably only ever buy a used watch! Unless I was interested in (and had available to me) a Rolex sports model, most watches take a decent hit on the used market and I prefer to benefit from that.
You’re also eliminating a huge number of beautiful and weird and wonderful watches which have been long discontinued, as a collector that’s a shame.

[MightyBadger]

DOT2015 said:

Thank you for the kind words, they are indeed a soothing balm in these troubled waters of mine

Ah I know it probably comes across as snobbish but I wouldn’t consider myself so, I was more curious if it was irrational or in any way common. Seems like it might be veering toward the irrational….

It does not come over as snobbish as they are only £500 watches, it does seem weird you dont buy new cars though.

[996Type]

I don’t own many watches in comparison but the couple of nice ones I do own are secondhand (at least!)

I bought an old submariner (long since sold to a friend who still has it) on a visit to Geneva, originally sold in Monte Carlo from memory.

It was a fraction of the new price 20 years ago and the fact it got more travel in than me was appealing!

I like to wear watches every day so a few smaller dings don’t bother me as I’m going to pick them up anyway.

There was a watch for sale locally I was interested in that was owned by a diving guy that found a lot of gold back in the day, for around the same price as a version without the history or if you were lucky, a new model if you were on the list.

I’d always personally go for the one with a bit of history as I find it fascinating.

With cars I have no choice other than second hand as I have neither the budget nor the interest as much in new cars, but I could see where a previous owner might make a high end car feel less special for a new owner, whereas with a dive watch, you can refurb it almost back to new as if you were the first owner (if that was your thing).

As long as you don’t exclude yourself from opportunities to own some interesting stuff because it’s pre - owned, go with what you feel I would suggest.

[Badda]

Very odd. I could understate the rationale behind a house - it’s a weird thought that your home used to be someone else’s, the bedroom, the toilets etc - but not a watch. Although I always change the strap unless it’s a bracelet.

[Caddyshack]

Don’t watches have second hands, I wouldn’t have nuffin second hand.

[DOT2015]

Ok, weird and unusual it is

[Jamescrs]

I'm picking up a new watch next week from Watchfinder, it's an IWC and is costing me £3500 ish, however when the watch was new it's RRP was pushing £10'000, and it's discontinued in any case so the point is slightly mute, but the saving over the RRP and the fact it comes with a 24 month warranty means i'm not really going to worry about the fact it's pre owned.

I'll happily admit that i'm not currently in a position to spend £10k on any watch unless it was one I was going to immediately going to flip for a profit and if I was in that game I wouldn't be buying IWC but it is a brand I have come to like very much.

[BaronVonVaderham]

I get it, and equally would never buy a second hand watch.

The only second hand watch I do wear occasionally is my late fathers Omega Constellation.

I get that I’m in the minority here when it comes to the horologists, think it’s some mild ocd here.

[48Valves]

DOT2015 said:

okgo said:

I’d say that was unusual, yes.

Do you only buy new cars?

Nope, I’ve actually never bought a new car. Like I say, it’s just watches really, it’s not something that applies to anything else I can think of.

The Mrs?

[Mr Pointy]

DOT2015 said:

Ok, weird and unusual it is

We are opposites: I don't have any new watches. Buying second hand means I can try all sorts - Sinns, Damaskos, Omegas, Seikos etc - without losing much if I don't get on with one one & sell it on.

[944 Man]

DOT2015 said:

944 Man said:

There there...

Thank you for the kind words, they are indeed a soothing balm in these troubled waters of mine

Ah I know it probably comes across as snobbish but I wouldn’t consider myself so, I was more curious if it was irrational or in any way common. Seems like it might be veering toward the irrational….

If it is about not being absolutely brand new and you wear your watches, then consider the anxiety that accompanies wearing such a watch, and how you feel when you inevitably mark it. With a very good used watch you do not have to go through this.

If it is about the perceived (and sometimes very real) lack of cleanliness, then buy an ultrasonic cleaner. Then you can clean them to your heart's content. I do this.

[paul0843]

944 Man said:

DOT2015 said:

944 Man said:

There there...

Thank you for the kind words, they are indeed a soothing balm in these troubled waters of mine

Ah I know it probably comes across as snobbish but I wouldn’t consider myself so, I was more curious if it was irrational or in any way common. Seems like it might be veering toward the irrational….

If it is about not being absolutely brand new and you wear your watches, then consider the anxiety that accompanies wearing such a watch, and how you feel when you inevitably mark it. With a very good used watch you do not have to go through this.

If it is about the perceived (and sometimes very real) lack of cleanliness, then buy an ultrasonic cleaner. Then you can clean them to your heart's content. I do this.

Many many moons ago,(over 20 years)when I was just beginning to get into watches,I had a client that would part pay me with watches that he had bought new and got fed up with wearing.
I still own and enjoy them.
A VC royal eagle chronograph ,a Rolex yacht master with platinum bezel and a breitling Bentley .
I would never have bought them ,but still enjoy them to this day.
The yacht master has been my daily .
Paul

[Oceanrower]

We’re definitely opposites. I don’t have any what you might call premium watches but I do have a good number of middling makes and each and every one is second hand. Mainly because I’m on a budget and there is no way I could afford them new.

As a ‘for example’, last week I picked up a 1960(ish) manual men’s Omega Seamaster, a quartz ladies Seamaster and a mid 1950’s 9ct gold men’s Longines as a job lot for £270.

Actually, that might not be a good example as they’re not available new anyway but hopefully you get my point…

Edited by Oceanrower on Sunday 24th December 21:40

[EX51GE R]

Just get it cleaned.