Time to buy some Watches.

[Butcher82]

Yes, that was the only place where they told me they have "some stock". But they didn't want to say on the phone what they got and for how much. And they don't take cash. But they definitely have smth.
Unfortunately I am not. That's why I wanted to get Rolexes. Because everyone I know who has money and are not collectors or anything, just want Rolexes to flex with. So I was thinking they were easier to sell.
That's what I was thinking about myself. Are they possible to get at ADs or there's no way you can get them? And better to look for them at Chrono24? Or you overpay there too much?

Overall thank you for the valuable info on the topic! 😀

 

[Butcher82]

Yeah, I know, but one should start with something, right? Plus it is not easy to get 100k-400k around the countries to pay for them. I have not dealed with such payments before.

 

[JackAlabama]

the chart is not good. You need til 2025 (since it turned down sharply at the end of the chart).

 

[apres777]

Unfortunately you really mostly have to visit stores, no-one will tell you their stock over phone. Mostly when you visit they will in the beginning tell you "no we don't have" but then open up the safe and offer you something nice if you're lucky 😉

Rolex is indeed the best brand for "beginners" imo since the watches are obtainable for a lot more people than a Patek E.G (10 - 12k compared to 40-50K RETAIL). Rolex still has a huge demand and since most people are impatient and want to buy the watch ASAP (e.g IB people when bonus season is coming) Rolex is the way to go to get started!

Unfortunately if you're just starting out getting into watches (mostly steel watches) might be a bit difficult without any relationships, it's still doable but might take some time (realistically 6 - 12 months I would say with your local retailers, can be faster if you're lucky E.G on vacation).

Of course you can go the "fast route" with Chrono24 but you will pay premium, you can maybe find some good deals but all "professionals" will do their best to get their hands on those offers first. (Most good deals indeed don't take place on Chrono24 but B2B or in groups)

You can browse other platforms depending on where you live and make some good deals there but you really need to have some sort of expertise and do proper DD since fakes quality has significantly improved over the last years.

For 400-500$ from China you can get watches I probably couldn't tell the difference and I have had quite some authentic ones of them. (Even watchmakers have their issue and they need to open them up to check on the movement since this is still the "biggest" tell) Don't be fooled warranty cards and invoices can also be easily be forged nowadays.

If I were you and just starting out, I would visit all "stores" in my area and come well prepared.

Tell them precisely what models you're interested in (best case one model) and tell them you want this watch for yourself and you're aware of the market situation. (Making a good appearance and being genuine and nice to the staff will definitely help you)

See their reaction and get a "feeling" for your local market, then decide how to proceed.

 

[JackAlabama]

the wrong analogy, these watches are mass goods and not a single piece of artwork. Compare it to diamonds.

 

[Butcher82]

Once again thank you for sharing this valuable info on buying watches.
And what about selling them? I am sure you have had an experience with that? Do you mostly sell to your private circle of friends/clients? Or you go online to Chrono or else? How does that work best for you?

 

[JohnnyDoe]

So here is part of my useless “collection” of watches. Most of them are gifts, hence it wouldn't be kind to sell them, and anyway I no longer have the boxes and paperwork.
None of these watches are any good at keeping the time 😛 I no longer keep the watchwinder on, so they all stopped and I have no idea if they still work or if they can be resuscitated.
I only wear a smartwatch, even with formal dress (but well hidden under the cuff) otherwise the health stats would be messed up.

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[Butcher82]

We were talking about the content of the items, not about the rarity. Of course mona lisa is one of a kind, nobody is an idiot to deny that.
You are just not in the target audience for lux watches, you don't care about them. Other people wear them openly to flex and show they are kind of "rich".

 

[JohnnyDoe]

Butcher82 said:
Other people wear them openly to flex and show they are kind of "rich".
Click to expand...

They only shout “I'm broke and stupid” - or “I'm stupid therefore I'm broke”.

Last edited: Jan 21, 2025
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[JohnnyDoe]

Butcher82 said:
You are just not in the target audience for lux watches,
Click to expand...

Btw I would happily spend some 5 figures on a good smartwatch, if it existed and it had a way for the tech components to be upgraded/replaced when they become obsolete. Like a full movement replacement while keeping the same chassis.
The best I could find so far is the Garmin Marq.

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[JackAlabama]

then its even more appalling of an analogy. 😉

 

[apres777]

If you're on the seller side it's pretty much "easy" business.

You can work with Chrono24 (They charge good percentage of fees though, and your watch might be more traceable for "retailers" so might want to avoid that if you go for a quick flip)

List on "local" platforms and sell for cash. (Best profit wise I guess)

Sell to jewelers (Easiest process but probably end with a worse price compared to if you sell it to a "consumer" directly)

Friends and clients obviously has advantages but also disadvantages (The watch is still close to you so retailers might not make you so much "trouble" but obviously you probably offer your friends a better price than a random you sell to)

Regarding selling the watch you don't need to worry too much, as long you have nothing too crazy it will be easy to sell. (obviously if you have some sort of highly limited RM the potential buyer list looks way different)

 

[apres777]

That's a really lovely collection also not something you see everyday!

Love the Offshore AP and your RG Daytona but I definitely get your point.

If you ever decide to wear them again you can definitely get them serviced and they should run like a charm again..

 

[JohnnyDoe]

apres777 said:
That's a really lovely collection also not something you see everyday!

Love the Offshore AP and your RG Daytona but I definitely get your point.
Click to expand...

Thank you. Unfortunately I'm unable to see the beauty in these objects. However I appreciate the craftsmanship of highly complicated watches (not the case here), and can understand the collectible value of some unique pieces such as the Daytona actually worn by Paul Newman or the Omega that went to the moon.

apres777 said:
If you ever decide to wear them again you can definitely get them serviced and they should run like a charm again..
Click to expand...

I'm afraid they are rotten inside 😵 corrosion destroys everything and I don't think the mechanisms contain galvanized metal.

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[Butcher82]

Thanks a lot. I am covered from buying and selling side now. 🙂
Will give it all a good thought and get down to practice.

 

[manukahoney]

Bought a yellow dial OP in 2020, wore it, sold for double price in 2022. It was about 20% down on Chrono the last time I checked.
I doubt you can make it a profitable hustle unless you already have an uncle with a jewellery shop.

 

[polonieth]

Yes, I have used it several times and not had any problems.

 

[JackAlabama]

you can if you have access to a big social media channel.

 

[Butcher82]

These two sentences are quite controversal, or am I wrong? 🙂
If it is down by 20% now, why can't the price rise later? I am ready to wait 1 year, no need to flip it the next day.

 

[cryptofriendly]

There used to exist a great new and 2nd hand market for luxury watches in JP, lots of people have been buying up in the countryside (rich but dumb farmers and yakuza liked to spend lots of money for luxury goods in the past, not much else do to with it when you are surrounded by rice fields), and reselling to foreign markets. Also new watches were very much available, even in Tokyo, with you having lots of choice and the sellers have been glad to sell you their goods. They had lots of stock, and I know many people reselling them online to the USA then.

I guess that with more influx of Chinese buying up luxury goods in wholesale amounts and bringing back to resell, the market and it's arbitrage opportunities changed a lot. But it might be still feasible, if you check smaller online markets like jmty.jp and look for the needle in the haystack.

You can see the prices of a bigger platform here, it's the first result on google, I don't know if they are competitive or not:
https://www.909.co.jp/en/