0% Finance & Crypto Payments Available

November 24th, 2015

Three Key Considerations in Buying a Vintage Watch

Pre Owned Watches

 

For many horological enthusiasts, a luxury watch is not simply something you purchase; it’s something you invest in. The craftsmanship and engineering in such pieces is such that they can last for many years with the right care. This means that a vintage watch can often be just as desirable – if not more so – than a brand new piece.

Buying a vintage watch is not, however, quite as straightforward as purchasing a new timepiece, as there are additional factors which you must consider to ensure that your investment is sound.

Rarity

Certain models are particularly sought after – and if only a few hundred were made, they will be much harder to find. This means that collectors who want that particular piece will be willing to part with more money for them! Knowing how rare a piece is can help you to assess both its current value and potential future value.

Bremont Mustang P51Pre-owned limited edition Bremont Mustang P-51 watch, #11 of 251.
Price on application

Condition

This is, of course, a key consideration when making any purchase of a vintage or pre-owned item; a piece in good condition can be expected to attract a higher value than one which is damaged.

However, you need a trained eye to evaluate this, as it is not only damage but also repair which can affect values. You may compare two very similar watches and find that the one which superficially looks cleaner and brighter actually holds less value, because the dial has been restored or refreshed.

Omega Seamaster GMTPre-owned Omega Seamaster GMT 44m watch,
£3,650 and available on 0% finance.

This was exemplified by two recent sales in Geneva; on the 8th November, two Rolex watches of the same model and style (the 6062 Stelline), and indeed only 17 numbers apart on their serial number were sold on the same day. One sold for 315,750 Swiss Francs (approx. £204,225) and the other for 1,265,000 Swiss Frances (approx. £818,190). One of the significant differences between these two pieces was that the first had been re-lumed; its lume points were significantly larger, making this repair quite noticeable to those in the know.

Provenance

The provenance of a luxury vintage watch is also vital. In the case of the two Rolexes mentioned above, this was another factor in the price difference; the history of the cheaper piece, including when and where the dial had been re-lumed, was largely unknown. The more expensive piece had a full provenance detailing its two previous owners and when the watch strap had been changed.

Breitling Airwolf Superquartz

Pre-owned Breitling Airwolf Superquartz watch,
£2,350 and available on 12% finance.

Provenance allows you not only the reassurance that this is indeed a genuine piece, but the full knowledge of any changes which have been made to the watch. It can also sometimes add additional value in the case of watches which have an unusual history, such as the Bulova Wrist Chronograph which was worn by astronaut David Scott on the moon and which sold for $1.6 million at auction last month.

At Banks Lyon, we are able to offer an excellent selection of pre-owned watches, including brands such as Breitling, Omega and Bremont, each assessed by our professional team of specialists to give you a guarantee of quality. For more information, or to see the pieces we have available, you can visit us in store or call us on 01524 384858. You can also keep up with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Recent Posts
Categories
Archives

Archives

icon-angle icon-bars icon-times
0
    0
    SHOPPING BAG
    Your shopping bag is empty