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2021... the hobby is dead ?
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SpeedyPhill
·How did we got here ?
Strategic goals, heritage, museums, Asian market, worldwide growing interest
☕ ☕
.
Strategic goals, heritage, museums, Asian market, worldwide growing interest
☕ ☕
.
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jsducote
·For me, the era of instant gratification has also ushered in the era of instant disappointment. I'm sure it's always been the case that the old guard hoarded the good stuff and only left crumbs for the new guys. But that includes connections to each other to make sure the good stuff stays among themselves. Anything that makes it to the open market is, by definition, a crumb.
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Servius
·The hobby haven’t been more alive, but maybe not in a form that enthusiasts like some of us know and appreciate…
Like said before, the market will split in two extremes, the upper one that will go up, and the lower that will die slowly… eventually.
Lack of spare parts and people with knowledge isn’t reassuring for the second half.
Like said before, the market will split in two extremes, the upper one that will go up, and the lower that will die slowly… eventually.
Lack of spare parts and people with knowledge isn’t reassuring for the second half.
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Walrus
·I have to agree. I am also of the mind that it was only recently I would say to friends, watch enthusiasts and collectors that when you bought a watch you knew it wasn't an investment but a personal and aesthetic choice and often your selection, after a long hunt, could be full of historical and enviable provenance. But never an investment per se; in deed, expect to sell it on for less or if you were lucky get your money back. So the hobby is being invaded by horological carpetbaggers (to put it kindly) to invest in selected brands, Patek, Rolex, VC among others where the rules of veblen goods favours them. I guess one of the questions I also have from what you say is where does the nascent watch hobbyist, with limited funds, turn to scratch the itch? Vintage? A minefield to walk and prices to match. Tier 2 & 3 watches? Cost factor again. Perhaps re-issues will open a door where the budding hobbyist can buy into a brand's historical context for a "reasonable" price suffice a lesser movement in most cases. I don't know, but I do know yours is a great post @SpeedyPhill to get some thoughts on a topic that has been bubbling away for sometime now.
Is the hobby dead...? No I don't think so, but like old lawyers they just don't end abruptly they just lose their appeal.
🍿🍿
ha ha sorry made an error mistook VC for Venture Capital I see your were talking the watch brand my bad.
Edited:
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Dan S
·I am still finding new corners of the vintage watch world to keep me interested. If you focus only on Speedmasters and Submariners then you're bound to become cynical.
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YYTIN
·Hi there,
I got my first vintage watch in Dec 2018 (a connie pie pan) and even within that small amount of time, I understand really well what you are saying : increasing fashion & speculation are already easy to notice even for me. Can't imagine looking back at it ... in decades.(All due respect 😉)
I join with the others mentioning there are still nice watch around... mainly linked to some brands / period some have put picture of.
For sure a nice 'vintage' speedy represent a steady step for 99% of people - of which I am. But I turn my attention to what is accessible and that still is a lot.
What will be very sad is having you guys leaving us in the dark 😀 Please continue to share !
I got my first vintage watch in Dec 2018 (a connie pie pan) and even within that small amount of time, I understand really well what you are saying : increasing fashion & speculation are already easy to notice even for me. Can't imagine looking back at it ... in decades.(All due respect 😉)
I join with the others mentioning there are still nice watch around... mainly linked to some brands / period some have put picture of.
For sure a nice 'vintage' speedy represent a steady step for 99% of people - of which I am. But I turn my attention to what is accessible and that still is a lot.
What will be very sad is having you guys leaving us in the dark 😀 Please continue to share !
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timjohn
·I think looking at a $3m speedmaster and declaring the watch world dead is a little premature, like looking at the unaffordability of a Van Gogh and declaring the art world dead…. There’s still plenty of fun — and great watches — to be bought under $1,000.
The anomaly is not that rare iconic watches are unaffordable today, but that they were ever affordable to ordinary people.
The anomaly is not that rare iconic watches are unaffordable today, but that they were ever affordable to ordinary people.
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Danwales
·I think there is still plenty of life left in the hobby for new collectors. Granted I certainly feel like I missed the glory days of collecting ( too young) but there are still lovely watches by the likes of Seiko, Cyma, Certina etc that can be had for reasonable money. The parts availability is still decent for these too. I bought an entire Cyma movement for £15 quid recently which pleased me after paying £30 for a single omega clover crown😉
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Scooterino36
·There is certainly alot of enthusiasm for Seikos and Seiko modding and micro brands within the younger generation of collectors. Likely not the form of collecting we all are referring to in this thread, but encouraging nonetheless.
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eldiano84
·I’m into all sorts of hobbies, you could throw a dart on a board and it would be the same all across it. Shortages on model cars, shortages on action figures, shortages on toys, shortages on games. It’s always the same thing whenever the latest and greatest item comes out, there’s always a hot demand and hot resell for the item usually like 400% of the price actually paid and throughout the years once a company manages to catch up with demand they just sit there and become available.
Resellers always bank on this at the beginning, the only items that never come down are limited releases but my take on watches is the same thing. This demand will balance out once everyone gets their satisfaction out of getting their models. Parts will never go away because watches are more widespread, the reason being I mean with me my stuff is so niched that if it breaks my best option is to superglue or buying another one. Watches will always be have some kind of demand despite the digital market.
Resellers always bank on this at the beginning, the only items that never come down are limited releases but my take on watches is the same thing. This demand will balance out once everyone gets their satisfaction out of getting their models. Parts will never go away because watches are more widespread, the reason being I mean with me my stuff is so niched that if it breaks my best option is to superglue or buying another one. Watches will always be have some kind of demand despite the digital market.
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bigsom
·It just sounds like you’re priced out. That’s ok, other people who aren’t priced out will continue enjoying the watches you can no longer afford. It doesn’t mean the hobby is dead, it means you can now enjoy less expensive watches. No big deal you’re just too poor for the watches you’re “interested” in. It happens to everyone, not a unique experience. I wish I had a big red 6263 for what they traded in 2005, but oh well. The hobby is alive and well. Check out Seiko. Some really cool history and horology to learn there. Couple hundred bucks can buy you a watch with hand planted solid gold markers!
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fibonacci
·"Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded." 😉
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Taddyangle
·It's been 2+ years since I bought my last Omega, and prior to that it was 2018 when I bought a few Omega watches for my collection. Stopped buying because I feel priced out. Started collecting a couple of Seiko watches, and a couple of independent watch maker watches, but just don't get the same enjoyment in wearing those watches as I do my Omega watches.
No plans to buy any new watches at this point. Will probably end up selling all but the Omega watches and possibly trade (or sell) the Omega I bought 2 years ago.
I can't necessarily say hobby is dead to me, but it's certainly not the same enjoyment it was between 2012-2018. During that time, I think I easily traded 50-60 watches. Between 2019-2022, it's been about 5 watches.
I bought this one in 2014 on eBay.
No plans to buy any new watches at this point. Will probably end up selling all but the Omega watches and possibly trade (or sell) the Omega I bought 2 years ago.
I can't necessarily say hobby is dead to me, but it's certainly not the same enjoyment it was between 2012-2018. During that time, I think I easily traded 50-60 watches. Between 2019-2022, it's been about 5 watches.
I bought this one in 2014 on eBay.
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STANDY
··schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collectorI can't necessarily say hobby is dead to me, but it's certainly not the same enjoyment it was between 2012-2018. During that time, I think I easily traded 50-60 watches. Between 2019-2022, it's been about 5 watches.
I bought this one in 2014 on eBay.
2012 - 2018 were the golden years for many of us mate. Like you not much the last 2-3 years.
Still enjoy what I have and snaveled in the hey days
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tyrantlizardrex
·For a large group watches are now “assets” and that’s both killed the enjoyment for me and made things I could afford in the past entirely unobtainable.
Over the last few weeks I’ve been trying to work out what I want to keep (if anything) from my collection, and whether I want to keep Time 4A Pint going beyond the end of this year.
This could be winter blues speaking but at times the world of watches doesn’t seem fun at all. And when things stop being fun maybe it’s time to walk away from them.
Over the last few weeks I’ve been trying to work out what I want to keep (if anything) from my collection, and whether I want to keep Time 4A Pint going beyond the end of this year.
This could be winter blues speaking but at times the world of watches doesn’t seem fun at all. And when things stop being fun maybe it’s time to walk away from them.
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STANDY
··schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collectorChris @tyrantlizardrex I am currently making knives and spend a fair bit of time on a knife forum and the same type of people are there that snatch up all the sprint runs to turn a profit and push prices up just like the Rolex madness. Pseudo dealers and YouTube reviewers that have never seen the outside of a city.
Had laugh only last week when one questioned a company because he got a scratch on his new knife from a bit of grit inside a sheath 🤦
Spending more time with the friendly up and coming custom knife makers that are happy to share tips and tricks and are helpful.
Had laugh only last week when one questioned a company because he got a scratch on his new knife from a bit of grit inside a sheath 🤦
Spending more time with the friendly up and coming custom knife makers that are happy to share tips and tricks and are helpful.
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SpeedyPhill
·Indeed, with almost 10K for a brand new Speedmaster, these days I can only afford books about wrist watches ...
Gave a talk yesterday evening to 20 spaceflight fans, none will be Omega clients again,... maybe in the event of a major exception and Omega releases a truly Apollo-Soyuz tribute Speedy but overall prices have gone crazy, both for vintage & new wrist watches...
Lessons Learned = Enjoy what You have !
Gave a talk yesterday evening to 20 spaceflight fans, none will be Omega clients again,... maybe in the event of a major exception and Omega releases a truly Apollo-Soyuz tribute Speedy but overall prices have gone crazy, both for vintage & new wrist watches...
Lessons Learned = Enjoy what You have !
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