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Tony C.
··Ωf Jury memberYou seem to be approaching the process with open eyes, which is a very good thing. It is also good that you are buying because you like a watch, and not as an "investment".
Having said that, let me offer a few other points. First, consider that even for those who aren't fully bitten by the 'collector' bug, it is common to be tempted, after some time, to re-sell and buy something else. In anticipation of that possibility, it is always valuable to be critical about what the approximate re-sale value may be, as no one enjoys selling at a significant loss.
While Polerouters are, as a group, quite desirable in today's market, the model that you have chosen is, for two reasons, not nearly as desirable as most. The first is that it is a "dress" version", as opposed to the more sought-after sport versions with the distinctive, twisted lugs. The one exception would be the "DeLuxe" dress model, which is in high demand. The second is that it is "gold-capped", which is in the least demand in terms of case variations. The vast majority of collectors have strong preferences for either full steel or gold cases. I mention this not to challenge your taste – if you like the watch, that's great! – but rather to warn you that, especially given the condition issues, the re-sale value is likely to be less than you might imagine.
There is a well-worn joke/cliché in the real estate world, which is that the three most important characteristics of a property when selling are location, location, and location. In the vintage watch world, simply replace "location" with "condition". So, while it is fine to accept a flawed watch at a lower price than better examples if you are happy with it, and intend to keep it for a long time, such watches are virtually certain to lose value over time, and especially during times of economic stress.
Having said that, let me offer a few other points. First, consider that even for those who aren't fully bitten by the 'collector' bug, it is common to be tempted, after some time, to re-sell and buy something else. In anticipation of that possibility, it is always valuable to be critical about what the approximate re-sale value may be, as no one enjoys selling at a significant loss.
While Polerouters are, as a group, quite desirable in today's market, the model that you have chosen is, for two reasons, not nearly as desirable as most. The first is that it is a "dress" version", as opposed to the more sought-after sport versions with the distinctive, twisted lugs. The one exception would be the "DeLuxe" dress model, which is in high demand. The second is that it is "gold-capped", which is in the least demand in terms of case variations. The vast majority of collectors have strong preferences for either full steel or gold cases. I mention this not to challenge your taste – if you like the watch, that's great! – but rather to warn you that, especially given the condition issues, the re-sale value is likely to be less than you might imagine.
There is a well-worn joke/cliché in the real estate world, which is that the three most important characteristics of a property when selling are location, location, and location. In the vintage watch world, simply replace "location" with "condition". So, while it is fine to accept a flawed watch at a lower price than better examples if you are happy with it, and intend to keep it for a long time, such watches are virtually certain to lose value over time, and especially during times of economic stress.
