Importance of Pre-Owned Box & Papers

You can work out age roughly by serial #

Box and papers end up in a cupboard.

Some want them some don’t care So you will get a 50/50 reply.

To me it wouldn’t bother me at all, especially if like you said it’s to keep for a long time.

Box and docs have a value. A watch dealer of my acquaintance apportions 15% additional value over a loose watch for both, 7.5% for each. More so for a Limited Edition which can lose as much as 30% if the full set is broken up as they are much less saleable.

The presence or otherwise of b&p doesn't really bother me, particularly on an older piece, after all you cant wear the box but if you have even half an eye on resale of a recent piece it is wise to factor something in. If we assume the figures above reflect the true picture and picking figures out of the air to use as an example, all other things being equal, a £2.5K full set Speedmaster is worth more like £2,200 as a loose watch.

Many people move and loose boxes and many don’t even care about them like watch collectors.
Prior to the new big box with NASA stuff they came in a red box that was prone to falling apart and peeling something terrible. (Have mine in a cupboard since 2013 and scared to open it)

Just as a note about C&C- They are a good company, albeit higher priced because of the services you get from them, but you should still have a plan to service when it is in your possession. This isn't a bad review of them by any means because I have only had truly positive experiences but I was under the impression that they serviced every watch prior to listing them. I read their numerous blogs posts and blogs from other companies that wrote about what they do and it lead me to believe that's how they handled every watch as it went through inspection. The Seamaster I ordered from them was sent back to them for warranty work 2 days after I received it. Again, not a negative review because they took action super quickly and have been keeping me in the loop with progress updates. If the watch in the listing has been serviced they will make note of it. If they don't mention it, then the watch has only been inspected for authenticity. Here are two different speedy listings of theirs as reference.

The first is "vintage" and the second is "2000's."

My watch went back because there was dirt/haze and a finger print on the underside of the crystal and the crystal wasn't seated entirely level. The bezel/insert also had corrosion causing the insert to just about fall out. The watch was listed as "very good" with no mention of these. I was bummed but not upset because they were o fast acting and are servicing the entire watch/replacing those parts with OEM replacements. All of this long winded info to say, if you have any concerns/questions about the watch definitely reach out before buying.

B&P are a 'nice to have' thing but hard to get for watches more than 15-20 years old unless it was originally owned by a collector. Believe it or not many people just throw the boxes and papers away, even on high priced watches like Patek Philippe. People move, get divorced, whatever. I know a watch retailer in Aruba who has a really good customer who never takes the boxes or paperwork, instead they are left with the dealer who just stores them in his warehouse. The buyer doesn't care and the dealer doesn't care as long as the watch is bought. But those boxes and papers will almost never be reunited with the watch down the road. Personally I wouldn't pay a 15% premium for B&P, perhaps the dealer can justify it to most buyers but it wouldn't work on me.

Obviously I have kept B&P for the new watches I’ve purchased. I have a box for my Angelus chronograph and I have inner/outer box and a warranty card for my 5513, which I do find myself ogling from time to time. As said, all sit in storage mostly. On a newer watch such as comes from C&C (good folks BTW), not a dealbreaker. I do agree, their service is cursory. Plan on a proper service.

You'll especially see this when it comes to boxes. I've seen a lot of watches that came in unique, special model packaging and they show up on C24 with 'original box' and it's nothing more than the generic box from the manufacturer. You have to be very careful whether buying new or used, especially if the box and papers are important to you.