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Watchbot
·hi all,
I am new to watch collection and am very glad to have found this forum, it is such great source of knowledge with so many helpful members!
I have so far acquired a new De Vile Prestige and a pre-owned 2531.80 first gen Seamaster Professional 300M, made in 1999. Also got a ladies' quartz De Ville (the one worn by Naomie Harris in No Time to Die) on order for the missus as a surprise present.... Happy spouse happy house and need to bribe her to get into this hobby 😀.
I got the De Villes because my parents each got one when they married so I thought it would be fitting for the missus and myself to get one each. I will use my De Ville for dressier occasions (like twice a year if I am lucky) and the missus can use hers as a daily driver (it is so much easier for ladies to daily drive dressy watches than men!). It is such a beautiful watch, simplicity and elegance are its best features, but seems very fragile.
I came across the 2531.80 by chance and got it at a pretty decent price, considering the condition of the watch (but no papers and box). My intention is to put it on a Nato strap and daily drive. HOWEVER - just as I was handing over my money for the 2531.80 tonight, I asked (and should not have!) about a mint condition 210.30.42.20.03.001 SMP 300M (let's call it 4th gen for the purpose of this post), the latest and greatest 'sub killer', in the shop's display cabinet. The shop keeper disclosed his 'last price' (which, in this environment can always be further negotiated) that is only USD1,200 more than the 2531.80, and it comes with box and full paperwork. I didn't bother to find out how old the watch is, as even the oldest example now wouldn't be more than 3 years.
Now the conundrum is - should I try and pay the difference of USD1,200 to trade-back my 2531.80 and 'upgrade' to the 4th gen? USD1,200 seems to be too good of a deal to upgrade to a watch that is 3 generations and at least 19 years newer, not to mention the box, paperwork and balance of official warranty.
That being said, there are things that I like about the 2531.80:
- much thinner and lighter compared to the 4th gen
- I actual prefer the looks of 2531.80, I find the 4th gen too flashy (in fact, I like the looks of the 2nd gen most, it has the best of both new and old aesthetics)
- looks dressier than the 4th gen, which suits my work environment better, as I wear smart casual and semi-formal 90% of the time. I think I might even get away with pairing it with a suit, which I cannot see as a feasible solution with the 4th gen (unless the black dial version).
- it is cheaper, so if I scratch it while daily driving, I won't cry as much
- the value of 2531.80 seems to be appreciating, The 4th gen's value will probably drop over the next few years after new model releases, until it picks up again many years later. Whereas the 2531.80 has already been through that depreciation cycle and is now on an upward trajectory as a semi vintage model.
- in terms of historic significance and collectability, I think the 2531.80 trumps the 4th gen, there can only be a first 'Omega Bond watch' model (let's just ignore for a moment the fact that the first on-screen version was a quartz). But newer and greater models of the OMP 300M will keep on coming, one replacing the other
What do you think? Should I 'upgrade' by paying the extra USD1,200 ? My heart wants to stay with the 2531.80, but the value equation just seems too good to be ignored... even my wife (who still doesn't know I have ordered a De Ville for her😝) questions why I didn't just get the newer one
Comments and views welcome!
I am new to watch collection and am very glad to have found this forum, it is such great source of knowledge with so many helpful members!
I have so far acquired a new De Vile Prestige and a pre-owned 2531.80 first gen Seamaster Professional 300M, made in 1999. Also got a ladies' quartz De Ville (the one worn by Naomie Harris in No Time to Die) on order for the missus as a surprise present.... Happy spouse happy house and need to bribe her to get into this hobby 😀.
I got the De Villes because my parents each got one when they married so I thought it would be fitting for the missus and myself to get one each. I will use my De Ville for dressier occasions (like twice a year if I am lucky) and the missus can use hers as a daily driver (it is so much easier for ladies to daily drive dressy watches than men!). It is such a beautiful watch, simplicity and elegance are its best features, but seems very fragile.
I came across the 2531.80 by chance and got it at a pretty decent price, considering the condition of the watch (but no papers and box). My intention is to put it on a Nato strap and daily drive. HOWEVER - just as I was handing over my money for the 2531.80 tonight, I asked (and should not have!) about a mint condition 210.30.42.20.03.001 SMP 300M (let's call it 4th gen for the purpose of this post), the latest and greatest 'sub killer', in the shop's display cabinet. The shop keeper disclosed his 'last price' (which, in this environment can always be further negotiated) that is only USD1,200 more than the 2531.80, and it comes with box and full paperwork. I didn't bother to find out how old the watch is, as even the oldest example now wouldn't be more than 3 years.
Now the conundrum is - should I try and pay the difference of USD1,200 to trade-back my 2531.80 and 'upgrade' to the 4th gen? USD1,200 seems to be too good of a deal to upgrade to a watch that is 3 generations and at least 19 years newer, not to mention the box, paperwork and balance of official warranty.
That being said, there are things that I like about the 2531.80:
- much thinner and lighter compared to the 4th gen
- I actual prefer the looks of 2531.80, I find the 4th gen too flashy (in fact, I like the looks of the 2nd gen most, it has the best of both new and old aesthetics)
- looks dressier than the 4th gen, which suits my work environment better, as I wear smart casual and semi-formal 90% of the time. I think I might even get away with pairing it with a suit, which I cannot see as a feasible solution with the 4th gen (unless the black dial version).
- it is cheaper, so if I scratch it while daily driving, I won't cry as much
- the value of 2531.80 seems to be appreciating, The 4th gen's value will probably drop over the next few years after new model releases, until it picks up again many years later. Whereas the 2531.80 has already been through that depreciation cycle and is now on an upward trajectory as a semi vintage model.
- in terms of historic significance and collectability, I think the 2531.80 trumps the 4th gen, there can only be a first 'Omega Bond watch' model (let's just ignore for a moment the fact that the first on-screen version was a quartz). But newer and greater models of the OMP 300M will keep on coming, one replacing the other
What do you think? Should I 'upgrade' by paying the extra USD1,200 ? My heart wants to stay with the 2531.80, but the value equation just seems too good to be ignored... even my wife (who still doesn't know I have ordered a De Ville for her😝) questions why I didn't just get the newer one
Comments and views welcome!
