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Presentation boxes. When did they go on ‘roids?

Martin_J_N
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Sadly I am a box hoarder, not just on watches but on any expensive consumer goods that I buy. My loft space if full of stuff that I am not using but is stored neatly in its original packaging. I have traded cameras and picked up a few extra quid because the gear is supplied in original packaging.

In the grand scheme of things the size of the watch box is immaterial but for me keeping the original packaging is important, I know that people will say it doesn't matter but to me it does.
 
gbesq
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These are the boxes that I use for my modern Omegas. They could certainly be smaller, but the quality is excellent and they are reasonably sized compared to the box that comes with the Speedmaster Professional set.
E39414FB-405D-4DB2-B56C-C08DD3B3BE54.jpeg


My vintage Omegas live more modestly ...
02F9A336-94D2-43D3-8965-A3FC69AFCA26.jpeg
Edited:
 
texasmade
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gbesq gbesq
These are the boxes that I use for my modern Omegas. They could certainly be smaller, but the quality is excellent and they are reasonably sized compared to the box that comes with the Speedmaster Professional set.
E39414FB-405D-4DB2-B56C-C08DD3B3BE54.jpeg


My vintage Omegas live more modestly ...
02F9A336-94D2-43D3-8965-A3FC69AFCA26.jpeg
I kind of prefer that vintage box over the giant modern ones but I get that the vintage box won't always work with watches on bracelets.
 
gbesq
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texasmade texasmade
I kind of prefer that vintage box over the giant modern ones but I get that the vintage box won't always work with watches on bracelets.
Exactly.
 
Omegafanman
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Meme-Dweller Meme-Dweller
-___-

It was mostly serious … I need to work on my non-entertaining Memes... What I was aiming at is a 3570.50.00 was say £2500 in 2014 and a 311.30.42.30.01.005 is now £4000 (I think more for a while). Aside from the presentation box etc I think screwed links - bracelet are the only material change. In a time of low interest rates / low inflation that is a big jump. As an Omega fan / owner I am not complaining - I think some of the recent releases make the price surge / brand re-value more justified ...but I do feel the box + medals etc was being used to help the 'hike' back in the day.
Edited:
 
asrnj77
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Omegafanman Omegafanman
Would like to know what this is …. honey I shrunk the watch Box?

This was the SLA17 with a giant box and miniature Japanese sub that was sold exclusively to the German market. The rest of the world got the same watch sans the packaging and model sub.
 
WatchTimes
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Watch boxes got bigger to show off for the higher models, Rolex has 3 sizes currently (possibly more).
Special boxes for LE's to show off how special the watch is.
In reality they started a huge business!
I buy boxes current and vintage quite often! I have for years, it makes me happier when I acquire a vintage piece without a box but have one to make it feel complete. Even if not a watch I want to acquire I find some of the LE boxes fascinating.
 
Amg786s
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I think I’m in the minority, but I do love a nice box! Take something from breguet or Blancpain, these can often be re-used as storage for other items
 
Dor_42
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I just wish it was possible to turn the Speedy box into a multiple watch storing case without having to gut it in the process.
 
YY77
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Dor_42 Dor_42
Yeah, I saw that one but by my definition that’s considered gutting-
9106925C-C02B-4A88-BBC2-C23FC845D511.jpeg
I would call it a cleansing for the better seeing this picture.
 
AnPucaGlas
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Evitzee Evitzee
Bigger, seemingly more impressive, boxes started about the same time display backs became standard on watches, mainly to convince the newbie owner who just shelled out a good chunk of a month's salary (and often more) on a mechanical watch that he was getting something special. 'Look, ma, at my special watch, you can SEE it working from the back side and LOOK at the impressive box'.
I am sure there are plenty of non "newbie" owners out there who appreciate a display case back and a large ornate box, and why not? Aesthetics are a considerable component of luxury watches, and many movements are beautifully designed and engaging to observe. I agree that large boxes might not be the most functional packaging, but to some they can also present the watch in a more aesthetically pleasing way.
 
cristos71
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Luxury packaging at this level these days needs to be big and in your face to justify the hugely over-inflated prices that we see for watch models that have barely changed in design and manufacture but have somehow managed to double in price in a few years.

I much prefer the period of the 1950's, small and sturdy boxes in chic colours. My favourites being for some of the precious metal chronometers, where if one had the means then for an extra outlay it was possible to go the whole hog and upgrade one's watch box to a compact and solid silver model. Many of these boxes lost their inserts soon after purchase when being converted to a stylish table top cigarette box.

connie de luxe silver box.jpg connie de luxe silver box 2.jpg
Edited:
 
Bugbait
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Evitzee Evitzee
Bigger, seemingly more impressive, boxes started about the same time display backs became standard on watches, mainly to convince the newbie owner who just shelled out a good chunk of a month's salary (and often more) on a mechanical watch that he was getting something special. 'Look, ma, at my special watch, you can SEE it working from the back side and LOOK at the impressive box'.

Proud to say I wouldn't buy a luxury mechanical watch without a display back. The watch is there to look pretty (on both sides) and tell the time, else I may as well have a much more practical, accurate and cheaper quartz watch. Give me the underside bling any day for the extra money thanks. Box wise, I'd much prefer a smaller, better constructed box over anything large.
 
Stripey
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scapa scapa
Yep. And the leather pouch makes an excellent travel case. That's how I use mine, with a variety of watches. It replaces a Doxa SCUBA-type watch tube that an airport security rep tried to confiscate as a pipe bomb. For reals.
You've never tried to take a MOVA globe through security, have you? I think they thought it was a cartoon bomb - had to unpack the whole thing and wait for it to start rotating. Their guess from the x-ray was that it might be a snooker ball (bloody big one!).
 
Owlsu
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Omegafanman Omegafanman
It was mostly serious … I need to work on my non-entertaining Memes... What I was aiming at is a 3570.50.00 was say £2500 in 2014 and a 311.30.42.30.01.005 is now £4000 (I think more for a while). Aside from the presentation box etc I think screwed links - bracelet are the only material change. In a time of low interest rates / low inflation that is a big jump. As an Omega fan / owner I am not complaining - I think some of the recent releases make the price surge / brand re-value more justified ...but I do feel the box + medals etc was being used to help the 'hike' back in the day.

Accessories like replacement Omega buckles for leather straps or metal links are quite expensive - usually about £60 or so when ordered in from a boutique. I'd guess that they valued changing the bracelet from pins to screws was about £200 because I've seen the large boxes sell for around £500 and I think they cost that much to replace from Omega anyway.

So £2500 + £200 + £500 is £3200 which is what it was selling at in 2016 when it replaced the 3570.50.

I got mine with the new large box about 8 months after it was released and felt kind of ripped off to be honest, if I could have still bought the red box, pin bracelet one for £700 less I would have. The big box just sits in a cupboard and it's an absolute cumbersome nightmare to take out with me to the jewelers every few years to get the watch valued for insurance who insist they photograph everything it originally came with so it can be replaced like-for-like in event of damage/loss/theft etc.
 
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