Community Stories

Sold a watch

SkunkPrince
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I never mind selling one, I only regret bad decisions "restoring" one.

I had a Speedmaster for two decades until I got the Seamaster I should have bought instead. Ah well 😀

Would have loved the trilogy Railmaster, except for the faux lume. Eventually became a dealbreaker.

Desire to share a watch with someone for cash never gets old. Being lazy? Perhaps. 😁
 
Walrus
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Not my strong point. I get a sad story and make 5 bucks or have actually tried to buy back watches I’ve sold. There are other things to sell that don’t cause me angst.

me the day after a sale
C864DC0E-9329-4BCB-B0D3-B1573B6F9880.gif
 
Evose
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781
Embarrassingly I’ve sold and bought back a day later… for considerably more. I like the “adult brain” concept as it’s been my experience - sell because I’m not wearing, because it’s stored away without offering a return. Then the regret starts and “young brain” has discovered creative reasons why I can’t, shouldn’t live without it. After my initial experience I’ve learned to either never sell certain pieces and recall that teaching moment, or sell and move forward. Easier said than done, I know.
 
eugeneandresson
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I have zero regrets for any watches that are gone. Even for those whose value have risen by orders of magnitude after the sale.

There is always a good reason - and no, ‘doesn’t get wrist time’ is the effect … the actual reason why it ‘doesn’t get wrist time’ is the cause. I recommend to identify and acknowledge that reason and remember it so that one doesn’t fall into the same trap again. Also, I have watches that ‘don’t get wrist time’ but that is absolutely no reason to sell…I know why (and feel it is perfectly fine) and they still give me greater pleasure than a lot of the daily wearers.

Selling has helped hone the mindset and allowed the collection to morph into a happy place where there are no more gaping holes, no more duplicates, no more watches that nag at the conscience for whatever reason, and just 🥰🥰🥰 every time a watch roll is opened.

But I am a collector through and through, despise all the money-grab-bs that has ruined this hobby, and not a dealer, so my opinion may totally be out of resonance with you.
 
STANDY
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I’m too lazy to sell,,, buying and opening is easy.

Haggling, packing, shipping then fretting over it getting there is just too much.
 
RLF13430
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1,375
pdxleaf pdxleaf
Selling is when my adult brain takes over whereas it's often my adolescent brain that buys. I have a mixed bag of purchases, with some not so great pieces and some really nice condition harder to find pieces. Some okay prices and some overpaid.

Typically, I start thinking I should be responsible and sell a watch I don't wear, that I don't want more than a dozen or so watches. My adult brain convinces me to sell a watch because it's just taking up space or it's too nice to wear. Because I confuse stubbornness for determination, i carry through with the sale, patting myself on the back for making the sensible decisions.

Shortly afterwards, I sort of snap out of the fog and say WTF did I just do? Why would you sell that?!! Why didn't you just sell a Hamilton if you felt the urge to lighten the load?

While I have some regrets in selling, a nice by product is that it's helped me identify some watches that i won't sell and find a lot of pleasure in owning. I guess selling is a requirement, otherwise is it just hoarding?

I’m finding this thread to be somewhat therapeutic, especially this comment - thanks pdxleaf. My adult brain and my adolescent brain have been arguing for several months. But, my newly retired brain is taking a more adult position. Just have to pull the trigger and write a FS post. Which one is going on the block? Is procrastination a sign of an adolescent brain?
 
t268
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59
I only have remorse for the pieces I shouldn't have sold, which is a grand total of 1.
 
Evose
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781
Can honestly say weeks later I’m glad I sold. Feelings faded rather quickly - moving on to the next.
 
JwRosenthal
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44,981
Evose Evose
Can honestly say weeks later I’m glad I sold. Feelings faded rather quickly - moving on to the next.
It’s like grief- you have to move through the stages. Many collectors get hung up on the bargaining part.
 
gbesq
Posts
9,496
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52,073
I sold this one earlier this year to another OF member - really nice guy - and in the ensuing months realized how much I really liked the watch and wished that I hadn't sold it. So after months of looking, I just bought another one from a seller in Japan that I'll now have to spend money restoring. Yes, I'm an idiot.
1470363-bb4b190ad3b32f1010ded6691ed053ae.jpg
 
Matty01
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4,956
Ive sold quite a few - maybe 20 over the journey but only really regretted selling one which I’ve just bought another version of- but that did teach me to wait a year before deciding to sell a piece
 
Spruce
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67,958
This was the first Omega I bought and the only one I have sold.

I never wore it, it was superseded by nicer watches, I thought it should go to someone who might wear it.

As you can see - I still have it’s photograph 🙁

upload_2022-9-25_8-35-44.jpeg
 
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