I’m comparing my interest in watches to my longtime interests in numismatics and collectible firearms. I have matured a bit in those two collecting fields. Every hole-in-the-wall pawn shop, at least the ones in my region, keeps a selection of common date coins displayed, over-graded and over-priced as they invariably are in such establishments. Same goes for classic firearms as found in any gun shop or gun show. If the gun is roll-marked Winchester, Colt, or Smith & Wesson and is from a bygone era, you can expect it to be marked up to well over its actual value, especially if one factors in the frequent deferred maintenance, abuse, and the evidence of Bubba’s handiwork on a modified piece.
Vintage watches are different around these parts. They're not so universally popular. Go into a pawn shop, antique mall, or mom-and-pop jewelry store and inquire about vintage watches and you’ll receive a discouraging reply. “We won't take them. We can’t move them. There’s no interest in them and no money in them.” Vintage watches? They just don't want to know. A vintage watch aficionado is unable to buy watches at any price as none are available at the retail level. Is this generally found to be so in other locales?
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