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Vintage Omegas as Investments

watchyouwant
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Mike, agree with your list. Waiting for the best possible example is a risk these days. The Internet made many collectors instant experts. So, buy when you find your model. Enjoy it. Look out for the next one. Buy the better one and sell the first one. That way you learn and hopefully over time find your best example. This way you get a feeling for market trends as well and can avoid what happened to Movado for example. Collectable in the 90's. Then the Brand got sold to an Arab investor and the vintage Movados lost most of the value quickly. And just stick with what you like and know. In the early 90's I bought 5 Panerais WW2 German Clearance Divers. Never really warmed to them. All sold within a short time span. Bought between German Marks 8000 - 10000. Sold quickly around DM 20000. Thought I was King. Now these are over $ 70000......same with Rolex Milsubs in the 90's. After the UK government auctions, there were many for sale from the dealers, who bought them for peanuts. Around DM 5000 Normalat watchfairs. customers wanted Rolex subs. Not Milsubs with strange engravings, fixed lugs and funny hands. Many got " shaved " and re converted into " normal " Subs. Dealers bought the parts from Rolex and kept the replaced Milsub parts. Today a set of hands cost you over $10000. Inserts, dials made a few guys with the long term view very rich over the years.....The whole vintage watch collecting field is ever changing. Unless you bought in the 90's, recent prices might need another 20 years to make a great return on value. But you have 20 years of Joy, to wear them ! Kind regards. Achim
 
M'Bob
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MSNWatch MSNWatch
That's one way to look at it but the time I devoted to this study is time I didn't spend on social media - zero time on Facebook, Instagram and the like so in that sense it's a plus!

Reminds me of the time a co-worker got busted kissing the secretary at a Cristmas party. When his wife found out, he said, "What's the big deal? It's not like I screwed her or anything."
 
Canuck
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Sidnos Sidnos
Ergo, my watches aren’t viewed as “investments” in the sense that equities or fixed income are...

There are indeed exceptions!
 
Edward53
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I don't doubt that @MSNWatch's strategy is a sound one. Finding said premium examples before someone else has pounced on them seems to me like the most difficult aspect of it.
oinkitt oinkitt
Investments are things that pay dividends..... by definition.

I think what you meant was, investments are things that are intended to yield a profit.
 
MSNWatch
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This would definitely qualify as a "high risk" investment but that risk is mitigated considerably by the "investor's" level of expertise (no passive investment here). And I think this is also something that benefits best from a buy and hold non-diversified strategy.
 
Sidnos
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MSNWatch MSNWatch
This would definitely qualify as a "high risk" investment but that risk is mitigated considerably by the "investor's" level of expertise (no passive investment here). And I think this is also something that benefits best from a buy and hold non-diversified strategy.

Completely agree, though maybe not quite so regarding the high concentration approach... but to each his own!

As I say, and as you rightly mention, a strategy using watches as an investment vehicle should be left to those with the right level of expertise in such a specialist and nuanced asset; that and being twinned with the suitably high risk appetite of the investor!

I’m personally not equipped with those attributes (where watches are concerned at least) and so none of my collection I consider investments per se.

Though if my ever mrs asks I use them as hedge against other exposure and to gain broader diversification in a highly volatile market! 😉😗

Of course all of the above is just my humble opinion, “the value of your investment can fall as well as rise, past performance is no indicator of the future and your capital is at risk. You may lose all or some of your original investment. None of the text should be considered advice and we suggest you seek independent financial and/or tax advice before making any decision”

Starting to sound a lot like work!🙁

More important than alllll that, is that I just love them!
 
chronoboy64
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oinkitt oinkitt
Investments are things that pay dividends..... by definition.

oops ?
you mean like art and cars ?
Best
 
stahlmotte
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I buy a watch not for a investment.
I buy one, because I love to carry it.👍
 
ahsposo
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I miss the old days when you could invest a castle.
 
shishy
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watchyouwant watchyouwant
The Internet made many collectors instant experts.

As with every domain, the Internet made people think they were experts (and act like it), but the distinction is worth highlighting... For sure, the actual number of people who reached expert status/mastery went up, but with that came exponentially more pseudo-experts.
 
take57
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bigsom bigsom
10,000 hours = 1000 days of work = @2500 a day that's $2,500,000. Quite an opportunity cost for some people over 10 years.

I guess you can look at it as an investment in yourself and your happiness. Self fulfillment through enjoying your hobby!
Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000-Hour Rule
 
jsducote
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Sidnos Sidnos
As I say, and as you rightly mention, a strategy using watches as an investment vehicle should be left to those with the right level of expertise in such a specialist and nuanced asset; that and being twinned with the suitably high risk appetite of the investor!

[trim]

Of course all of the above is just my humble opinion, “the value of your investment can fall as well as rise, past performance is no indicator of the future and your capital is at risk. You may lose all or some of your original investment. None of the text should be considered advice and we suggest you seek independent financial and/or tax advice before making any decision”
Having studied the subject quite a bit, and although I am not acting in the capacity as anyone's advisor, most qualified advisors would not recommend any more than 10% of your portfolio in something like watches (or cars, art, etc.). Not only do you have the risk of the asset failing to appreciate, the physical holding carries significant risk of loss as well (see also: Wells Fargo safe boxes, criminals, ex-wives, etc.).
 
Sidnos
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jsducote jsducote
Having studied the subject quite a bit, and although I am not acting in the capacity as anyone's advisor, most qualified advisors would not recommend any more than 10% of your portfolio in something like watches (or cars, art, etc.). Not only do you have the risk of the asset failing to appreciate, the physical holding carries significant risk of loss as well (see also: Wells Fargo safe boxes, criminals, ex-wives, etc.).
All assets carry their own particular risk; hence why it really does depend on the individual’s personal circumstance, their attitude to risk, financial sophistication, wider exposure, knowledge, estate planning etc etc etc. One size does not fit all or there would be no advisors or managers 😉
 
ironman50
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I inherited a this watch about 25 years ago after my wife's grandfather passed away. I kept it in an old watch box in a box under my bed never realizing what I had. I was sorting through a few boxes the other day and came across the watch and decided to look into it a little further. I'm trying to get a feel for what the watch is worth. It is a Vintage Omega Seamaster Chronograph Skywalker from the 70's. It is in very good condition and works very well and has what I believe is the original strap. It has a few minor scratches on the lens but overall a very nice piece. Is there anyone out there that could recommend where I can get a ball park evaluation?? Any help is much appreciated.
 
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JanV
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Welcome to the forum @ironman50. Maybe you’re better off posting your question as a new thread, to get more attention to it. A nice watch, would love to have one some day next to my Jedi. Yours is known as Darth Vader 145.0023, not as the Anakin.
 
Sidnos
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JanV JanV
Welcome to the forum @ironman50. Maybe you’re better off posting your question as a new thread, to get more attention to it. A nice watch, would love to have one some day next to my Jedi. Yours is known as Darth Vader 145.0023, not as the Anakin.
Agree with that, and for what it’s worth it’s a much more interesting piece than any spiel (certainly of mine!) on investments!
@ironman50 Good luck with finding out some information on it and the valuation you’re after 😉 who knows you may end up valuing it in a different way to solely how much money it’s worth... and if not, at least you will have gained some knowledge from some incredible watch experts (and hence why I won’t be commenting!)
 
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