Has anyone ever heard of a watch time share club out there? I finally have the high end piece I have been looking for, but am afraid I will grow tired of it in a few months. I was thinking the rules would be simple: 1). Appraisals required. 2). An online database of what is available for a 1 month trial, and what that owner would like to try. 3). Promissory notes required from the lower valued watch owner (based on appraised value). 4). Tiers of trading, I.e. Affordables 500-999 appraised, etc. I see many benefits in something like this. First, we get to "scratch the itch", without buying and selling. Also, a trial run with a high price watch is better than buying off of pictures. Lastly, it could just be fun. Has anyone ever heard of something like this existing?
It's been suggested before. On another forum that I modded for years, I did make temporary swaps with other members and mods. Shipped my 1966 Memovox out to a guy in exchange for a Sinn that looked great in pictures. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) neither one of us liked the size. 37 mm was too small on him, and 43 didn't work for me. Saved us both some money though. At a Tampa GTG a few years back I work a Patek World Timer 5110 that was another mod's watch. It fit me like it was bespoke.
Agree, if any of my pieces are going to suffer it will be down to my negligence. Personally the idea is a non starter, no offence intended to the op
And then comes the problem of 'I was at the gym and the watch was stolen out of my locker' scenario! Bye bye your beloved timepiece!
It would almost be better as a lease program... Contact a company and they send you a breguet for a month. You like it, buy one. If not, on to the next watch.
Probably would work better within a country only. Shipping outside the country will incur tax costs and complications.
This is why such a "program" can only be successful on a community forum where people know each other well and have perhaps traded before. Also, less expensive watches (and those that are already somewhat rough) are the best bet.
Actually I have a local group of WIS who had this behaviour. They exchange their watches within 3 to 6 months. Administering this just for a hobby would be a daunting task, though.
It does not matter who knows who, if a watch is stolen, it's stolen no matter of cost you would hate it if you had one go missing!
Oh, I see what you mean. I thought you meant.... well, that the borrower would steal a watch and blame a third party.
I have a friend who is part of something like this in the Los Angeles area. He dropped a watch he borrowed and wasn't too happy about the repair bill.
http://omegaforums.net/threads/watch-cooperative.6732/ if it works with 20 million dollar homes and 500k Ferraris, it could easily work with 50k watches. There will always be squishes who wouldn't give 5 cents to a starving kid but I understand that sort of personality. This wouldn't work for the type of guy who keeps score with everything. You know, that guy who asks for separate checks at a restaurant. This sort of thing wouldn't work for them. These are the kind of guys who scream "suckers" as they pull out of the car rental lot and do brake drops as soon as they're out of sight lol!!! you know who you are! Fess up!! haha then there's the opposite type who has 8, 9 or 10 figures worth of watches and is all like "feck-off , I ain't sharing my watches with a bunch of pikers"....