But not everyone is a collector right?
Many people don't wear a watch (let's call them type A).
Of those who do wear watches, many (most?) wear Quartz or Smart watches (let's group them into type B) and some wear mechanicals (type C).
Of those who wear mechanicals, most likely prefer modern pieces (type C1) and a small percentage prefer "vintage" (type C2).
Obviously people don't neatly fall into only one pure category, but I'd bet most at least lean one way or another.
I fall under the C1 category. I strongly prefer mechanical watches, but of the more modern/recent/newer variety. For me, I want a trusted and reliable timepiece that I won't have to worry about. So far I have always purchased new, but if I were ever to purchase used, I might be okay buying a watch that had been modified in some way as long as it had been done by a trusty watchmaker (like
@Archer or several others known on this forum) and the mod(s) were clearly disclosed and no premium was being charged for what the watch was made to "be like" or "look like".
However, as was already pointed out, "the movement IS the watch". I don't understand what makes a watch case and dial so special that the "movement" would be replaced. I would see a much higher probability that someone would take a good reliable movement in a good case and have the dial replaced since the dial is an aesthetic item.
But most people aren't purists. In fact I'd say 99.99% of people who wear watches just like watches and would say "yes please" if their watchmaker told them he can replace their movement with something more reliable and easier to service.
I think you confuse people who like modern/late-model watches and those who prefer vintage.
I don't own nor do I desire vintage watches, but it's not hard for me to understand that what appeals to a vintage watch owner is the idea of "originality" and the ties to the age and history of the piece. Once the main heart of the watch (the movement) has been replaced, there is no more history or originality to the watch and therefore it is no more desirable to a vintage watch collector than a brand-new piece they could pick up from any AD. In fact, the mod would be less desirable in that it's old and yet without anything to make it "special".
