Would You Pay $400 Extra For a Full Set?

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Personally yes!
If you or your heirs ever decide to sell it, it will make it a quicker and easier sale

Not always.
Two of the same watches in the same condition at a larger dealers, one without papers $450 less 8/10 sells first. 😉
(It’s only us guys that have this weird attraction to boxes and papers)
 
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I enjoy complete sets, hang tags and all. At least for watches but also with guitars and guns.
And I never sell anything.
And I’m going to admit that one of the reasons I bought an 1861 and not the new 3861 when it came out was the nicer box and accessories of the older model. I would’ve paid a premium…
 
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I’m going to admit that one of the reasons I bought an 1861 and not the new 3861 when it came out was the nicer box
You really missed out then- the 3861 came in a box within a box within a box. It was a real boxception. If I ever sell mine, I should really charge a premium for that. 😉 😁
 
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I couldn't care less about boxes and papers... As most said, I prefer to use those euros for something else!

I'm actually buying all my watches without boxes and papers, and saving all that money for my grail!
 
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Title pretty much sums it up.

Looking to purchase a 90s Bond era Seamaster and I can save almost $450 by getting one “without box/papers”, but my gut is saying I should suck it up and pay the extra for the peace of mind.

Wanted to gauge your thoughts on this and if it’s worth that much more money? Maybe in the long run it’s the right decision?

Thanks in advance!
100% for me would only ever buy full set. Regardless of whether I was going to keep or sell.
 
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I buy the watch I like, and if the papers are included at the price of the watch, so much the better.

My late father worked for a retail jeweller in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, from 1924 until 1939. Several years ago, my wife noticed an Omega pocket watch that was being offered at an auction. She noticed that the faux sharkskin case it was in, had the name of that very retail jeweller inside the lid. The vitreous enamel dial is also marked for that jeweller. My father likely was working at the store when the watch was sold. I liked the watch, and the case was a plus. I bought it. I am probably the only person in the world that would have appreciated the significance of the case. Meaningful to me, but as to selling it on? The case would be of no value to anyone but me. But the watch is quite unique.



Pay extra for the case? I bought this Waltham Colonial pocket watch in a 10-karat case, complete with vinyl case, cardboard shell, and linen sachet marked Keystone (case maker). Bought at auction for less than scrap value. The watch was presented to a Mr. S. Kobel, in 1937. He never used it! Inside the case back tells about everything a person might want to know.

Edited:
 
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I also like having a full set whenever possible. But $450 is a lot of money. Negotiate the price down to an extra $200 using the other as a benchmark, then buy the full set.
With the $250 savings, negotiate a knife from STANDY…
 
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Pay extra for the case? I bought this Waltham Colonial pocket watch in a 10-karat case, complete with vinyl case, cardboard shell, and linen sachet marked Keystone (case maker). Bought at auction for less than scrap value. The watch was presented to a Mr. S. Kobel, in 1937. He never used it! Inside the case back tells about everything a person might want to know.

Amazing all that fancy engraving hidden inside the case.
 
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With an expired warranty it doesn’t really matter since a free service (need be) is out of question, but if you ever consider selling it full sets fetch more money in comparison to “watch only” ones.
 
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I also like having a full set whenever possible. But $450 is a lot of money. Negotiate the price down to an extra $200 using the other as a benchmark, then buy the full set.
With the $250 savings, negotiate a knife from STANDY…

Does he sell shirts as well?
.
 
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Bugger the box! Watches are for wearing, boxes are for storing ( and for being a bloody pain in the hairy bot-bot to store )
When my watches aren’t being worn they live in partitioned cases, not the packaging they came in, even if they came with it when I got them,
I probably still have the original receipt for my flighty, but the box and manual fell apart many moons ago.
When I was young and only had 2 watches, the flighty and a speedy I did use the box to store the one I wasn’t wearing at the time, no doubt such constant use hastened it’s decline.
 
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Some people get an almost fetishistic pleasure from putting their watches back into the correct boxes.. Each To Their Own, but I couldn't care less about a box; I do care about the watch that I'm buying and if it comes with a box so be it, but its absence would never be a deal breaker.
 
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My 345.0808, one owner (me), purchased in 1990. I have kept all the stuff that came with it, not because I plan on selling the watch. Check the 1990 price on the hang tag. I worked for an Omega dealer when I bought it, so got it for dealer cost!

 
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Papers would MAYBE be something you'd want to have in 20 years for a "complete set" sort of thing, but I agree... 450 on a watch that old is probably a huge amount of cost. What does it cost to get an extract from Omega? if that's cheaper and someone really wanted "papers" that would be the better go, right?

Do members think getting an extract pays for itself, if the watch in question already has papers? (like this one)
I can see why it would in the absence of papers.
 
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Do members think getting an extract pays for itself, if the watch in question already has papers? (like this one)
I can see why it would in the absence of papers.
Agreed. Extract is to confirm that watch came as it is being presented. So extract is good with a 50 year old watch that shared movements with other references or were known to be cobbled. But if the original papers have the serial number and that matches the movement..
 
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Obviously my bought new watches have box and papers which I have retained. My Rolex 5513 has its original boxes and a non punched warranty card from a HK retailer. It’s cool, it’s just a nice to have though. Just sold my Angelus with its box. The box didn’t do a dammed thing to drive the sell price. Can’t wear the boxes.
 
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Obviously my bought new watches have box and papers which I have retained. My Rolex 5513 has its original boxes and a non punched warranty card from a HK retailer. It’s cool, it’s just a nice to have though. Just sold my Angelus with its box. The box didn’t do a dammed thing to drive the sell price. Can’t wear the boxes.
Well with a bit of effort you probably could wear the boxes, but it you would probably look damned odd doing so!
 
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Only you know the answer.

By the way, in my opinion spending more than 1000$ in a bezel or insert is ridiculous.