how the brands depreciate??

[Oceanklassik]

Very logical explanation by wolfeyes1974...

[Darkangel]

hmmmm...

am looking at preowned PO, railmaster.... any comments?

40% to 50% off for a 2 years old preowned is too hard to resist...

These kind of watches better to buy preowned,coz brand new means you are gonna get less than that. Hahhaa..GO FOR IT

[buaysaikum]

hmmmm...

am looking at preowned PO, railmaster.... any comments?

40% to 50% off for a 2 years old preowned is too hard to resist...

[Darkangel]

honestly guys, i've enough experience in this field..i've flipped quite a few watches from Audemars Piguet, Rollies, GP, Tags and etc...incurred losses but i still like the experience of flipping my watches..

pre-owned shop will take in 25-35% of the price you paid for your watch (that's why they'll always ask you how much you paid for it)..then they'll mark up 20% min. This will give a perception that you pay 50-60% off the new list price of that watch. Example, Rollie DJ's take in price now is $2.3-3.3K max (for watch lesser than 2 yrs and with B&P)...they'll then sell for $4.5-5.8K..u figure out their profits...still, it's 50% cheaper than buying brand new. If you sell them higher end watches such as AP..example AP RO, take in is $6-8K...they'll sell $11-12K (market price now)...

few ways to make money or at least dun lose so much:

1. to make money, u need to buy limited edition watches (those 20 pieces per year) or high end complication watches ie tourbillons, golden bridges and perpetual calendars etc...easily cost $70K above..hold it for 2-3 yrs then sell it to make $$

2. be adventurous...go for some new independent watchmaker/brands...such as Urwerk, VH, MBf and etc...because they're small...their supply is limited and you need to wait/pre-order 2-3 yrs to get the watch..for new watch brands, you need to know who's their CEO, who's doing the marketing, designer and etc...imagine this, when PAM was first launched several yrs ago...the watch costs only $3K after disc..now?

3. Lobangs...understood lah..if u can get staff purchase % or get invited to their private preview sale (Richemont's individual brand has it once a year...u can really find some good bargains there) ...u'll pay so much lesser hence either u lose lesser $ when flipping or even make $. staff purchase is usually 40% but now a lot of brands have policies that they're allowed to buy but can't sell it..staff watches are now engraved or have some form of identification distinguishing them from others...if they're found to sell them..they may be fired..

4. buy pre-owned watches that are under warranty..this will definitely save u lotsa of $$..go for those still under warranty...utilize them before it expires. A tip: for most brands, once u send it in for servicing..the warranty extends by another year (and yr watch is as good as new)...some/most of you will not like buying pre-owned watches..but this is just a mindset that can be conditioned...imagine you buy the watch at 40% cheaper than list, when you sell the watch..u'll lose 10-20% at most..

5. Buy from internet..shop smart...u can get some good deals from US internet sellers.

6. Other factors like demand and supply also have to be considered...Daytonas and Rollie GMT are fine example that you may be able to make some $$ over 3-5 yrs period

treat this as a hobby and not investment...in my humble opinion..

cheers

james

1. Wah that is abit crazy la,at that price I could get myself a nice car? But then again a car value depreciates like dunno wad...hahaha

2. True,this 1 I agree,hopefully u buy 1 of those unknown brands and it becomes popular next time.

I agree with 4 and 6. But 6 u hav to be careful later u pay so much no interest already then jialat...haha....

5 is just practise caution...

[pet]

the 16710 is a special case. where it was discontinued last year. i know of someone who paid 5450 jun 07.

daytona is a exception

yup. agreed tht these 2 exception.

[triton]

My friend bought a GMT2 in 2002 or 2003 for around $5000. Now he can sell more than that amount. So its about 5 yrs.

I bought my ss daytona for $16k from a frd's agent in 2006, I can sell $15k now easily. I think daytona has the best resale value. So its about 2yrs.

the 16710 is a special case. where it was discontinued last year. i know of someone who paid 5450 jun 07.

daytona is a exception

[triton]

agreed...

bottom line. ( sorry, triton, this 1 is against yr good AD relation thingy ). To me there's no sure thing as good AD relation !! will give u a damn good price for a Rolex Daytona SS ?? i doubt! ... i believe buying each watch is a Case by Case basis. Wait for opportunity nai !

no worries. this is a exception case. i also agree to a certain extent that buying watch is a case by case situation and sometimes have to wait for opportunity

[hadrian]

Hi James,

A very well explained thread.

[wolfeyes1974]

honestly guys, i've enough experience in this field..i've flipped quite a few watches from Audemars Piguet, Rollies, GP, Tags and etc...incurred losses but i still like the experience of flipping my watches..

pre-owned shop will take in 25-35% of the price you paid for your watch (that's why they'll always ask you how much you paid for it)..then they'll mark up 20% min. This will give a perception that you pay 50-60% off the new list price of that watch. Example, Rollie DJ's take in price now is $2.3-3.3K max (for watch lesser than 2 yrs and with B&P)...they'll then sell for $4.5-5.8K..u figure out their profits...still, it's 50% cheaper than buying brand new. If you sell them higher end watches such as AP..example AP RO, take in is $6-8K...they'll sell $11-12K (market price now)...

few ways to make money or at least dun lose so much:

1. to make money, u need to buy limited edition watches (those 20 pieces per year) or high end complication watches ie tourbillons, golden bridges and perpetual calendars etc...easily cost $70K above..hold it for 2-3 yrs then sell it to make $$

2. be adventurous...go for some new independent watchmaker/brands...such as Urwerk, VH, MBf and etc...because they're small...their supply is limited and you need to wait/pre-order 2-3 yrs to get the watch..for new watch brands, you need to know who's their CEO, who's doing the marketing, designer and etc...imagine this, when PAM was first launched several yrs ago...the watch costs only $3K after disc..now?

3. Lobangs...understood lah..if u can get staff purchase % or get invited to their private preview sale (Richemont's individual brand has it once a year...u can really find some good bargains there) ...u'll pay so much lesser hence either u lose lesser $ when flipping or even make $. staff purchase is usually 40% but now a lot of brands have policies that they're allowed to buy but can't sell it..staff watches are now engraved or have some form of identification distinguishing them from others...if they're found to sell them..they may be fired..

4. buy pre-owned watches that are under warranty..this will definitely save u lotsa of $$..go for those still under warranty...utilize them before it expires. A tip: for most brands, once u send it in for servicing..the warranty extends by another year (and yr watch is as good as new)...some/most of you will not like buying pre-owned watches..but this is just a mindset that can be conditioned...imagine you buy the watch at 40% cheaper than list, when you sell the watch..u'll lose 10-20% at most..

5. Buy from internet..shop smart...u can get some good deals from US internet sellers.

6. Other factors like demand and supply also have to be considered...Daytonas and Rollie GMT are fine example that you may be able to make some $$ over 3-5 yrs period

treat this as a hobby and not investment...in my humble opinion..

cheers

james

[teo]

My friend bought a GMT2 in 2002 or 2003 for around $5000. Now he can sell more than that amount. So its about 5 yrs.

I bought my ss daytona for $16k from a frd's agent in 2006, I can sell $15k now easily. I think daytona has the best resale value. So its about 2yrs.

[pet]

when you buy a watch, always do homework. there are still people who can pay a substantially higher buying price.

take for example. in dec 07, my friend paid 7300 for a sub date where most people are paying close to list if not list. so the difference is about 600, which is quite substantial and this figure may take about 1 year to recoup.

that is why i said before, try not to pay more than necessary when getting a watch. im sure some brothers here paid a much lower price than others. so these are the buyers who will stand to recoup cost quicker. you know who you are. there are several ways where u can achieve a much lower price if you know the way. some ways have been mentioned already.

but im not selling. im passing to the next generation.

i dont flip watch. i buy because i like them.

agreed...

sometimes bare in mind tht whtever preown dealer offer yr preown pc might seems like a ripoff... but bare in mind tht they might hv a lower source overseas...

as triton, pointed out, his friend paid 7.3, some paid list, and if some1 got it at 6.5k... wht i huge diff. few yrs down the road, some 1 offer 5k for yr watch, those who paid list lost almost 3k, where as the other 1 who had a good deal loses only half of it.

anyway... if u do not get a damn good price, forget abt buying selling yr watch sure lose $, might as well keep it.

it always nice to own something tht u truely luv... other thn tht sometimes self satisfaction whn u know u get a good price... will even luv it.
if most paid 9k for it, and u paid 11k for yrs...doubt will feel good owning it... hahahha

bottom line. ( sorry, triton, this 1 is against yr good AD relation thingy ). To me there's no sure thing as good AD relation !! will give u a damn good price for a Rolex Daytona SS ?? i doubt! ... i believe buying each watch is a Case by Case basis. Wait for opportunity nai !

[Darkangel]

i guess profitting from a watch purchase is seldom the objective...
subs, explorers... all makes bad investment tools from $$ POV anyway...


the key issue is whether that new box smell is worth the additional 20 to 50%

That's why it's up to the buyer..I think maybe if u are a first time buyer,YES...subsequently no need la Just buy 1 time u shiok can already..hahah

but im not selling. im passing to the next generation.

i dont flip watch. i buy because i like them.

No la...never ask u to sell...just saying.

[buaysaikum]

i guess profitting from a watch purchase is seldom the objective...
subs, explorers... all makes bad investment tools from $$ POV anyway...


the key issue is whether that new box smell is worth the additional 20 to 50%

[triton]

Wei...make me jealous nia

Hahhaa...lol so now retail is double,and u can still earn profit after 10 yrs. 1 Perfect example

but im not selling. im passing to the next generation.

i dont flip watch. i buy because i like them.

[triton]

when you buy a watch, always do homework. there are still people who can pay a substantially higher buying price.

take for example. in dec 07, my friend paid 7300 for a sub date where most people are paying close to list if not list. so the difference is about 600, which is quite substantial and this figure may take about 1 year to recoup.

that is why i said before, try not to pay more than necessary when getting a watch. im sure some brothers here paid a much lower price than others. so these are the buyers who will stand to recoup cost quicker. you know who you are. there are several ways where u can achieve a much lower price if you know the way. some ways have been mentioned already.