Collecting is not just a hobby, it is a real passion. An innocent childhood hobby for many eventually turns into a professional occupation. You can collect anything: beautiful but not practical (baseball cards), useful for science (butterflies), practical but terribly expensive (oldtimers), something that no one else has (red diamonds) ... Any of these collections can cost a fortune, but not every one can be used.

We suggest paying attention to collecting watches. For example, Alain Delon accumulated them for $ 590,300 - it was for this amount that the collection went under the hammer at an auction in Paris. As for charity auctions, all records here belong to the Swiss brand Patek Philippe. In 2012, his one and only model from the World Time collection brought the children's fund 1 million Swiss francs.

There are quite rare watches in our store - the release of some models has only 99 items. Besides the fact that they are of great value in and of themselves, the packaging or the unusual history of these watches can delight collectors of all stripes - from football players to militarists!

Back in the USSR

Earlier, the air was cleaner, and the equipment served longer. No kidding: solid Soviet watches were famous all over the world. The Poljot watch factory still produces excellent movements for some domestic brands. We remind those who collect vintage: everything new is well forgotten old. 50 years after Yuri Gagarin went into outer space, the anniversary watch Shturmanskie again accompanies you and wishes you a pleasant flight.

Limited edition of 500 copies!

Men's watch Sturmanskie 2609-1701695
Men's watch Sturmanskie 2609-1701703

By the way about space

Anyone who is seriously interested in space and dreams of surfing the universe since childhood should be aware of the existence of two very special Swiss brands.

Since 1994, Fortis has been the official supplier of instruments for the ISS (International Space Station). The wristwatches of this brand are worn by cosmonauts of all countries, including Russian ones. Fortis regularly releases limited collections dedicated to various space events. For example, a training expedition to Mars! Dedicated to all fans of the Red Planet! 2012 copies - in black or orange.

Men's Swiss watch Fortis 658.27.81LF.01 Men's Swiss watch Fortis 647.28.13SI.19

Owning a Romain Jerome watch is like owning a site on the moon. Or a whole space shuttle. And it's not just the cosmic price. Moon dust particles and the Apollo 11, Soyuz and ISS casing elements used in the manufacture of Moon-DNA watches are actually invaluable. Only a true collector can appreciate one of 1969 copies of such watches.

Men's Swiss watch Romain Jerome MB.FB.BBBB.00
Men's Swiss watch Romain Jerome RJ.M.CH.001.01

First of all - planes

The history of aviation, aircraft models, military hero pilots ... Some collect information, others - beautiful airplanes. We collect unique watches, one way or another related to professional flights.

The model called Sir Alan Cobham was dedicated to the pioneer of aviation by the American watch brand Ingersoll. During World War I, Englishman Ser Alan John Cobham was a member of the Royal Flying Corps of Great Britain, in which he flew long distances. The watch is limited to 500 pieces.

Mens watch Ingersoll IN1001CR

A limited series of Swiss Oris watches - Challenge International de Tourisme - was released in memory of the heroes of the 1932 international aviation competition in Germany. The release numbers 1932 copies. Each is placed in a gift box, the set includes a souvenir lighter with a beautiful pattern.

Men's Swiss watch Oris 733-7669-40-84-set

Let's go, beauty, go for a drive! ..

We descend from heaven to earth and immediately proceed to water procedures. The Swiss brand Frederique Constant is pleased to present the Runabout collection, which is entirely devoted to the famous sailing regattas of the 1920s. last century. The models presented here are dedicated to the collaboration of the brand with the organizers of the Concours d "Elegance (beauty contest for yachts). Each model is produced in the amount of 1,888 pieces. Includes a graceful miniature of the retro sports yacht Runabout.

Men's Swiss watches Frederique Constant FC-392RV6B6 Men's Swiss watches Frederique Constant FC-303RV6B6

Off-road rally

If you can easily name all the champions in the world of motorsport, collect models of cars, attend auto shows with pleasure or even take part in them yourself, you will surely be interested in exclusive models from Luminox, Marvin and Oris:

1000 pieces for fans of Tony Kanaan Men's Swiss watch Luminox A.1146
777 pieces for fans of Sebastian Loeb Men's Swiss watch Marvin MRV-M121.13.44.94
1970 pieces for fans of retro style and leather gloves for free!

15/12/2008

Collecting wrist watch- the occupation is very young, extremely fashionable, extremely interesting and exciting. But is it really so profitable to collect watches?

Old, new and almost new

Collecting watches is akin to collecting vintage and classic cars. Both that and another require a certain theoretical training, knowledge, patience and a lot of funds.

You need to be prepared for the fact that you won't earn quick money here, and your collection can only be in demand in good times from all points of view - and above all economic - times.

Unlike collecting paintings and art objects, numismatics and philately, the secondary watch market still does not have clear principles of pricing for one or another.

Fluctuations in "hourly stocks" cannot be tracked by daily stock reports, and there are no hour catalogs comparable in level and completeness to philatelic or numismatic ones.

But what can I say, ten years ago, the owners of vintage Rolex and Patek Philippe were perceived not as rich people, but as noble eccentrics. In the watch boutiques in the center of New York, one could easily find and, after bargaining, purchase for 4000 dollars a rare copy of a perpetual calendar in a yellow and gold case from Patek Philippe.

And the legendary Officine Panerai, produced during the war for the Italian submarine special forces, were sold on the streets of Naples in their “native” box for only $ 600.

Today, the price for them starts from 20,000 euros, and for the aforementioned Patek Philippe - from 80,000. fantastic stories- for example, with the Omega Speedmaster Professional chronograph, which, apparently, belonged to the astronaut Buzz Aldrin and was the first to visit the moon.

In the 70s, it was stolen from the Smithsonian Institution, and in 1994 it suddenly surfaced in the secondary watch market, and a middle-class businessman from California bought it for just $ 400.

As the number of watch collectors began to grow, the market for pre-quartz vintage models stabilized. And this circumstance gave rise to two other trends: collecting and active resale in the secondary market of modern and even the latest watches.

In collector's catalogs, classifications such as LNIB (Like New In Box) for used watches and a special abbreviation NIB (New In Box) for newest ones appeared. But collecting old and modern watches are completely different types of collecting, in which different rules and priorities apply.

Investments in the brand

Any collector will not hesitate to say that the leaders of the vintage watch market are Patek Philippe and, more recently, Rolex. At the same time, they almost do not overlap in consumer niches.

During the quartz boom, Rolex was the only company that did not cut its very substantial mechanical production volumes. Therefore, there are a lot of high-quality mechanical Rolex on the market, and for a long time no one gave more than $ 40,000 for them at auctions.

Rolex's secondary stock has skyrocketed when Guido Mondani sold his huge collection at Antiquorum two years ago. At the same time, he showed how to collect Rolex, which models are valued and which movements should be paid special attention to.

The Italian has helped people redefine the creativity and heritage of the most massive of luxury brands. In addition, prices for Rolex have crept upwards u1080 due to the fact that this year the company celebrates its centenary.

Usually stamps before round dates hold special auctions, look for and buy rare models from collectors for their own museum. Just look at the price dynamics of a 1997 Rolex Daytona chronograph in a steel case.

At the time of its release, it cost about a thousand dollars, in 2002 the price for it was already 5 thousand, and now they offer at least 25 thousand for this model. And the prices will only rise, experts are sure. Patek Philippe is another matter. The company is doing its best to position its watches as an investment in the future.

This image is supported by a well-thought-out advertising campaign, a sales strategy (new sophisticated models are sold only to verified customers) and an auction policy, when Patek Philippe representatives persistently bargain for their watches, raising prices.

So if you are lucky enough to own a genuine Patek Philippe in good condition, you can be absolutely calm: the price for them will rise over time. The same can be said about watches Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC (especially in recent times) and other renowned manufactories.

Even those who have recently acquired the status of a manufactory. Yes, companies like Omega or Blancpain are far from the records of Patek Philippe and even Rolex. But Blancpain's sophisticated watches have a very promising future. This is especially true of the very first models from F.

Piguet in the 90s, when the president of the company, Jean-Claude Biver, was still just "rolling" refined complications on the brand. If in 1996 the ultra-thin Villeret cost 6 thousand francs, now they can be bought for 15-20 thousand dollars.

At the same time, models with the very first in-house ultra-thin calibers will always be appreciated higher. The same can be said for the first co-axial escapement models from Omega, created by George Daniels in 1999. Now the coaxial descent is business card Omega.

Almost all the mechanisms of the brand are equipped with it, but the first working examples have already become a real history of watchmaking, and therefore will always be of interest to connoisseurs.

Investing in originality

The first Santos de Cartier, the first wrist watches Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, IWC Portuguese and Rolex Oyster Perpetual of the premiere series - all these models can certainly become the brightest stars of collections.

But only on one condition - complete authenticity. This, of course, is not about fakes. Former owners of most of these watches were unaware of their potential value after several decades and used them on a daily basis.

This means that the watch has been in the workshop more than once. But in the secondary watch market, the main rule of watch collecting applies: all details, even the smallest ones, must be authentic.

On this came across a lot of novice collectors. As you know, in watches, the dial and glass are primarily exposed, and many dealers, trying to attract the client with the ideal condition of the object, replaced them.

The same goes for mechanisms. For example, it is no secret that the Jaeger-LeCoultre manufactory has supplied its calibers to dozens of brands, including the most prestigious ones. So it sometimes happens that a historical Vacheron Constantin model has a balance-spring assembly from other watches that used the base JLC caliber.

Meanwhile, any non-original and even more "non-native" part in a mechanical watch can reduce its cost by 80 percent. The only place where you can be provided with a 100% guarantee of the authenticity of your watch is at a reputable auction.

The rules of the largest auction houses even provide for a refund with compensation for moral damage if it turns out that, through an oversight of the experts, there is an inauthentic detail in the watch you purchased. Only models that have successfully passed the examination for authenticity are included in the catalogs of respectable houses.

Investments with a guarantee

In these catalogs, you can find thousands of Breguet, Cartier, Omega, Rolex, Jaeger-LeCoultre or Audemars Piguet models, which for one reason or another do not pay attention to most collectors, and therefore they are three times cheaper than in stores.

The lots put up must be treated objectively, and not chase after sensations (sometimes inflated out of the blue) and so-called “wombs” (rare models, on which the organizers of the auction, for various reasons, plan to earn the main profit).

You can now independently evaluate the watches that are put up for auction without leaving your own chair. House Sotheby’s was the first among the auctions to open online sales, followed by Christie’s. But they just followed the path of Antiquorum, which has been practicing electronic trading for three years now. In addition, Antiquorum has an additional site www.C2Ctime.com , whose visitors have the opportunity to trade watches directly without intermediaries and commissions.

By the way, this practice was first applied by the founder of Antiquorum, Osvaldo Patrizzi, who was removed from the leadership by the new Asian owners. Now Patrizzi, together with the team that left Antiquorum after him, opened a new Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers, which also provides a lot of services at: www.patrizziauction.com.

Watchmaking connoisseurs who have participated in many auctions claim that there is only one rule to ensure a successful purchase: know exactly what attracts you to this watch. Not a name, not a PR and not a beautiful story, but an original dial, an unusual function, a rare mechanism, a "catchy" design.

Sometimes even a defect in a watch can be so interesting that it significantly increases its value. For example, the story of the largest collector of Rolex, Guido Mondani, is known, who accidentally came across a Daytona chronograph: its dial changed color in sunlight and artificial light. As a result, it was this model that Mondani sold on Antiquorum for ten times the price for which he bought it.

Investing in perspective

However, many experts began to notice that interest in authentic vintage models is gradually waning. There are several reasons for this. The sale of antique watches has recently turned not into a business for buyers, but into a piracy of the manufacturer's brand, that is, into a business for the watchmakers themselves.

For example, Antiquorum (especially recently u1074) practically did not sell watches of dead brands, refusing also to those who do not produce expensive watches or invest insufficient funds in advertising.

In recent years, you can find in catalogs that brands such as Gruhen, Whittnauer, Bulova are very few and their models have been sold for fairly modest amounts. But the relatively young brand Gerald Genta, which provided funds for its own thematic auction, is present in dozens of models.

In addition, all the most interesting specimens went through auctions and resales, which means that one cannot count on significant profits and magical discoveries. Another thing is modern clocks in the state of NIB and LNIB.

Many very young brands managed to become famous in just a year or two thanks to the invention of hitherto unknown innovations and complications.

It is easier to find watches that are interesting from an investment point of view in the “ore” of beginners than a historical “breed” that has been processed thousands of times. In addition, modern examples of complex mechanics and unusual design seem to most of us to be a much more understandable and close source of investment.

Manufacturers have recognized this trend for a long time, therefore, they specially release watches aimed at collectors. For the latter, specialized publications and websites are organized, exhibitions, salons, presentations are arranged for them, they are even invited to private dinner parties with the presidents of great brands (the latest marketing novelty).

In general, everything is aimed at drawing attention to the watch as a profitable financial investment. Another question: how profitable is this investment?

Interest investments

Any Belarusian can afford Rolex watches, Armani jeans and Gucci glasses. Numerous fakes, which sellers prefer to worthily call replicas, are a logical continuation of many aspects of our life: not to be, but to seem. Our today's hero Sergei talks about his collection and sincerely believes that wearing a fake watch is like not respecting yourself.

Currently, Sergey, who is also a forum member of farmer +, works as one of the leaders of a large company. His watch collection numbers 70-80 pieces. Due to the specifics, it is not cheap, of course, but there are no copies at exorbitant prices in it either.

- My first watch appeared in the eighties, when I was studying at the Leningrad Institute. It was Flight. Then my father gave me a fashionable watch “Electronics” from the “Glasnost and Perestroika” collection. Until now, they occupy a worthy place in the collection. Recently offered interesting exchange options.

At that time every man had a watch. Other gadgets have not yet been invented, but it was somehow necessary to keep track of the time. Swiss Made was then available to units. The Japanese Orient was a more massive reference point for fashion and coolness.

- About 20 years ago, I spent a lot of time at work in the UAE. Once I stood, I remember, in front of the window of a watch boutique and dreamed of Tissot,- Sergey recalls.

But that didn’t happen to Tissot in his life. Back in Belarus, Sergei bought Casio. And then, as an enthusiastic person, he contracted that very “clockwork sickness”.

- When one desire arose - to understand watches, the other disappeared - to run along with the crowd and the mass market.

Later, our hero expectedly had Orient. But the first "serious" watch was Titoni CosmoKing.

- Solid Swiss manufacturer. I just liked them, and now I understand why. This is a homage - a watch inspired by Rolex. Not copying, but styling. They cost me about $ 850 at a discount. I was sure that I would not have a more expensive watch.

But interest did not fade away. At some point, I wanted to collect watches from different countries by geography. Now I understand that this idea is specifically contrived. The design assortment is huge, the engineering one is not at all. Watch mechanisms are made in Switzerland, Japan, China, India, Russia. Paradoxically, Belarus can also be included in this series. Luch is still actually a manufactory, since it can produce everything on its own. Does little, but can.

Most of the watches today are made in China - if not the mechanisms, then their components, cases, hands, dials. The problem even touched the famous Swiss Made brand. Until recently, it could be installed if the mechanism and at least 50% of the parts were made in Switzerland. But all the same, the manufacturers went for gimmicks. Since January 1 of this year, the share of local production has increased to 60%. Some consider this measure to be insufficient. For example, the manufacturer H. Moser & Cie, with the slogan “No to Swiss Made, yes to Swissness”, removed the Swiss Made brand from their watches. Even earlier, Patek Philippe took this step, believing that its own brand already carries more value.

In general, a geographical collection is such a kind self-deception.

One of the parts of Sergei's collection is Soviet vintage.

- I pay tribute to that period. In the sixties and seventies, the Soviet chasprom competed with the Swiss.

"Komandirskie" is one of the most famous and authoritative watches of the Soviet period.

Curve and oblique "Glory". Asymmetry is not a marriage, but a good design solution.

- One of the best designs is the thin "Ray" on the 2209 movement. This watch is still respected in the world. I bought some of them, oddly enough, on eBay.

This watch "Slava" is very dear to me: my grandfather had the same one. Very harmonious design. I specifically searched for similar ones for a long time and eventually found them in Hungary.

You may still see ads offering to buy a watch from the USSR era. It is unlikely that these are connoisseurs of retro - more likely ordinary buyers of precious metals: watches were covered with gilding.

- Is it profitable to sell? Of course, they certainly have some value. You can get several tens of dollars, for a rare model - several hundred, but this is much less common. These are more expensive - these are new old "Slava", new old stock, that is, they have never been used. Such collectors value more than used ones.

Several models and mechanisms have survived the country successfully. Here is an interesting Russian mechanical alarm clock. Inside is the "Flight" mechanism, produced back in the eighties. The alarm clock works in vibration mode for a few seconds.

- During the World Ice Hockey Championship I bought Luch. All IIHF partnerships are owned by Tissot, so this is an unofficial version. But still, they are frankly hockey: hockey player, dividing the hour scale into three periods. Inside - Japanese Miyota movement. The result is a solid model. I constantly advise my overseas colleagues on the American watch forum where to buy it. In general, "Luch", "Vostok", "Flight", like other Soviet brands, are well known in the American watchmaking environment.

- We have on the forum thread good rule: if a person is looking for advice, then he needs help. And the question is usually asked like this: you need a watch for every day from a reputable manufacturer, not a well-worn brand, with a twist for 400-600 rubles. I recommend considering a Japanese watch with such a budget,- says Sergey and shows that he came with Citizen Eco-Drive Super Titanium on his hand. - This is one of my favorite models, and about this I would recommend to half of interested beginners. Instead of a battery (I appreciate the mechanics, but I am aware that quartz is enough for many amateurs) there is a battery in it, which is charged by light. It will last up to 10 years. The technology is called Eco-Drive. Seiko has a similar energy-saving technology called Kinetic - the battery is charged by movement. Moreover, such watches are relatively affordable and made of a very pleasant and light alloy.

Sergey's set (this is a regularly used part of the collection) consists of a dozen models.

- Something is chosen according to the mood, something - according to the rules of good taste. For example, it is customary to wear a small-diameter three-pointer with a suit without complications. For example, this one. An interesting watch, although many may doubt the manufacturer - Indian HMT.

- James Bond wore under a suit of Omega, the size of which is not small at all ...

- Dmitry Medvedev wears a Casio G-Shock under his jacket. This is fine. The style is blurred. I'm talking about canon rules. For example, Alexander Lukashenko's watches - Patek Philippe Calatrava - fall into the classic style.

There is an intermediate option between classic and casual. I call such a "costume diver" - it's a classic model plus some features. For example, Eterna KonTiki. This iconic model is dedicated to the famous trip of Thor Heyerdahl on the Kon-Tiki raft in 1947. She has already gone through several reprints, but is still popular, including on our forum. However, if there are those who want to call the model pure casual, I will not argue.

Daily hours are suitable for 90% of situations and going out.

Along with large companies, there are micro-brands. Watch enthusiasts accumulate ideas, raise money through crowdfunding, buy mechanisms, order cases and parts. By analogy, these can be called craft watches. The production is small at first, but over time it can grow into big company... This path, for example, was taken by the British Christopher Ward.

- The Canadian company Cobra De Caliber is one such microbrand. Their watches do not have insane authority in the watchmaking world, but they have a memorable design and interesting functionality: a rotating inner bezel that allows you to measure time intervals. As a result, the entire circulation of these watches has already been sold out, a real hunt has begun for them on specialized watch forums.

- A wristwatch today is not a source of information. It is an accessory and a delight for engineering genius. I cannot at first glance determine the character of the interlocutor, but his watch will help me. For example, there are two people in front of you: one with Tissot, the other with Hamilton. These are brands that are about the same in value, but only the second betrays a desire to find one's own, an interest in a topic, an individuality.

All stories about female hunters who can immediately determine the state of a man in a club by his watch are journalistic fictions. Of course, there are experts, but most of them are not. In addition, there are a huge number of replicas that are difficult to distinguish from the original, even at a second glance. And there are those that cannot be identified without an autopsy. The level of forgeries is high, although things usually come down to us that do not stand up to scrutiny.

From my point of view, a replica is always bad in everything. Passers-by may not recognize her, but you yourself know the truth. What for? It is dishonest and even dishonest in relation to oneself. Better to prefer a solid Seiko or an honest "Ray".

The art of making watches in any era was considered a prerogative the best masters their business. The names of the famous workshops are known to almost everyone who is guided in time not only by the Sun and the stars. Some of the pieces, recognized as true masterpieces, are a brilliant and harmonious combination of precision mechanics and jewelery. The watches were designed and manufactured individually, to order, the craftsmen practiced exclusively manual, but at the same time surprisingly accurate assembly, which guaranteed durability.

If your "old clock" is still running, and you prefer to find out the exact time from your smartphone, then you can think about how to get rid of the absolutely chic and stylish, but, alas, completely useless and unnecessary thing to you most quickly and profitably. The purchase of antique watches is carried out after k and checking them by a master watchmaker, the seller in in this case does not incur any cost to verify them. Buying an antique watch is a kind of standard of success among collectors, but not every experienced watchmaker can professionally evaluate an antique watch, only a master of old mechanisms will do. Antique watches have always been in great demand at auctions and in the antique market. Rare watches made in well-known workshops serve for a very long time, and with careful handling they count down the time spent on Earth for several generations without significant wear and tear.

Which clocks are considered antique?

• • • Exclusive hand-made items. In this case, the popularity of the watch brand is also taken into account. It is possible to sell rare watches that fall under this category quite quickly and profitably afterwards.
    • Antique clock in good condition. Evaluated not only appearance and general safety, but also the deterioration of the mechanism, as well as the accuracy of the movement. Selling antique watches dating back to the 19th century and older can now be very expensive, but only after more careful consideration. However, the approximate cost can also be found from the photo using.
    • A collection watch that made a revolution, or any other revolution in watchmaking that suits you. A watch is not a bicycle; it can be reinvented forever. Temples were rebuilt, counting the minutes with the help of the Sun and the Moon, mechanisms became more complicated, cuckoos evolved. Some of the surviving watches were the first in their category - and they are the real value for collectors. Collectible watches can now be sold quickly and expensively, provided they are well preserved and authentic.
    • Names, awards and other cult watches associated with any historical or cultural events, famous owners and watchmakers. Everything is clear here - and among the watches there are real “stars” who were participants in significant events, who starred in famous films and adorned the wrists of (not necessarily) famous people. It is interesting that such watches are hunted not only by professional collectors, but also by the most loyal fans of actors, musicians, football players and politicians, seeking to get a piece of the idol in their full ownership.

How and where to appreciate antique watches?

When a wristwatch becomes more than the sum of its specifications; when their value in the eyes of the owner exceeds their face value; when the pleasure of owning a watch is more important than the fact of its direct use, then a person becomes a collector.

Men's mechanical wristwatch Union Glashütte / SA. Viro Date D0114071603101

It happens that a collection begins to form spontaneously, on occasion, its first copies are purchased as needed or received as a gift. But regardless of the number of watches already available, a person becomes a collector when he begins to consciously and in advance plan the next purchase, having decided on the main thing - which specific models will become the subject of his interest.

Sometimes the point of reference, the day of the awakening of the collector's vein, can be considered the moment when a person understands - “I will definitely take the mechanics for the next watch”. This means that it was the watch with its essence that interested him, and not just as an accessory or decoration. Collecting them, of course, is also fun and exciting, but that's a slightly different story.

If you already have a desire to become a collector, but you still don't know which way to go, you can choose one of three main options.

Women's Swiss wrist watch TAG Heuer Aquaracer WAY1313.BA0915

Watches for different occasions

The first steps in collecting are easy to do - a few different watches for different occasions will be a good start. This is the simplest, most straightforward and practical approach. The industry creates wristwatches both for different operating conditions and for different options dress code. "Suit suits", sports, casual for every day, "aviators", watches for diving, smart watch and so on. Having the right watch for every situation is a worthy goal.

Men's Swiss mechanical wrist watch Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Double Retrograde MP6578-SS001-131-1

Thematic collection

The concept of "theme" here can be interpreted in different ways, and first of all it depends on the hobbies and preferences of the person. An interesting collection can be formed from watches with different materials from simple to exotic (steel, titanium, marble, wood, ceramics, precious metals, meteorites, etc.), pieces dedicated to heroes in any field (musicians, athletes, etc.). etc.), "space", "racing" and "art" models, military-style watches, jewelry, interesting and unusual skeletons and so on. Someone is hunting for rare watches from different eras, someone is trying to collect all the outstanding pieces with a tourbillon, someone has become a fan of the watchmaker and wants to collect all of his author's products.

Commitment to the brand

Buying absolutely all the watches of your favorite brand, most likely, does not make sense (it does not justify the costs and is simply not interesting), but it is nice to be proud of owning all limited models, rare or released in a certain period, for example, before World War II and honorable.

Buyers of such watches quickly make acquaintances with each other, and often with representatives of the brand, and enjoy not only their collection, but also communication with like-minded people.

Women's Swiss wrist watch Maurice Lacroix Eliros Date EL1094-SS002-410-1

Value and durability

In collecting, cost is not a determining factor, quality is more important. If, in the event of some force majeure and urgent need, you can still buy cheap Chinese watches, then for the collection it is absolutely pointless.

Men's Swiss mechanical wrist watch Frederique Constant Runabout Automatic FC-303RMS6B6

Collecting is an occupation, if not for life, then for many years for sure. It makes sense to buy watches of reliable - not necessarily expensive and luxury - brands, being confident in the quality of materials and mechanisms, having received a warranty certificate and being able to contact an authorized service center.

At the same time, you can become a collector with almost any budget. Many brands today create interesting models at a very affordable price. The value of the collection is determined by the number and variety of models, their rarity, the degree of preservation (if we are talking about old watches) of the case and movement. The cost of a good collection often exceeds the aggregate price of its copies, and it itself becomes a family property.