The Allure and Investment Opportunity in Vintage Watches as Good Investment Opportunities
Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, TAG Heuer, Jaeger-Le Coultre, Tudor, Longines, and the list goes on and on. Vintage watches, some want them because they look "cool." While others, because of their aesthetic values. But all the same, vintage watches have some really good investment values. This is why many people who are in the know, purchase as many vintage watches as they can find. The rarer, the better. The more reputable the brand, the better. Watches have been part of human society for a very long time now. Many watches have even withstood the test of time while having "different stories" to tell. This is the idea behind vintage watches.
What Exactly are Vintage Watches?
Well, remember how I said that some watches have a lot of "stories to tell," I was referring to vintage watches. Technically, a vintage watch is any watch of a reputable brand (either now or then) that should be at least 50 years old but not as old as 100 years. Nevertheless, due to the fact that the 50-year requirement is quite demanding, those as old as 25 could also be classified under vintage or antique watches. But the older, the more valuable. Some would even say that as long as the watch is from before 1980, then it can be classified as a vintage watch.
As for "stories to tell" that I mentioned earlier. Most if not all, vintage watches carry the mark of time on them. They will most likely have patina, from decades of use. Many of these watches were around when some really interesting milestones were created in human history. This is one reason while enthusiasts value them. These antique pieces have a way of connecting with certain portions of your past, belonging to an already forgotten era. People are sentimental that way.
Vintage Watches as Investment Opportunities
Some people do not yet realize just how much in terms of monetary value and historical or sentimental value is sitting in their drawers as family heirlooms. The age of the watch can decide just how much potential or opportunities can be gotten from a piece. Nevertheless, it is not just about the age of the piece, but age is a major factor. Other factors include:
- Rarity: The piece must have had a limited production time. So it should be a very rare find in the modern world. In fact, the rarer, the better.
- Materials: The materials used in the production of the piece need to be unique in their own right and of high quality.
- Condition of the watch
- The brand
So, a watch that is worth investing in at all should, first of all, meet these three criteria. Must be old (25 years and more), must be rare and must be made of unique materials.
Speaking of the uniqueness of the material used in making the piece, precious metals are not the only ones that satisfy this criterion. Watches made from precious metals might not even be the most expensive antiquities. This criteria simply means that the material used in the watch must be scarce or rare enough. For instance, pieces from the late '80s would be considered quite rare if they were made from platinum or some variation of gold.
Additionally, the condition of the piece is very vital. This does not mean that if you have a very old piece, you should refurbish it to increase its financial value. Au contraire, you are simply diminishing the value. In recent times, people (collectors) are after the watch in its original form. Wear and tear, faded patina, luminous paint on the dial, everything.
The final factor regarding how much investment potential a watch has is the brand of the watch. In as much as there are some very unique brands that are favored by a few people, watches (just like jewelry) have certain generally favored brands. A number of these favored brands were mentioned at the very start of this article. These brands are those whose values are sure to go up (depending on rarity) in the near future. So, if you have a piece made from any of these reputable brands, based on the brand alone, it would definitely have some financial value.
Vital Reminders When Buying a Piece
So, with the above, you should have a basic knowledge of what and what would be required before a watch would be able to join the ranks of financially valuable antiquities. So if you should decide to buy watches, then there are a few reminders that you have to keep in mind in order not to be cheated off your money.
The first is obviously to do your homework on the piece. Find out everything possible about the piece. If it has a serial number, even better. The brand of the watch, the model, where it came from, every single thing. You might unearth a very interesting piece of information about it that could increase its financial value significantly. Some have even taken an extra step and gone to the manufacturers to get information about the piece they are interested in.
The second reminder is that when buying, make sure that the watch has not been tampered with. As you probably know by now, the patina on the watch is a selling factor to collectors. The parts should not have been changed or remodeled. There would be no real need to call it vintage if these unique traces of time on it have been wiped out.
The last but not least reminder, you should patronize trusted and reputable sellers. Although at times you could discover rare gems elsewhere, it would be wise to buy from sellers whose reputations are trustworthy. This reminder is especially useful for new buyers or beginners.
Why You Should Invest in Watches
One of the most important reasons why you should invest in antique pieces is that as long as the piece is original, someone wants it. The antiquities market is rapidly growing, and various collectors have various brands of interest. An authentic piece which may seem to be of no value could be irreplaceable to a collector somewhere.
Another reason is that the market is wide and varied for sellers of authentic pieces. It is true that there are some brands whose worth exceed others. This does not mean that the other brands are worthless. Any vintage watch that is authentic definitely has financial value and can be sold. As a matter of fact, every once in a while, it is not too surprising to run into a piece with significant historical value. The more significant its history, the more it will be worth.
Authentic vintage watches are being sold for hundreds to thousands of dollars. The investment potential of vintage watches is not to be underestimated. If you find yourself in a position where you can be part of this market, do not let anything stop you. Just keep our reminders in mind as you look for trusted sellers or buyers to start off with.
Blue ribbon rarities buy and sell authentic vintage watches. Any brand of value can be sold, and high-quality antique or vintage watches can be bought. Jewelry deals can also be made.