28 Comments

thanks for the comments, i realize i forgot a "million" in the swiss watch export figures (has been updated in this version). The Swiss definitely exported more than a few thousand watches last year 😅

Expand full comment

Yes, please keep these coming as frequently as you can! One reaction to your mention of Wanna Buy a Watch, though. On occasion the listings of vintage watches offer inaccurate details. The date of a Gallet chronograph being the most recent example.

Expand full comment

thanks jimmy – and fair enough, something most dealers could be better at, in my opinion.

Expand full comment

Haven’t been keeping up with the watch industry but was pleasantly surprised to find your email. Appreciate the work you do, Tony. You truly are carrying the torch that Joe T ignited.

Expand full comment

Who is Joe T?

Expand full comment

thompson

Expand full comment

Love having regular Rescapement back! Thanks for putting in all the hard work Tony 🙏

Expand full comment

thanks for reading!

Expand full comment

Completely agreed on your take on the micros. Sure in house is generally non existent but isn’t that like the Swiss watch industry in the 80s when most everything was eta anyway? So much creativity, fun, dare I say economic value these days in the micro space. Big fan even as a collector of more ‘prestigious’ brands.

Expand full comment

totally – and in-house is mostly overrated anyway!

Expand full comment

Hey Tony - Give they make up about 1% of secondary market inventory BUT make up over 60% of secondary trades by volume (according the watch charts) I wonder if the big three (Rolex/Patek/AP) have been so thoroughly 'financialized', that "institutional investors" like watchbox, watchfinder etc basically set their secondary prices and 'the investment mindset' is baked in for those three brands now.

Expand full comment

Please keep writing Tony! Your writing resonates with me. Along with Flum and Chris Hall. You’re all we old timers have left. I’m so tired of flexes and those with limited knowledge. And less English skills

Expand full comment

i do it for the old timers, larry! appreciate the kind words.

Expand full comment

One of my favorite articles you've written. Enjoyed this one very much!

Expand full comment

whoa too kind, my old articles need to step it up!

Expand full comment

Very worth the time to read - very informative. Thanks, Tony.

Expand full comment

Thank you, Tony. Really enjoy your articles

Expand full comment

Oof that A&F alarm... Beauty.

Expand full comment

some of my favorites ⏰

Expand full comment

Great to see you continuing to write independently, Tony. Also enjoying your new section of vintage picks!

Expand full comment

noted! 🙌

Expand full comment

Fantastic read as always Tony. I got into cars (as a kid already!) before i was into watches (as an, er, adult) and the parallels are striking indeed. Thank you for entertaining us!

Expand full comment

i've resisted the car bug for years at this point

Expand full comment

Thanks Tony for reviving Rescapement, so pleased it’s back, always a great read!

Expand full comment

🐢🐢🐢

Expand full comment

for the first *6* months of '23 and '24 they made ~10B CHF, which is about half of what they made in *12* months for the previous 10 years. Seems to add up to me. Is there a problem?

https://www.fhs.swiss/scripts/getstat.php?file=a_240106_a.pdf

Expand full comment

right, i was mostly comparing 2014 to 2023, where the drop-off is drastic. Exports have been basically flat the past year or so (likely will end up down slightly based on month-to-month comparisons).

Expand full comment

its just odd to see a chart that looks like there is a big drop off, but when you read the fine print, they are comparing 12 months to 6 months. So yeah, the 6 month number is lower.

Expand full comment