Tony - I’d be grateful for your guidance on alarm clocks.
Now into my 40’s, I’ve begun a habit that has surprisingly changed the quality of my life - that is, powering off my mobile phone in the evening, keeping it in another room while I sleep, and only turning it back on after writing for 2 hours in the morning. That means I wake up at 4:30a and try not to disturb my wife.
I’ve been using an old Braun travel clock on my bedside. It’s fine enough but it’s on its last legs. I’d like to keep it analogue and don’t care to shell out major $$ (I’ll save that for my wrist). So… can you help guide me towards some smartly designed, reliable options? Any heritage options? Or is Amazon the best source. Thanks.
I use a Braun travel alarm too, and for the same reasons :)
I've just been introduced to a company called Nanu and their Arc Alarm, it's an alarm clock with a fully mechanic chime. I need to explore more but it's a cool idea: https://nanuelectrics.com/products/arc-alarm-clock
Do you think it's a right of passage in the watch collecting/hobby world to reach a point where you "buy watches you like, not what the community says you should like"? I say that reflecting on my own journey of watches I fell in, and then out of, love with and getting to a stage now where I'm very happy with my collection or what I want to add to it/remove from it even if it runs counter to mainstream notions.
Did you have that stage where you just said "f-- it if no one else likes this watch, I do." And if so, what watch is that?
(For me, there are two:
-IWC Timezoner Chronograph. It's big & bulky 46mm steel case and I get a lot of "what is that?!" but the matte dial and timezones on bezel just make me happy.
-Rolex Turn-o-graph Thunderbird. 36mm, rotating bezel, blue dial, red second hand and a jubilee bracelet that really make no sense being together, and yet....magic)
Ha yes, this is an astute observation that likely applies not just to watches, but to life. It’s adjacent to the “subtle art of not giving a f*ck,” and also can be incredibly difficult to not care what people think of you or your watches. Because even if you tell yourself you don’t, that’s not always true :)
Tony - it feels like the whole industry went from enthusiasts, to having money, to having access to brands and now like the art world is dominated by a very few with access to “new independents” and collectively decide to buy these products that then no one else can - hype them - and potentially bid themselves on a piece in secondary market to set crazy price expectations for their collective purchases.
Am I being too cynical? Or have we moved that way?
Yes and no. This has happened to every enthusiast space. It becomes more popular. Brands, and money, follow. Enthusiast space loses some of its smallness and "authenticity." This was hypercharged by the pandemic, of course. The bubble pops.
Some of the "very few" you mention that have access also have a genuine love and passion for the indies they support. They've worked for years/decades to get that access. They've supported many more indies that haven't made it than those who have.
But yea, it can also feel like they're "picking stocks." And then using whatever influencer they have to pump and dump. This can especially be the case with the fast followers – the O'Learys of the world – who often introduce this investing verbiage I don't like.
These hot independents are also aware of it. You can't get a Brette, Rexhepi, etc. allocation without visiting these guys in Geneva so they can "vet" you. They want real collectors who understand their watches and won't sell. That's a hard problem for them to solve – even the big brands get it wrong!
While I recognize the problem you identify, I'm not quite as cynical.
How was the office day to day at Hodinkee like? Always some amazing watches laying around? PS: once the group chat picks up steam, would love for it to be on WhatsApp. Cheers from 🇧🇷
Yes, we'll launch a slack/whatsapp in the next few months.
I worked from home in Chicago but travelled a good bit to NY or elsewhere. Especially while Hodinkee still sold vintage there would always be good vintage watches around in NYC. After the C&C acquisition, much of the new/pre-owned business flowed through Atlanta. Theres also always a safe with some cool watches buried in it. I was often visiting NYC during a busy week (e.g. during Windup NY), and the fun part was the people that would come through the office. Enthusiasts, microbrand owners, folks from larger brands – and the watches they'd bring with them.
Since the pandemic though, it's a bit like most offices. People are remote/hybrid/etc. (like me), and some days at the office are slow. And that's fine, we all travel a lot for the job.
Tony. Any possibilities of meetups in the Chicagoland area? I have several people interested in starting a vintage watch group and obviously your experience and expertise would be of great value.
It's hard not to feel a sense of "group think" when reading various watch outlets coverage of watches. For example, there seems to be unanimous love for watches such as the B/1 by Toledano & Chan or the Berneron Mirage. In fact, I don't think I've seen anyone be critical of either piece. Is the silence more telling than a critical review of such watches? Or do you choose to pass on watches you would rather not write positive things about because it could harm the reptuation for a smaller/independent company?
I'm guilt of the latter (Berneron), though Phil knows my thoughts on the former :) This is kind of *the* question when it comes to watch media, isn't it?
When the first B/1 came out I think I was in the minority in not immediately loving it -- many editors/colleagues liked it (Hodinkee also happened to have an allocation to sell in the Shop at the time...). There's a line commonly thrown around by trade press that "if we don't like it we just don't write about it..." Fair enough but not sure that works today, at least not all the time.
While I think that watches are a hobby/escapism for many and readers really do just want to good stories about cool watches, I think it's wise to pick some spots to criticize when a product or release warrants it. At least, that's what I hope to do here.
I know that when I was first getting into watches as a hobby (escape...) I valued the critical commentary from seasoned journalists, because it helped me learn about watch design, form & function. If every watch covered is great & amazing it wouldn't be fair to assume that all watches not mentioned are then...not. As prices for watches continue to rise and customers/fans become more discerning, it be a great value to the community to show what are things to be critical or at the least, be mindful to pay attention to when looking at watches. I imagine it might draw the ire of the companies you (the collective watch media "you") cover, but it would also give more legitimacy when "you" wax poetic about a great watch.
For the Q&A: I for one would like a detailed article on the perils of buying vintage watches--particularly Rolex--at auction. I would like to expand my collection in this area, but, frankly, every time perezscope comes out with a new article, I get scared. Fake watches, frankenwatches and other dubious pieces seem to predominate. It seems like the auction houses are at the best completely indifferent to accurately disclosing the status of their lots, if not actively engaged in deceptive practices.
It is unsettling that the watch media completely ignores this topic. At least when buying fine art, there is a wide network of professional scholars and specialists that produce independent research. But for watches, we seem to be on our own.
A personal anecdote: I was in Dubai on business in October 2024 and Monaco Legends happened to be in town that week with previews for its upcoming auction. They showed me a number of rare and unusual watches, including what they said was one of only 5 Rolex Day Dates ever made in steel and a rare Daytona John Player Special. Mr. P (the son) went on and on about how rare and important these watches were. A few days later, perezscope came out with an article showing with detailed evidence that both watches were "nothing but a made-up Frankenstein watches." Those lots sold a few weeks later for £1.2 million and £1.0 million respectively.
Yes, I'll cover auctions more and try to do so in a balanced and nuanced way. It's a complicated and sometimes scary world. They sell many good watches and a few bad ones.
How are we going to deal with vintage watches as “unpolished” moving forward when laser welding is impossible to distinguish and perfect lines are so important? (Some even repairing the watch to perfection, then tumbling it.)
Or - when are we going to get over the fact that some old watches have been restored? Seems people have accepted that with Patek dials. Are cases to follow?
Restoration, THE topic in vintage watches. People often compare to car collecting, which I don't know much about but where it sounds like restoration is expected and therefore transparently disclosed.
On one hand, a watch with its original beauty, lines, etc., should command a premium. On the other, valuing as such creates incentive for dealers to turn something that's not original into something that at least looks like that and take that premium as theirs.
Patek dials are a good example and perhaps where things need to go. People are starting to understand the different between original dial, a "good" or "faithful" restoration, and bad restoration, and valuing accordingly. The work of expert restorers of anything is almost like an art form and should be valued as such!
Judah. We need to talk. That time is now. Every piece of tritium is decaying and all of those hands will need to be relumed. Today's patina will be sitting in the balance wheel pivot next year grinding up the inside the watch.
We should value expert restoration. Unpolished and all original should be the pinnacle but there should also be vibrant market where expertly restored watches have an agreed upon value, grading system, etc. All we have now is 1) unpolished all original and 2) garbage and shame. Nothing in between. That is silly and pushes people to hide laser welding, hand reluming, etc. underground.
Yes. Hardly any mfgr will deal with a watch with tritium hands. I’ve given up mailing mine to the usual suspects any longer, even though they do good work. I now deal with specialists who use an inert material that mimics tritium Or someone who’ll stabilize the hands.
I want every watch I own to be at the original specs. And that occasionally means restoration, like repairing a watch with thread pitting on the case. And don’t get why this is bad.
“This house has the original asbestos. You’ll not find another with more cancer giving properties in the neighborhood. Payment by Crypto +1%.”
Tony, thanks for all the quality content you create and curate for the community. Do you have any advice for enthusiasts who are transitioning from a traditional job to a professional career in the industry?
Also asked below, so I'll do a full post on this in the future. First, make contacts and learn from them. Dealers, retailers, press, media. Then, find places where they might need help and the skills you have (or could develop) that can add value.
I think there are a lot of good businesses to be built in watches. But the enthusiast community is also incredibly hard to crack and skeptical of "outsiders" (or those they perceive as such).
It's a slow grind, and anyone that looks like an overnight success certainly was not. And while it seems like watches have come online a lot, especially over the past few years, so much of what happens in the industry is still offline, in person. You need to get out and meet people.
Hi Tony, thanks for the newsletter, really enjoy it. I have a practical question: do you have any sense of how Rolex ADs (like Bucherer) manage their wish lists for popular watches (GMT Master II, etc.)? Do they all have their own internal data management systems? Do you know if individual sellers within an AD have a say in the attribution? It could be interesting someday to try and interview former AD staff to get a better sense of how this attribution system works (given the frustrations it generates to potential customers). Tx
Just purchased my first vintage watch (59 Omega Constellation). Wondering if there are other brands to consider with a limited budget (2-3k). Really prefer to stay away from internet auctions as well.
You're right on the edge of a vintage steel Datejust. You can also look at vintage Tudor, Movado, Mido, Longines (all time only); Seiko chronographs; vintage skin divers from a number of brands. If you like the Constellation you can also find great Omega Seamasters in that price.
I’ve read this study made by swatch group a while back that keeps bopping around in my mind: collectors have a limit of watches they own before they start going 1 in—1 out. The average seems to be around 8-30 watches. (Huge window there but seems kinda right)
I imagine it becomes something about
1: not being able to wear them all frequently enough to grow an attachment. And “attachment by regular use” I feel is not discussed enough and might a big key why watches have this wild hobby. Where objects that sit on a desk do not.
2: being overwhelmed by servicing issues.
Have you had conversations with enthusiasts and collectors who talk about this?
Interesting and this study is probably onto something. Law of diminishing returns and all that. I buy watches to be worn - it’s one of the reasons I don’t consider myself a real collector - and find that once I get above 10-12, I start to lose track and forget about watches for months. When I remember them I’ve often “fallen out of love.” I know I’m not alone in this feeling.
And yes, servicing is a real issue that can ruin enjoyment.
Hi Tony. I’m a big fan of gold watches and have a question I’ve seen mixed opinions about: do gold watches need gold spring bars? Some argue that stainless steel spring bars can erode or damage the lug holes over time, while others say they’ve used steel spring bars on gold watches for decades without issues. When I asked Vacheron’s customer service team, they mentioned they use steel spring bars coated in Nivaflex. With so much conflicting advice, I’m curious—are gold spring bars really necessary, or is it more of a nice-to-have?
I've assumed this as true, that steel spring bars will really /deform damage lug holes over time, and the backs of lugs when changing straps. Plus, just feels like brands are cheaping out if not providing gold spring bars. Let me look into this and see if I can find anyone (besides a brand talking their own book) that believes the contrary though.
Hi Tony. Happy to be a paid subscriber and wishing you all the best in your endeavors! Sorry I missed you at the Miami Beach show but I also saw many Patek 96's. I was curious as to which dealer you thought had the best example and why. Thanks.
Sorry I missed you! The steel 96 with Breguet numerals that Nouveau wears is quite nice. Good condition, long PP signature, and a rare variant. Have a pic of it in the photo report!
For anything say < ~$1,000, I'll use forums, social media, and a few private channels I'm in. Anything about $10k I'll try to find the right dealer to sell it through. In between I'll use a combo of those, depending on how niche or rare the watch is – or perhaps risk an eBay auction, depending on how much and how quickly I want to sell.
Tony - I’d be grateful for your guidance on alarm clocks.
Now into my 40’s, I’ve begun a habit that has surprisingly changed the quality of my life - that is, powering off my mobile phone in the evening, keeping it in another room while I sleep, and only turning it back on after writing for 2 hours in the morning. That means I wake up at 4:30a and try not to disturb my wife.
I’ve been using an old Braun travel clock on my bedside. It’s fine enough but it’s on its last legs. I’d like to keep it analogue and don’t care to shell out major $$ (I’ll save that for my wrist). So… can you help guide me towards some smartly designed, reliable options? Any heritage options? Or is Amazon the best source. Thanks.
I use a Braun travel alarm too, and for the same reasons :)
I've just been introduced to a company called Nanu and their Arc Alarm, it's an alarm clock with a fully mechanic chime. I need to explore more but it's a cool idea: https://nanuelectrics.com/products/arc-alarm-clock
p.s. hope you're staying safe in L.A.
Do you think it's a right of passage in the watch collecting/hobby world to reach a point where you "buy watches you like, not what the community says you should like"? I say that reflecting on my own journey of watches I fell in, and then out of, love with and getting to a stage now where I'm very happy with my collection or what I want to add to it/remove from it even if it runs counter to mainstream notions.
Did you have that stage where you just said "f-- it if no one else likes this watch, I do." And if so, what watch is that?
(For me, there are two:
-IWC Timezoner Chronograph. It's big & bulky 46mm steel case and I get a lot of "what is that?!" but the matte dial and timezones on bezel just make me happy.
-Rolex Turn-o-graph Thunderbird. 36mm, rotating bezel, blue dial, red second hand and a jubilee bracelet that really make no sense being together, and yet....magic)
Ha yes, this is an astute observation that likely applies not just to watches, but to life. It’s adjacent to the “subtle art of not giving a f*ck,” and also can be incredibly difficult to not care what people think of you or your watches. Because even if you tell yourself you don’t, that’s not always true :)
The turn-o-graph is such a great twist on probably the most universally appreciated watch —the DJ.👏✨love it
Tony - it feels like the whole industry went from enthusiasts, to having money, to having access to brands and now like the art world is dominated by a very few with access to “new independents” and collectively decide to buy these products that then no one else can - hype them - and potentially bid themselves on a piece in secondary market to set crazy price expectations for their collective purchases.
Am I being too cynical? Or have we moved that way?
Would love to know your thoughts on this. Thx
Yes and no. This has happened to every enthusiast space. It becomes more popular. Brands, and money, follow. Enthusiast space loses some of its smallness and "authenticity." This was hypercharged by the pandemic, of course. The bubble pops.
Some of the "very few" you mention that have access also have a genuine love and passion for the indies they support. They've worked for years/decades to get that access. They've supported many more indies that haven't made it than those who have.
But yea, it can also feel like they're "picking stocks." And then using whatever influencer they have to pump and dump. This can especially be the case with the fast followers – the O'Learys of the world – who often introduce this investing verbiage I don't like.
These hot independents are also aware of it. You can't get a Brette, Rexhepi, etc. allocation without visiting these guys in Geneva so they can "vet" you. They want real collectors who understand their watches and won't sell. That's a hard problem for them to solve – even the big brands get it wrong!
While I recognize the problem you identify, I'm not quite as cynical.
Would love to see a post on “Price does not always equal value..”
How was the office day to day at Hodinkee like? Always some amazing watches laying around? PS: once the group chat picks up steam, would love for it to be on WhatsApp. Cheers from 🇧🇷
Yes, we'll launch a slack/whatsapp in the next few months.
I worked from home in Chicago but travelled a good bit to NY or elsewhere. Especially while Hodinkee still sold vintage there would always be good vintage watches around in NYC. After the C&C acquisition, much of the new/pre-owned business flowed through Atlanta. Theres also always a safe with some cool watches buried in it. I was often visiting NYC during a busy week (e.g. during Windup NY), and the fun part was the people that would come through the office. Enthusiasts, microbrand owners, folks from larger brands – and the watches they'd bring with them.
Since the pandemic though, it's a bit like most offices. People are remote/hybrid/etc. (like me), and some days at the office are slow. And that's fine, we all travel a lot for the job.
Tony. Any possibilities of meetups in the Chicagoland area? I have several people interested in starting a vintage watch group and obviously your experience and expertise would be of great value.
i'll find your email and we can chat separately. i organized a few events towards the end of '24 and looking to do a lot more this year.
As a fellow Chicagoan, I would be honored if I would have the opportunity to join this group and other meet-ups.😬😬😬
It's hard not to feel a sense of "group think" when reading various watch outlets coverage of watches. For example, there seems to be unanimous love for watches such as the B/1 by Toledano & Chan or the Berneron Mirage. In fact, I don't think I've seen anyone be critical of either piece. Is the silence more telling than a critical review of such watches? Or do you choose to pass on watches you would rather not write positive things about because it could harm the reptuation for a smaller/independent company?
I'm guilt of the latter (Berneron), though Phil knows my thoughts on the former :) This is kind of *the* question when it comes to watch media, isn't it?
When the first B/1 came out I think I was in the minority in not immediately loving it -- many editors/colleagues liked it (Hodinkee also happened to have an allocation to sell in the Shop at the time...). There's a line commonly thrown around by trade press that "if we don't like it we just don't write about it..." Fair enough but not sure that works today, at least not all the time.
While I think that watches are a hobby/escapism for many and readers really do just want to good stories about cool watches, I think it's wise to pick some spots to criticize when a product or release warrants it. At least, that's what I hope to do here.
Appreciate the honesty and transparency here!
I know that when I was first getting into watches as a hobby (escape...) I valued the critical commentary from seasoned journalists, because it helped me learn about watch design, form & function. If every watch covered is great & amazing it wouldn't be fair to assume that all watches not mentioned are then...not. As prices for watches continue to rise and customers/fans become more discerning, it be a great value to the community to show what are things to be critical or at the least, be mindful to pay attention to when looking at watches. I imagine it might draw the ire of the companies you (the collective watch media "you") cover, but it would also give more legitimacy when "you" wax poetic about a great watch.
100% agree! I think watch media has gotten the balance a bit wrong the past few years (too positive), hope to strike a better balance here.
For the Q&A: I for one would like a detailed article on the perils of buying vintage watches--particularly Rolex--at auction. I would like to expand my collection in this area, but, frankly, every time perezscope comes out with a new article, I get scared. Fake watches, frankenwatches and other dubious pieces seem to predominate. It seems like the auction houses are at the best completely indifferent to accurately disclosing the status of their lots, if not actively engaged in deceptive practices.
It is unsettling that the watch media completely ignores this topic. At least when buying fine art, there is a wide network of professional scholars and specialists that produce independent research. But for watches, we seem to be on our own.
A personal anecdote: I was in Dubai on business in October 2024 and Monaco Legends happened to be in town that week with previews for its upcoming auction. They showed me a number of rare and unusual watches, including what they said was one of only 5 Rolex Day Dates ever made in steel and a rare Daytona John Player Special. Mr. P (the son) went on and on about how rare and important these watches were. A few days later, perezscope came out with an article showing with detailed evidence that both watches were "nothing but a made-up Frankenstein watches." Those lots sold a few weeks later for £1.2 million and £1.0 million respectively.
Yes, I'll cover auctions more and try to do so in a balanced and nuanced way. It's a complicated and sometimes scary world. They sell many good watches and a few bad ones.
How are we going to deal with vintage watches as “unpolished” moving forward when laser welding is impossible to distinguish and perfect lines are so important? (Some even repairing the watch to perfection, then tumbling it.)
Or - when are we going to get over the fact that some old watches have been restored? Seems people have accepted that with Patek dials. Are cases to follow?
Restoration, THE topic in vintage watches. People often compare to car collecting, which I don't know much about but where it sounds like restoration is expected and therefore transparently disclosed.
On one hand, a watch with its original beauty, lines, etc., should command a premium. On the other, valuing as such creates incentive for dealers to turn something that's not original into something that at least looks like that and take that premium as theirs.
Patek dials are a good example and perhaps where things need to go. People are starting to understand the different between original dial, a "good" or "faithful" restoration, and bad restoration, and valuing accordingly. The work of expert restorers of anything is almost like an art form and should be valued as such!
Judah. We need to talk. That time is now. Every piece of tritium is decaying and all of those hands will need to be relumed. Today's patina will be sitting in the balance wheel pivot next year grinding up the inside the watch.
We should value expert restoration. Unpolished and all original should be the pinnacle but there should also be vibrant market where expertly restored watches have an agreed upon value, grading system, etc. All we have now is 1) unpolished all original and 2) garbage and shame. Nothing in between. That is silly and pushes people to hide laser welding, hand reluming, etc. underground.
Yes. Hardly any mfgr will deal with a watch with tritium hands. I’ve given up mailing mine to the usual suspects any longer, even though they do good work. I now deal with specialists who use an inert material that mimics tritium Or someone who’ll stabilize the hands.
I want every watch I own to be at the original specs. And that occasionally means restoration, like repairing a watch with thread pitting on the case. And don’t get why this is bad.
“This house has the original asbestos. You’ll not find another with more cancer giving properties in the neighborhood. Payment by Crypto +1%.”
I often see watches (especially dials) as art. There is a lot of art restoration that is admired ( and some bad ones of course: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/jun/24/monkey-christ-worst-art-repairs-of-all-time). Maybe if we see this more as art restoration, it would be better accepted?
Tony, thanks for all the quality content you create and curate for the community. Do you have any advice for enthusiasts who are transitioning from a traditional job to a professional career in the industry?
Also asked below, so I'll do a full post on this in the future. First, make contacts and learn from them. Dealers, retailers, press, media. Then, find places where they might need help and the skills you have (or could develop) that can add value.
I think there are a lot of good businesses to be built in watches. But the enthusiast community is also incredibly hard to crack and skeptical of "outsiders" (or those they perceive as such).
It's a slow grind, and anyone that looks like an overnight success certainly was not. And while it seems like watches have come online a lot, especially over the past few years, so much of what happens in the industry is still offline, in person. You need to get out and meet people.
Hi Tony, thanks for the newsletter, really enjoy it. I have a practical question: do you have any sense of how Rolex ADs (like Bucherer) manage their wish lists for popular watches (GMT Master II, etc.)? Do they all have their own internal data management systems? Do you know if individual sellers within an AD have a say in the attribution? It could be interesting someday to try and interview former AD staff to get a better sense of how this attribution system works (given the frustrations it generates to potential customers). Tx
Yes, it's good to get to know your SA, they can vouch/advocate for you, especially for bigger-ticket items. :)
I am working on an article/series - "Retail Confessions," hoping to get a better look from some insiders on how this works.
Just purchased my first vintage watch (59 Omega Constellation). Wondering if there are other brands to consider with a limited budget (2-3k). Really prefer to stay away from internet auctions as well.
You're right on the edge of a vintage steel Datejust. You can also look at vintage Tudor, Movado, Mido, Longines (all time only); Seiko chronographs; vintage skin divers from a number of brands. If you like the Constellation you can also find great Omega Seamasters in that price.
I'd stay away from Must de Cartiers.
I’ve read this study made by swatch group a while back that keeps bopping around in my mind: collectors have a limit of watches they own before they start going 1 in—1 out. The average seems to be around 8-30 watches. (Huge window there but seems kinda right)
I imagine it becomes something about
1: not being able to wear them all frequently enough to grow an attachment. And “attachment by regular use” I feel is not discussed enough and might a big key why watches have this wild hobby. Where objects that sit on a desk do not.
2: being overwhelmed by servicing issues.
Have you had conversations with enthusiasts and collectors who talk about this?
Interesting and this study is probably onto something. Law of diminishing returns and all that. I buy watches to be worn - it’s one of the reasons I don’t consider myself a real collector - and find that once I get above 10-12, I start to lose track and forget about watches for months. When I remember them I’ve often “fallen out of love.” I know I’m not alone in this feeling.
And yes, servicing is a real issue that can ruin enjoyment.
congratulations Tony, your site has more engagement in the comment section of your first Q&A than "the collectors room" had after 2 months :)
lol thank you for the support! 😅
Hi Tony. I’m a big fan of gold watches and have a question I’ve seen mixed opinions about: do gold watches need gold spring bars? Some argue that stainless steel spring bars can erode or damage the lug holes over time, while others say they’ve used steel spring bars on gold watches for decades without issues. When I asked Vacheron’s customer service team, they mentioned they use steel spring bars coated in Nivaflex. With so much conflicting advice, I’m curious—are gold spring bars really necessary, or is it more of a nice-to-have?
I've assumed this as true, that steel spring bars will really /deform damage lug holes over time, and the backs of lugs when changing straps. Plus, just feels like brands are cheaping out if not providing gold spring bars. Let me look into this and see if I can find anyone (besides a brand talking their own book) that believes the contrary though.
Hi Tony. Happy to be a paid subscriber and wishing you all the best in your endeavors! Sorry I missed you at the Miami Beach show but I also saw many Patek 96's. I was curious as to which dealer you thought had the best example and why. Thanks.
Sorry I missed you! The steel 96 with Breguet numerals that Nouveau wears is quite nice. Good condition, long PP signature, and a rare variant. Have a pic of it in the photo report!
How do you typically sell watches?
eBay and chrono24? Forums or word-of-mouth? Dealers?
It’s much easier and more fun to buy watches, obviously, but this is a critical part of watch collecting that isn’t talked about as much
For anything say < ~$1,000, I'll use forums, social media, and a few private channels I'm in. Anything about $10k I'll try to find the right dealer to sell it through. In between I'll use a combo of those, depending on how niche or rare the watch is – or perhaps risk an eBay auction, depending on how much and how quickly I want to sell.