As I said earlier I have no knowledge or interest in watches. Just a cheapo to see the time
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So these Duchamp/Roamer et al watches that they sell are they a reasonable price or well over-priced or a good price.?
Sorry if I am an ignoramous but really curious… I think I may know the answer to my question
To be honest, at the price points offered on selly-telly, there isn’t a single watch I’ve ever seen that will hold its value in the short term- not one.
Most of their offerings come from drop-shippers - people who import a standard Chinese design, screen printed with the name of a brand, with a brand story and history that is either made-up, or actually belonging to a long-gone company. These watches have no intrinsic value, only their cosmetic appeal. The importers often state openly (but never on the telly) that they price very optimistically on their own websites, so that the ultimate purchaser (via selly-telly) feels they are getting a good deal. These are the likes of Heritor, Swan and Edgar, Seksi, and the others. Companies behind the drop shipping include Fields Luxury, Solar Time Hong Kong, ResultCo, etc. Many are small businesses operating out of an office - often an accommodation address - and just importing pre-designed Chinese watches. All of these have, essentially, no value at all beyond the sentimental. They will not, normally, make it beyond their first service, usually because the cost of that service will vastly exceed the value of the watch. It doesn’t mean these are bad products. Just very cheaply made fashion items of low value, worn to make someone happy. The annoying part is how selly-telly makes claims of heritage, of value and of longevity, all of which are simply not true.
The second kind of watch is the respectable quartz, mecha-quartz, or lower-end Japanese movement watches - the Vostoks and Duchamps etc. Here, the product will generally have been reasonably made, sometimes of Swiss Parts, and rarely (but occasionally) assembled in Switzerland, and with movements that are serviceable and where I can actually get parts to repair them. The value drops like a stone on sale - always less than half of the sale price - a bit like a new car. And usually that’s where it will stay, at or around £100 or so, sometimes £200, in good condition. Very, very rarely, you might get one worth more, if it looks particularly attractive - but not much more.
The third kind of watch that IW have sold is the ‘lower end’ genuine Swiss product - they have sold Eternas, and Matthey-Tissot, both of which will use stock Valjoux, ETA or Selitta movements in a stainless steel case, sometimes PVD plated in gold or black. Eterna have a better name, heritage, and reputation (in my view), but I can service or repair these as long as you like - they’ll last forever, so long as you don’t mind paying. A service on a ‘simple’ three hand watch with date is around £200 every 5 years and your watch will last practically forever (though it will be like Triggers Broom!). A service on a Valjoux chronograph, probably £375-£400, again every 5 years. These watches therefore, to an extent have a value limited by their ongoing costs. You ought to expect it to stabilise around £300-£400 or so for a standard automatic watch with date and £600-£750 for a chronograph.
In very good condition, with papers and box.
The fourth kind of watch is one Selly-Telly will never sell - Rolex,Tudor, Omega and upwards. Especially Rolex will hold its sale value and may very well actually appreciate - though it’s very subject to fashion. Zenith, Chronoswiss, IWC, Cartier Longines (but less than Omega), Jaeger, and more, will also all - generally - hold value, and may be 18ct gold as well, so have value simply from that. Parts are reasonably easy to source, I can service them, and a simple Zenith service works out around £500 or so. Some will also increase in value over the years if cared for, as inflation takes the ‘new’ price higher.
The fifth kind of watch is the real high end - the very top of the tree - the likes of Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, A. Lange & Sohne, and especially of course, Patek Phillippe (without doubt the watch that holds its value and appreciates the most). But you’ll need £30,000 or so, for a Patek, even for their simplest and cheapest product).
Sorry this was so very long! Hope it was of some interest. I could type so much more, but as you know, I have MS and my fingers just can’t do it any more.