OT: Watch Talk

[NYCfixie]

My new favorite quote from a watch YouTuber:
Nobody cares what watch you wear except maybe hookers in Las Vegas. - Guy, JustBlueFish Watch Reviews (June 30, 2024)


https://youtu.be/THxREi0zvJQ?t=1161
start at 19:25

[jimcav]

I have a C60 Apex. I'm a sucker for orange and blue (also have a Seiko Prospex Nemo for the same reason). The details and finish on the CW are really nice for the price point. I only wear it out to a nice steakhouse type of dinner.
My daily wear tends to be a 55 yr old Seamaster 300 on an Artemis sail cloth strap with deployant clasp (really like these); my seiko samurai, or JLC Ti master diving GMT. I wear all of these all day and to the gym, but take them off for any yardwork or cooking/showering.

Originally Posted by NYCfixie

Any thoughts on Christopher Ward?

They have been around 20 years so are they a microbrand? Independent? Something else?
Anyone own one? Thoughts on price/value ratio? Cool/favorite design?


Twelve X, Bel Canto, Twelve


Valour, Trident, Sealander

[hellvetica]

So I am looking at a submariner (date or no date is fine with me). Where is a good place to find out second hand market value on these, and are new ones still being sold with markup? I am ok with one that is a few years old, but definitely not looking at much older ones. I would obviously prefer a new one but if those are hard to come by atm, then open to second hand.

Also if anyone here is looking to move one along, let's talk?

[Likes2ridefar]

You could peruse this forums classified to get a good idea of expected asking prices. I’ve bought and sold many watches there. Great group of folks similar to paceline in a way. Davidsw, in particular, I’ve dealt with a # of times.

https://www.rolexforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=9

[hellvetica]

Amazing thanks. Going to poke around on that forum.

[AngryScientist]

Originally Posted by Likes2ridefar

You could peruse this forums classified to get a good idea of expected asking prices. I’ve bought and sold many watches there. Great group of folks similar to paceline in a way. Davidsw, in particular, I’ve dealt with a # of times.

https://www.rolexforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=9

I haven’t been active there in over a decade but there was a group of guys who would get together for lunch in NYC back then regularly and talk watches. I went to a couple. Great group back then at least.

Watchuseek classifieds are good too. There are a few trusted dealers who post there that are worth reaching out to to get a feel for the market and what’s available.

I would have never believed it; but I haven’t worn a mechanical watch in months.

[Likes2ridefar]

Same, I stopped my watch obsession about a decade ago. I can’t see the dial now anyways Rolex prices are bonkers, by the way. I had no idea but couldn’t resist browsing that classifieds. One watch I own I paid 4k for maybe 15 years ago and similar is listed for $14k…

[Mark McM]

High-end bicycles and high-end watches are an interesting combination of interests. In one of these fields of interest, electronic actuation is considered desirable and a mark of high quality craftsmanship, while mechanical actuation is considered old-fashioned and mundane; and in the other field of interest the opposite is the case.

[Fat Cat]

I've only recently started wearing the watches again. Usually a 60's Omega Constellation but the Speedmaster and a Rolex Air King see daylight every couple weeks or so. They really need the human contact to stay healthy.
Couple weeks ago I got a '70 Rolex Ladies Jubilee from an old friend who wanted his wife's watch to go to mine. So Xmas will be sorta happy/sad.

[krooj]

Originally Posted by hellvetica

So I am looking at a submariner (date or no date is fine with me). Where is a good place to find out second hand market value on these, and are new ones still being sold with markup? I am ok with one that is a few years old, but definitely not looking at much older ones. I would obviously prefer a new one but if those are hard to come by atm, then open to second hand.

Also if anyone here is looking to move one along, let's talk?

I would take a look at the previous generation ceramic submariners - 116610LN. Rolex made a metric ass-load of these and the previous 40mm case design isn't as popular as the newer 41mm, but the movements are more reliable (have fewer amplitude issues) and they can be had for relatively little on the second hand market. I bought my 116610LN from an AD back in '19 and it was ~10k after tax; that same watch goes for anywhere between 10.5k and 12k on Chrono24 today. Subs aren't generally rare, nor do they command much of a premium - this is in pretty stark contrast to my hunt for a 126710BLRO :S

If you go with the older reference, do be careful about service history and whether the watch was polished. Rolex cases can take around 2~3 polishings before needing to be replaced and a lot of unscrupulous jewelers will do anything to make a watch seem nicer than it actually is. In the long run, I'd rather have a few small scratches than a case that's had 1/3 shaved off it's lifespan. Same caveats go for bracelets - be careful of stretch and know that a loosely worn bracelet will lead to premature stretch versus wearing something that fits securely, above the wrist joint.

e: I would also NOT buy one of these things from a private party - especially not off an internet forum. The sub is probably THE MOST faked watch out there and modern reps are extremely good, to the point where the only way to know for certain would be cracking the caseback and ensuring the movement is genuine. If you buy used, do try to protect yourself with using a "trusted gray dealer" (DavidSW, OCWatch, Takuya, etc) and/or using something like Chrono24's escrow service or a credit card that protects you from fraud. You'll need to take the thing for authentication + appraisal (insurance) and that's gonna run you a few hundred.

[AngryScientist]

I would never polish a watch case, scratches and dings are part of the life story of the watch. Actually my subby is really beat up from years and years of daily wear and not being babied in various jobs over the years. I'd never want to polish it and erase the history.

[IJWS]

I don't think Hellvetica is going to have to worry about a polished case. He said he is looking for a newer model--otherwise I would have referred him to Long Beach Watch Company (a local broker that really likes 90's 14060's).

Krooj took the words out of my mouth though, an 116610 is a nice reference and the technically smaller case size goes a long way. I went down the submariner rabbit hole recently but I came out with a Tudor Pelagos so I like "won" and "lost" at the same time.

To get an extremely popular Rolex at msrp would be...kinda signing yourself up for an adventure so to speak. Some people like the challenge and others think it is too much. If I was in a pinch, (birthday/promotion/etc..) I would go with a known grey market reseller like krooj mentioned OR I would spend a lot of "internet energy" finding a pre-owned one locally.

good luck with your search! Don't end up like this guy:

[hellvetica]

Yes the second hand fakes (and horror stories I’ve read of internals being swapped out for non-OEM parts) really spooked me. Thanks everyone!

[JedB]

Originally Posted by hellvetica

Amazing thanks. Going to poke around on that forum.

Rolex Forums as has been noted.
Chrono24.com
Watchuseek.com / forums
Bobs Watches

Those would all be good places to start.

Rolex Sub - no date: ~$8 - $10K (base level steel, no precious metals)
Rolex Sub - date: $$8 - $12K (base level steel, no precious metals)

[gt88]

Lots of good tips posted, but also check WatchCharts for recent sales and price trends. WatchRecon is also great for aggregating all the sales forums.