Paying the full retail price at a watch boutique
I see the same story play out time and time again…
Watch owners approach me for offers on their timepieces
I educate them on the market
The comps, the trends…and, oh, the depreciation
Here’s what none of them realize…
The minute they walk out of the boutique
Smiling at their shiny new Omega, Cartier, Breitling, or Hublot…
That same shiny watch has reached its full depreciation
No, it’s not like a car that depreciates over 4-5 years
That watch you bought at the boutique fully depreciated
Immediately
Yes, you took at least a 40-50% haircut the minute you walked out
This is true 99% of the time.
w/ the only exceptions in ~10% of the AP, Rolex and Patek portfolios.
This is why I always advise watch enthusiasts both old & new
To always buy pre-owned
But, it’s not quite that easy
You see, when you’re shopping in the pre-owned marketplace
You have to be careful of scams, fakes, and over-priced goods
eBay & Chrono24 offer a wide variety of timepiece option
They’re trusted marketplaces
But how do you know you’re not getting ripped off?
Facebook marketplace, private chat groups, Discord…
They offer marketplaces as well.
And they also happen to be swimming with scammers.
So what do you do?
You don’t buy the watch.
You buy the seller.
Does the person you’re buying from have a very public profile?
Can you easily find them on google and LinkedIN?
Will they join you on a video call?
Do they have a reputation to uphold?
And is their reputation more important to them…
…than scamming you out of $5k, $10k, or $20k+?
You have to ask these questions to protect yourself.
Don’t buy the watch.
Buy the seller.
And when you buy the watch correctly you’re protected
With very minimal downside risk
And the opportunity for appreciation
And, of course tons of compliments…
I’m here to help.
Send me a message if you need another opinion on a seller.
And to be sure you’re buying right on the pre-owned market.
Don’t make the same mistakes I see so many others make.
