COLLECTORS DECEMBER 2019
ISSUE 03
EDITION
GREAT COLLECTIONS Why do we collect & what makes it great? TOP SECRET TIMEPIECES Enjoy this undervalued, superb collection THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT Treat yourself this season
O U R G UA R A N T E E D B U Y B AC K S C H E M E
Invest in the gift that keeps on giving ABOUT INVESTMENTS
Welcome to December’s issue of Collector’s Edition. A very happy Christmas to you all. As it’s the season for giving I’ve decided this month to let you into a little secret. I’m a collector at heart, as if you didn’t know. And more than any other, the question I’m most asked is how did it all start? Followed by, what constitutes a good collection? So this month I make no apologies for covering these points although for anyone interested in watches the answers will come as no surprise. What I’ve also done is focus on a couple of lines that I think not only represent incredible value at the moment, but also look set to be future classics. As always you views are more than welcome. Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
T I M EL E S S S TO R I E S
Why do we collect watches? & what is a great collection?
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COLLECTORS EDITION • ISSUE 02
T I M EL E S S S TO R I E S
I could just as easily put the word “men” instead of “we” in that headline. Of course it isn’t just men who collect things in general, as my wife’s shoe collection would testify. (She says it’s not the same, because shoes are an essential part of living!) But when it comes to watches it seems we gents are in the majority. As always I’m sure evolution has a major part to play in our masculine desire to collect and display prized possessions and it would be churlish to suggest that showing off has nothing to do with it. But why do we go on enhancing, building and changing
our collections. And what constitutes a great collection in the first place? So let’s start with the why? It feels good. In fact it feels great to own a beautiful watch. It makes me feel special to strap on a 1969 speedy and gaze down at the same face the Apollo 11 astronauts would have recognised in an instant. I adore the grand complication that accurately details moon phases along with day date function. All that beauty, skill and industry in such a small and perfectly engineered case. (I think I might actually be drooling just thinking about it.) But then sometimes I’m all about the action and love the feel of the salt air on my arms and the robust lines of my 1978 submariner. You see it all really depends on how I’m feeling at any particular time. And ultimately my collection is probably a reflection of the myriad ways I feel throughout life. And that’s the first bit of advice for why it’s nice to collect and what a good
The incredible Tudor Prince Oyster Date Submariner “Snowflake”
One of the most collectable Daytonas, Rolex Daytona 16520 “Patrizzi” Zenith
collection should mean. How does it make you feel? On any given day a watch can make me feel completely different and in love with a particular aspect of horology. That’s why I collect. And those feelings can change over time, something that is reflected in my collection. Add in the uniqueness of a vintage collection and, in my opinion you have a manifestation of taste, appreciation and function it’s hard to match in any other part of life.
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T I M EL E S S S TO R I E S
And as to what constitutes a good collection. To me it still has to be about making a choice based on the way a watch makes you feel. It’s likely you’ll end up with the classic combinations of dive, automotive, aviation and dress watches in varying quantities but there is no right or wrong way to manage a collection. And don’t let price be a defining factor either. I’d love to help to show you how to spend £30,000 on a collection, but equally if you have only £1000 I’ll take just as much pleasure in helping to start you on a journey of collecting that will give you an enormous pleasure over the coming years. And here is the real beauty of this addiction we share.
the financial hardship depreciation brings to other types of collecting. The value of a £1000 vintage watch is only going in one direction over the coming years and it’s a perfect place to begin.
Collecting vintage watches offers you the chance to constantly recycle your collection and improve it without all
And if all else fails, get yourself an Omega Speedmaster. You can’t go wrong and you’ll never sell it!
There is no right or wrong way to manage a collection. How does it make you feel?
The perfect Christmas gift. The ultimate investment. START YOUR COLLECTION
Make their Christmas with the perfect gift
The gift of a timepiece lasts a lifetime & we have a selection of superb vintage watches at prices you won’t believe BROWSE OUR COLLECTION
T I M EL E S S S TO R I E S
Psssst! would you like to know a secret? I’ve talked a bit this month about affordable vintage watches and how to start a collection. So rather than leave it there let me introduce you to a couple of lines that I believe are massively undervalued at the moment and represent a superb investment for the future. These lines are both from tried and trusted lines and you can pick up some stunning bargains for ridiculously low prices. And when has anyone every gone wrong with Omega and Rolex.
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T I M EL E S S S TO R I E S
Omega F300 Ready, Steady, Go! These F300’s from Omega are just stunning value. They make an ideal vintage watch to start a collection and a superb timepiece that up to now has slipped under the radar. To my advantage and I hope yours too. These rare F300’s employ a tuning to ten seconds per month when new,
Omega Rare constellation F300
considerably more accurate than
£1,295
fork movement and were accurate
their fully mechanical brethren. The F300 movement is electromechanical, being a predominantly mechanical movement but running on a battery and tuning fork system as opposed to a traditional balance. These are going to be huge in the future and they are beautiful, reliable watches perfect for everyday wear as well.
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COLLECTORS EDITION • ISSUE 02
Omega F300 new old stock £1,595
T I M EL E S S S TO R I E S
Rolex Precision Ideal vintage Rolex to start a collection
Rolex Oysterdate Precision £2,195
There are three typical states a watch collector can find themselves in when it comes to Rolex. You’re just starting out and you can’t possibly imagine a better watch in
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date
the world. You’ve been collecting for some time now and you already know enough to recognise that Rolex is all about the brand and artificially inflated value. Or you’ve been collecting for a long time and you’ve come to realise that, “you know what, rolex are bloody good watches”. Wherever you are on that Rolex journey you simply cannot go wrong with a Rolex Precision. For reasons
Rolex Oyster Precision Tropical dial £3,995
too complicated to get into here they are pretty much one of the last Rolex’s to explode in value. But they are beautiful, stunningly accurate and fantastic everyday wearers. And they are Rolex, so everyone is happy. Mark my words these watches are destined for future stardom.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date £2,895 11
‘Tis the season for the perfect collection What is the perfect collection? It’s simple really. It’s the one that makes you happiest. Often the obsession with the holy host of dive, aviator, dress and motorsport can leave you thinking your collection isn’t complete. Likewise it’s a common mistake to assume if it doesn’t command a 5 figure fee for insurance then somehow you’ve sold yourself short. Nonsense of course. Some of the finest collections are those that have been assembled with…well…genuine love. Often that’s more to do with the history of a piece - less about the time it tells and more about the story it reveals.
SHOP WATCHES
Rolex Datejust
Rolex Ladies Datejust Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 145.022
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N E W E S T A R R I VA L S
Handpicked timepieces In keeping with this month’s theme I’d like to introduce you to some absolutely stunning new pieces that have come across my desk this month that represent tremendous value for those looking to start their collections, or those who want to add something different and memorable...
SHOP NEW ARRIVALS
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COLLECTORS EDITION • ISSUE 02
A. Lange & Söhne B-Uhr Type A Navigators watch (£9,995)
Omega Seamaster day date (£1,150)
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date (£2,895)
Tag Heuer 200m Professional dive watch (£1,595)
Omega Speedmaster Teutonic
Omega Seamaster 120 Deep Blue big crown (£3,450)
Tudor Chrono time w/ full set box and papers (£4,750)
(£2,150)
Time for a valuation? A lot of people ask me to offer a valuation and fair price for their timepieces and I’m always happy to help out and expand my own collection in this way. So much so that I have created this upload feature to enable me to provide an easy to understand and accurate valuation of your watch. Uploading offers you: •
An accurate valuation you can trust
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Confidence that any offer price is based on the right images and description
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Peace of mind of knowing you don’t have to send your watch away to be valued
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The reassurance of knowing your watch valuation is based on an honest relationship
VALUE YOUR WATCH
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