1996 Rolex sub, the model i purchased new in ’96 for about $3200 from a Rolex dealer (i believe with some cash discount). sold within a year or two for a new Breitling chrono. my former Rolex now, used, sells for $10,500+
HA!
i have to laugh at this question…not because it’s a bad question, but because it’s a great question.
While i’ve sold vintage watches as a sideline business and passion, my main occupations have been 1. journalism, and 2. acting.
If you haven’t seen me on the big screen it’s because i’ve done small parts, some commercials, commercial print ads stand-in and extra work. Before that i didn’t work at the NYTimes or Washpost…but on small community newspapers.
i’ve never made more than $40,000 in a year, and that was a good year. mostly in the $30,000 range.
AND i’ve owned new Breitlings, Rolexes (including a sub and datejust), Omega Seamasters, an IWC chrono, and some other ‘luxury brands’ you may not have heard of.
Point being there is no dollar limit on those who buy ‘luxury’ watches. At no time could i have legitimately afforded such watches according to any financial analyst who didn’t flunk out of college.
How then? Well i scrounged some funds restoring cool vintage watches and selling them. And i began it all by purchasing a $2400 extreeeemely cool Bell&Ross, then selling it for partial payment on my Rolex sub back in 1996, when subs cost around $3200 with a bit of forbidden discount.
Hence watches, sometimes luxury (and often not), were my drug.
Taking the point of the question, this is how it is with far more purchasers of ‘luxury’ watches than one might presume. It’s not really that we’re trying to look rich with expensive watches. More pure of heart, we are spending far more than we should for timepieces that are exceptional and which we love.
Often people who want to ‘look’ like they can afford to buy a luxury watch actually just go out and get replicas, which can be so exacting now that even a Rolex or Omega dealer could not tell them by sight, but need technicians open up the piece and look at the movement.
Of course, many expensive watches are indeed bought by those with money to do so. But to assume ‘that’ is all who purchase these watches is a definite mistake. Next time you see someone wearing an expensive Rolex, it could either be a replica, or someone who just loves great timepieces and spent way more than they could afford.
Cheers.
Source : Quora
No comments: