Watches as an investment? Interesting, if you can stay realistic

If you choose the right timepieces, you can invest in watches without losing value and achieve high increases in value. They are the insider tip when it comes to investments – especially in times of crisis. Immediately afterwards, a list reveals which models from Rolex, Omega, Breitling & Co are guaranteed to be and remain in demand. Such promises carved in stone are as serious as the prophecies of a fortune teller at the fair. This is evidenced by a number of vintage watches that were praised to the skies and bought for adventurous prices, only to be hit by a loss in value soon afterwards.

Anyone who concludes from these findings that it is not worth buying luxury watches is just as out of touch with reality as the exaggerated visions of the future held by self-important financial experts. Rather, it is about taking a rational look at what is meant by investing in watches without losing value. If individual preferences are combined with objective considerations when choosing a model, most masterpieces will meet expectations – regardless of whether they come from Audemars Piguet, Chopard, Junghans or another renowned manufacturer.

Works of art for moments of happiness that are priceless

The Queen of Naples longed for a piece of jewelry that would tell the time beautifully on her wrist. Abraham-Louis Breguet fulfilled her wish in 1810 with the first wristwatch. Since then, more than 200 years have passed in which technical achievements have been made. The smartphone provides constant access to time data based on high-precision atomic clocks. Nevertheless, luxury watches with hand-wound or automatic movements have lost none of their fascination. After all, they are works of art created by hand with remarkable finesse. Such observations indicate that manufacture watches retain their ability to inspire and will never be affected by a complete loss of value.

Anyone who hoards their savings in an interest-free bank account for decades will be disappointed in any case. In the case of timelessly sought-after wristwatches, on the other hand, the chances are good that inflation will have less of an impact on their tangible value in the long term than on the banknotes in your savings stocking. If no buyer is found for it later, this is at least to be expected: The price of new luxury watches has risen significantly due to increased material and labor costs and is an argument against purchasing them. Fortunately, there is a favorite piece in the safe that you can now proudly put on for special occasions. When that time comes, you’ve already bought the watches without losing value and gained a lot, haven’t you?

Dream watch with potential to increase in value

This kind of thinking suggests investing in watches that are bound to increase in value in an idealistic sense. Smart watch fans therefore direct their interest towards manufactories and collections that appeal to their hearts. This ensures that they will enjoy the masterpieces. Only after the groundbreaking decision has been made is it worth considering which models will retain their value. A look at tips from watch experts is inspiring if you don’t overestimate them. After all, any prediction regarding loss or increase in value remains speculative.

Experience shows this: A pioneer is ahead of its time, in low demand and comparatively inexpensive. Later, a change in taste draws interest to the underestimated model, which ideally comes into the limelight due to a spectacular event or a famous wearer. The Cosmograph Daytona sports watch from Rolex and the Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet are successful examples of increases in value that watch enthusiasts would hardly have expected decades ago. They also illustrate that the tide can turn when the hype dies down. This is particularly true for investors who suddenly have to sell due to a financial crisis and are unable to give investment watches the peace of mind they need for attractive performance.

Bold speculation or proven investment – a question of type and budget

Color, material, diameter – the yellow Spirit of Big Bang from Hublot with rubber strap and 45 mm case is a rebel on the luxury watch scene. Anyone who puts one of these in their safe will need courage. According to the recommended retail price, the eccentric automatic watch breaks the 100,000 euro barrier. Logically, the number of potential buyers who are able and willing to invest the impressive price plus inflation rate when reselling the watch is limited. The risk of a loss in value seems high. The opposite is conceivable: A financially strong watch fan dreams of a Hublot with a strictly limited edition. He is prepared to spend three times the original retail price.

Those who cannot engage in such speculation tend to invest in tried and tested watches. The Omega Speedmaster has secured a permanent place in horological history because it was the first wristwatch on the moon. Humans will not stop exploring the universe. With every space mission that attracts media attention, it is inevitable that watch enthusiasts will remember the Moonwatch and want to treat themselves to a copy. This is why the Omega icon is considered to have a stable value and can be purchased in the classic version for around 5,000 euros or as an unusual edition for 50,000 euros, depending on your personal budget. Which model retains, loses or increases its value remains to be seen. In terms of adjusted profit, the classic model could win the race just as easily as the special edition.

Small investment, big impact – stylistically, ideally or financially

Max Bill was a creative all-rounder who was inspired by the Bauhaus era. The Weimar art school – founded by Walter Gropius – produced a design style that inspired at its debut, continues to inspire today and will probably never seem out of fashion. The award-winning Swiss designer’s most important works include dials that characterize a Junghans collection of the same name. The so-called architect’s watches are affordable compared to the timepieces of popular luxury brands such as Rolex, Chopard, Breguet or Breitling.

The artist’s birthday, the founding year of the Bauhaus school or key dates in watch history: many occasions in the coming decades can fuel the dream of owning an automatic watch in Bauhaus design. These occasions can be used to sell the watch without losing value. However, the chances are just as great that you will not want to part with the Black Forest design classic, which is and remains a style-conscious statement on the wrist regardless of the age. Can we give a guarantee for watches without loss of value? No, of course not. But you do get other guarantees with every watch at Uhrinstinkt. Such as authenticity and functionality.

Der Beitrag Which model? – The best chances of buying watches without depreciation erschien zuerst auf Uhrinstinkt Magazine.

Grandes Complications from Patek Philippe, Royal Oaks Offshore from Audemars Piguet or a limited edition Bing Bang from Hublot: Almost worthless for many people are the investment tips of discerning watch collectors, because they fail due to the financial possibilities. The good news: watches that retain their value can be affordable, and historical examples prove that it is precisely the beginner models that like to turn into precious rarities.

The secret of high-yield watches – a flair for the special and connections to the good fairy

In 1963 Rolex launched a chronograph with a link to racing, which could not keep up with the highlights of the Geneva luxury brand at the time. The usual sales price of around 200 US dollars, which would correspond to around 2,000 euros today, was therefore moderate. Daytona sports watches caused a sensation in 2017 when a vintage example changed hands for $17 million.

Part of the reason for the record price was that it was an heirloom of Paul Newman, the legendary actor who was an avid racing driver and went all out as the main actor in the 1969 motorsport drama film “Winning” on the Indianapolis circuit. The icing on the cake for collectors with the right nose: Those who opted for the underestimated and therefore cheap sports watch early on can look forward to a value of up to 500,000 euros today. Of course, this is an exception that is more than stable in value, but Rolex, Omega and Co. still offer watches from time to time that watch investors enthusiastically add to the list. And of course there are always models that you own because a good nose already gave an idea of the surprise coup special increase in value.

Safe bet – design classics from Rolex

The story makes it clear how many factors beyond design, workmanship and technology ensure that a luxury watch not only retains its value, but also generates lucrative returns. “Waterproof” forecasts would be dubious as to which brand new model will impress with its increase in value in the future. What is clear, however, is that the classics from Rolex, which tend to be simpler than ostentatious, have shone as watches of stable value for decades.

The catch: Waiting lists make it difficult to access the popular watch collections, which are brand new and expensive. It is therefore clever to look for a used time piece from a reputable specialist dealer. Documentation and presentation are just as important as excellent condition. If you get hold of an impeccable full set, a discreet evergreen from Rolex will also prove to be at least stable in value – for example the purist Oyster Perpetual 41.

Adventurers from Omega with an everlasting power of fascination

When it comes to a watch that will retain its value, Omega is regularly referred to. The traditional Swiss brand has always inspired people with its pioneering spirit – in advanced watch technology and the conquering of new spheres. It shapes the Seamaster diving icon as well as the Speedmaster, which was the first wristwatch in space and on the moon. Classically designed representatives of the legendary collections are regarded as watches that retain their value. The Diver 300M Chronograph or the Professional Moonwatch are good examples of this.

Is there a thirst for adventure, daring to invest in a watch? The Speedmaster owes its current popularity to the fact that NASA certified it as “moonworthy”. In the meantime, Omega has managed to have a professional watch qualified for Mars expeditions by the European Space Agency. For example, it takes into account that the days on the red planet are 39 minutes longer.

There is currently little interest in the Speedmaster Marstimer with a multifunction quartz movement when it comes to investing in watches that retain their value. However, the Titan visionary could become a lucrative star if the first manned flight to Mars succeeds. NASA expects this to happen in around 20 years.

TAG Heuer – traditionally open to new ideas

In the portfolio of the manufacturer based in Le-Chaux-de-Fonds, you will discover manufactory watches that are reminiscent of the masterpieces by Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe in terms of craftsmanship and price. At the same time, TAG Heuer has a heart for luxury watch fans with smaller wallets. These models are often bought to be worn all the time. Because of the unavoidable signs of wear, these everyday companions are basically not stable in value in the sense of an investment. If you think of the personal benefit and the emotional bond, the investment pays off several times over. If you reach for unusual novelties, the used time indicators can still turn out to be comparatively stable in value at some point.

TAG Heuer was one of the luxury brands that ventured into the field of quartz watches with digital displays – with the sobering realization that cheap manufacturers soon copied the spectacular innovations. They often languished in drawers after excessive use. They are now in demand as a vintage statement and fetch surprisingly high prices.

It is quite possible that with the Aquaracer Professional Solargraph, TAG Heuer not only has its finger on the pulse of the times, but also the taste of the future. The “sundial” made of durable titanium, water-resistant to a depth of 200 m, supplies itself with energy. In this way, it pays tribute to the increasing awareness of a sustainable lifestyle in a forward-looking and timelessly chic manner, which could one day inspire watch collectors or retro fans.

Award-winning and irresistibly beautiful – watch collections from Nomos Glashütte

Watches that retain their value are not only found in Switzerland, but also in Germany. Those who know the profession are just as aware of this as they are of the long watchmaking tradition in Glashütte. The location was chosen by the manufacturer Nomos, which – like Hublot – is comparatively young. In contrast to the luxury brand based in Nyon, the East German company scores with a fantastic price-performance ratio.

When it was launched in 1992, the Tangente wristwatches did not receive the feedback they deserved for their design and watch technology. Nevertheless, they turned out to be watches of stable value. In the meantime, three times the original purchase price is paid for well-groomed debutantes. Experience shows that award-winning models can also increase in value.

This puts the spotlight on the Tangente Neomatik in platinum grey, which won the iF Award 2023 for its remarkably simple and flat design. In theory, the award winner has the best chance of distinguishing itself as a watch with stable value. In practice, one can hardly resist the temptation to take the modern beauty of Nomos Glashütte out of the leather case and admire it on the wrist every day.

Precious for life across generations – Frederique Constant

Cool calculators see the value-stable watch as an attractive alternative to the bank account, in order to build up reserves with as few losses as possible. Anyone who finds timepieces for the wrist to be practical above all will measure their value in terms of functionality and aesthetics, which are attractive in the long term. Frederique Constant scores on needs without expecting big investments.

Time, date, moon phase: the timelessly elegant Classic Heart Beat Moonphase men’s watches are informative. This information does not lose its value even in the advanced digital age – especially when it is displayed without resource expenditure thanks to the mechanical movement with automatic winding. Long-lasting workmanship is important to Frederique Constant. Nothing stands in the way of the grandson’s wish to wear the heirloom enthusiastically.

Der Beitrag Watches stable in value erschien zuerst auf Uhrinstinkt Magazine.