VaGner! Posted December 30, 2018 Posted December 30, 2018 here’s an old saying in the world of luxury watches: “No one ever bought a precision mechanical watch to tell the time.” It is said tongue in cheek, but it’s true that if all you want from your timepiece is simple, state-of-the-art accuracy, you’ll measure the passage of time just as well with the app that comes with your smartphone. However, as Sascha Moeri, CEO of Swiss watch manufacturer Carl F. Bucherer says, while digital smartwatches are useful, “a mechanical watch is a statement”. So what are the other reasons for buying a beautiful watch? Chief among them, especially for men, is that a watch presents one of the few opportunities to wear tasteful, expensive jewellery. But more important by far is that a watch can be a good investment. While other technologies evolve out of all recognition, the function of the wristwatch has never fundamentally changed and a classic never becomes outdated. Collectibility Of course, as with any investment, there is plenty to consider. And it’s worth remembering that if you’re in it simply to make money you’re dealing with an inexact science. But the experts agree that there are some key factors that will determine whether or not your investment is sound in principle. First, there is simply status, which means that you’re looking at brand reputation and intrinsic value. A high-value classic timepiece by a known, “collectible” watchmaker is a premium. Rarity Then there are availability and exclusivity, meaning that if it is already rare and there is a limitation on the numbers produced, then the chances of your watch holding its value are already good. It needs to be as close to original condition as possible, and it helps greatly if it comes with its certification papers and original box intact. Timelessly elegant: Manero Tourbillon Double Peripheral timepiece CREDIT: CARL F. BUCHERER Construction Generally speaking, a mechanical watch will hold its value better than an automatic, quartz or digital unit, while watches with circular faces will outperform economically more idiosyncratic designs. Lastly, while there are certainly iconic models that are safer bets than others, part of the art of investment is to predict the market by understanding that there will be affordable contemporary watches that will become the icons of tomorrow. Personality It’s important to invest in a watch you like – as Moeri puts it “one that you never want to take off your wrist” – because you will need to keep hold of it for a long time if you are to reap the benefits of accrued financial value. Watches are routinely passed from generation to generation as family heirlooms and as such need to reflect something of the owner’s values as well as its intrinsic worth. Moeri currently wears a Carl F. Bucherer Manero Tourbillon Double Peripheral, which he describes as “incredibly complicated on the inside, timelessly elegant on the outside, truly manufacture-made and inspired by the rich heritage of our brand. It really is an emotional item both in the way it is built and in the way it is worn.” For him, this satisfies the requirements for a watch to be “an exceptional companion and a good long term-investment”. Luxury Swiss style Carl F. Bucherer is one of the few remaining family-owned Swiss watch manufacturers. Founded in Lucerne in 1888, it is synonymous with quality, innovation and passion. Discover more at carl-f-bucherer.com DON'T MISS 03 Dec 2018, 10:00am How is a luxury watch made? 03 Dec 2018, 9:45am How to choose a luxury sports watch 23 Nov 2017, 12:01pm What is a flyback chronograph? 23 Nov 2017, 11:09am How to choose a luxury men’s watch 23 Nov 2017, 11:08am Why this watch has a real manta ray’s markings on the back 23 Nov 2017, 11:07am What are the secrets of the world’s oldest watchmakers? 23 Nov 2017, 11:00am How to choose a luxury watch for her
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