Why so manywatches without boxes and papers?

[scubadiver6]

Hello All -

Very new to the forum - and to Rolex....

Looking at purchasing my first Rolex (Sub Date). I'm leaning towards used at the moment.

My newbe question:

Is there a legit reason why 95% of the watches I find have no box or papers included? (I find this especially true with dealers... Not as much via private party)

I've read lots on the forum about the pros/cons to having the complete kit, and I understand it all... But I feel like I'm missing a piece of info as to why so many are box/paperless - even ceramic subs that are a year or two old.

[HogwldFLTR]

Most Rolex are bought by people to wear and not collect. Wearers don't care about keeping unused junk in their homes. Mainly flippers keep the stuff. Do you keep all your shoe boxes?

[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Most Rolex are bough by people to wear and not collect. Wearers don't care about keeping unused junk in their homes. Mainly flippers keep the stuff.

Flippers can also be collectors. I'm also a "wearer" that would never throw away B&Ps or consider it "unused junk".

IMO it's just a personality thing. I keep original packaging & paperwork whether it's a pocket knife or a watch. Simply as that.

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by Chadridv

Flippers can also be collectors. I'm also a "wearer" that would never throw away B&Ps or consider it "unused junk".

IMO it's just a personality thing. I keep original packaging & paperwork whether it's a pocket knife or a watch. Simply as that.

Of course there are exceptions but just trying to explain why. This increases as watches get older.

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by Chadridv

Flippers can also be collectors. I'm also a "wearer" that would never throw away B&Ps or consider it "unused junk".

IMO it's just a personality thing. I keep original packaging & paperwork whether it's a pocket knife or a watch. Simply as that.

Yeah, but the large majority of wearers aren’t forum goers or enthusiasts. I keep watch boxes, but I’m sure there’s some box for something else I’ve purchased that will, unbeknownst to me, be collectible in 50 years and my relatives will wish I’d kept that box, instead. Maybe my first iPod?

[Dave-B]

What I find even more unusual is that you can find a full set bar the papers/warranty card, I mean how do they manage to keep everything but lose the papers!!

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by Dave-B

What I find even more unusual is that you can find a full set bar the papers/warranty card, I mean how do they manage to keep everything but lose the papers!!

Again, many don't see value in keeping expired warranty paper work. If it weren't for my joining the forum I never would have thought about it. Also, boxes can easily be purchased as can all the other doodads but paper work has to match.

[scubadiver6]

Originally Posted by Dave-B

What I find even more unusual is that you can find a full set bar the papers/warranty card, I mean how do they manage to keep everything but lose the papers!!

Agreed.... Most bizarre.

It made me wonder if people keep papers/warranty info when they sell the watch because they are concerned about personal info going into the wild.

[Rolex addict]

Originally Posted by Dave-B

What I find even more unusual is that you can find a full set bar the papers/warranty card, I mean how do they manage to keep everything but lose the papers!!

Your name and sometimes address is on the card. Just depends on what the AD does. Some people don’t want this information out there.

[MILGAUSS88]

Originally Posted by Dave-B

What I find even more unusual is that you can find a full set bar the papers/warranty card, I mean how do they manage to keep everything but lose the papers!!

Boxes can be bought separately very easily and there are no numbers to match.
For the paper, it is useless unless the numbers match.

[breitlings]

Originally Posted by Dave-B

What I find even more unusual is that you can find a full set bar the papers/warranty card, I mean how do they manage to keep everything but lose the papers!!

i think people withold papers with names etc for privacy reasons.

[mtgjr]

Originally Posted by Dave-B

What I find even more unusual is that you can find a full set bar the papers/warranty card, I mean how do they manage to keep everything but lose the papers!!

They don't. In those instances, the seller has cobbled together everything but the warranty papers....boxes, manuals, hang tags....to make a nearly full set that's not really original to that watch. It's easy to do.

[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by douglasf13

Yeah, but the large majority of wearers aren’t forum goers or enthusiasts. I keep watch boxes, but I’m sure there’s some box for something else I’ve purchased that will, unbeknownst to me, be collectible in 50 years and my relatives will wish I’d kept that box, instead. Maybe my first iPod?

What I’m saying is that it’s a personality thing, and as other have mentioned there is a relation to the value of the item.

You mentioned iPods. I’m not on iPod, iPhone or tech forums but I’ve kept every box I’ve ever bought for those types of devices. I wouldn’t call myself an iPhone enthusiast, especially not the same way I’m a watch enthusiast.

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by Chadridv

What I’m saying is that it’s a personality thing, and as other have mentioned there is a relation to the value of the item.

You mentioned iPods. I’m not on iPod, iPhone or tech forums but I’ve kept every box I’ve ever bought for those types of devices. I wouldn’t call myself an iPhone enthusiast, especially not the same way I’m a watch enthusiast.

Yeah, it could be you’re just a good ol’ OCD hoarder.

In my case, keeping boxes for everything isn’t exactly easy when you consider closet space in 100 year old homes near downtown in a city. After the return window is over, I primarily only keep watch boxes (and I’m a one watch guy,) a box for one pair of somewhat collectible sneakers, and camera boxes (because I usually flip them later on down the line.)

I could easily see how someone who isn’t a WIS would throw away watch boxes.

[Corsair66]

Originally Posted by Chadridv

I keep original packaging & paperwork whether it's a pocket knife or a watch. Simply as that.

I do, too. All original packaging is stored for the life of the piece, especially (but, by no means, limited to) electronics. Original packaging is nearly always the best way to send an item for warranty work and is always a useful selling point at resale. Having it available - and in perfect condition - speaks to the careful treatment the actual item experienced during its tenure in my care.

When, on rare occasions, I'm looking to buy a used item of any sort, I always seek out owners with the same mindset.

[CPRWATCH]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Most Rolex are bought by people to wear and not collect. Wearers don't care about keeping unused junk in their homes. Mainly flippers keep the stuff. Do you keep all your shoe boxes?

Oh yes , I keep all my shoes boxes with original receipt in them until I no longer wear them as best, or throw them away . Some of my shoe boxes are getting on 30 years old , in fact I have often thought of setting up a shoe box collecting forum .

[jaySL350]

Originally Posted by CPRWATCH

Oh yes , I keep all my shoes boxes with original receipt in them until I no longer wear them as best, or throw them away . Some of my shoe boxes are getting on 30 years old , in fact I have often thought of setting up a shoe box collecting forum .

yeah i keep shoe boxes,,
i like the cloths and bags that come with Gucci,Boss,Bally,Church, etc boxes plus keeps them out of the light,,,,jay

[yxc145]

For expensive items, I try to keep the box and everything that came with them.

Tech and 3C products, I will keep them for a year.

But to answer your question.. maybe people misplaced them, threw them away, or maybe it is a stolen watch.

[101031-28]

Originally Posted by yxc145

For expensive items, I try to keep the box and everything that came with them.

Tech and 3C products, I will keep them for a year.

But to answer your question.. maybe people misplaced them, threw them away, or maybe it is a stolen watch.

This.

[breitlings]

Originally Posted by yxc145

For expensive items, I try to keep the box and everything that came with them.

Tech and 3C products, I will keep them for a year.

But to answer your question.. maybe people misplaced them, threw them away, or maybe it is a stolen watch.

i keep tv boxes for moving them. same with speakers.

[Lord Woodford MBE]

It's just me but I would insist if considering a used purchace that my chosen watch was complete with origanal box and paperwork to aid future value.

Not based on resale value but more of a family hand down I the hope my two son's will also enjoy these superb watches as much as I do.

But they will probably end up in the London auction rooms.... I'd put money on it but wouldn't be around to collect my winnings

[Tangier11]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Most Rolex are bought by people to wear and not collect. Wearers don't care about keeping unused junk in their homes. Mainly flippers keep the stuff. Do you keep all your shoe boxes?

Yep

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by Tangier11

Yep

Concise...but meaningless...

[gabbysplace]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Most Rolex are bought by people to wear and not collect. Wearers don't care about keeping unused junk in their homes. Mainly flippers keep the stuff. Do you keep all your shoe boxes?

Mic drop.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Aventura]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Most Rolex are bought by people to wear and not collect. Wearers don't care about keeping unused junk in their homes. Mainly flippers keep the stuff. Do you keep all your shoe boxes?

With all due respect, I tell you that your answer is inadmissible. When you buy a car you also throw all the papers? Apart from having everything complete means a premium that values the watch up to $ 1000.

[mtgjr]

Originally Posted by Aventura

With all due respect, I tell you that your answer is inadmissible. When you buy a car you also throw all the papers? Apart from having everything complete means a premium that values the watch up to $ 1000.

Hogwld's comment is spot on. Your analogy is no good (or inadmissible, if you prefer). No one buys a car expecting to keep it forever.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Do you keep all your shoe boxes?

I'm not concerned with the resale value of my shoes.

[Tony64]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Do you keep all your shoe boxes?

Originally Posted by JacksonStone

I'm not concerned with the resale value of my shoes.

Well played!

[frankoman]

Originally Posted by Tony64

Well played!

Sneaker collectors are maniacal about keeping all the packaging on the limited edition ones. These are never worn however and are kept as new, as with many other collectibles like toys and action figures.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by frankoman

Sneaker collectors are maniacal about keeping all the packaging on the limited edition ones. These are never worn however and are kept as new, as with many other collectibles like toys and action figures.

Sneaker collecting fascinates me.

I get how you’d buy a cool pair in your size to wear...sooner or later. The interesting bit is buying common sizes - not your own - say 9,10,11 etc and speculating on future price / selling to some guy who may or may not actually wear them!