What's the dumbest move you've made while collecting.

[sensui]

Not buying a four digit Daytona sooner.

[Calatrava r]

Reading all these posts It is clear the overall weakness of the watch market save for a few brands, Rolex and Patek. One can buy and appreciate watches all day long but it is money spent if the there is no resale value.

[thlax]

Originally Posted by beaujarle

+1


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^Agreed, and flipping my Smurf.

However, i am thrilled with my new SD43.

Dear Rolex, please make me a Plat. Sub too.

THank you,
D

[Bello_nyc]

Spending close to 40k for a watch !

[vintagewatch]

I worked briefly for an AD while in high school (1981) as basically a stock boy. The store had a 6263 with Panda dial that had been in there for at least 4 years. Hard to believe, but it didn't sell because it required winding, customers wanted self winding (oyster perpetual) watches. The watch retailed for about $600, it was offered to me for $360 (dealer cost) by working it off. I was making $3.35 hour, I didn't think the watch was worth 110 hours (a little over a month at 20 hours a week) of work. Ughh!

[Evil bendy]

So many that I cannot count . It I regret passing on every 5512 / BIg crown / PN i was ever offered

[Laszlo]

Selling my Omega 2254.50.

[Laszlo]

Originally Posted by vintagewatch

I worked briefly for an AD while in high school (1981) as basically a stock boy. The store had a 6263 with Panda dial that had been in there for at least 4 years. Hard to believe, but it didn't sell because it required winding, customers wanted self winding (oyster perpetual) watches. The watch retailed for about $600, it was offered to me for $360 (dealer cost) by working it off. I was making $3.35 hour, I didn't think the watch was worth 110 hours (a little over a month at 20 hours a week) of work. Ughh!

I think this one takes the cake...

[sensui]

Originally Posted by vintagewatch

I worked briefly for an AD while in high school (1981) as basically a stock boy. The store had a 6263 with Panda dial that had been in there for at least 4 years. Hard to believe, but it didn't sell because it required winding, customers wanted self winding (oyster perpetual) watches. The watch retailed for about $600, it was offered to me for $360 (dealer cost) by working it off. I was making $3.35 hour, I didn't think the watch was worth 110 hours (a little over a month at 20 hours a week) of work. Ughh!

Completely believable and thanks for the 1st person account. It has been long told to the modern folks pursuing vintage Cosmographs/Daytonas that the reason all the 4 digits along with the Newman dial'ed watches were heavily discounted since everyone wanted automatic alternatives...no one wanted to wind watches. I've heard similar discounts of 4 digit Daytonas being offered at $200-$300 in these periods.....what I wouldn't give for a time machine.

[nachopc]

I flipped a Daytona for a Deepsea what a mistake.....so silly!!!!


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[Swiss Mad!]

Buying 2 Omegas...lovely watches but they just don't get the wrist time now I have my Sub C date.

Now I want to trade the Omegas to help fund more Rolex purchases, but boy have I learned an expensive lesson about the poor resale value of Omega compared to Rolex!

Also regret not buying a 16610LV anniversary when they were first released.

Not that Id ever want to sell it, but the way those things have shot up in value over the last few years at least knowing it had been a sound investment would make owning one that little bit sweeter.

[Thuilln]

Buying Tag's...

[fmc000]

Originally Posted by ash20

VC overseas chrono

I'd be very interested in knowing why you see this as a dumb mistake.

[strafer_kid]

Getting 'burned' when I bought my first vintage, a Sub 1680, a few years back. Turned out to be a very nice watch but a very costly deal to me which only became apparent as I picked up more subject knowledge over time. Looking back on it now, the seller who is still in business, probably picked up on my total lack of knowledge at the time and having done some further research, I was clearly not alone in that regard. Anyway, you live and learn and I have never got caught out like that since!

[Sarosh]

When I was getting married, I had the choice between an engagement ring a baume et mericer watch and an omega watch OR a brand spanking new Daytona back in 2015.

I wanted the Rolex, parents and even my wife pushed me towards the others. I love my ring and both my watches. BUT it was a Daytona, my brother in law bought it instead! So atleast some way it's still in the family! LOL

Oh also when the 16610lv (Kermit) was released, I had a chance to buy one, but didn't want to dent the savings at the time. HOW WRONG I WAS!!!!

[pam66]

biggest mistake was panerai PAM00421. i just part-exchanged it for a patek 5227R, with a loss of course. i promised myself not to buy any watch other than patek and rolex sports models from now on.

[mikkolopez]

Letting go of a 14060M for an Omega Speed master Pro.

Now I am only sticking to Rolex.

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[Wildy]

Selling an Omega moon watch to a friend for £550 ! He was always admiring it and I had two other nice watches, so I thought I would be nice and give him it at a very good price, only for him to sell it two months later for nearly £2k ! His reason he needed funds for furnishings for a new house. Needless to say I didn't buy him a present when he moved in.

[opawlows]

selling my 16760 with "no date" dial to purchase two Breitling Super Avengers

[ras47]

I'm not a collector, but I did wait over 30 years to buy my grail watch - 16710 BLRO. talked myself in and out of it for decades, never bothering to see one in person.

"Oh, 40mm is too small for my wrists."

"Too expensive. An Omega Seamaster is just as good."

[Boaters]

Trying to get into Vintage without really understanding the Pro's and Con's before I bought my first vintage sub.

[SFBAY]

Just made my first purchase 3 weeks ago and with that my first very expensive (relative to me) mistake...bought a DJ and should've bought the DJ41.

[function12]

I had a SS 1603 with grey face that I bought from my grandfather in 1984 for $200 plus installing cable in their master bedroom. I was 15-16 at the time. Then in 1986 I was offered and even swap for a 6263 Daytona. Didn't do it because it was a manual wind. DUMBASS!!! Then in 2004 I got a tt blue sub and sold the 1603. I should have kept it because my grandfather is now gone. He is the one who introduced me to fine watches. Live and learn I guess....

[WatchingAustin]

bought a breitling

[oldman2005]

Not buying a brandnew panda Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11 35th Anv. LE for $2400, I had many chance to pick it up but did not do so

[carlhaluss]

Selling 3 Grand Seikos to raise money for a Zenith heritage Type20 Bronze. Beautiful watch, but totally wrong for me. Sold it for a loss - of course - and got myself a Rolex OP34 with olive green dial. So, in the end, I guess it wasn't about the money I lost, I just got a watch I like a lot better! That is how you have to look at it IMO with this "hobby" of ours.
Cheers,
Carl

[G Francis]

I've been collecting and trading since 1984 and would be here all night with jump hours Princes and scientific Bubblebacks which may be lost on a lot of people but here goes....
Turning down a COMEX Sub for £450 and buying a TT Sub for £800 in 1987.
Turning down a COMEX For my GMT and £200 (in my favour) 3 months later...
Turning down an 18ct PN Daytona or a PP 2526 IN WG ( retailer ...which one do you want? for my PP 18ct hooded lug dress watch.
And the worst, the absolute worst... a 9ct flared prince, B&P in WG in in 1984. Worn only 6 times, it was a leaving present for an employee and he only wore it at the company Christmas party until he unfortunately died.
As I say I've been collecting for probably longer that some people on the forum have existed for....
But the old saying "if you don't make mistakes it's because you've probably been doing nothing"
However I have to take my wife's advice and put this and all the rest behind me. Easier said than done.

[sager]

Getting a Tag Aquaracer from a boutique at full MSRP. Was new to the watch world and it was my first expensive watch purchase.


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[SeaDwellerBund]

Unloading my entire collection/ wardrobe of 3 Rolex/ 4 Omega back in 2009 hastily. Just got back into it with one piece, and a beater. 2 watches, that's enough for now.

[Becca1]

selling this 1665 seadweller.
I got great money for it but I've been through 5 or 6 pieces after and wish I'd kept it.
At lest I have a modern one.


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