Sales regrets or not?

[Oldngrey]

Hi all. I was wondering how many of you have sold a Omega or multiples of to fund a Rolex and if they now have any regrets?
I’m currently considering selling two Seamasters in favour of an Explorer which would be my first Rolex, but both have valid reasons not to. There’s my 2264 which I like for the comfort fit and the legibility of the sword style hands, which I find I can easily read with my ageing eyes.
Then there’s my current style diver 300 which if I’m honest I regret buying, and I don’t wear much plus I find it harder to read.This would be the obvious choice to move on, but I bought it when my first grandson was born and I said I would eventually leave it to him, so I’m torn on moving this one on because it’s basically his birth month watch, but will a watch that’s lived in its box for years mean anything to him? Or would he prefer a watch with a few scratches that his grandfather actually wore, because my intention is to make the Explorer may daily wearer and enjoy wearing it, and not worry about it.
Any thoughts or anyone done similar.
Thanks
Mark

[RolexBHR]

I say those or both valid reasons to keep them.

[brandrea]

One could argue that your grandson would one day enjoy wearing grandpa’s
Explorer that he grew up watching you wear wear

If you get too emotionally attached to inanimate objects it’s a slippery slope. Ask me how I know

[1William]

I would do the trade for the Explorer and wear and enjoy it. Leaving a watch for your Grandson is a nice thought but the watch you leave will mean significantly less than the memories that he has of you. Get the Explorer and go on with it. In the end they are just watches.

[RW16610]

Do what makes you happiest and have no regrets either way. The watch you leave for your grandson in the future will have more sentimental value of you wore it regularly and signs of wear are present. To directly answer your question, I have sold / trades 4 Omega watches over the years. The first generation Planet Ocean 45.5mm, the 2220.80 (one of the watches that Daniel Craig wore in Casino Royale, but obviously not the screen worn piece), a vintage Seamaster from the 60s, and a 2225.80 which is the chronograph version of the aforementioned Casino Royale piece.

The first Planet Ocean was sold to fund a. Explorer II back in 2010, zero regrets. Have I missed the watch at times? Not so much, and if I still had it I would likely sell it anyway.

The 2220.80 was sold and the cash used for other things at the time because I had the 16570 Explorer II at this point and wore nothing else. Do I miss it? Not really, as my collection has been rebuilt better than before in the present as I type this post.

The vintage Seamaster, 2225.80 (which I've replaced by the way and will never sell again), and even the 16570 Explorer II were all trades towards a 116710LN GMT Master II at a bricks and mortar business in Toronto. Given what has happened to the watch market, I'm SO glad I did this back in 2017 when it was much easier to do or obtain. Do I miss any of those watches? Nope, only the one that I ended up replacing, of course.

As aforementioned, I have since added many more pieces to the collection in the past few years and couldn't be happier! Life is short, live it to the fullest do always do what makes you happiest. Hopefully this helps but either way I know you'll be happy as this is yet another win-win situation.

[ijoinedforthisthread]

I've owned a number of Omegas and several Rolexes, and the Rolex always felt a bit more special.

I even had the Snoopy for a couple of years and enjoyed it, but replaced it with a Pepsi and have no regrets.

I don't think your grandson is going to remember any promises you made at birth, but he will remember what watch you were wearing when you spent time with him growing up, especially if it's something you loved and talked to him about. Get the one you like and hand it down.

[PTCDAD]

I sold the NTTD to fund a Pepsi purchase but still miss that piece. I also sold my blue Speedy 57 to fund an Apollo 8 purchase. I love the Apollo 8 but wore that Speedy 57 more. Do what makes you happy, but if you’re anything like me , you’ll have a little regret.

[Oldngrey]

Originally Posted by RW16610

Do what makes you happiest and have no regrets either way. The watch you leave for your grandson in the future will have more sentimental value of you wore it regularly and signs of wear are present. To directly answer your question, I have sold / trades 4 Omega watches over the years. The first generation Planet Ocean 45.5mm, the 2220.80 (one of the watches that Daniel Craig wore in Casino Royale, but obviously not the screen worn piece), a vintage Seamaster from the 60s, and a 2225.80 which is the chronograph version of the aforementioned Casino Royale piece.

The first Planet Ocean was sold to fund a. Explorer II back in 2010, zero regrets. Have I missed the watch at times? Not so much, and if I still had it I would likely sell it anyway.

The 2220.80 was sold and the cash used for other things at the time because I had the 16570 Explorer II at this point and wore nothing else. Do I miss it? Not really, as my collection has been rebuilt better than before in the present as I type this post.

The vintage Seamaster, 2225.80 (which I've replaced by the way and will never sell again), and even the 16570 Explorer II were all trades towards a 116710LN GMT Master II at a bricks and mortar business in Toronto. Given what has happened to the watch market, I'm SO glad I did this back in 2017 when it was much easier to do or obtain. Do I miss any of those watches? Nope, only the one that I ended up replacing, of course.

As aforementioned, I have since added many more pieces to the collection in the past few years and couldn't be happier! Life is short, live it to the fullest do always do what makes you happiest. Hopefully this helps but either way I know you'll be happy as this is yet another win-win situation.

Thanks for your reply, what you say makes lots of sense. Over the last year or so I’ve slowly been coming round to the idea that life is short and do what makes you happy, but I’m not quite there yet and I still feel I need to justify it to myself beforehand.

[RW16610]

Nothing wrong with that, Mark! It's all part of the decision making process as purchasing a watch, especially one you're planning to pass down many years in the future does require a lot of thought. Enjoy the process and ultimately if you have many doubts holding you back over time this is likely a sign to simply continue enjoying what you currently have and doing the aforementioned with those instead.

[DoricSpiker]

He would prefer a watch you loved and wore.

[AEC]

Originally Posted by 1William

I would do the trade for the Explorer and wear and enjoy it. Leaving a watch for your Grandson is a nice thought but the watch you leave will mean significantly less than the memories that he has of you. Get the Explorer and go on with it. In the end they are just watches.

I agree. Make the trade, enjoy the Explorer every day (there may not be a better watch for that), and leave it to your grandson (a very long time from now )

It's worth noting that I did make a trade many years ago where I gave up a vintage Speedmaster Pro to help fund the first generation Rolex GMT with a ceramic bezel, and about a year later I realized that GMT just wasn't my kind of watch, and I regretted letting my vintage Speedmaster go. These things happen, but it seems you're taking measures to think it through first.