“When you buy vintage,
you’re very safe”
explains: “Ideally, a watch should
come with its box, papers, and service
records but it’s rare to get all three.”
In keeping with Boutros’ concern,
Borgelt confirms: “Even if [a watch] is an
original, sellers may reapply the luminescent substance to the markers to make it
look better. This actually drops the value.”
Indeed, maintenance should not be considered an impediment; rather, the little
service and space needed for safe storage are
unique positives belonging to the timekeeping world. Experts simply advise that one
should not engage with the upkeep themselves. A so-called ‘tune-up’ from a trusted
company every three years should suffice to
preserve condition and precision. Keeping
the service papers and being able to present
them upon resale will also make your piece
more competitive.
To avoid the detriment of sunlight and
temperamental weather conditions, a dark
place should be sought to protect the dial,
hands and markers from fading; an automatic watch should, moreover, be kept on a
watch winder to ensure that the movement
stays alive.
Besides the little time and money required to maintain one’s investment,
wristwatches have the added bonus of being
considered a wasting asset in certain countries, eliminati