insideKENT Magazine Issue 89 - August 2019 | Page 111
The Watchfinder & Co.
FASHION+BEAUTY
BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO WATCHES
THE EXPERIENCE THAT COMES WITH BUYING YOUR FIRST LUXURY WATCH IS ONE TO
BE SAVOURED AND ENJOYED, SO WATCHFINDER, THE PRE-OWNED LUXURY WATCH
SPECIALISTS, HAVE PROVIDED THIS GUIDE TO FURNISH YOU WITH ALL THE INFORMATION
YOU NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
Why Pre-owned? Budget Choosing your spec
A new watch will always suffer a hit of depreciation
in the transition to being pre-owned, so buying pre-
owned means avoiding that depreciation.
Additionally, with RRPs rising year on year, it can
sometimes even propagate a positive investment
because the price of new watches is often an anchor
point for pre-owned. While you’ll be looking at a minimum of £1,000 for
a good luxury watch, there is no upper limit, so it’s
best to have a budget in mind to start with and stick
to it. The most popular watches sit at around the
£4,000-£6,000 mark, for example your classic Rolex,
Omega and Breitling. But that doesn’t mean to say
there aren’t a great number of options for less, with
brands such as Longines, TAG Heuer and Cartier
included in that. It’s often said that 39mm is the ideal size for a
wristwatch, but who’s to judge? Watches come in
all shapes and sizes from just a few centimetres to
well over 60, but how do you find the size for you?
It’s obvious, try some watches on! Or, failing that,
cut out a paper template and see how it sits. If you
think it looks good, that’s all that counts. One thing
to remember is that the size of a watch is given as
its diameter across the case (or width and height in
the instance of a rectangular watch).
A key advantage of buying pre-owned is the
additional choice: being able to browse hundreds of
discontinued and vintage models, you can make
close comparisons and be sure to buy the watch
that’s right for you. Watchfinder’s Swiss-trained
watchmakers process every watch through the
manufacturer-accredited service centre, checking
factors such as authenticity, accuracy, water-
resistance and performance, and every watch sold
comes with a 12-month Watchfinder warranty.
Finance
Finance can make your purchases more manageable,
whether it’s a traditional arrangement or interest
free. By spreading your payments, you can have the
watch you want sooner rather than later, and with
the interest-free options, you won’t pay a penny
more than the ticket price.
Investment Style
First and foremost, you should purchase the watch
you want, but if you can secure an investment at the
same time, why not? It’s one of the great perks of
buying pre-owned – to avoid the gut-wrenching
depreciation of brand new. Depreciation does,
however, slow with time, and can – as RRPs
subsequently rise – completely reverse and go the
other way. It’s not uncommon for a pre-owned watch
such as Rolex or Patek Philippe to be sold for
considerably more than it was bought for. Believe it or not, watches don’t just tell the time,
they tell a story, too. Whether that be a story of deep
sea exploration, beating a circuit lap record, or the
conquest of the skies, there’s a watch to suit everyone.
It’s obvious that different functionality defines
different styles of watch – water resistance in dive
watches, for example, or a chronograph on a driver’s
watch. Whether it be sporty, or a super smart dress
watch that complements a sharp suit, the possibilities
are endless.
'There are loads of other considerations when
it comes to buying a watch, such as the dial,
crown and pusher style, markers, hands and
movements, not to mention material and warranties.
Head over to the Watchfinder website for more
information, and browse luxury watches from over
70 brands.'
Watchfinder & Co. Bluewater Boutique
The Village
Greenhithe
Kent DA9 9ST
01622805970
www.watchfinder.co.uk
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