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 111