KNOW YOUR MODELS,
KEEP YOUR EYES
OPEN, ALWAYS BE ON
THE PROWL.
AIR KING
THE CURVE
Through talking with Halpern I learned about
the depreciation curve, the point at which desir-
able models become their most affordable before
beginning to rise in value, as they are increasingly
associated with the terms “vintage.”
For example, a ten-year-old two-tone Daytona
could be had, at a relative bargain, where a current
used ceramic bezel version commands nearly retail
price. Twenty-year-old GMT Pepsi and Coke bezel
watches have been going through the roof, as they
enter the high end of the arc, and are expected to
continue rising. Ten years ago they were half the
price they command today. Through planning a
ten or fifteen year collecting scheme, it’s possible
to pay the least amount of money in a value curve
for a successive range of models, acquiring each as
they hit the low ebb.
Working with Halpern also provided access to
a vast network of other collectors and sources for
watches, with an intermediary to examine and war-
ranty the purchase. With guidance I’ve put togeth-
er a short list of models that have always intrigued
me and will form the basis of a calculated collec-
tion, based on the ebb and flow of the market. Of
course, with a steady influx of new product, there’s
always the chance that a random bargain will come
through the door, something worthy of trading for.
But t hat’s part of the fun of the game.
So what’s the biggest takeaway about being a
cheapskate Rolex collector? Find someone you
can work with and trust, who has forgotten more
than you will ever know. Anything after that is luck.
Know your models, keep your eyes open, always be
on the prowl and, above all, remember: Full retail is
for rubes.
SUMMER 2017 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | 165