[Archival Edition] How to choose a luxury watch! 5 recommended luxury watches that are also good investments

"I want to buy a luxury watch, but I don't know which one to choose."

As you may fear, if you choose a luxury watch based solely on your own tastes, you may end up regretting it.

In this article, we will tell you how to choose a luxury watch so that you don't regret your purchase. We will also introduce five specific luxury watch models that are good investments.

If you are considering purchasing a luxury watch, be sure to read this article as it will help you choose a luxury watch that you will not regret.

Popular watches sell out quickly. Sign up for LINE@ to get the information before someone else does!

Also, if you have a watch that looks expensive but you don't know its value, please feel free to contact us at Commit Ginza and we will purchase it from you at the highest price in the industry !

How to choose a luxury watch that you won't regret

Check the drive system and choose a mechanical type

The first thing to check is the movement of the watch.
Luxury watches have two types of power systems: "mechanical," which operates without external power by combining complex mechanisms, and "quartz," which is battery-powered.

When choosing a luxury watch, always choose a mechanical one.

With proper maintenance, mechanical watches can function semi-permanently, but quartz watches have a limited lifespan due to their electronic circuits, and their internal mechanisms are simpler and less labor-intensive than mechanical watches, so they have lower asset value.

Although maintenance requires effort and expense, when you consider asset value and lifespan, if you are spending the same price, a mechanical watch is overwhelmingly the best choice .

Choose the belt material from metal, leather, or whatever suits you best.

For luxury watches, we recommend either a metal or leather watch strap .

Straps that are not made of metal or leather tend to look cheap and may ruin the look of your luxury watch.

Metal belts are highly durable and do not deteriorate easily, so they help maintain their asset value.

Leather straps are lighter and more flexible than metal straps, so your arm won't get tired even if you wear it for a long time. They also give off a classy and calm vibe, so you can wear them for business or private occasions, regardless of the time, place, or occasion.

However, if you have metal allergies, you may want to choose metals such as titanium that are less likely to cause allergic reactions .

If you would like to know more about materials that are likely to cause metal allergies, please read this article.

Choose by features such as waterproofing and chronograph

When choosing a luxury watch, important factors to consider are features that demonstrate the craftsmanship of the watch, such as high water resistance and a chronograph (stopwatch) .

Some typical features of a luxury watch include:

• Highly waterproof
• Chronograph (Stopwatch)
• Calendar function
• GMT function (function to know the current time and the time in the destination country at the same time)

These functions are directly related to the practicality of the watch .
In fact, there are some watches that are valuable just because they have a rare feature.

"Practicality is the very value of a watch," so it's important to make sure that the watch meets the requirements you have for it.

Choose based on appearance, such as design and weight

The appeal of luxury watches is their solidity and fine design that cheap watches do not have.
Practicality and functionality are important when it comes to watches, but if you don't like it, it's not going to be as appealing.

Luxury watches are works of art, designed by world-class designers and completed by renowned craftsmen.

The more you look at this delicate work, the more you will be fascinated.
First of all , it is important to pick a watch that makes you feel like "I would like to wear it."

Choose to make future profits

Most things lose value the moment you buy them.
The market price of a house, car, bag, or wallet usually drops below the list price from the moment you purchase it.

This is no exception even for luxury watches, but some watches end up being worth more than their list price.

By choosing such a watch, purchasing a watch becomes not just a consumable item, but an investment that can generate profits .

Why luxury watches are a good investment

So what makes buying a luxury watch a viable investment?

This has to do with "the nature of luxury watches and special circumstances unique to the industry."

Let's take a closer look at why this is the case.

Depending on the maintenance, it can continue to operate semi-permanently.

As mentioned in the previous section on mechanical watches, mechanical watches can operate semi-permanently with proper maintenance. However, not all mechanical watches can operate semi-permanently. For ordinary mechanical watches, after 10 years from the date of release, the manufacturer will stop producing parts and the watch will become impossible to repair .

On the other hand, many luxury watch brands offer long-term repairs. Rolex, the most famous watch brand in the world, offers a 30-year repair warranty. Some well-known luxury watch brands also offer a lifetime repair warranty.

A luxury watch will not lose much value as long as it continues to work, which means there is a big difference in value between a watch that can be repaired and one that cannot be repaired.

This is the "prerequisite" for luxury watches to be a viable investment.

It also has value as a work of art and jewelry.

Luxury watches are valuable because of the quality they offer.

Generally speaking, watches are considered consumable items.
However, luxury watches are recognized as works of art, just like paintings and pottery .

Originally, luxury watches were also used as jewelry for royalty and aristocrats.
This trend still exists today, with jewellery watches adorned with gold, platinum and precious stones still being sold.

In other words, the high value of the watch itself is one of the reasons why investing in luxury watches is viable.

Low supply but high demand

The reason why luxury watches remain expensive over time is because supply is low relative to demand.

Since luxury watches are individually handcrafted by craftsmen, the production numbers are small to begin with. Also, the number of watches circulating on the market for resale is not large, so the demand is likely to increase.

In other words, demand is always greater than supply , which makes the market boil over as people say, "I want to get it even if it's more expensive than the list price."

There is always the possibility of prices rising, which is why investing in luxury watches is viable.

If you're investing in a watch, buy a used one in good condition

If you want to make a solid investment in watches and make a profit, you should buy "used watches in good condition" because you can purchase a used watch at its current market value.

Even among luxury watches, there are not many models whose second-hand prices exceed the list price.
Most models retain a market value of about 80% to 40% of their list price.

Used watches can be purchased for less than the retail price, so you can keep your initial investment low. In addition, you can purchase them at the fair market price, so not only are you less likely to incur losses, but if you can read the market well, it's also easy to make a profit.

However, to do this, you must purchase the product at a price close to the cost price, without the store's markup. If the cost price is too high, it will be difficult to make a profit.

That's where our store, Commit Ginza, comes in.
At Commit Ginza, we aim to have the lowest margin sales in Japan.

We can answer your desire to buy at the lowest price possible in order to make a profit from your watch investment.

In addition, we have experienced appraisers on-site at our store, so we can introduce specific watches that are suitable for investment.

We stock only items that are in such good condition that you would never guess they are second-hand, so please feel free to contact us.

5 Luxury Watches for Men that are Great Investments

We have carefully selected three luxury watch brands that are recommended for men as investments, and will introduce five representative models from each brand. All of these models are of the highest quality in the world, and are worthy of the name "luxury" watches.

These models are solid choices when it comes to investing in watches, as they are likely to sell for more than their retail price.
When choosing a luxury watch that can also be an investment, make this a priority.

Rolex

Rolex is a brand that has the world's top-level technology and an extraordinary commitment to materials. Above all, Rolex is the most well-known brand in the world, so it commands an outstanding status.

Even in Japan, many people think of Rolex when they think of luxury watches, so demand remains high.

Therefore, most Rolex models are characterized by their low market value . This makes it a brand that is easy to make a profit from buying and selling.

Cosmograph Daytona

Among all Rolex models , the Cosmograph Daytona is a surefire model that is "normally priced above its list price."

The Daytona is the only Rolex model equipped with a chronograph, and due to its beautiful design, it sells out immediately after release, making it a difficult model to obtain.

Some Cosmograph Daytona models are priced at more than twice the list price, which shows how popular they are.

There are options for purchasing a new Rolex, such as buying it from a parallel shop or mass retailer, but when it comes to Daytona, many people prefer to purchase it from an authorized dealer.

The reason for this is that due to its overwhelming popularity, it can command a premium price of more than double at any store other than the official store.

If you want to make a successful investment in a watch, it is best to buy a Daytona from an authorized dealer, but we also recommend buying a second-hand watch, as prices are rising every year .

If you would like to know more about the Cosmograph Daytona, please read this article.

GMT-Master

The GMT Master is a popular model with a distinctive bezel. As the name suggests, it is equipped with a GMT function, allowing you to check the current time and the time in the country you are arriving at at a glance.

The GMT Master is also a model that is on the rise, with the current Ref. 126720BLRO and Ref. 126711CHNR trading at 1.5 to 2 times the list price. In addition, the Ref. 116710BLNR, which was recently announced to be discontinued at Baselworld 2019, has soared to more than double its list price.

I wouldn't go so far as to say it's on par with the Daytona, but it's a model that you should definitely consider among your Rolex options.

Patek Philippe

Although it is not a well-known brand in Japan, Patek Philippe is the world's number one watch brand. If you want to show off your status with a watch, there is no better watch than Patek Philippe.

Patek Philippe watches, also known as the "top watch" and with many fans around the world, are also suitable for watch investment. Until recently, it was even said that you could make a profit no matter which Patek Philippe watch you bought.

Recently, the hype has calmed down, but the high demand and solid value still make it a watch brand worth investing in.

Nautilus

The Nautilus is the flagship model of Patek Philippe.
The Nautilus is a perfect model for a watch investment, as it can potentially increase in value by over 10 million yen .

The Nautilus has a history of being loved by great figures such as Queen Victoria and Einstein, and it continues to enjoy tremendous support from aristocrats and the wealthy today, and it is not uncommon for this model to be traded at extremely high prices.

Aquanaut

It is Patek Philippe's flagship model alongside the Nautilus.

It is more popular than the Nautilus and is an exceptional item that is hard to find even in official stores in Japan.

From an investment perspective, prices tended to decline around 2017, but have been rising rapidly since around May 2018.

We don't recommend buying it at retail price, but it's a model that you can expect to make a good profit by purchasing second-hand.

Audemars Piguet

Audemars Piguet has been a family-run business for over 130 years, and although not as popular as the other two brands, it is still a steadily popular brand. Its adherence to family management has earned it immense popularity among business owners .

The technical expertise that has been steadily developed over the past 130 years is worthy of the name of luxury watches.

Royal Oak

Audemars Piguet's flagship model, the Royal Oak, is a solid investment that has not seen a huge surge in popularity but has been steadily increasing in price.

The Royal Oak is a legendary model that played a role that could be called a savior in the Swiss watch industry, which was once devastated by the advent of battery-powered watches.

Due to their enduring popularity, it is not uncommon for the second-hand purchase price of a model to exceed the retail price.

summary

In this article, we have explained how to select a luxury watch that can also be an investment.
Here are some tips on how to select a luxury watch:

• Choose a mechanical watch
• Choose the belt material from metal or leather, or choose the material that matches your preference.
• Choose based on practicality, such as waterproof, chronograph, calendar, GMT, etc.
• Choose based on appearance, such as your favorite design or weight.
• Choose to make a profit when you let go

Luxury watches are also viable as investments because they can continue to function almost indefinitely with proper maintenance, they are produced in large quantities but have a small market share, and they are highly valued as works of art.

We also explained that if you are thinking of investing in a watch, we recommend purchasing a used watch, which is a safer option for hedging your risks .

Finally, we have introduced five recommended models of luxury watches that are likely to exceed their list price and are easy to make as a watch investment.

• Rolex's most popular model, the Cosmograph Daytona
• The price of Rolex's GMT Master is rising steadily
• The Nautilus, Patek Philippe's flagship model, is the most prestigious in the world.
• Patek Philippe Aquanaut, whose prices have increased since 2017
• Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak has a legendary background

If you are looking to purchase a used watch which is easier to make a profit from, please contact Commit Ginza, the number one retailer in Japan for low profit margins.

If you would like to know more about investing in luxury watches, please read this article supervised by an appraiser.

Popular watches sell out quickly. You can get the information before someone else does, so be sure to sign up for LINE@ !

Thank you for reading.
If you are looking for a luxury watch, start by checking out Rolex!

Also, if you have any luxury watches you would like to sell, please feel free to contact Commit Ginza!

If you want to sell luxury watches for a high price or buy them for a low price, come to Commit Ginza!

• "I want to sell my unused luxury watch for as much as possible."
• "I want a thorough assessment."
• "I want to buy from a store with a good track record."
• "I want to buy luxury watches at low prices."

If you have these requirements, Commit Ginza is perfect for you !

Commit Ginza is a watch store that operates on the concept of " buy high, sell low " in the used watch market, where prices are said to be difficult to understand.

Our experienced watch appraisers assess the watches to determine the market value and set the appropriate price. We also strive to maximize the profit margins of our stores and improve customer satisfaction.

As a result, the commission rate for deposit sales is only 3% (industry average is 10%).

Please feel free to consult with Commit Ginza whether you are purchasing a watch for investment or selling.