Fratello On Air: Thinning Out The Watch Collection

Something with which only one of us has experience

July 30, 2024

comments 51

Welcome back to Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss thinning out our watch collections. It’s a tough topic because only one of us has ever sold a watch! We’re happy to take on the subject, though, because it’s easy to pile up watches that see very little wrist time. For our listeners, the watch content begins approximately 23 minutes into the episode.

Thinning out the watch collection is an idea that Balazs is comfortable with because he’s done it! On the other hand, Mike has never sold or traded a watch and is finally thinking about doing so. Today, we discuss weaning down the collection, how to do it, and what to do with the funds. But first…

Handgelenkskontrolle

We kick off our episode with a return to one of our favorite subjects — sneakers. Adidas has released a new collection of shoes and jerseys for Inter Miami 2024, and they’re hot! Balazs made the mistake of sharing the news with Mike, and now pastel Miami Dolphins-hued Gazelles are on the way to Mike’s feet alongside a sweet retro-themed jersey. You can take the boy out of South Florida, but you can’t take SoFlo out of the boy! Balazs also mentions the upcoming Nike: Form Follows Motion exhibit at the Vitra Design Museum in Germany. If you’re visiting this exhibition, it’s worth stopping at the Musée National de l’Automobile in Mulhouse, France.

For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing the new Nivada Grenchen Chronosport that Lex briefly covered when it debuted. Expect a hands-on review soon! Meanwhile, Mike is enjoying his trusty Citizen BN0220 in the Spanish heat, making good on his “Best Summer Watches At Three Different Price Points” recommendation.

Thinning out the watch collection

Today, we thank our dedicated listener Tristan for his suggestion for an episode on thinning out the watch collection. We modified the topic slightly to discuss how to pick the watches ready for a new home and what to do with the funds. Balazs has more experience with this and shares how he recently sold a pair of two-tone Rolex Datejust models to help fund a watch he desired, the Submariner 5513. Mike has never sold a watch and is considering it. He has a target watch in mind and will begin stacking up watches in his collection for trade. We promise to report back on any progress!

We hope you enjoy today’s show, and thank you for the suggestion, Tristan! If you have any ideas for future episodes, please let us know!

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MB
MarkBu says:

Jul 30, 2024 at 09:43

Something I’ve not got around to doing and am fairly unenthusiastic about. My least worn watches aren’t worth that much and I’d rather give them away to friends, family or even charity than put the effort in to trying to sell them.

Reply
1. SC
  Tam O’ Banter says:
  
  Jul 31, 2024 at 03:45
  
  I have to admit that trying to sell my affordable pieces was a humbling experience.
  “But I paid £X for it! Why does nobody want it?” was a repeated thought. I bought a few of the usual suspects: Oris, Ball, Rado. They got little-to-know interest on C24, apart from what Mrs Banter calls “the 2nd-hand shoe buyers” who seemed comfortable humiliating themselves with 27 messages asking me if I could “take [their] circumstances into account”.
  
  Although I did sell a couple of pieces, it changed my attitude significantly. It seems that there’s little point thinking of anything below a rather high RRP as recoupable funds. If you’re going to spend….say five grand over a couple of years, I feel it’s best to just buy one classic watch.
  
  Like many in this hobby, I would love to have known what I do now before I started.
  
  Reply
  1. Serious_Panther says:
    
    Jul 31, 2024 at 09:43
    
    It’s even easier to get suckered into buying one 200 – 300 $/€/£ watch after another, and then what? Do you enjoy what you have? No, you’re looking for more watches, maybe something more expensive, and selling these pieces is a terrible hassle. I love the affordables which have survived in my collection, but if you’re starting out, don’t fall into that trap.
    
    Reply
    1. SC
      Tam O’ Banter says:
      
      Jul 31, 2024 at 12:57
      
      I still have mostly relatively affordable (Longines etc). They’re well made accurate and comfortable. Absolutely nothing wrong with them. But too ordinary for WIS channels.
      
      Reply
    2. 010 says:
      
      Jul 31, 2024 at 23:16
      
      But, But, But, value, value, value, good, good, good. Brand, Brand, Brand, bad, bad, bad.
      There are reasons brands are BRANDS and not all of it is simply marketing. while most “value” watches are similar variations on similar themes with off the shelf 38 hour Sellita movements (in 2024) and have no tradition of watchmaking. Sorry most microbrand” founders are “enthusiasts” and god bless you, but you are not watchmakers. And buying those type of watches doesn’t make one a hobbyist, it makes you a consumer. Which is fine but let’s not fall into the trap of trying to convince others that shopping based on price is some noble pursuit.
      
      Reply
      1. Opinionsopinions says:
        
        Aug 01, 2024 at 12:29
        
        Please explain what makes you so qualified to define what other people are?
        
        Reply
    3. GP
      Skip72 says:
      
      Aug 01, 2024 at 21:30
      
      I am more into the $1200 Seiko territory, and I like them. As dive watches have become more expensive, I just cannot justify spending a lot on a watch like that. I like having a Seiko I can wear and not care about, and when it gets boring, I list it on ebay for $1. It ends up selling for $800, I take my lumps and I’m on to the next one. It was nice when I could buy vintage gems for that kind of money, but I can’t find them any more. I will spend more on a few watches (I have an Aqua Terra), but mostly I am grabbing a Nomos for $1800 Club or another Seiko. If I get a good enough deal I sometimes make money on the Seiko’s, but nothing like I did with the Vintage watches. The microbrand watches are great too, but I find that I am not selling those.
      
      I would love to have a Lange, but I am afraid that I would never wear it. I cannot imagine owning a watch over $30k. It is too much for me.
      
      Reply
Serious_Panther says:

Jul 30, 2024 at 10:46

More difficult are entry level watches you don’t wear anymore. Eric Wind surely doesn’t want my affordables… or someone else’s 10 San Martins. So for the first time recently, instead of making photos and listing watches online, I just gave two watches to Oxfam.

Reply
1. xbarx1 says:
  
  Jul 30, 2024 at 18:50
  
  I’d forgotten I donated a dozen watches to a watchmaker school. They seemed happy to accept them. I never heard back from them after sending. I hope they were useful if nothing else.
  
  Reply
  1. Serious_Panther says:
    
    Jul 30, 2024 at 22:04
    
    Also a good move.
    
    Reply
2. SC
  Tam O’ Banter says:
  
  Jul 31, 2024 at 03:49
  
  I have left a few Gs and and Orient or two in conspicuous places near footpaths and on subway carriages. It felt nice to give a stranger a pleasant surprise.
  
  Reply
3. GP
  Skip72 says:
  
  Aug 03, 2024 at 18:44
  
  San Martin watches are great for gifting. I bought a couple and gave away all but one— applied Arabic’s on a mother of pearl dial. I added a shell cordovan strap to that watch and I do wear it. It is my only bronze watch, and the strap cost me more than the watch. The others were all knock off’s of other watches. I felt stupid not realizing that until I received them (who makes homages to Seiko?). That said, my nephews sure like them. They look nicer than their Seiko’s (my earlier gifts), but we will see if they last.
  
  As a cheap watch, they sure have nice polishing and brushing. I wish Seiko contracted out their cheap cases and bracelets to them.
  
  Reply
  1. Serious_Panther says:
    
    Aug 03, 2024 at 21:45
    
    Okay Skip, I’ll admit here that I own one San Martin. It looks like a blue Pelagos with a GMT hand, which doesn’t exist from Tudor. So I’m okay with that. Only when you have a box of 10 great San Martin deals, you’ll realize you’ve been had.
    
    Reply
    1. Richard says:
      
      Aug 04, 2024 at 01:43
      
      I just finished a vacation with, among a couple other watches, an Octopus Kraken, which is a Chinese Pelagos-39 a like. It was excellent, only lost about 2 seconds per day, and took the abuse of waterslides, snorkeling and diving well. Not sure how long it will last but it will be fun while it does.
      
      Reply
      1. Serious_Panther says:
        
        Aug 04, 2024 at 08:18
        
        These Chinese clomages can offer some fun, if you can get around that some are named a bit silly.
        
        Reply
EV
EVH1968 says:

Jul 30, 2024 at 11:09

My question is, what is the best place to sell your watch.

Reply
1. AC
  Andy Curtis says:
  
  Jul 30, 2024 at 14:04
  
  And additionally to this topic how watch sales are affected by tax when ebay and chrono 24 are reporting our sales of watches to local tax offices. Would be good to hear more about how and when to sell watches as a private seller
  
  Reply
2. KL
  Keith says:
  
  Jul 30, 2024 at 18:09
  
  chrono24 has a 6% fee, ebay has a 12% fee. ebay has more eyes, but chrono24 is more watch specific. i sold 1 on ebay and the other 3 on C24
  
  Reply
  1. GP
    Skip72 says:
    
    Aug 03, 2024 at 18:47
    
    ebay charged me 5%. They charged the buyer his local sales tax. For non-watch items, eBay’s fee has been 15% total. ebay charges two distinct fees. Also, with watches, ebay has you ship to them, and ebay ships to the customer after they verify the watch. It is an anti-fraud measure as scammers were buying real watches and returning replicas. Some even returned empty boxes.
    
    Reply
3. xbarx1 says:
  
  Jul 30, 2024 at 18:52
  
  Watch forums might be the best bet. I’ve bought from a couple, never sold. The sellers were not thrilled to sell to a ‘new guy.’ But they got over it when they were paid before the conversation was over.
  
  Reply
  1. GP
    Skip72 says:
    
    Aug 03, 2024 at 18:53
    
    I have sold this way. I only had one problem with a cheap Seiko. The buyer returned the watch without the box, extra strap, papers and warranty card. When I complained he said the cheap Seiko was a replica. I have not sold on that forum since.
    
    Cheap stuff brings out the jerks. It is like trying to give anything away on Craigslist or Facebook. If it is free, people harass you and try to exploit you. If you sell the stuff, people are nicer, and you can tell them it is free when they arrive.
    
    I stopped selling cheaper watches. I just give them away now to avoid headaches. Let my nephews or young neighbors sell them and handle the ebay monsters.
    
    Reply
    1. xbarx1 says:
      
      Aug 04, 2024 at 17:16
      
      The internet brings out the jerks. They are everywhere. Cheap watches attract an inexperienced buyer I imagine. Experienced buyers spending thousands are really no different. There’s nice and not so nice at every price level.
      
      Reply
PS
PSmith says:

Jul 30, 2024 at 11:25

Another option when “thinning out” one’s watch collection — gift them to family members and close friends. This is my preference by far. Don’t want to deal with selling watches and gifting them brings so much joy to both the giver and the receiver.

Reply
1. xbarx1 says:
  
  Jul 30, 2024 at 18:55
  
  I gave vintage watches as gifts a couple times to nephew and nieces. Never again. I think they thought they were getting Rolexes, but then didn’t take care of them. One was lost. The rest drowned. I clearly stated they were not for swimming, diving, or even the pool.
  
  Reply
  1. Tristan says:
    
    Jul 31, 2024 at 16:05
    
    Oh dear, that probably hurt. I suppose you could only do that knowing the recipients already have some interest in watches or appreciation.
    
    I gave my son my old Seamaster 300m for his 16th and thankfully he wears it all the time because it looks good on him. I had it serviced, polished and cleaned up beforehand so that it looked like a new gift, at the OMEGA jeweller so they could size it and make it an occassion for him rather than me just handing him something like I did not want it anymore.
    
    Reply
    1. PS
      PSmith says:
      
      Jul 31, 2024 at 19:32
      
      Great job! He’ll treasure it always.
      
      Reply
  2. PS
    PSmith says:
    
    Jul 31, 2024 at 19:31
    
    I hear you. One of my gifts was mysteriously lost as well. And another became a paper weight after years of continuous abuse, misuse and neglect. But most of my gifts are still being worn pretty regularly if not all the time. I enjoy seeing my loved ones proudly wearing their watches. My wife said that I am giving them a gift. And what they do with my gift should be none of my business. But “ouch” it hurts when they are not treasured.
    
    Reply
VC
Victor777 says:

Jul 30, 2024 at 13:38

Tough topic both on an emotional level and in terms of actual effort. I managed to build a nice collection of vintage pieces by constantly trading but it’s much harder now. The abundance of information available online cuts both ways and since some of the watchmakers in my network are now retired i have to explore other venues. I’m mentaly ready to part ways with most of my modern pieces so i can get my exit watch and call it a day. More travel (hopefully), and less material posessions as I approach retirement. I don’t want to be a downer, but there’s nothing like a health scare (luckily resolved) to remind one of what really matters in life.

Reply
1. PS
  PSmith says:
  
  Jul 31, 2024 at 19:33
  
  Agree. Hope you are well.
  
  Reply
2. GP
  Skip72 says:
  
  Aug 03, 2024 at 18:58
  
  We really had a golden age from the 1990’s to about ten years ago. I built up a fine collection, and when I got into health trouble (America’s fine for-profit health care system), I was able to sell it off for a profit.
  
  My biggest gripe today is gold. I love rose gold, but the price of the metal is 7-8 times what it was twenty years ago. Then again, today’s microbrands are so much fun. Perhaps there are all kinds of gems we are simply unaware of.
  
  Reply
AG
Stuckon5.10A says:

Jul 30, 2024 at 17:18

It’s a good topic. We only can wear one (maybe two watches) at a time, so how many do we need? The constant desire for something new isn’t healthy. A new watch rarely seems to satisfy the desire to keep buying. I believe that having one watch and wearing it without having to think about the other watches I own or trying to buy more watches, is the most surefire way to enjoy a watch and reduce the time I waste thinking about consumer goods.

To each their own, though.

Reply
1. AR
  Alexander Ryan says:
  
  Jul 31, 2024 at 11:40
  
  I was a champion of the One Watch for many years, would agonize to find the one perfect piece then wear nothing but that for 2-3 years before wanting something new. Recently I’ve been gathering a collection, and it feels crazy and unhinged and unbalanced but it’s so darn fun. I imagine I’ll soon consolidate back to the One Watch mode but I just can’t tell.
  
  Reply
xbarx1 says:

Jul 30, 2024 at 19:00

I so need to do this. Collectors are notorious for procrastination. I’ve collected watches since the 80’s. Plus I fear regret but I have enough other watches I love more to get over it pretty fast.
I have over 200 watches. I don’t know the exact number. 98% are vintage, There’s only a handful of higher end watches, with only a couple hovering in the $10k realm and they live in the safe, and I have no desire to own more like that.
Lots of my watches are well known but are not pristine. Many need a service and maybe a correct crown, that proved impossible to find. More than a few are parts watches and some could be restored, but I probably already have a decent example of them in rotation.
I focused on a couple brands and specific models and have multiples of models variants that span decades as well as multiples of the exact same model, and multiples of the exact same model with branding variations. Croton, Nivada, Nivada Grenchen and Croton Nivada Grenchen callouts on Antarctic models abound. I admit, I have a problem.
I did sell two watches not that long ago to a friend of Fratello in India with a large collection and they were featured in a book. Not everyone can say that. I also have a fair number of watches that were featured in two other books written by the same friend.
Letting go was hard, but they were multiples and went to a good home. I’m struggling to decide where to post watches for sale. Some of the forums look promising but I have not stayed current on them or established a presence or reputation. eBay gets their fair share of the price, other sites are better, but I have maybe 40 watches I want to unload that are just okay examples that display their previous lives or are not working, don’t have a correct crown, or a bracelet that’s comes up short on my wrist that I couldn’t find links to match. I do have better watches to unload as well.
I’m not sure how attractive some would be to others. Guessing I should just bite the bullet and put a couple up for sale and see what happens. I have a few long gone Swiss brand watches that are new old stock as well a few watches I never loved. Turns out I don’t love sub seconds complications.
I need to pull them all out and set a goal. 100 watches still sounds like too many but I might be getting into regret territory. I should pick a number and stick to it. I use storage boxes that hold 12 watches. My safe will hold 10 boxes. I need to learn to look at the rest and see dollar signs. 😉

Reply
1. Serious_Panther says:
  
  Jul 31, 2024 at 10:55
  
  I’d love to see your collection, but I wouldn’t like to own it. I once spoke to someone who claimed he owned more than 400 watches… I couldn’t handle that, not even a hundred. I have 20 watches, but like I always say: I am a one watch guy with 19 watches too many.
  
  Reply
  1. PS
    PSmith says:
    
    Jul 31, 2024 at 19:38
    
    Yes, I agree. I can’t quote the exact combined number of watches my wife and I own and this is bad. The problem is that she buys watches without telling me. But, in all honesty I do the same 😉
    
    Reply
Richard says:

Jul 31, 2024 at 04:57

Haven’t listened to the episode yet (on vacation in the Bahamas swimming with sharks), but I’d suggest that collectors consider trading watches rather than selling them outright.

In the last two years, I’ve traded a Rolex for a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, and two watches for a Girard-Perregaux Laureato. Both were traded with the same gray market dealer. All it takes is spotting an undervalued brand, with watches that tend to sit on shelves, and you can get a great deal.

Will listen tonight when the family is asleep.

Thank you for keeping th s regular content going, guys. I’m sure it feels like a pain every now and then, but us listeners appreciate your effort and time you put in.

Reply
1. Tristan says:
  
  Jul 31, 2024 at 16:15
  
  Reef, Nurse and Whale I’m fine with but I’m terrified of the others!
  
  So which did you prefer: the Sub or the FF?
  
  Reply
  1. Richard says:
    
    Aug 01, 2024 at 04:30
    
    You hit the nail on the head – was swimming with nurse and reef sharks.
    
    I still own the Submariner and the Fifty Fathoms but I wear the Fifty Fathoms far more – Rolex Submariners are iconic and anyone who has one is lucky. But for me, there are tons of Submariners in NYC and some watch crime as well, so I leave the Submariner at home.
    
    There have been a few different restaurants hit in Williamsburg by robbers, so better safe that sorry. No one gives my Blancpain a second look, though.
    
    Reply
Serious_Panther says:

Jul 31, 2024 at 10:42

This episode really got me thinking. So, I want to propose a new topic for the podcast:

The Traps & Pitfalls of Collecting Watches
– I need to buy watches
– Every collection needs a…
– I’m not a real collector if I don’t…
– Being on Instagram to be part of the Watchfam
– Chasing expensive watches
– Chasing affordable watches
– Becoming addicted to discounts and great deals
– Generally, hoarding watches

Reply
1. MB
  MarkBu says:
  
  Jul 31, 2024 at 14:19
  
  Yep.
  
  Reply
2. PS
  PSmith says:
  
  Jul 31, 2024 at 19:44
  
  Don’t buy a watch just because it’s on sale.
  Don’t buy a watch just because the salesperson promised you a 25% discount.
  Don’t buy a watch just because it was featured in one of these online publications.
  Don’t buy a watch out of fear of missing out.
  Don’t buy a watch because everyone else wants or has one, or the cool people are wearing that reference.
  Don’t buy a watch because it’s trendy and en vogue.
  Don’t buy a watch to impress people with your wealth or good tastes.
  
  Reply
SC
WatchWally says:

Jul 31, 2024 at 13:36

Very interesting to hear you talk about this ‘problem’. I don’t have a large number of watches. I recently sold 2 on Chrono24 (for context, €700 & €4800) and I have another 5 listed, as well as 2 multi-watch winders. I am new to selling watches so trying to learn all the time.

First off, the 2 I sold were shipped by DHL (1 in UK, 1 to Netherlands). BOTH were insured as part of the DHL shipment, at a cost of 1.5% of declared value. So YES, DHL do insure, at least for shipments originating in UK, so I am sure they do elsewhere as well.

I have a couple of questions for Balazs and Fratello readers with experience.

1. What is the typical sale cycle time on C24? Both the watches I have sold shipped within a week of listing, the others are still there after 2 months (range €810 – €9300). They have between 5 and 20 ‘likes’, so people are following them or have put them in their ‘notepad’, but no offers.

2. Although offered ‘priced to sell’, maybe I should have included a negotiating margin in the price. How long should I wait before concluding that my price might be too high?

All advice gratefully received.

Also, a question for Mike and Balazs – why do you include content such as your father’s pet hate of caravans and mobile homes? Not complaining, just curious as to how it relates to Fratello.

Reply
1. Mike Stockton says:
  
  Jul 31, 2024 at 16:27
  
  No idea on the C24 questions. Regarding my dad’s “love” of caravans, we engage in healthy banter before we hit the main topic and enjoy sharing personal tidbits. When we run into listeners and friends, this often sparks fun conversation. What does it have to with Fratello? Not much but neither do sneakers, etc. it’s also why we mention when the watch content starts – we realize some listeners don’t want to hear our jabbering – no issues!
  
  Reply
2. balazs says:
  
  Jul 31, 2024 at 16:36
  
  “When shipping a parcel with additional insurance, you can insure items up to a maximum value of EUR 25,000.
  
  However, certain items (class II valuables) are only allowed up to a value of EUR 500 per day and recipient. So, valuables of this kind with a value exceeding EUR 500 cannot be insured. For shipping within Germany, this includes:”
  
  Sadly, watches fall into class II value, so no, they cannot be insured by DHL for over €500, according to DHL’s website.
  
  Reply
  1. SC
    WatchWally says:
    
    Jul 31, 2024 at 16:39
    
    Thank you – but not in UK. I have done it.
    
    Reply
Tristan says:

Jul 31, 2024 at 17:54

I once heard of someone who had some system whereby for each time not being worn a piece it was progressively pushed down the watch box ranking. ie if it was just worn it went back in top-left row and the rest were shuffled down.

Or maybe it was the otherway around.

In any event, this might have been more to see which piece it was (over) due a wearing rather than as a prelude to ditching it but it seems a systematic way to identify the unloved watch.

Reply
Michael Smith says:

Jul 31, 2024 at 23:48

I’ve thinned out my collection to 2 and that’s only because I can’t find a buyer yet. I saw the light when I realised how much I had poured into this rip off hobby and how much better it could have been spent.

Reply
1. Pj says:
  
  Aug 01, 2024 at 07:11
  
  I have had the same thoughts. What did you end up with? Something affordable or still one (or two) absolute bangers?
  
  Reply
2. DP
  Diego P says:
  
  Aug 01, 2024 at 21:23
  
  Can I ask how you would have spent the money you used to buy watches?
  
  Reply
  1. GP
    Skip72 says:
    
    Aug 03, 2024 at 21:04
    
    I was in the opposite camp. I had many watches, then went through a divorce, then made the cardinal sin in America, I got sick in between jobs (no insurance). I ended up declaring bankruptcy and losing everything. Those watches were what I lived on (and a bunch of coin, especially the gold ones).
    
    Had I invested that money, half would have gone to my evil ex-spouse and the rest would have simply gone to medical bills.
    
    Essentially, my watch and coin collections were the only reason I was not sleeping in a cardboard box.
    
    Reply
DP
Diego P says:

Aug 01, 2024 at 21:29

All opinions seem valid to me. From those who decide to give their watches as gifts to those who want to sell them or those who want to accumulate them. For those who think they have a lot of watches, I sincerely believe that there is no need to torture themselves because ultimately the only thing they gave in exchange for them is money that is what it is for, to spend it. It will be on watches, cars, art, shoes, clothes or travel. Unless one wants to live like an ascetic or gets into financial problems, everything is valid.

Reply