Horological Meandering

* research
* hunting
* investigating
* trying-on
* shopping dealers and prices
* waiting for delivery
* insuring the shipment
* unboxing the new arrival
* wearing it
* dealing with flaws and after-sales service issues

But we have not devoted the same amount of attention to the SALE of our watches.

Whether you attempt to sell for a simple reduction in numbers, financial reasons (to buy the grail, fund a college tuition, etc), frustration at the brand, leaving the hobby temporarily, or whatever, the process of a sale may evoke an emotional response.

I'll be the first to admit that I have too many watches. And one reason is that I can rarely bring myself to let them go.  However, I still have sold watches from A-Z. From Audemars Piguet

to Bell & Ross

 

From Zenith




To Zodiac

Yes, of course there are the "little" watches in the collection which cost little, meant little, and pained very little when they left. But then I have the "big" watches, not necessarily in price, but which cost a lot of time, effort and attention to locate, acquire, restore and maintain. And sometimes they must be sold.

I faced such a dilemma recently. I have a problem with Rolexes. I've owned about a half-dozen of them. But usually for a short time. I never even took a photo of my Turn-O- Graph.

I now want to buy a Rolex Milgauss for the simple reason that I love the lightning bolt hand and the white dial and the orange markers and the heft of the watch on my wrist. And since I never wear my Daytona which is worth about twice the Milgauss, I thought I'd pursue a swap. I wrote multiple emails and never mailed one. I CAN'T DO IT!

This is harder than being a teenager (What if she says no?) with a crush on a pretty girl!  

What if he disparages my Rolex?

What if my "V" isn't worth as much as a "Z"? What will I do? 

What will happen if I get hit by a bus and my wife needs cash -- can she flip the Milgauss like she could the Daytona?

And when I want to sell a Grand Seiko, I first think No. I can't sell.

I NEED this watch. 

It's part of my set of 3. 

YES, I DO need two of the same exact watch - why? I dunno.

It's the first GS I bought. 

It's the shiniest GS I have. 

It's the one that has the best test results on its COSC-equivalent certificate.

No one will love it like I do.

What about the strap? Do I need to buy a new one to sell it?

Are you one of the people who list a watch for sale, receive a few responses, PANIC and quickly adjust your listing to "Watch withdrawn from Sale"?

Or have you ever gathered up the watch and accessories and realized for the first time that the serial number doesn't match the warranty card, you don't have the original box, and you can't remember where the original strap is? So you decide not to sell because you don't want to mis-represent, over-promise, under-deliver or otherwise have to part with your watch...

And what do you feel when the watch is gone? 

* A sense of tragic loss? 
* An overwhelming feeling of freedom and gratitude? 
* A need to go out and buy another exactly like the one you just sold? (been there, done that)
* Nothing at all?

* Yahoo!

* Rich

* Thankful that you can now go down and pick up the incoming watch?

And once it's over, do you make a morgue file of the all the watches you have loved and lost?

* Do you wait for him to advertise it, then contact using a false name and taunt him? Or try to buy it back? 

* Or buy two watches (on the rebound) to soothe the emotional distress?