Devedander Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 So looking at the watches I have accrued in the short amount of time I have been in the rep world I realize that at least 4 of them I like and will have to drop some money on for servicing some day to keep them well and good... but assuming the best that they all make it 5 years and I service them all then I am looking at almost $1000 in servicing all at once someday... So it got me thinking, I have seen collections of watches that range up into the dozens easily... if you had 50 watches, that would mean an average of 10 a year at $100 a pop that's $1000 a year every year to keep your watches in ship shape assuming nothing else goes wrong... and with 50 watches you would only average 1 week of wear per year per watch... so essentially the same as renting a watch for $100 a week once a year... I don't know where I am going with this but I guess I am just blown away by that though and wonder if that's really how it works? It worries me because I am just the kind of guy who could look at that and go "wow that's a lot of cash" then a few months later look down and say "hey wait... how the hell did I end up with so many watches"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gioarmani Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 (edited) Exactly why I sold off most of mine, and my girl 86'ed one of hers as well. All I've got now is one 16610, one Lunette Verte, 1 SMP chrono, & 1 Daytona. She's got one Datejust and an old Patek that never gets worn. Probably sell that one too. Edited January 3, 2007 by gioarmani Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvt Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 Maintaining automatic watches can be expensive, no doubt, and I actually think you have UNDER estimated the costs. I tend to wear certain watches way more than any others. I generally wear gens and collect fakes meaning that they do not get a lot of wrist time. I have had a few unpleasent surprises lately where I will break out an older fake (say 5 years old) only to find it in need of service. My answer thus far has simply been to shelve it and grab something else. But the problem is real and I guess it is just a commitment you have to make, or keep a smaller collection which is probably more wise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craytonic Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 I am just going to failure. * If it fails I can get the newer, better, rep of the failed watch. * I may not wear or like it any more, thus it does not matter * If one I really like fails, I can always get a new movement or swap a movement from one I no longer wear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfreeman420 Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 I think this topic has been touched on before, but it is always interesting to me to hear what people think. I view replica watches as disposable. To the regular non-wis timex wearing guy it may sound absurd to view something that cost from $200 to $300 as disposable, but that same person also sees having 22 watches and 2 wrists absurd. I have come to the realization that no matter how attached I get to a replica watch or how much I like a particular model or version, someday it will either cease to run or it will become beat up and worn to the point that I no longer feel proud wearing it. Funny, I have quite a large wardrobe and most of my shirts are $100 or more, but god forbid I get a stain or tear on one of my favorite Nat Nast's......... I have a few watches still in the box that are past due for service, but I never plan on servicing a rep. Most of these are rarely worn because a new one took its place or they are just too scratched up. My point is Devander, if you stay in this hobby as long as I have there is always the next watch. Just when I think this is it, I never need another watch, they release the Hublot Big Bang LOL. I have also owned several genuine watches and never had any of them serviced. My oldest was a 1981 Rolex president single quick set and as far as I know it was never serviced (i was the second owner), but still kept time as good as a Rolex does. I read an article once where a guy had a truck with 300,000 miles on it and never changed the oil. It ran as good as new. Some people say that the change your oil every 3,000 miles is [censored] marketing. I wonder if it is the same for watches to an extent. My question to the experts here is: Does servicing your watch every 5 years really do much to add longer life to the movement or is just for the sake of keeping cosc time? It doesn't bother me if my watch is +- 30 sec per day. Can a movement really crap out on you totally without servicing and what are the chances of that happening? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 The whole point of reps to me is that they are disposable. When the movement gives out they end up in the garbage and I just get a new one. I always have more watches than days of the week too!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gran Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 The whole point of reps to me is that they are disposable. Even if there is a lot of truth to your statement I love my watches way too much to open my own mouth and express those same words and mean it. To me my replicas are desireable and I cant be so rational about it all. To me even replicas tick and have a soul with some undefined individuality and emotion connected to them. Happy timekeeping Gunnar aka gran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devedander Posted January 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 That's a good way to think of it... I had originally gone into it with the disposeable mindset but now I am liking some of them a lot and feel I would want to keep them a long time... I think after some more time in the game I will start to feel better about letting them slide on as new ones fill their spaces... It's funny I totally understand the 30 watches 1 left wrist insanity, but I also go home and find TVs and computer parts all over my house that are about 10% into their expected lifespan and are no longer used because I upgraded to the next newest thing... I bought a projector and everyone told me how bulbs were going to be expensive and I kept saying "Like I am going to keep it that long" and sure enough a year later it got replaced with a new projector... I guess I will just have to get over the mindset for myself of disposable watches... But I still don't think this can really apply to those who have fancy cherrywood cases with nice glass display fronts/lights/rotation that house dozens of watches... that kind of investment seems to me like they are planning on keeping them up and running for a good long time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 Some reps are there to be worn to death and others are to be serviced and cared-for. I can't imagine paying for some of mine to be serviced yet others seem to obviously deserve meticulous treatment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotoman Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 I am of the buy and risk it train of thought. I average around 200 bucks a rep now. I can't see paying 100 or more for servicing. Ride it till it dies and get a new one or get a different one. Or get a new movement. I don't have any crazy 600$ swiss 7750 models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 I cretainly figure $100 per month at the watchmakers is no big deal. Heck, I've got a CN Datejust that just stopped and I'm thinking that I'm going to see if the watchmaker can get it up and running for $30 or less. After that, it could become disposable, or heck, I might buy a CN movement from Ofrei and play w/ it myself. Of course I've got a v72 that also needs service and I know that won't be cheap, but it's all part of the hobby- I enjoy it and I can afford it, so it's no big deal. But I can certainly understand the addictive nature of this beast! But it's just like drugs or alcohol, you've got to control your habits! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 This is why I keep my collection small at 10 watches However, between my 2 El Primero Daytonas and my Valjoux 23 Daytona, I'm looking at $1500+ for servicing on these alone. But, if I amortize the cost across 5 years, it's a little easier for me to swallow... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devedander Posted January 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 Yeah if you look at it that way it's less than $1 a day for you frankentonas.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertk Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 I've only been seriously collecting for the last three years and have accumulated maybe 70+ watches. Obviously, most sit in the box but still get worn occasionally. but even the earlier reps with crappy movements generally still work. I'm lucky and have a good watchsmith who gets a kick out of my reps and, although I haven't serviced any yet, when they need repair he does it for a reasonable price. I don't think I've spent more than $60 on any one yet. I've only had three crap out and they were easy fixes for him. I've got watch winders and each one hits a winder for three/four days every month. Maybe that helps. I agree with Gunnar. I can't see throwing them away. I sort of get attached. Do I think they have a soul? Hum.............. Do I need to get a life? Hum............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NRG Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 One solution is to learn how to service it yourself, this is what I did, with over 25 watches I felt it was a worthwhile investment in tools and learning time but of course not everybody has the ability or time to do the same. Correct watch servicing is expensive as noted but I would never treat any watch I bought, rep or otherwise as disposable or worry too much about servicing it every 5 years whatever. I like the watches I have and spend time in choosing ones I like no matter the cost, $200 or $2000 If I wanted a disposable watch I'd buy a Casio quartz or Seiko and change the battery now and then. Having said that, many of the non chrono watches based on the Asian21J or even the ETA2824 can have the movement swapped out for a new one cheaper than many could get it serviced for. The 21J can be bought for $10 or so and swapped over in under 30mins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 For you disposable guys... Let me PM you my address so you know where to send those watches once you're ready to throw them away. I'll cover the shipping costs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
section8 Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 i've only just gotten started with automatic watches - I have 3 and my wife has 2 - so I haven't had to have any of them serviced yet, but I can't imagine just throwing away any of the reps because they need service. The cheapest rep I have now my wife's FN Conquistador ladies and she wears that watch every day just about. She'd would not be too happy if it died and I told her to throw it away! My LV Sub has an ETA2836 and I don't really know how much that movement costs but I do know that i love this watch and it is currently keeping to -1.5ish seconds a day. Maybe in 3 to 5 years when it needs servicing I'll think differently, but right now I plan on having it serviced and not throwing it away. On a side note, my genuine Tag Heuer Targa Florio papers suggest servicing the watch every 2 years - what gives? Should I have it serviced at 2 years or wait until 5? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkerouac Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 It's an interesting dilemma. If I have a watch that I consider disposable, then I either don't wear it or it is a beater which I will wear doing yard work on other physical activity where I don't care what happens to it. But the rest of the time, I want to wear my favorites, the watches I have a passion for. So yes, I want to take care of them for the long term. Perhaps when they break down in two or three or four or five years down the line the passion will have died down. Or perhaps the passion will still be strong but a newer, improved version is available for the cost of a good service. I don't know, none of my reps have gotten there yet. But I would rather keep my collection small, fewer than 10 watches that I really care about, than have 20 or 30 that I consider disposable. I recall a radio commentary a few years ago on the subject of materialism. Americans, contrary to popular opinion, are not materialistic, this guy argued, because if they were truly materialistic they would value material things more than they do. To truly value and cherish material things is a noble, spiritual good, whereas the throwaway mentality is spiritually impoverished, he said. I've thought a lot about this commentary over the years. I like it because it offers an alternative to the "sackcloth" mentality of antimaterialism, which argues that to live a spiritual life you should live like monks without any worldly possessions. Things such as watches are good and beautiful and rewarding. If I didn't value them, I should just keep one or two -- Casios perhaps as someone else suggested -- or none at all and be done with it. But a good watch is absolutely amazing and beautiful. So if you have a fantastic watch with a quality movement that happens to break down, I would not hesitate to get it overhauled and fixed before tossing it aside for the "next hot watch." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 Difficult topic, especially from my vantage point... For those that are "Disposing" of your watches, plse let me know and I will gladly pay for postage and packaging to have them sent my way... As already suggested, learning to service a basic automatic movement is not that difficult, the TZ course is very good, and heck, you even get good quality tools... So for $600 or so in lessons and tooling, you can set up shop, and do all your own...sounds like a good way to spend the cold winters nights... If we were collecting genuine ones, think of the capital cost of the watches, and then add up the cost for any AD to service one of them, and the waiting times... All things considered, I think, no I know, we have it really good with our watches, and the cost and turn time to have them looked at (for those that choose this route). RG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devedander Posted January 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 I think the point is betting obfuscated (no offense, many good arguments put forth) but not so much whether a few or any reps are worth servicing, but specifically those guys who have LOTS of watches... 10 is not lots, 20 is not even lots, I am talking the guys who need to dedicate a walk in closet or small (heck even big) room to their watch collection... Again, it comes down to basically renting a watch for $100 a week average use and gets more expensive the more watches you have... this of course even applies to gens although in a slightly different ratio considering price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikellem Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 I am in The Zigmeister's camp on this one! I just had 3 watches lumed and two watches repaired for under $300 including shipping back to me! Alot of times minor problems can be fixed without full servicing. I believe fix what needs fixing,,,and leave the rest alone! Cheers to RG.. -MM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craytonic Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 A big issue is the rate of failure. If 1 in 10 fails after 5 years; I can replace that one watch (probably with a more accurate one after 5 years) for less than it would cost to service them all. Some that I love the most will be serviced. The rest I will roll the dice on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 Does anyone have any old factory Omega SMP's they're considering giving the heave-ho? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
section8 Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 I think the point is betting obfuscated (no offense, many good arguments put forth) but not so much whether a few or any reps are worth servicing, but specifically those guys who have LOTS of watches... 10 is not lots, 20 is not even lots, I am talking the guys who need to dedicate a walk in closet or small (heck even big) room to their watch collection... Again, it comes down to basically renting a watch for $100 a week average use and gets more expensive the more watches you have... this of course even applies to gens although in a slightly different ratio considering price. If we have forum members with walk in watch closets, I demand to see pictures STAT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Tracy Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 Two points,.... and imo only,.. though I have owned over 150 reps... 1. A large collection of loved pieces means that wear will be shared and will be minimal,...as long as you stay clear of winders... 2. Constantly turning your collection i.e. buying & selling also is a method of staying away from servicing fees...until such time that you find your perfect collection, which for me is no larger than seven pieces,.. one for every day and occasion. Then, and only then,... it's a good idea to contact The Zigmeister,.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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