Many luxury and vintage watch enthusiasts want to be able to predict which timepieces manufactured today will become collectibles in the future. The first step to doing this successfully is to recognize what a collectible is: an item which is manufactured in limited quantities for a specific period of time. However, there are other factors which must be taken into consideration, which are highlighted below.

Avoid Purchasing Watches Which Are Currently Being Produced

If you buy a watch that is currently being produced, you’re a speculator, not a collector. Such watches might or might not become future collectibles. It is risky for the simple reason that few (if any) people are able to accurately predict future tastes or demand. Those that choose to speculate must have complete confidence in their purchases and they’ll also need to buy multiple watches to cover their bases, which can be extremely expensive depending on the brands. A wiser course of action is to purchase watches which are no longer being produced.

Look For Prototype Models

Watchmakers periodically manufacture small numbers of watches which are designed to be prototypes. Such watches are not intended to be sold to the public, but some inevitably end up in private hands. One reason why prototypes have a higher likelihood of becoming collectibles is because in many cases the company which manufactured them wants to keep the majority of them in house. Prototypes are also valued by watch enthusiasts because they are rare and showcase the evolution of the brand. They tend to be extremely difficult to get even by those who can afford them and thus are quite likely to become sought after future collectibles.

Bespoke “One Off” Watches

One off watches have a number of similarities with prototypes.  However they are usually customized and designed for a specific client. Most of the world’s most expensive watches are custom timepieces which were commissioned by a high net worth individual. Over time, if such watches are resold, the original price won’t mean much, since the market will set its own price, which will often be substantial. Examples of such watches include those formerly owned by movie stars, singers, professional athletes, royalty, or heads of state. These watches are in a class of their own, one which is separate from the general watch industry.

Transitional And Low Production Models

Low production watches which are ahead of their time in terms of design or technology, which were poorly marketed, are excellent candidates for future collectibles. These watches tend to have distribution which is limited, and will often be too difficult to manufacture in larger numbers. Transitional models are also watches which have slight variations which are interesting yet are produced in smaller quantity since they symbolize design changes which haven’t yet been finalized.

Identifying and accurately predicting which watches will become future collectibles is no easy task, and requires years of experience and a keen eye, but the results are worth it.