[TakesALickin]

For years I've been a strict adherent of the strategy of selling my safe queens, consolidating money and buying fewer, more expensive watches.

I recently traded down to get this 6139-6002 (gave up a Debaufre Triton) and a Montblanc pen. I'm so happy with this Seiko, I'm starting to question whether my long time strategy makes sense all the time.

What do you typically do? Always look to move up? Trade straight across, for similarly valued watches? Or trade up and down with little concern for what the market value of the watches are, so long as you like them?

 

[Isthmus]

I've traded inexpensive pieces for parts before, but ever truly traded down. My practice has been to trade laterally or up, and simply save my pennies and buy out right at the lower end of the market.

 

[minidriver]

For me it has been moving up, selling/consolidating and limit the collection to no more than 10. I have found that you can draw satisfaction from a $300 watch or a $4,000 piece. I prefer to have a mix of mid priced and more expensive watches that better address my needs/wants. Less is more as they say.

 

[Seikojohn]

For years I've been a strict adherent of the strategy of selling my safe queens, consolidating money and buying fewer, more expensive watches.

I recently traded down to get this 6139-6002 (gave up a Debaufre Triton) and a Montblanc pen. I'm so happy with this Seiko, I'm starting to question whether my long time strategy makes sense all the time.

What do you typically do? Always look to move up? Trade straight across, for similarly valued watches? Or trade up and down with little concern for what the market value of the watches are, so long as you like them?


[/quote]

I'm on the lookout for watches that catch my eye. The watch of the moment may be a Seiko GS or a Seiko 5 or something in-between. Rules for trading could mean an interesting watch gets missed....

 

[TheTigerUK]

My main criteria are do i like it and can i afford it, great when they both come together

 

[searat]

I've just traded an Omega Planet Ocean for an almost exactly the same age/condition Marinemaster 300 plus a little cash adjustment (so I'm not actually out of pocket), due to arrive any day. I'm sure some folk would argue that I've traded down to a 'mere' Seiko, on the other hand PO's are commonplace and are becoming boutique divers not tool watches. People who know what they're talking about will recognise the MM300 as a piece of engineering art.
Steve

 

[Jeje3325]

I went for trading down but I can go either way. As long as I like the watch.

 

[Jan-10]

I take losses on watches to get the ones I want. Is that trading down?

 

[jason_recliner]

I've never traded a watch, but I've recently sold a few. They were all pretty cheap, so by definition it would be difficult to buy cheaper watches with the funds. But of the watches in my sights, not all are a step up in price from those in my current collection. There are quite a few very affordable pieces which I feel are significant / iconic (Monster, SKX007, EcoZILLA, Aqualand, 5000/5600), or just plain desirable (Promaster SST, Mudman), and I want to add those just as much as I'm looking forward to finally nabbing a MM300 someday.

 

[grailwatch]

I don't think I'll have a problem trading down as long as I like the target watch. But if you mean trading down as in taking a monetary loss, that's not an ideal situation. The other party will have to add cash. It only makes sense.

 

[TakesALickin]

I don't think I'll have a problem trading down as long as I like the target watch. But if you mean trading down as in taking a monetary loss, that's not an ideal situation. The other party will have to add cash. It only makes sense.

I guess I should clarify that point - I don't mean to ask if you are willing to take a loss. Like in my example, I traded my Triton away for the 6139 and the Montblanc pen - to make up the difference between the average market value of the two watches. But you could just as easily trade down for a less expensive watch plus cash. Like Grailwatch says, it only makes sense. The question is just about whether you're willing to consider watches of lesser value in trades (or purchases, where you first sell a more expensive watch to raise funds)

 

[Marco-T]

I've chosen " no problem trading down".
Knowing you've "lost" money on the watch you're trading is of course never fun :-[
But when you're not wearing a watch because you prefer another one, you've lost even more

Every hobby has it's price, some pay to go to the gym, others loose the same amount in a trade down

.... as long as it's worth it and you can enjoy it, no problem.

 

[TakesALickin]

when you're not wearing a watch because you prefer another one, you've lost even more

A lot of wisdom in those words, Marco!