EVEROSE GOLD
These are all complicated points and we will be covering them briefly. We bring this point to the fore because fine watchmaking has been in the public eye itself recently for the investment angle. Specifically, some types of watches might qualify as alternative investment assets. To be clear, we have always argued (or at least cautioned) against this but we acknowledge reality and there are many of you, dear readers, who are intrigued by the potential of watches to not only retain value but also to grow it.
Some years ago, before we dared to comment on the phenomenon of investing in watches, we hinted at what a dark world this might herald. It was an Editor’s Note with the catchy title Watches as Currency, and watches cased in precious metal are the personification of this idea. If gold, in particular, is a kind of currency, then wearing watches cased in this material will really be like having cash strapped to one’s wrist. Well, perhaps just a digital display that indicates how much the watch in question is valued at. A good way to grab the attention of thieves you say? Welcome to the world of those who rock all-gold watches, and Singapore might just be the safest place on earth to do this.
As a counterpoint, the watch-buying community knows all too well that the best deals available on the secondary market are timepieces cased in precious metals. That means any precious metal, not just gold. To be blunt, these are the types of watches that shed the most value, including examples from the biggest names in Swiss watchmaking. Generally speaking, the why of this is hard to explain, especially versus amped-up valuations on steel watches, but the hypothesis (from specialists, including us) is that the precious metal recommended retail prices have always been too high. This is especially true when any given brand also offers a model in a non-precious metal variant too.
MAGIC GOLD
This story is from the Issue 74 edition of WOW Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Issue 74 edition of WOW Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
SMART CONNECTIONS
With the T-Touch Connect Sport, Tissot tries to strike a balance between traditional watchmaking values and digital usefulness
SPIRIT OF CONSERVATION
SORAL is a conservation group most famous for the activities related to its name: Save Our Rhinos Africa and India. Hublot has partnered with SORAI for four special editions now, with part of the sales benefitting the group's activities. We chat with SORAI founder, former England cricketeer Kevin Pietersen, about the challenges behind working to save animal species
FINISHING TOUCHES
We take a different approach to Lang & Heyne in this wide-ranging discussion, as befits the brand's extremely limited production, devotion to hand craftsmanship and absence of big marketing
THE CONVERSATION: TIME SHAPES UP
Rough winds do shake up watchmaking and this is when we least expect new directions. The debut of just one collection has changed the math and made many question the wisdom of banking so overwhelmingly on round watches. The editors of WOW debate the issue
BLANCPAIN VILLERET CALENDRIER CHINOIS TRADITIONNEL
Perhaps the brand most significantly and consistently associated with the Chinese calendar, we had to close out this list with Blancpain's Chinese calendar model.
STANDARD BEARER
Longines finds a way to elevate the classic round watch, with a bit of a precious twist
RULE OF THIRDS
A. Lange & Söhne celebrated 30 years of the Lange 1 in 2024. Here is a brief look back at the story of this seminal watch, with some exclusive photography of the current models
CELEBRATING MILESTONES
Franck Muller CEO Nicholas Rudaz talks up the partnership between his brand and Sincere Fine Watches
SUBTLE DISTINCTIONS
The Toric's latest iteration is a callback to the gentleman's dress watch — and the collection has never looked more dapper
WATCHING BRIEF
With up to three significant watch exhibitions coming together by happenstance here, the collecting community could scarcely have wished for better