ALL TOMORROW'S WATCHES

Is time really money, and what does that even mean? We present an overview of the current state of demand for timepieces, and the lessons we might all want to learn going forward

- ASHOK SOMAN

In 2019, some collectors were already shaking their heads in dismay at the availability situation of certain popular watches, or specific models. That was a simpler age, for many reasons, but watchmaking appears to be weathering our shared current difficulties with all its existing aggravations intact. If anything, the situation for collectors has worsened considerably, but there are also positives to note. In this section, we will look at what we have learned about watches, and call out some points that other observers have made. But first, some clarity is required because this introduction is painfully nebulous.

In a few words, this section deals with the value of timepieces, as this relates to both desirability and price. There are certainly other ways to define value, but we are laser-focussed on capital value here. Having said that, this is not meant as a guide to using watches as an asset class, nor is it an introduction to the same. If anything, it is meant to serve as a way around this admittedly captivating mode of thinking.

If you are a regular reader and, presumably, a collector who goes about developing a personal passion, you will certainly know what the preceding paragraph was about. Collecting watches has probably never been more popular, if we do say so ourselves, yet the most desirable timepieces grow ever more unattainable. Yes, whatever is unavailable today is now unavailable for years to come. For some collectors, the situation is even worse because virtually everything from a select few brands are unavailable. Of course, there is really only one brand where everything is unavailable, and it has actually addressed concerns about its production. This is one of the major points this story will look into, but we will preface this with a caveat: we foresee no solutions nor an end to this situation.

MODELLING TIME