The Breitling Watch Source Forums

OK so I joined the forum to ask for some advice. But after a quick search I find that the watch I fell for Isn't exactly well thought of here.. Never the less I will ask away anyway. My last Bretling was an Avenger Skyland M13380 Black Steel, I loved it, got skint and sold it 3 years later for more than I paid for it. This may well have been a stroke of luck as I have little knowledge of watches but I know what I like.

I intend to buy next a Navitimer Cosmonaute Black Steel. It retails at £7330. I will have the money ready in July. A colleague at work is a watch maniac and when I asked if it would increase in value as my other Breitling had, said probably not. He advised I go for a Bell and Ross. Dont want one. It's important now that I not only love my watch but next time I'm broke, it pays it's way. I do hope that wont happen again though. So there's my question.. Will the watch I desire (that most here seem to loathe by the sounds) appreciate over the next few years or will it be worth less? Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for advice. So long as it keeps its value I will be happy. Dont want to lose any though. Its a lot to spend and has taken me 2 years to save this much.

Cheers

Breitlings in general don't hold their value very well. To buy new and resell a few years later at the same price would be highly unusual. It would only "increase" in value if inflation was high and in that case it would be an artificial gain since your money would be worth less. The only other way I see you breaking completely even would be if the retail prices were to keep increasing significantly. Increased retail prices sometimes pull up the used market too.

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Don't listen to your friend on the Bell & Ross, they're resale value is horrible.



Also keep in mind that with the black steel models, there may not be as many buyers compared to the standard SS models.

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Justin
Please contact me via PM for the contact details for Govberg Jewelers
Govberg is an AD for over 50 fine Swiss and German watch brands.
Visit them on the web at http://www.govbergwatches.com or call 800-528-8463

ok thanks both. I'm in love with it though so will probably buy it anyway regardless of the loss. If you were to splash 7k on a watch as an investment, what would it be, if such a thing even exists?

And thanks Justin, dont know a thing about Bell and Ross other than I dont want one.

A Rolex. If you want a Breitling, you could try to track down a Navitimer 01 limited edition.

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Justin
Please contact me via PM for the contact details for Govberg Jewelers
Govberg is an AD for over 50 fine Swiss and German watch brands.
Visit them on the web at http://www.govbergwatches.com or call 800-528-8463

Thanks.

You mean this one? http://www.breitling.com/en/models/navi ... -editions/

I'm toying with the idea of a Navitimer 1461 limited. If it wont hold it's value, at least it will look good. Still prefer the black steel though but if as you say and as I have read here, I'm in the minority liking the black steel, I dont really want to limit the resale market should I decide to sell it.

Yes, that would be one of the limited editions. They also made a black and a blue dial version as well. The 1461 is a nice watch, I sold one for a friend awhile back and was really impressed with it when I had it. These are pics of the one I sold that I let admin use for the model list.

http://www.breitlingsource.com/watch_de ... d_233.html

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Justin
Please contact me via PM for the contact details for Govberg Jewelers
Govberg is an AD for over 50 fine Swiss and German watch brands.
Visit them on the web at http://www.govbergwatches.com or call 800-528-8463

As jnelson3097 says the Navi 01 LE may hold its value better. People seem to often ask for it around the forum, so desirability may even push it up over the years if indeed it becomes an iconic piece.

Other watches that you may want to consider as "investment" are the Rolex Daytona ss and the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711.

Some Rolex editions have proven to work well as investment, such as the Submariner Comex edition or Daytona Paul Newman.

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Collection
GMTIIc
Daytona
Nautilus 5711
Deep Sea D-Blue
Submariner Hulk
Tudor BB - FOR SALE
SOLD
Aerospace
Navitimer World
Bentley GT Racing
Cockpit
Navitimer 01 LE 788/2000

As a rule of thumb, you'd be well advised to not look at watches as any form of investment at all. Yes some will hold their value slightly better than others, but 99% will all lose value. Think of watches like cars in that respect.

There are indeed some watches that have increased over the years - like the Submariner Comex as Phil said. However, no-one who bought those originally had a clue they would increase like they have, so unless you get lucky (as you seem to have done with the AS BS) just buy watches because you like them, and not with one eye on resale - you'll just end up being disappointed.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

If you are looking for an investment in the watch world you can't go wrong with a Patek Philippe ,even they require research , they tend to appreciate from the time you buy them to the time there sold .

" just buy watches because you like them, and not with one eye on resale - you'll just end up being disappointed." as driver 8 stated

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Veni, vidi, vici

Not quite sure i agree with all of the above statements about loosing money on watches

(Almost) Every vintage breitling has gained in value in the last 5 or even 3 years
If you look at ebay these days you see prices paid that were typically dealer asking prices 3 to 5 years ago

I am not saying you will make a profit but there are certainly breitling watches (vintage mostly) that will at least keep pace with inflation

Just my 2 cents

Disclaimer
P.s vintage is a whole other world , please do not step in before you are absolutely sure about what you are buying

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

I agree with Dracha. You could also consider buying a modern Breitling second hand. That way most of the value loss has occurred before you get it.

Watches with best possible resale or investment value are subject to many things. High demand is key to any model. Most importantly will be how eager are you willing to sell it. If you get into a situation where you need the cash and time is limited, you could part with it at a loss. If you hang on to it for 30 years and Breitling becomes a less known brand, it may loose its value. Then again, you may get a gem and never regret your purchase. As others here have said, buy it because you like it.

I have to side with Dracha on vintage and pre-vintage models, there is a lot of homework anyone should do before jumping in.

If it was me who was looking at the Cosmonaute Black Steel over the other models I would take the gamble. I'm an enthusiasts so my views are my own. For starter this is the first all black Navitimer in recent years which makes it stand out from the rest of the family (there may have been PVD Navitimer in the 70's but can't think of any right off). The all black dial is akin to the original 24-hour dials. It's powered by the in-house Caliber B02 (COSC) that gives it another element people will like. What will make this different from your daily wearer and effect resale is that it is manual-wind movement where most watches are automatic.

I was speaking entirely from the perspective of buying brand new as the OP seemed to be considering a new piece.

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Driver8

Site Moderator