In 2019, I sold my GMT Master that I had owned for 26 years. It badly needed a servicing, the bracelet was completely worn and the tritium lume had lost all its mojo. It was difficult to part with it initially, but when I weighed the money I would need to spend to get it back in good working order, the decision became an easy one. Surprisingly, I don't even miss it. It was the only expensive watch I have ever owned, but in the end, it's just a watch.
My wife's parents were ill and live abroad, I sold a Cartier to pay for flights for the family, as it had been a tough year with steep increases in the cost of living - you can always buy more stuff but cannot replace people.
We can become desensitised to the amount of money these watches cost. When you sell one and the money arrives in your account you suddenly realise that it is a lot of money!
The big brands use a lot of Neural Linguistic Programming to convince us that their prices are fair and justified. The flippers, sheeple and the UA-cam algorithm+influencer feedback loop does the rest of it.
You've made the right choice there, a tough one but right. I bought a Tudor Black Bay 54 to commemorate a work milestone / anniversary and aim to hold onto that until the end of my days. Yes I could have gone the Breitling or Omega route but in reality, there are other things i want to spend my money on. Tudor was expensive enough to make me feel special, yet not enough to negatively impact my lifestyle, a perfect combination.
Evening Andy. As someone who has owned (and sold); various Rolex models - Milgauss, Explorer II, Submariner no date, Hulk, Sea dweller, OP (I think that's it), and am now wearing a quartz, (yes quartz) Citizen PMD56-2952 (which has lost only 1 second in a month), I totally agree with your sentiments. Watches are great but life (and health) is more important and your family will cherish the memories of the holiday and the time spent with you, more than the watch.
Thank you for putting this up. Such a nice feeling to see a father talking about prioritizing his family. Good to know about the Watchfinder offer and appraisal process too!
I’ve wanted a Rolex for a while but still can’t justify the crazy price.. so I’ll keep wearing my Heuer Carrera from 1971. It’s actually my favorite anyway
Buy the new speedy bracelet, I bought one for my previous gen speedy a couple of years ago and absolutely love it. I believe the latest iteration also has a tool-less micro adjust clasp too, I missed out on that unfortunately.
I agree. Recently I sold the majority of my watch collection…all my Rolex’s. Just one day woke up and felt differently about all of them. And it feels good
Just discovered your site, what a lovely video. I had an aortic dissection on 2.8.14, lucky to be alive every day, it take a lot of mental energy at first. I am now 3427 days past it.. you inspired me to look, I’m also 810 days without alcohol.. I have a 6 watch collection and often think about rationalising most of it, as you say family and living a good life is a priority. I love the collecting, but after a while it somehow doesn’t give fulfilment, compared to time with family. Thank you so much, for sharing and your authenticity
First time “watching” you. What a great video and thought. Absolutely right. Didn’t think I’d subscribe but your openness hit home. Right on. Subscribed.
Similar. I just sold a Rolex op, bought a beautiful Zenith Elite Classic from watch finder no less at an amazing price and pocketed the rest of the cash. I liked the OP but now have an objectively nicer watch, a nice change of watch on the wrist for the time being and will take the family on holiday. Great vid and I completely agree with your sentiment.
Great video. I bought a Sub brand new in 2016 as my only watch. Ended up swapping it in 2020 for a Steel and Everose Datejust, with cash my way, as I fancied a change and wanted a dressier watch. People must've thought I was crazy but I did what felt right for me. Also, I've since bought a 39.5mm Planet Ocean which I like more than I ever did the Sub.
Going on holiday with the family but having to sell your loved Rolex? Never in my life. Ask if your wife would sell all of her shoes, cloths, jewelry?! I think her answer will be clear. So we all have our priorities.
This is the attitude you'd expect from a typical Rolex owner / Rolex fanboy. Probably also buys Andrew Tate online tutorials on how to digitally pimp your partner on onlyfans in order to buy more Rolex
You sold a watch a lot of people are reluctant to even wear for security and has very high service costs, and you made a profit to boot. Life is shorter than we think and family experiences are the real treasures . We often convince our selfs that nice luxury items will enhance your lives but often they complicate life .
I had my Rolex Sub date 41mm 2022 on consignment at B&Q watches for a couple of weeks. I just couldnt do it tho and had them send it back to me (had to pay polish costs etc). So glad I did, It's still one of my first grails and will never be tempted to sell it again. Everyones watch journeys are different, good luck on the next part of yours. Good on you for putting family ahead of material goods.
@@brynroberts9880 point being one should not need to make decisions over what takes priority when buying a luxury item, because you should only be buying luxury items with money that you don’t need for something else.
@@aprado17 fair point, but circumstances change. A lot of people buy Rolex because they know they can sell it at any time and get their money back, so you get a lot of people who do buy them with money they might in future need for something else, and to be fair - there's nothing wrong with that. If you can also make money on it, then why wouldn't you. Hence the flipper culture for Rolex. It is what it is.
I'd say he didn't plan on having a heart attack, which triggered the series of events. Potentially losing your life, then leaving your job, I'd say are bug enough triggers to re evaluate what's affordable from a luxury item perspective. Hard to know what's around the corner.
I think you hit the nail on the head - we all spend our money in different ways and prioritise what’s important to us. Sometimes, watch buying can skewer our normal good judgement and we need that moment of recalibration of our senses. It would be natural to feel a little sad when a great watch like the Sub goes - but the memories of your family holiday, the first after a life changing event, far outweigh any watch. I think Rolexes are a bit like what a major studio movie is like for a great actor. They get paid a truck load of money to then be able to go off and do the movies they are passionate about. Not many watch brands (that a working man can afford) appreciate in value like a Rolex. But You’ll be back in the game shortly and your next watch will probably cost much less, but mean so much more. It’s interesting to see some stellar watches on the secondary market going for affordable money. This week I saw great watches from Breuer and Jaeger LeCoultre going for between £6 and £8k. All the best Andy
Well done Andy. Great to see that you prioritised your family. Also very surprised by the offer you got from WF. I received a quote on my 39mm Pelagos only 2 months old, full set and unmarked with some original stickers Inc AD receipt.. for £1300!! Shocked. I ended up selling it on Chrono 24 for €4150 Euros. Looks like Rolex is recession proof at the moment.
Stark proof it's ONLY a buyer's market & even then hardly anyone is buying, hence these derisory offers from companies who don't really want to buy them because nobody's buying from them!!!!
low ball indeed, but remember Watchfinder expects to make a minimum of 40 % gross margin on this watch and they probably have too many on their hands now
I think you will regret selling the sub. I have had all the watches you can think of and was officially a watch nut! I started with a brand new 16610 that I purchased in 1992, it was made in 91. I have had say 50 luxury watches in between...All gone , all flipped. The only one left is the 16610. I wear it everyday in all situation and it runs at plus 3 a day . Don' t baby , its a watch to be used. I am so cured of the nonsense of watch collecting! Each to their own I guess, but I feel so much better for retaining my old workhorse. Lastly, I would never hang on to a watch or anything else and let my family suffer! Though missing a holiday is hardly suffering, I was thinking in the region of hungry or no clothes or no shelter :)
Andy. Congratulations on 477 days. Here's to many more 👍. Had a couple of experiences with Watchfinder Birmingham myself recently. Picked up a really nice Breitling Premier B09, which I am delighted with. However, yesterday, I offered my Aqua Terra to them by the same process as your Sub. They came back to me today with a really low ball price (around 1K less than the same watch on ebay and Chrono24). I realise proces are falling at the moment, but I wasn't expecting such a low offer. Anyway, thanks for the video/ update 👍
If you want a tapering bracelet for the 1861/63 and dont want to fork out a large amount for the new OEM one, I highly recommend Uncle Strap (Seiko) bracelets, they are very well made.
Good move 👍🏼 I did something very similar with a Seamaster and have zero regrets. I’ve changed my outlook on material things in recent years and focus on happiness health and my family a lot more now. Since the huge price increases in watches that interest me I’ve found myself definitely losing interest 🤔 always been a Rolex fan but I just think ✊🏻💦 now when I think of Rolex. I think Omega have completely lost the plot now unfortunately. No new models apart from huge lumps with huge price tags that no one will buy. Out of date power reserves excessive case thickness on most models and a lack of refinement and micro adjustment on most of their bracelets combined with awful bezel actions on all of their divers is unacceptable at their price point now. Makes you wonder what is going on at Omega 🤔 one caveat is that they haven’t messed up the Speedmaster moon watch 🙏 that’s only because they’ve basically left the design alone from a time when Omega wasn’t run by idiots 🤦🏻♂️
Yes indeed, I completely agree with your comments about Omega & particularly the bit about ''huge lumps with huge prices that no one will buy'' & it's only when you do take the time to go through their catalogue of ''huge lumps with huge prices that no one will buy'' that you get both sad & shocked in equal measure & so I just completely leave them to it....
Good decision. I also sold my Speedmaster to Watchfinder couple of weeks back, for a much lower price I shall say Horology is a wonderful topic, there is so much to learn, but we all get carried away too quickly by the push from social media to spend always more on these shiny trinklets. And excellent models from microbrands with zero heritage but good engineering show you can get very enjoyable watches for 20 % of the retail prices from Rolex, Omega, IWC or Breitling. Let's be sensible adults.
Great message and perspective! It’s easy to lay trap to chasing holy grail watches or feeling the need to purchase more and more. It’s not as easy as it sounds to maintain control and keep priorities in check but you’re absolutely right, family and memories shared should always come before any hobby.
Lovely video, you’ve done the right things for the right reason… I had a very similar experience, ie had a stroke in 2017, sold my Sub same as yours to a local dealer in 2021, Rolex factory had been closed for a long time in COVID, so there was a shortage & I returned £10k from my initial purchase in 2016. Do I miss it ? Yes ! But the money went a long way, just bought the Seiko PB323 black face … unbelievable quality & everyone who knows nothing about watches think it’s my Sub back 😊 hope those days on that app on your phone hit astronomical highs .
I wouldn't miss the sub. Apart from a few models, I find rolex too heavy, shiny, expensive, and hyped up too much... you've done the right thing I've been wearing a CWC G10 for a week, and it makes me wonder why we bother wasting so much money on these things, when you can have so much pure enjoyment wearing a little army watch with fixed lugs and gorgeous hesalite...
Great video as usual from this guy. Classy and to the point. After enough belly aching, begging, borrowing, and trying to rationalize it with my wife, she finally relented and let me get the 2023 Sub no-date. I racked my brain and scoured the secondary sellers (That was half the fun) finally settling on my Sub. I was ripped in two for so long prior to the purchase because I was in the position where I could only buy one. I went with Rolex's Flagship watch (in my opinion) but still wonder, ''Did I make the right call?'' Anyway, I believe I did, but still sneak websites of Chrono and WatchB for my holy grail watch-Daytona. who knows? someday maybe!! Thanks again for such classy watch videos..
I owned a ceramic panda daytona for exactly two weeks. It's a showpiece, and not a functional chrono with hard to read dials, if you are fully using it to compliment your active lifestyle
That’s great! I sold mine to Bob’s and they ended up changing their offer after I sent it in which was BS. It was serviced by RSC 1.5 yrs ago and I take care of it. At this point I was worn down dealing with all the other low ball offers so I just took the deal. It was disappointing.
New subscriber (!) I don't agree with your thought process around this sale but I REALLY appreciate (and enjoyed) your candid, heart-felt and honest approach. Thumbs up from me, a Brit living in Aus.
Early 2020, so one of the last Rolex with the old card and your own name on the card, can’t ever replace that, that’s a shame, hope the holiday went well. Keep well Andy.
Hi Andy, very authentic video all together. Perfectly know what you are talking about and I think if one is really honest to him/herself, we all face such questions now and again. Goes for so many things in life. Really appreciated your honesty there. Take care, Udo
You realized it was an item that you could not afford comfortably so more power to you for being modest and accepting that fact. If you have a watch but can’t provide for the family then your priorities are not in order.
ive sold a lot of watches in the past , a 16570 and a Omega PO 42 - I dont regret it at all i actually hated those watches and regretted buying them , never wore them at all , now I think very very hard before buying a watch , money sitting is money wasted! A sub is nice but you can always always grab another one in the future if you want life always goes on! Great vid! love the english accent :-)
I will never sell my Rolex Submariner 116610 unless it's was a Emergency situation. You can always get another one. Your family comes first. I won't sell it. That was the last thing I got before my Dad passed away 😢
You have always been very 'real' Andy. A rare entity in bigger UA-camrs! Have been following you since Paul Thorpe gave you a shout out. I am at WatchPro Friday and Saturday this year, so hope to say Hi.
- A study done at Harvard concluded that memories of pleasant events stayed with people throughout their lives whereas material purchases faded quickly.
You have a beautiful Omega Speedy, much better than a Rolex Submariner. Family holiday with lots of amazing memories with you loved ones is worth much more.
You did what you did as a good father and husband. Sometimes it’s not having, but rather, getting that watch that holds more of the thrill. The hunt is the exciting part, and although the initial excitement of acquiring is most definitely a joyous moment, it is usually short lived. After I got my grail watch(Sub no date) I didn’t buy another watch for a year. Then I started to see the joy and value of the more inexpensive microbrand watches. Go forward with no regrets. There’s another watch for you down the road.
Hi Andy. I'm very much of the same view as you when it comes to selling my watches. You have to be ruthless with yourself & remind yourself that luxury watches are exactly that, a luxury. They can always be replaced by an alternative at a later time. Well done on the Watchfinder deal, I've never got a decent price from them yet.
Really enjoyed this video. As a father, in your shoes, I would have done the same thing as much as I love my Sub...and I have been in those financial situations where I've had to sell possessions I loved for the sake of my family (my 2007 997 Porsche Turbo, for instance, back in 2017). What goes down sometimes comes back up, still have my Sub, own a Blancpain Air Command, and just got the call from my AD that my highly coveted James Cameron Deep Sea Sea Dweller has finally arrived after a two year wait. God bless you and your family, mate, have subscribed and will continue to follow your journey.
I love the look of the new tapered speedy bracelet. The clasp is lovely. However when I tried it on, it tried to remove every hair on my wrist. Never experienced this on any Speedy bracelet before. Gutted.
Why is every Rolex video, as much about money, as about the watch itself. I sold a sub when I sold my business, as I didn't need it anymore. I was given the freedom to wear the watch I actually wanted. That has been the best gift ever.
After 4 times for a service repairs, i sell my gmt master 126710 blro,and my Submariner 126610 LV, every 15 months the movements gone slowing -12 sec every day, i had to sell all my watches with that bad movements. Rolex dont can repair the new movements.
Straight bar rubber is a big no for me. Be careful ordering Rubber B (their payment company may charge you 4 times) and Vanguard (who use DHL who charge a £25 admin fee on top of import tax) if buying in UK. Sorry for the negativity lol. On a positive note......Absolutely enlightening hearing you be so honest about parting with a watch ; )
It sounds like the sale of your watch made a lot of sense. It also sounds like you have the right priorities in line. I have had a couple of Rolex’s as well as some other lovely Tudors, Omegas and Grand Seikos. Despite having a stable job with a comfortable income, I do have guilt of spending anything more than about $2000 on a watch. I’m not sure exactly when that will change, but that seems to be the limit of what I am comfortable with. But the desire still burns strong to find that one watch that does it all…
It’s called selling something of value that is not essential for other purposes which in this instance was family. Not hard to understand. It’s just a watch
I have several Rolex Models (Hulk, James Cameron Deep Blue Dial first edition), and have never considered selling them because apparently Rolex tracks this and puts a bad mark against your name if you do. Does this concern you in the sale of a Rolex like you did in this instance?
great reasoning. im in the process of culling a few watches myself for the same purposes.I'm getting on in age and watches are not the only thing in life that matters. I need a few matters that need attending to and that means selling off some of my pricier watches to get some cash. Thanks for your vid 👍
Right call. You're in a point in your life where you need to enjoy moments with the ones you love. Keep the watches associated with those person and get yourself a fun vacation watch. Something left field like a Seiko Tuna Marinemaster SBBN031. Go have fun!
Always tough selling a Submariner I sold my 126613LN didn’t like the attention it brought also too delicate to be a one watch collection, with same budget I got a 42 Explorer 2 Polar and a 126334 Azzuro 41, if a see a video of it reminds of it, don’t have unlimited funds either but really enjoying my other watches without worrying about wearing them everywhere especially the Polar Explorer! Great video cheers
I love your content! You deserve more subscribers :) Way less hype and more actual content and free form conversation. Love it! Oh and also - wishing you good health and family happiness! Watches a just things. Family is most important!
A little late to the discussion I know, however, I believe that you, by selling on your Sub did exactly the right thing. There can be nothing more important and healthy for your own sense of wellbeing than the relationship a person has with his or her family and loved ones. The " sacrifice" of something, in this case a watch, for the benefit of the people you profess to and no doubt do love is a comparitively small price to pay for the sheer happiness and security this act of altruism, can and will display. Watches or whatever you are fundamentally a human being who thrives on the relationships one has with the human beings close to him or her. You did the right thing, you know that and that is why pretty much the entirety of my comment is academic. Stay safe, stay happy Andy and look after yourself and your family. Toodle Pip!
Hi Andy, I have a question … I recall your disgust at the Sub being labelled a “w4nk3rs watch” by the About Effing Time trio (which i personally found quite distasteful & childish) … did this influence your decision to part with your Sub? 🤔
probably cause its vintage and hard to move. They figure they'll sit on your piece for a while. Meanwhile a sub will always sell at or over MSRP and is a super easy piece to sell because of the demand.
@@steelsteez6118 That's why I've seen the same submariners for over a year on watchfinder ; because of the high demand? Nobody pays over retail for a rolex anymore
All the heart felt touching message and lighting as a very new watcher the title brought me here but the 6 minutes or more to the title was exhausting actually, do you do that for the monetizing minutes necessary? I love watches and personally don’t have the connection with history of the channel yet but just my personal take on it ..did you ever sell the submariner?😂😂
Hi Andy thanks for sharing your story, I'm on the cusp of selling 4 to leave the so called 3..! Two of mine are from watchfinder, you managed a good deal.. A couple of things to be aware of don't Wear your valuable watch into London especially for a published watch event, thief's are rigth at the moment on Mopeds and a foot actively looking for exactly You..! The other thing to note , it maybe your microphone, it picks up a rather irritating lip smacking, sorry to mention it, but it's best brought to your attention. Regards From another Enthusiast.
Thanks Claude. I need a pop filter for the mic to remove my pesky lip smacking. Regards the events. Always pretty cautious and keep my arms covered, even if only wearing a Speedy.
You had a life changing event, and that made you revisit your priorities. Selling your Rolex is not selling out, and we talk of watches as vessels for memories, but if selling this watch enabled you to make new Precious memories, then awesome. You have enough other watches I'm sure, and its only a Rolex🤷♂️ my favourite watch is not my most expensive watch, so good decision. You can always buy another Rolex, but you cannot buy more time to spend with family, and I'm sure your heart attack helped you realise that. Hope you are keeping well.
For what it costs today, and what it offers for the price, the submariner is an incredibly boring watch once the novelty wears off. Never mind how easily the 904L bracelet scratches up.
You momentarily lost me at "rubber gusset!" Ha ha! But seriously, good on yer - the opportunity cost of our watch collections does need to be considered. Assuming the watches are clear of credit, they represent a significant financial opportunity to have amazing experiences, learn, travel and do a whole host of life improving activities. Sometimes as watch obsessives, we need to look up from our watch box toward our families, ourselves and the outside world. But returning to the rabbit hole - see if you can borrow a 3816 bracelet first. I've got both and tried interchanging and I don't like the 3816 bracelet (lovely thing that it is) on the 1816. I only like the 1816 on a strap and only like the 3816 on a bracelet. Sounds daft, but the case/lug shapes are significantly different.
Yep, they're two very different watches. 1816 Hesalite is an utterly different experience to 3816 SS. I've got both Hesalite versions and gotta say, I prefer the 1816, despite the 3816 being plain better. I'd liken the difference to 5 vs 6 digit Subs/GMTs - both good, just very different. The 3816 is much more 'smart appropriate,' especially in SS.@@TheEnglishWatch
Maybe the guy was telling the truth or not but he was really looking for a profit for giving you the exact same watch back. buyers remorse 🤷🏾♂️ Good Luck 👍🏾
Good on you… I ditched my DJ41. Not because of guilt or any sort of money crunch. Mostly because my attitude towards Rolex changed and I wasn’t enjoying the watch. Rather that let it depreciate I traded it in for something else (we’ll two other something elses) and I’m much happier. I’ve been on the waitlist for sub date since the transition from 40 to 41. I have the money, but IF they call now.. it’s a hard pass.
I think no problem to sell a Sub although it is a super nice watch - If you really want to see one, there is always one close to you on some wrist near by. Meaning: The Sub is nothing exclusive and thus ony works if it's sentimental to you.
In 2019, I sold my GMT Master that I had owned for 26 years. It badly needed a servicing, the bracelet was completely worn and the tritium lume had lost all its mojo. It was difficult to part with it initially, but when I weighed the money I would need to spend to get it back in good working order, the decision became an easy one. Surprisingly, I don't even miss it. It was the only expensive watch I have ever owned, but in the end, it's just a watch.
How much was the service cost?
I sold my GMT Master II Batman in 2021, I’m the completely the opposite, after 2 weeks I regretted it.
The cost of the service will be far outweighed by the current value of a 1994 GMT Master which is entering the classic category.
Should of serviced it.
Wow that’s 26 years and you just sold it like that😲
You're a great father. A better one than my old man ever was. Your kids are lucky to have you. That's worth so much more than any watch in the world.
My wife's parents were ill and live abroad, I sold a Cartier to pay for flights for the family, as it had been a tough year with steep increases in the cost of living - you can always buy more stuff but cannot replace people.
We can become desensitised to the amount of money these watches cost. When you sell one and the money arrives in your account you suddenly realise that it is a lot of money!
The big brands use a lot of Neural Linguistic Programming to convince us that their prices are fair and justified. The flippers, sheeple and the UA-cam algorithm+influencer feedback loop does the rest of it.
You've made the right choice there, a tough one but right.
I bought a Tudor Black Bay 54 to commemorate a work milestone / anniversary and aim to hold onto that until the end of my days.
Yes I could have gone the Breitling or Omega route but in reality, there are other things i want to spend my money on.
Tudor was expensive enough to make me feel special, yet not enough to negatively impact my lifestyle, a perfect combination.
Evening Andy. As someone who has owned (and sold); various Rolex models - Milgauss, Explorer II, Submariner no date, Hulk, Sea dweller, OP (I think that's it), and am now wearing a quartz, (yes quartz) Citizen PMD56-2952 (which has lost only 1 second in a month), I totally agree with your sentiments. Watches are great but life (and health) is more important and your family will cherish the memories of the holiday and the time spent with you, more than the watch.
Thank you for putting this up. Such a nice feeling to see a father talking about prioritizing his family. Good to know about the Watchfinder offer and appraisal process too!
I’ve wanted a Rolex for a while but still can’t justify the crazy price.. so I’ll keep wearing my Heuer Carrera from 1971. It’s actually my favorite anyway
Buy the new speedy bracelet, I bought one for my previous gen speedy a couple of years ago and absolutely love it. I believe the latest iteration also has a tool-less micro adjust clasp too, I missed out on that unfortunately.
I agree. Recently I sold the majority of my watch collection…all my Rolex’s.
Just one day woke up and felt differently about all of them.
And it feels good
You did the right thing. A watch is just a watch. Family is life.
Thanks for sharing, on what is REALLY important in life!
Just discovered your site, what a lovely video. I had an aortic dissection on 2.8.14, lucky to be alive every day, it take a lot of mental energy at first. I am now 3427 days past it.. you inspired me to look, I’m also 810 days without alcohol.. I have a 6 watch collection and often think about rationalising most of it, as you say family and living a good life is a priority. I love the collecting, but after a while it somehow doesn’t give fulfilment, compared to time with family. Thank you so much, for sharing and your authenticity
First time “watching” you. What a great video and thought. Absolutely right. Didn’t think I’d subscribe but your openness hit home. Right on. Subscribed.
You made the right decision. Always get it back one day if you can’t live without it.😊
Similar.
I just sold a Rolex op, bought a beautiful Zenith Elite Classic from watch finder no less at an amazing price and pocketed the rest of the cash. I liked the OP but now have an objectively nicer watch, a nice change of watch on the wrist for the time being and will take the family on holiday. Great vid and I completely agree with your sentiment.
I love the heartfelt realism of this video. Feel it all the way.
Great video. I bought a Sub brand new in 2016 as my only watch. Ended up swapping it in 2020 for a Steel and Everose Datejust, with cash my way, as I fancied a change and wanted a dressier watch. People must've thought I was crazy but I did what felt right for me. Also, I've since bought a 39.5mm Planet Ocean which I like more than I ever did the Sub.
Going on holiday with the family but having to sell your loved Rolex? Never in my life. Ask if your wife would sell all of her shoes, cloths, jewelry?! I think her answer will be clear. So we all have our priorities.
Glad you're not my dad.
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This is the attitude you'd expect from a typical Rolex owner / Rolex fanboy. Probably also buys Andrew Tate online tutorials on how to digitally pimp your partner on onlyfans in order to buy more Rolex
They are just watches, nothing more.
You sold a watch a lot of people are reluctant to even wear for security and has very high service costs, and you made a profit to boot. Life is shorter than we think and family experiences are the real treasures . We often convince our selfs that nice luxury items will enhance your lives but often they complicate life .
I had my Rolex Sub date 41mm 2022 on consignment at B&Q watches for a couple of weeks. I just couldnt do it tho and had them send it back to me (had to pay polish costs etc). So glad I did, It's still one of my first grails and will never be tempted to sell it again. Everyones watch journeys are different, good luck on the next part of yours. Good on you for putting family ahead of material goods.
Priorities, priorities. I’d say the real message is that if you need to sell a watch in order to afford something else, then you’re doing it wrong.
I'd say if you prioritize doing something good for your family over owning a watch you're doing it wrong.
@@brynroberts9880 point being one should not need to make decisions over what takes priority when buying a luxury item, because you should only be buying luxury items with money that you don’t need for something else.
@@aprado17 fair point, but circumstances change. A lot of people buy Rolex because they know they can sell it at any time and get their money back, so you get a lot of people who do buy them with money they might in future need for something else, and to be fair - there's nothing wrong with that. If you can also make money on it, then why wouldn't you. Hence the flipper culture for Rolex. It is what it is.
I'd say he didn't plan on having a heart attack, which triggered the series of events. Potentially losing your life, then leaving your job, I'd say are bug enough triggers to re evaluate what's affordable from a luxury item perspective. Hard to know what's around the corner.
I think you hit the nail on the head - we all spend our money in different ways and prioritise what’s important to us. Sometimes, watch buying can skewer our normal good judgement and we need that moment of recalibration of our senses.
It would be natural to feel a little sad when a great watch like the Sub goes - but the memories of your family holiday, the first after a life changing event, far outweigh any watch.
I think Rolexes are a bit like what a major studio movie is like for a great actor. They get paid a truck load of money to then be able to go off and do the movies they are passionate about. Not many watch brands (that a working man can afford) appreciate in value like a Rolex. But You’ll be back in the game shortly and your next watch will probably cost much less, but mean so much more.
It’s interesting to see some stellar watches on the secondary market going for affordable money. This week I saw great watches from Breuer and Jaeger LeCoultre going for between £6 and £8k.
All the best Andy
Well done Andy. Great to see that you prioritised your family. Also very surprised by the offer you got from WF. I received a quote on my 39mm Pelagos only 2 months old, full set and unmarked with some original stickers Inc AD receipt.. for £1300!! Shocked. I ended up selling it on Chrono 24 for €4150 Euros. Looks like Rolex is recession proof at the moment.
Stark proof it's ONLY a buyer's market & even then hardly anyone is buying, hence these derisory offers from companies who don't really want to buy them because nobody's buying from them!!!!
low ball indeed, but remember Watchfinder expects to make a minimum of 40 % gross margin on this watch and they probably have too many on their hands now
I think you will regret selling the sub. I have had all the watches you can think of and was officially a watch nut! I started with a brand new 16610 that I purchased in 1992, it was made in 91. I have had say 50 luxury watches in between...All gone , all flipped. The only one left is the 16610. I wear it everyday in all situation and it runs at plus 3 a day . Don' t baby , its a watch to be used. I am so cured of the nonsense of watch collecting! Each to their own I guess, but I feel so much better for retaining my old workhorse. Lastly, I would never hang on to a watch or anything else and let my family suffer! Though missing a holiday is hardly suffering, I was thinking in the region of hungry or no clothes or no shelter :)
Submariner starts at 7:10
Great video. This is a refreshing story. Thank you for sharing.
Andy. Congratulations on 477 days. Here's to many more 👍. Had a couple of experiences with Watchfinder Birmingham myself recently. Picked up a really nice Breitling Premier B09, which I am delighted with. However, yesterday, I offered my Aqua Terra to them by the same process as your Sub. They came back to me today with a really low ball price (around 1K less than the same watch on ebay and Chrono24). I realise proces are falling at the moment, but I wasn't expecting such a low offer.
Anyway, thanks for the video/ update 👍
A true man‘s descision!
Deepest respect for that! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
If you want a tapering bracelet for the 1861/63 and dont want to fork out a large amount for the new OEM one, I highly recommend Uncle Strap (Seiko) bracelets, they are very well made.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this what a man looks like, squared priorities and committed to his family.
Good move 👍🏼 I did something very similar with a Seamaster and have zero regrets. I’ve changed my outlook on material things in recent years and focus on happiness health and my family a lot more now. Since the huge price increases in watches that interest me I’ve found myself definitely losing interest 🤔 always been a Rolex fan but I just think ✊🏻💦 now when I think of Rolex. I think Omega have completely lost the plot now unfortunately. No new models apart from huge lumps with huge price tags that no one will buy. Out of date power reserves excessive case thickness on most models and a lack of refinement and micro adjustment on most of their bracelets combined with awful bezel actions on all of their divers is unacceptable at their price point now. Makes you wonder what is going on at Omega 🤔 one caveat is that they haven’t messed up the Speedmaster moon watch 🙏 that’s only because they’ve basically left the design alone from a time when Omega wasn’t run by idiots 🤦🏻♂️
Yes indeed, I completely agree with your comments about Omega & particularly the bit about ''huge lumps with huge prices that no one will buy'' & it's only when you do take the time to go through their catalogue of ''huge lumps with huge prices that no one will buy'' that you get both sad & shocked in equal measure & so I just completely leave them to it....
Good decision. I also sold my Speedmaster to Watchfinder couple of weeks back, for a much lower price I shall say
Horology is a wonderful topic, there is so much to learn, but we all get carried away too quickly by the push from social media to spend always more on these shiny trinklets.
And excellent models from microbrands with zero heritage but good engineering show you can get very enjoyable watches for 20 % of the retail prices from Rolex, Omega, IWC or Breitling.
Let's be sensible adults.
Great message and perspective! It’s easy to lay trap to chasing holy grail watches or feeling the need to purchase more and more. It’s not as easy as it sounds to maintain control and keep priorities in check but you’re absolutely right, family and memories shared should always come before any hobby.
3:05 Personally, I dont think style should dictate price; I believe the quality should.
Lovely video, you’ve done the right things for the right reason… I had a very similar experience, ie had a stroke in 2017, sold my Sub same as yours to a local dealer in 2021, Rolex factory had been closed for a long time in COVID, so there was a shortage & I returned £10k from my initial purchase in 2016. Do I miss it ? Yes ! But the money went a long way, just bought the Seiko PB323 black face … unbelievable quality & everyone who knows nothing about watches think it’s my Sub back 😊 hope those days on that app on your phone hit astronomical highs .
I wouldn't miss the sub. Apart from a few models, I find rolex too heavy, shiny, expensive, and hyped up too much... you've done the right thing
I've been wearing a CWC G10 for a week, and it makes me wonder why we bother wasting so much money on these things, when you can have so much pure enjoyment wearing a little army watch with fixed lugs and gorgeous hesalite...
I agree with the Rolex sub criticisms. I prefer the pre-ceramic 5 digit subs, but those are $10k or more used condition
@@RabbitWatchShop exactly...or an Explorer 2 (previous model)
Great video as usual from this guy. Classy and to the point. After enough belly aching, begging, borrowing, and trying to rationalize it with my wife, she finally relented and let me get the 2023 Sub no-date. I racked my brain and scoured the secondary sellers (That was half the fun) finally settling on my Sub. I was ripped in two for so long prior to the purchase because I was in the position where I could only buy one. I went with Rolex's Flagship watch (in my opinion) but still wonder, ''Did I make the right call?'' Anyway, I believe I did, but still sneak websites of Chrono and WatchB for my holy grail watch-Daytona. who knows? someday maybe!! Thanks again for such classy watch videos..
I owned a ceramic panda daytona for exactly two weeks. It's a showpiece, and not a functional chrono with hard to read dials, if you are fully using it to compliment your active lifestyle
That’s great! I sold mine to Bob’s and they ended up changing their offer after I sent it in which was BS. It was serviced by RSC 1.5 yrs ago and I take care of it. At this point I was worn down dealing with all the other low ball offers so I just took the deal. It was disappointing.
It's really not the best time to sell, in fact it's almost the worst time to sell. Not a bad time to buy though...
New subscriber (!) I don't agree with your thought process around this sale but I REALLY appreciate (and enjoyed) your candid, heart-felt and honest approach. Thumbs up from me, a Brit living in Aus.
Sold my Rolex Sub last year when I tried on the new Hamilton 41mm Frogman,no regrets.
Early 2020, so one of the last Rolex with the old card and your own name on the card, can’t ever replace that, that’s a shame, hope the holiday went well. Keep well Andy.
Hi Andy, very authentic video all together. Perfectly know what you are talking about and I think if one is really honest to him/herself, we all face such questions now and again. Goes for so many things in life. Really appreciated your honesty there. Take care, Udo
You realized it was an item that you could not afford comfortably so more power to you for being modest and accepting that fact. If you have a watch but can’t provide for the family then your priorities are not in order.
ive sold a lot of watches in the past , a 16570 and a Omega PO 42 - I dont regret it at all i actually hated those watches and regretted buying them , never wore them at all , now I think very very hard before buying a watch , money sitting is money wasted! A sub is nice but you can always always grab another one in the future if you want life always goes on! Great vid! love the english accent :-)
I will never sell my Rolex Submariner 116610 unless it's was a Emergency situation. You can always get another one. Your family comes first. I won't sell it. That was the last thing I got before my Dad passed away 😢
You have always been very 'real' Andy. A rare entity in bigger UA-camrs!
Have been following you since Paul Thorpe gave you a shout out.
I am at WatchPro Friday and Saturday this year, so hope to say Hi.
- A study done at Harvard concluded that memories of pleasant events stayed with people throughout their lives whereas material purchases faded quickly.
You have a beautiful Omega Speedy, much better than a Rolex Submariner. Family holiday with lots of amazing memories with you loved ones is worth much more.
You did what you did as a good father and husband. Sometimes it’s not having, but rather, getting that watch that holds more of the thrill. The hunt is the exciting part, and although the initial excitement of acquiring is most definitely a joyous moment, it is usually short lived. After I got my grail watch(Sub no date) I didn’t buy another watch for a year. Then I started to see the joy and value of the more inexpensive microbrand watches. Go forward with no regrets. There’s another watch for you down the road.
I'm glad your happy and healthy Andy
I would find another wife instead of selling my Sub!lol
Hi Andy. I'm very much of the same view as you when it comes to selling my watches. You have to be ruthless with yourself & remind yourself that luxury watches are exactly that, a luxury. They can always be replaced by an alternative at a later time. Well done on the Watchfinder deal, I've never got a decent price from them yet.
Family more important than watches that's for sure, good decision Andy! You say the Sub was not your favourite watch, so what is? :)
My JLC atm. Wear it sparingly and feel good when I do.
Good health sir,did you have a cheeky look to see what it was listed for on watchfinder
They were selling at £12k from memory. Not any more I suspect. I’m sure it went to a good home.
The US equivalent of watchfinder is Bob’s Watches, complete with ridiculous lowball offers!
Yep 👏🏻 if in UK should go with Subdial 👌🏻
Really enjoyed this video. As a father, in your shoes, I would have done the same thing as much as I love my Sub...and I have been in those financial situations where I've had to sell possessions I loved for the sake of my family (my 2007 997 Porsche Turbo, for instance, back in 2017). What goes down sometimes comes back up, still have my Sub, own a Blancpain Air Command, and just got the call from my AD that my highly coveted James Cameron Deep Sea Sea Dweller has finally arrived after a two year wait. God bless you and your family, mate, have subscribed and will continue to follow your journey.
I love the look of the new tapered speedy bracelet. The clasp is lovely. However when I tried it on, it tried to remove every hair on my wrist. Never experienced this on any Speedy bracelet before. Gutted.
I have noticed that and one element that makes me hold off as well.
Why is every Rolex video, as much about money, as about the watch itself. I sold a sub when I sold my business, as I didn't need it anymore. I was given the freedom to wear the watch I actually wanted. That has been the best gift ever.
After 4 times for a service repairs, i sell my gmt master 126710 blro,and my Submariner 126610 LV, every 15 months the movements gone slowing -12 sec every day, i had to sell all my watches with that bad movements. Rolex dont can repair the new movements.
Straight bar rubber is a big no for me.
Be careful ordering Rubber B (their payment company may charge you 4 times) and Vanguard (who use DHL who charge a £25 admin fee on top of import tax) if buying in UK.
Sorry for the negativity lol.
On a positive note......Absolutely enlightening hearing you be so honest about parting with a watch ; )
Crazy to think you paid just over 7K via the AD & a few years later the retail is now 9K
It sounds like the sale of your watch made a lot of sense. It also sounds like you have the right priorities in line. I have had a couple of Rolex’s as well as some other lovely Tudors, Omegas and Grand Seikos.
Despite having a stable job with a comfortable income, I do have guilt of spending anything more than about $2000 on a watch. I’m not sure exactly when that will change, but that seems to be the limit of what I am comfortable with.
But the desire still burns strong to find that one watch that does it all…
So you have become a “flipper” 😂
If three and a half years counts as flipping then I guess I am. This one would have qualified for the Rolex Certified Preowned at over 3 years.
Happens to everyone. Nature of the hobby (mostly).
how is that flipping? Dude held onto it for almost four years.
It’s called selling something of value that is not essential for other purposes which in this instance was family. Not hard to understand. It’s just a watch
I have several Rolex Models (Hulk, James Cameron Deep Blue Dial first edition), and have never considered selling them because apparently Rolex tracks this and puts a bad mark against your name if you do. Does this concern you in the sale of a Rolex like you did in this instance?
Not in the slightest.
great reasoning. im in the process of culling a few watches myself for the same purposes.I'm getting on in age and watches are not the only thing in life that matters. I need a few matters that need attending to and that means selling off some of my pricier watches to get some cash. Thanks for your vid 👍
That Seamaster 120 looks great!
oh wow! I look fwd to meeting you at the watch pro event :) (saturday)
You did the right thing. Family comes first.
Right call. You're in a point in your life where you need to enjoy moments with the ones you love. Keep the watches associated with those person and get yourself a fun vacation watch. Something left field like a Seiko Tuna Marinemaster SBBN031. Go have fun!
Interesting perspective, im looking to go Self Employed soon and I may have to make similar choices.
Always tough selling a Submariner I sold my 126613LN didn’t like the attention it brought also too delicate to be a one watch collection, with same budget I got a 42 Explorer 2 Polar and a 126334 Azzuro 41, if a see a video of it reminds of it, don’t have unlimited funds either but really enjoying my other watches without worrying about wearing them everywhere especially the Polar Explorer! Great video cheers
Idk what movie you were talking about, but sounds similar to the plot of Silas Marner.
Good on yer, Andy. Enjoy the holiday!
Great video! Love your view on the hobby. Thanks
I love your content! You deserve more subscribers :) Way less hype and more actual content and free form conversation. Love it!
Oh and also - wishing you good health and family happiness! Watches a just things. Family is most important!
A little late to the discussion I know, however, I believe that you, by selling on your Sub did exactly the right thing.
There can be nothing more important and healthy for your own sense of wellbeing than the relationship a person has with his or her family and loved ones.
The " sacrifice" of something, in this case a watch, for the benefit of the people you profess to and no doubt do love is a comparitively small price to pay for the sheer happiness and security this act of altruism, can and will display. Watches or whatever you are fundamentally a human being who thrives on the relationships one has with the human beings close to him or her. You did the right thing, you know that and that is why pretty much the entirety of my comment is academic. Stay safe, stay happy Andy and look after yourself and your family. Toodle Pip!
Good decision Andy. If I see this Saturday I will say hello.
Hi Andy, I have a question … I recall your disgust at the Sub being labelled a “w4nk3rs watch” by the About Effing Time trio (which i personally found quite distasteful & childish) … did this influence your decision to part with your Sub? 🤔
Not really. I was just a little bored of it. Selling gave me a few opportunities.
I'm glad watchfinder worked out for you. I contacted them about my vintage speedmaster and they said , not buying at the moment?
probably cause its vintage and hard to move. They figure they'll sit on your piece for a while. Meanwhile a sub will always sell at or over MSRP and is a super easy piece to sell because of the demand.
@@steelsteez6118 That's why I've seen the same submariners for over a year on watchfinder ; because of the high demand? Nobody pays over retail for a rolex anymore
Sad to hear you sold your sub , but as you say it gives you an opportunity to look at other things. Clad your feeling better, nice easy going style 👍🏻
Your intro music sounds like Mario Kart on Nintendo 64.
Specifically the character / course selection menu 😂
All the heart felt touching message and lighting as a very new watcher the title brought me here but the 6 minutes or more to the title was exhausting actually, do you do that for the monetizing minutes necessary? I love watches and personally don’t have the connection with history of the channel yet but just my personal take on it ..did you ever sell the submariner?😂😂
Nice one, sold mine at the peak of flex culture insane prices and never looked back , collecting more "intresting brands"
Hi Andy thanks for sharing your story, I'm on the cusp of selling 4 to leave the so called 3..!
Two of mine are from watchfinder, you managed a good deal..
A couple of things to be aware of don't Wear your valuable watch into London especially for a published watch event, thief's are rigth at the moment on Mopeds and a foot actively looking for exactly You..!
The other thing to note , it maybe your microphone, it picks up a rather irritating lip smacking, sorry to mention it, but it's best brought to your attention.
Regards
From another Enthusiast.
Thanks Claude. I need a pop filter for the mic to remove my pesky lip smacking. Regards the events. Always pretty cautious and keep my arms covered, even if only wearing a Speedy.
You had a life changing event, and that made you revisit your priorities. Selling your Rolex is not selling out, and we talk of watches as vessels for memories, but if selling this watch enabled you to make new Precious memories, then awesome. You have enough other watches I'm sure, and its only a Rolex🤷♂️ my favourite watch is not my most expensive watch, so good decision. You can always buy another Rolex, but you cannot buy more time to spend with family, and I'm sure your heart attack helped you realise that. Hope you are keeping well.
Will your AD now blacklist you do you think?
No
For what it costs today, and what it offers for the price, the submariner is an incredibly boring watch once the novelty wears off. Never mind how easily the 904L bracelet scratches up.
Top man, family over everything
You momentarily lost me at "rubber gusset!" Ha ha! But seriously, good on yer - the opportunity cost of our watch collections does need to be considered. Assuming the watches are clear of credit, they represent a significant financial opportunity to have amazing experiences, learn, travel and do a whole host of life improving activities. Sometimes as watch obsessives, we need to look up from our watch box toward our families, ourselves and the outside world. But returning to the rabbit hole - see if you can borrow a 3816 bracelet first. I've got both and tried interchanging and I don't like the 3816 bracelet (lovely thing that it is) on the 1816. I only like the 1816 on a strap and only like the 3816 on a bracelet. Sounds daft, but the case/lug shapes are significantly different.
I may just look for a sapphire sandwich and scratch 2 itches. I prefer mine on a nice leather strap tbh.
Yep, they're two very different watches. 1816 Hesalite is an utterly different experience to 3816 SS. I've got both Hesalite versions and gotta say, I prefer the 1816, despite the 3816 being plain better. I'd liken the difference to 5 vs 6 digit Subs/GMTs - both good, just very different. The 3816 is much more 'smart appropriate,' especially in SS.@@TheEnglishWatch
Great video.
I would buy a new Pelagos 42 in black for $5k.
Fair enough, good show!
Maybe the guy was telling the truth or not but he was really looking for a profit for giving you the exact same watch back. buyers remorse 🤷🏾♂️ Good Luck 👍🏾
You made money on that watch dude. No reason to worry. Down the road you are going to get another call from your AD….
good, get an oris divers 65 instead
You still have your Speedy 🙂 did you sell your Tissot Gentlemen?. Least you had a good holiday with your family.
Yes. Sold both the Tissots. Had fun with them and moved on with no loss.
Good on you… I ditched my DJ41. Not because of guilt or any sort of money crunch. Mostly because my attitude towards Rolex changed and I wasn’t enjoying the watch. Rather that let it depreciate I traded it in for something else (we’ll two other something elses) and I’m much happier. I’ve been on the waitlist for sub date since the transition from 40 to 41. I have the money, but IF they call now.. it’s a hard pass.
Why sale to go on holiday? The holiday is not a necessity. The holiday is over and the watch is gone. Bad trade
It's not the holiday.. It's about the family bond that is worth more than the watch
I think no problem to sell a Sub although it is a super nice watch - If you really want to see one, there is always one close to you on some wrist near by. Meaning: The Sub is nothing exclusive and thus ony works if it's sentimental to you.
It took you seven whole minutes to finally get to the point of your video, come on man.