Generation Z finding time for second-hand luxury watches

I love my 1997 Seiji Kinetic Arctura, designed by the internationally renowned watch designer Jorg Hysek.

*Seiko

I'm happy with my Vostok Precision.

That seems like a very specific hobby! Probably not that many Generation Z are actually doing this. It is a slow day for JT!

Numan

Today 07:37 pm JST

That seems like a very specific hobby! Probably not that many Generation Z are actually doing this. It is a slow day for JT!

Actually, new and used mechanical watches especially automatic have been a status/fashion statement for men between 20 and 40 for a few years now.

Vintage watches between $200 and $500 or new breakthrough brands of the samed price range have been the "new" way to be different and fashionable since everyone already has an iPhone and the Apple watch was just the same.

But now the stakes have gone higher, prices are up on nice 1960s to 1980s mid range like good working condition automatic Seiko Lordmatic, 1950s to 1970S Tisso sea star automatic, fashion manual winding Omega De ville, etc..

Now as some get older other want to be even more "individual/different" they are now spending a bit more.

Now one could by a used Rolex but why, every Tom dick and Harry wanting to show they have money already has one.

But a vintage, Zenith, Patek Philippe, Piaget picked from the lesser known models, now there is a statement,

" I am different and you don't have this one "

I have an extensive collection of mid range watches I buy clean and repair (minor movement repairs only, external case, crystal mostly).

In hospital I was consistently asked by young men especially doctors what my watch was (I regularly wore a different model as they are all automatic and need to be kept wound).

I helped procure several watches for these young men since that time.

My mid 20s son and his friends are all looking for vintage watches, no major luxury ones yet but beautiful solid fashionable automatic or manual winding.

This has nothing to do with sustainability. That is classic virtue signalling by luxury brands - ones that sell products costing more than the average annual salary, when so many rely on food banks.

It's really about the money. Watch companies are moving into the second hand market (pun intended) because it is lucrative. The waiting lists place a ceiling on sales. The second hand and authentication market means more profit from a wider clientele.

Personally, I am happy with my £5 Casio. I have better things to spend my cash on. I don't care what rich people spend their money on, but find virtue signalling rather offensive.

This has nothing to do with sustainability

> Personally, I am happy with my £5 Casio. I have better things to spend my cash on. I don't care what rich people spend their money on, but find virtue signalling rather offensive.

That Casio will be in a landfill along with probably 20 more in your lifetime.

While my used purchased Omega DeVille manual winding will be still working with minimal maintenance and no cost In electricity, no need for batteries, etc and cost under ¥15,000.

Now never needing a battery always ready to go even if I forgot in a drawer for a year and it will be good to use even for my grandchildren is a far better deal than that £5 Casio.

In some overseas cities, people are attacked for wearing expensive watches. Will that never happen here?