Page 16 - joa-october-rev

Take Some Time (To read this article about fine watches and clocks!)

by Charles Snider, Ruby Lane Customer Service

had the privilege of being at one of the closing parties at the famous limited editions. To find a Swatch with a transparent face and exposed
luxury jewelry Henri Bendel boutiques on New York’s famous 5th workings, for instance, one must turn to the pre-owned secondary
IAvenue before they shuttered their doors. They were hosting a party market. So, buying a fine luxury watch, or a more affordable watch by a
commemorating the famous Timex digital watch from the 1970s. When maker or designer like Swatch, is an acquisition you can also sell, if ever
I had the opportunity to purchase these official Timex reissues of their needed, in a robust secondary market.
famous watch, I was not the only person who ran up and lined up with
our credit cards to say, “Just charge it.” So, I am the owner of a very Height is Everything
fine-looking Timex watch that I bought from the maker, and I have Did you know that the standing clocks you commonly hear referred
the receipts. to as Grandfather clocks, may actually be a Grandmother clock?
Although the time has passed since every home had a Grandfather or
Buyer Beware Grandmother clock, they remain impressive and useful additions to a
What should you consider when acquiring a fine watch? room, foyer, lobby, or office decorated with a traditional style. While the
Unfortunately, the watch market is polluted with fakes and replicas of rule is not 100% universal, the Grandfather clock is at least 6 feet tall,
high-end luxury names like Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega, and Cartier. and the Grandmother clock is under 6 feet.
We learned recently from a friend who works at Swatch, that this If you are in the market for a standing clock, you will find that prices
company is also battling a market of fakes and repros in their lower- are more affordable relative to what families paid for them in the 1950s,
priced market. 60s, 70s, or 80s. A fine vintage or antique clock
The best way to protect yourself is to buy however will retain its value if kept in good
from a reputable online retailer or online market working condition, which includes treating
with a reputation you can trust, who will also the wood with a fine polish and keeping the
stand by their products and who also vet their workings free from excessive dust.
watches and offerings in advance. Please note Like many hand-carved vintage and antique
that when you buy a Rolex, Cartier, or Swatch furniture, the value of the clock is determined
that is pre-owned, from a by the craftsmanship and artistic decor of the
reputable online market, clock. The more elaborately carved the case
the makers may offer (the main body of the clock) and the hood
complimentary or dis- (the top part of the clock with the face and the
counted service, repair, ornamental decorative top), the more valuable
and support. Rolex Day/Date 18038 with a black professionally redone and desirable is the clock.
You must check dial set with aftermarket diamond hour markers. Keep in mind that many
directly with the manu- Custom-made 18kt gold heavy bezel, channel set with clocks also have chimes every
facturer for valuable 2.8 carats of round brilliant-cut diamonds. hour. Make sure you are aware
support and service Selling for $19,500 at Rubylane.com of the regular musical chime
options with your each hour when considering
pre-owned watch. For instance, Swatch shops in the placement of the clock. Whether the clock has been
New York offer free battery replacement in their modernized with an electric motor that keeps it
shops, for all Swatches. Another advantage of running, or if you need to regularly wind its cranks, try
Swatch watch, 4-Flags, GS100 buying a pre-owned luxury or fine watch is that it not to power it off and then on, or let it rest for too long.
Unisex 34mm 1984, blue retains and keeps its value. Fine watches are like One of the best ways to keep your Grandfather clock
plastic case and band, investments and some watches can actually or Grandmother clock in good working condition is to
working, selling for $270 increase in value over time. keep it running. Whenever I think of antique clocks, I
at Rubylane.com
Rolex for instance releases new styles to the think of all the timeless puns and jokes that were inspired
market and then they cease making the older by clocks such as “What do you call a tense clock?” “All
styles. If there is a style of Rolex you prefer, for the wound up.”
color of the face, number of jewels in the design, or So, remember when buying a vintage fine luxury
type of metal (gold, silver, platinum), then you can or designer watch to buy from a reputable dealer and
only look on the pre-owned market to find the marketplace who will stand behind their watches, and if
right one. you are designing the decor for a home or office if a
Swatch is famous for releasing new models and Grandfather clock is too big for the space, consider a
designs each season, with many editions and styles Grandmother clock.
Rolex Air King original brushed silver dial wristwatch,
c. 1996. Stainless steel with a 27-jewel perpetual English Grandmother-sized standing clock, c. 1770-80 with
movement and engine-turned bezel, the original single-weight driving time and strike. 30-hour birdcage
Oyster bracelet, baton hands, and original papers. movement. Marked R. Wells, Wiltshire, England.
Selling for $9,200 at Rubylane.com Selling for $4,500 at Rubylane.com
14 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles