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A luxury watch expert has revealed her best tips and tricks for investing in a high-end watch, detailing exactly which brands and designs will give you the best return on your purchase, while also sharing advice for those hoping to secure a price. more economical. piece on the second-hand market.
The luxury watch market has exploded lately, with a huge increase in interest in classic brands such as Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer and Cartier.
Celebrities have become more obsessed with watches than ever, and everyone from Nicole Kidman to Tom Brady has been seen flaunting luxury designs during their public appearances.
This recent obsession has made it nearly impossible for buyers to get their hands on new designs from these brands, and has seen some watch fans forced to jump through multiple hoops to own a sought-after design.
Owning a luxury watch is an important status symbol, and it’s one of the reasons it’s been harder to find exclusive options from brands like Rolex. Nicole Kidman appears wearing a watch
Celebrities often show off exclusive and hard-to-find watches, which has led to more and more people wanting a classic watch from a fashion brand.
Kylie Jenner boasts an envy-inducing watch collection and even bought her five-year-old daughter Stormi a Rolex.
Jess Chow founded Vieren in Toronto in 2020 alongside creative director Sunny Fong, a previous winner of Project Runway Canada, and now offers advice on investing in a luxury watch.
In fact, premium watches today are almost as hard to come by as Hermès Birkin bags, requiring an exhaustive purchasing process in which fashion fans are forced to befriend sales associates and spend a large amount of money on other branded items until they are deemed “worthy” enough to be offered the opportunity to purchase a premium handbag.
As a result, many have turned to the second-hand market to find the watch of their dreams. But while buying a used watch can help cut astronomical prices, opting for a vintage design can also come with risks, like falling for a counterfeit or ending up with a broken product.
In short, the world of watches has become increasingly broader and therefore much more complicated.
But luckily, help is now available, courtesy of luxury watch expert and brand founder Jess Chow, who launched her own watch brand. they see after watching his parents navigate the industry for years.
His parents, both watchmakers, met at Baselworld, the world watch and jewelry fair held every spring in Switzerland.
Now, the Toronto-based entrepreneur independently crafts watches that focus on form and function while pushing the boundaries of luxury watch design. Chow works with the brand’s creative director, Sunny Fong, a previous Project Runway Canada winner, to create elevated, limited-edition collections.
Chow, who has created a brand that is “on a mission to reinvent the automatic watch”, tells DailyMail.com how to make his vision a reality and why customers should invest in elegant, timeless watches.
Is it really worth investing in a luxury watch?
With the rise of fast fashion, it’s easy for people to avoid expensive watches for less expensive options.
Chow explains that “mechanical watches are a living part of history and people seek to connect with something bigger than themselves,” joking: “When AI takes over the world one day, you’ll know you can still trust an automatic watch.” on your wrist to keep you moving forward.’
Instead of shopping for cheap bargains, Chow believes it’s important to look for understated luxury pieces that will stand the test of time, in monochrome and metallic palettes that make them easy to wear.
The luxury watch designer creates exclusive collections with a modern design and combines her manicure with the products to show them off.
What are the benefits of buying an automatic watch?
Automatic watches are self-winding pieces that don’t need to be wound manually when worn regularly, and while you may not see many of them on a day-to-day basis, Chow is working to bring them back.
In the past, these watches were considered expensive and unaffordable, but Chow wants new generations to embrace the style.
“Automatic watches are timeless, modern luxury pieces that can tell time forever without the need for batteries, and an art perfected over generations that is increasingly being lost in today’s digital world,” explains Chow.
Chow is working to bring the “craft that has been around forever to a generation that hasn’t had the experience of wearing an automatic watch.”
“Although automatic watches are investment pieces that last for years, we believe that you should not sacrifice your lifestyle to experience this technology for the first time,” insists the expert, which is why her watches cost between $2,000 and $3,000.
Automatic watches do not require a battery and can run on their own as long as they are worn fairly regularly.
According to Chow, Swiss craftsmanship makes the difference, and their watches are handmade in La-Chaux-de-Fonds and certified in Switzerland.
Vieren creates unique watches, such as a recent collection inspired by New York City’s famous Studio 54.
How do you choose the right automatic watch?
Chow tells people to look for the “three Ms,” which are motion, materials and manufacturing. It is best to invest in a watch made of stainless steel or scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with gold, gemstone or diamond accents, because “these subtle details are what make it a luxury watch.”
It’s also helpful to look for certified Swiss-made watches, which will have the label on the dial or case back. Chow calls them “the most reliable and best-made watches in the world.”
Chow wants potential customers to look for “iconic styles thoughtfully designed for long-lasting wear” that are “big enough to turn heads, but not too big to fit under a nice suit or jacket.”
It may be tempting to try new trends, but Chow believes that “a quality watch should be durable and relevant for a decade.” For those who want to try a trend, Chow suggests “looking for quartz movements that use a battery to tell time,” because they are generally less expensive and require less maintenance.
If you want to start a collection, “look for discontinued watch models, which are highly collectible and more sought after on the resale market.”
Does it make sense to buy a second-hand watch?
Buying a second-hand watch makes sense if you’re “collecting traditional watches,” according to Chow.
However, it is extremely important to know that you are getting the real product, which is why it is recommended to always look for an authorized certification and work with reputable distributors.
Chow also advises inspecting the watch in person to make sure it looks the same, since photos are not always accurate and there are many fakes.
The Canada-based brand carefully crafts each watch over six months to ensure it will stand the test of time.
Chow advises investing in watches that have gold, precious stone or diamond details to make them stand out.
It is important not to wear your watch in the shower or if you are going swimming, because while most luxury watches can survive getting wet, they cannot be submerged underwater.
Is it easy to maintain an automatic watch?
While it may be tempting to wear your new purchase only for special occasions, it’s actually better to wear your new accessory daily.
“Wearing an automatic watch every day ensures that the gears are in use and lubricated for optimal performance,” says Chow.
If you don’t always wear your watch, a watch charger will keep it running.
And while many watches, including Vieren’s options, are waterproof, it’s best not to shower or bathe with your watch on, as it could cause the gears to bend and warp.
It is also important to have your watch serviced every three to five years, so that the entire watch can be taken apart, cleaned and repaired.
If you plan to resell the watch in the future, keep it in pristine condition and be sure to store the box, packaging and documentation in a cool, dry place.