Jeff I think long time collectors still have prices in their heads from 5, 6 years ago, if you would have told me in 2000 that one day a Monaco will fetch 8000 or more I guess I would not have believed it. Absolutely agree with your comment that very knowlegeable forum members sometimes have the chance to hit a good deal. Generally speaking the market is very transparent today most people use the internet and there is a lot of information out there today to judge the value of our beloved Heuer watches. When I started my collection I always paid over market prices for top pieces and did not negociate with my suppliers. Hence big watch people like the chronothek, timelounge and others kept on contacting me when they found some nos watches...
However top quality was always expensive and will be the best investment, same in the vintage car market. Quality, originality and rarity are the main hooks in the auction business.
Heuer is the only brand which has the credible link to motorsports hence it is a natural fact that car collectors are very interested. It also depends on available funds. Many car collectors have been in the Rolex and Patek league hence they feel Heuer is really good value for the money. As I said before I got often the question, why are these fantastic watches so cheap !
Cheers

Arno

: Arno [and others, of course]:

: Great discussion, so far.

: Here is my question: The collectors in our community are generally
: very knowledgeable, and we also tend to be careful / tight with
: our funds. We analyze the $3,000 Carrera 2447 or the $8,000
: McQueen Monaco, and deals are done or not done, for the sake of
: a few dollars. Perhaps some of this is explained by the fact
: that we buy watches so regularly, that we cannot afford to throw
: away an extra few hundred dollars on ecah one.

: I have been to several high-end car auctions, but have never been
: to a live watch auction. I hope that Arno and others can speak
: to the mood / atmosphere in which we see the guys with the
: $500,000 cars (or the $2 million cars) easily drop $10,000 or
: $12,000 for a watch that we might see as an $8,000 watch. In my
: own limited experience of selling a few vintage watches, the car
: guys are the best customers . . . they are happy to pay up for
: the good watches. This is a nice little accessory to go with the
: restored Porsche Carrera or Chevrolet Camaro.

: Perhaps you can tell us more about how a company like Bonhams
: brings the car guys into the watch world, with their pockets
: bulging with cash? If the live watch auctions are like the live
: car auctions, there is also a good amount of testosterone in the
: room, and the thrill of winning.

: I have probably raised these questions previously; they seem
: particularly relevant as we stand on the verge of seeing your
: amazing collection going into the live auction market. What is
: the mood of the room, in which 80 to 100 NOS and mint watches
: will change hands [literally]?

: Jeff

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