Jeff, an interesting topic indeed. One sign that the interest has risen enormously can be seen from the number of new participants to the Forum. Am I right? Many new names the past 4-5 months. I think that says it all. Many of them use the opportunity to ask the "experts" whether the watch that they want to buy is genuine or not. And right they are!

Yes indeed prices have gone up, but I do not think all at the same degree. I would say especially the models that appeal to new collectors during their first stage of collecting. Examples are the Mcqueen, GMT, Siffert and some others. One of my dearest Heuer friends told me that he had sold a Mcqueen with box for € 13500 Euro ( approx. USD 16000). Others have gone up as well, but to a lesser degree if compared to Jan 2011.

It also seems to be come more and more difficult to get nice pieces, from others than members of the group. Could it be that the number of real nice pieces is getting exhausted?If that is true, than prices for those may rise even further.

A special role in all this are the dealers themselves. Have a look at Chrono24 to see the outrageous asking prices for some. E.g. a 2447N for 4500 Euros lately. We will never know whether these prices are ever achieved, or whether they finally change hands with a big rebate. It will surely attract other dealers however to buy everything they can get, "no matter the price, because Heuer's hot". In that way price increases may become a selffulfilling profecy.

For the future I foresee more attention for 60ties pieces.The older collectors get during their collecting career, the more eye they get for the simpler design watches with basic colours. Take for instance the Carrera Landeron 189 black & white. I agree, a real masterpiece on the wrist but still only valued by long time collectors, like you, David,myself and others. On the other hand, do not foresee that the Cortinas, Jaramas etc will ever become big sellers. They just lack that special touch that we see in CarAutMoSil.

How I feel as a collector? Difficult to say. One one hand I am happy, I can now tell my wife that what I always said to justify my hobby, has come through: "collecting vintage watches is better than saving the money in a bank account". Quite a relief...On the other hand I am a bit sad. What started as a kind of adventure with the warm love for these beautifull pieces and new friends with the same passion for the shape of a particular hand, or the patina on a dial, may now turn more and more into straight business where you have to act immediately in buying, trying to prevent that the impatient and all-business seller will sell to one of the ten other interestees, as he only cares for the buck.

So, yes still in the market, but it is getting harder I guess to expand the collection without getting in the fangs of some of the businesslike quick-buck sellers who have little feeling for the passionate collector.

Or am I too much an old romantic fool???

Ron