Carlo,
First, best of luck to you in your sale – I hope you realize a healthy increase in the price.

Second, I tend to agree with you but almost didn’t post this. Why? Because I understand how the others feel. They have been used to a certain level of prices and were able to play in this largely unknown, secluded beach of a market.

Then, somehow, the secret was leaked that this beach had great surfing, awesome diving, and excellent fishing. The beach is becoming developed, getting more crowded. Some will cash out or sell a few of their properties in order to find new exotic detinations or to upgrade at this beach. Some modest beach houses are being razed so that high-rise condos can be built. Soon, putt-putt golf and t-shirt stands will be everywhere. Those who already have a modest beach house still have a great beach to play. Those who don’t will need more money to buy a place here.

Paradise is not lost. You just may be limited in how many beach houses you can have in paradise. I am thankful I have a beach house, even though it is weathered.

: I wanted to share with everyone that this "White Orange
: Boy" is actually mine. :) I had purchased it from Jorge
: last year, and after careful consideration and a few chats with
: Eric, I decided it would be an interesting piece to have at
: auction.

: NOTE: I also want to make a statement that this post is not
: directed to any one person, so Jurgen, please do not read this
: as if I am writing to you. It is my own personal opinion, so do
: not be offended if you disagree with my thoughts.

: As we all have come to see, the last 6 months have shown us big
: moves with many Heuer's, and the rarer pieces have seen
: significant jumps in value in a very short period of time. As
: for myself, I started collecting Heuer's a little over a year
: ago, so am not as fortunate as many seasoned Heuer collectors
: that have amassed a collection at pennies on the dollar with
: today's values. But this goes for any brand that have seen major
: moves in their prices. You can look at the Rolex Paul Newmans as
: the perfect example. Yes they did not jump to $200k in a year or
: two, but once the hype had initially started years ago, they
: began escalating in value significantly within months.

: In my opinion, people are looking at the Heuer value's in the wrong
: way, specifically Heuer collectors. Heuer's should have seen
: price jumps several years ago, not just what we are seeing now.
: I divested from my Omega collection to reinvest it into Heuer's
: because I saw major value opportunity at the time (and of
: course, I love the design aspects too) and I still see great
: opportunity in the coming years. I have paid strong money for
: the majority of my Heuer pieces over the last 15 months that I
: have been collecting, and have been fortunate to have seen
: increases in value for most of my collection. But at the time I
: was buying them, I was paying huge premiums that other Heuer
: collector's thought I was nuts. LOL!

: So when I hear people talking about, "prices are crazy"
: or "...they are not worth....", bla bla bla; I wonder
: how they come to that conclusion. Just because Heuer's have had
: depressed prices for years, should not justify that prices
: should remain the same or only increase slightly per year.

: You have a vintage watch that was very limited in production
: (Viceroy being the most made at ~ 5k pieces), that you can't
: find parts for easily (since no one makes them; unlike Omega,
: Rolex, etc), amazing design, and great movements. That is a
: formula in the vintage watch world that should scream value.

: I personally have sold a few of my Heuer's recently, just so I can
: be able to reinvest it into more Heuers. So even though I am
: spending even more money on a new Heuer acquisition, this does
: not make me feel that I am overpaying for a watch. Yes, it would
: be great to have bought a 1st Exec for half price last year,
: instead of the much greater number they are selling for now. But
: I believe even what I paid now is still not remotely close to
: the value they will see in the coming months and years. We are
: only seeing the very beginning of the true value that these
: various models should have been worth much earlier.

: I have been contacted by many collectors of various other brands
: (Rolex, Omega, etc) over the last couple of months, asking
: questions, trying to learn more, etc.. and these guys have much
: more experience and knowledge of collecting vintage watches than
: I. But these seasoned collectors are understanding the great
: opportunity and value of the Heuer line, hence why you will see
: prices continuously going up over the coming months and years.

: Also please realize that many of the Heuer watches were very small
: productions in comparison to other brands. So supply and demand
: also plays a big role on the price jumps. For example, I have
: been searching for a Skipperera for almost a year, and have yet
: to find one collector willing to sell me their piece and I have
: offered SIGNIFICANT money, but they don't need or want to sell.
: So with limited supply, in addition to collectors not willing to
: sell, you will see strong money follow when one pops up for
: sale. Add new vintage collectors from other brands to the
: equation, and you now have justification for the prices you see
: today and in the future.

: I agree with many of you that certain models have seen huge jumps
: and might be more "common" models so they are
: "easier" to find, but is it really that easy? Just
: because we might not want to pay the asking price, since we
: might already own that model, does not mean a new collector does
: not see value. We can not be blinded by the fact that we have
: been fortunate and have been able to buy many of the pieces in
: the past at a fraction of what they sell for today. So many of
: the pieces that you are seeing significant jumps in value, are
: justified in my opinion, especially the rarer models.

: We can cry about the fact that we have seen prices escalating
: quickly as "Heuer Fans and Collectors", but this does
: not change the fact that you have a quality product, made in
: limited production, that was under the radar for years, and has
: now been "discovered" by many other vintage collectors
: and is realizing the true value of what they should have been
: worth years before.

: I am a true believer that we are only at the very beginning stages
: of seeing price increases, and have not reached anywhere close
: to "top side" yet. If I did not believe this, I would
: not be acquiring new Heuer pieces still today. I guess the
: expression of "put your money where your mouth is",
: can be confirmed with me! :) LOL!

: Thanks for the opportunity for me to share my thoughts, and it
: would be great to have everyone chime in, whether you agree with
: me or not!

: I wish everyone a fantastic week, and for those of you in the US,
: Happy Thanksgiving! :)

: Cheers
: Carlo
: @HeuerFan