With all due respect to you, Gianluca, as one of our strong and valuable contributors, I just don't see the old-timers selling out the Heuers, to rotate into other brands. While I get messages almost every day, from new enthusiasts, who are exploring our beloved brand, I don't see the old timers selling out. At the top of the food pyramid, I believe that we are seeing Rich and Paul sell some great Heuers, but I believe that they will continue on, as collectors. I am fairly certain that they are not liquidating their collections. Maybe our community members are no longer flipping the $1,000 Viceroys, and playing with the $3,000 Carreras, but I believe that the Heuers are still in good hand, and I am also enjoying many of the newcomers.

Yes, the volume of postings is down on this forum -- as traffic is down on every other major watch forum -- as people prefer the ease of Facebook groups and Instagram hashtags. You buy a watch; you take a phone photo; and in a few hours, you have 500 people applauding your purchase!! Yes, it feels good. But if you ever try to search for the old FB postings, or have an in depth conversation on Instagram, you will see the limitations of those platforms. They are quick and easy; they are indeed instant; they are built for today / right now; but they are not good platforms for important discussions or information. So people show their watches on the quick and easy social media, rather on the discussion forums, which require more effort (editing / sizing / uploading / linking / etc.).

I am proud of the OTD community . . . we do not blabber or post junk, just for the sake of postings . . . if traffic goes to zero on a given day, that's OK if no one has anything to discuss. But when there are interesting or important topics or developments, many of the reliable members come back, to share their thoughts. And other readers are able to search and benefit from these postings, days, months or years later.

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snap and all the other social media have changed the world, and we cannot be in denial, but I believe that this forum still has a role to play, and am happy to provide it to our community.

Jeff

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

: Hi Stewart,

: I think one of the side effect of the Heuer skyrocketed prices is
: that this Forum has lost some of its more genuine and most
: appreciated fellow contributors... I see many of us (or them)
: are selling their Heuer watches to collect other brands... you
: can see this trend also on IG...

: I don't know the reason why you aren't posting as frequently in the
: past (sometimes life / family / job require more energies and
: the time for hobbies is the first to be sacrified) but
: personally I miss your wonderful posts on your Blog, as I miss
: Abel's technical posts, Craig's watchmaker posts, Bullitt's
: posts and all the other persons (for sure in this moment I
: forgot some of them) that learned me in the past and made me
: grow up as collector... so welcome again, hope to see again
: something from you on this forum.

: I will follow with interest Rich's and Paul's event and wish them
: the greatest success.

: Alll my warmest best.

: Gianluca