New or Pre-Owned, the Watch of Your Dreams Awaits with the Kronos 360 Concierge Service:
Consumer habits have changed. Over the past 20 years, the second-hand market has exploded, and for some products, the pre-owned market is about to surpass the new one. This is the case with luxury watches, both mechanical and automatic, which offer a lifespan that spans generations.
Waiting lists and extended delays mean that acquiring the watch of your dreams is not just a matter of money. If you have your sights set on an iconic model, you'll need to arm yourself with patience and courage to avoid paying the “premium” price (market price, not distributor price). Each year, 1 million new millionaires are added to the world’s population. When you compare this to the limited production of Swiss watchmakers (65,000 pieces produced in 2019 by Patek Philippe and 45,000 pieces by Audemars Piguet), this growth alone explains the shortage in the market for iconic luxury watches.
Avoid Long Waiting Lists with the Kronos 360 Concierge Service:
For wealthy collectors who are willing to satisfy their passion at any cost, the sky-high prices of certain models are nothing to worry about. In fact, these models are often seen as a smart investment with guaranteed returns. For other, less affluent enthusiasts, however, the waiting times are real barriers to entry.
These delays vary depending on your location, your relationship with the authorized retailer, and many other factors. It’s worth noting that the scarcity of new models has led to a renewed interest in vintage watches, with clients turning to collector or pre-collector models. For instance, an enthusiast wanting to acquire a Rolex GMT Master II 126710 BLRO may opt for earlier references like the GMT Master 16700 or 16710, which are accessible and available. Likewise, the famous Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15202ST "Jumbo", now a holy grail, can be substituted with its smaller sisters, the 15400ST or 15450ST.
What better way to illustrate this than the average 10-year wait to acquire a brand new Patek Philippe Nautilus straight from the factory? Fortunately, not all brands are experiencing this shortage and offer highly desirable and accessible timepieces. Leveraging competition can also be an excellent strategy to find a watch that suits both your expectations and your budget. For example, the Rolex Submariner—to name just one—is far from the only iconic diving watch, with Omega and its Seamaster offering equally appealing versions.
Feel free to reach out to Kronos 360 if you're in search of alternatives. With a catalog of over 5,000 watches, we’re sure to have something that will satisfy your desires, and our team of passionate experts will be more than happy to guide you in your selection.