Whilst they say confidence is often the best accessory, and I’m not one to argue with fashionistas of the world, I have to say for me accessories can provide almost as much joy to an avid watch collector as the watches themselves. A simple change of strap for instance can turn a watch from something James Bond might wear to the ambassadors party into a piece that wouldn’t be out of place on the wrist of an seafaring adventurer…James Bond for instance!
What’s more the watch industry is famed for its investment in high quality accessories, everything from straps to display boxes and anniversary items celebrating some of the worlds most momentous occasions and cultural events. So quality is always assured.
Nowadays almost the first consideration I have when reviewing a watch I’m putting up for sale is what strap works best. A change from a vintage leather pilot strap to a steel oyster bracelet can almost be the equivalent of having two completely different watches
What’s more there is nothing to match displaying a collection of watches in a beautiful presentation box or watch roll and personally I’m a big fan of brand blocks (which are actually climbing in value all the time). Furthermore a commemorative watch is rarely released these days without an assortment of complementary gifts to accompany it. From pens, to pin badges these are designed to appeal to the collector in us all. I guess the key thing here is how predictable we watch lovers are. But the interesting thing of course is the value associated with these accessories. A Rolex dealer branded block can climb proportionally in value at alsost the same rate as a brand new Submariner. In other words, a lot!
More and more I’m seeing a huge demand for boxes, special edition literature and presentation items, due in no small part to the explosion in the collectors market for luxury memorabilia. And there has never been a better time to make an investment in an accessory that can not only complement your watch collection, but offer you a low cost entry into a range of branded items that are desirable and rare in todays market.