A vintage timepiece can be a sound investment

A vintage timepiece could be the answer if you are looking for a unique investment portfolio or a rare gift that can last a lifetime.

Omega Speedmaster (Image: Archant)

Limited edition or vintage timepieces are rare by definition but certain models that have reduced in number over the years can be an intriguing acquisition. Collecting and investing in watches is an area that is continuing to grow due to worldwide growing demand and shortage of quality supply.

For Tony Wooderson collecting vintage timepieces is a subject very close to his heart and he believes that they can be a very sound investment.

‘Vintage timepieces will only grow in value, there may only be a few in existence in the world which in turn increases the demand for them,’ he said.

Omega Speedmaster (Image: Archant)

Tony runs thewatchcollector.co.uk, a website that has a varied selection of timepieces from as old as world war one right through to the seventies and eighties along with a selection of pre-owned newer luxury pieces on the market. They have customers from as far afield as the USA and Canada as well as Brunei and continental Europe, and the website has also become a community for like-minded individuals who have an interest in horology.

The Watch Collector website has a wide range of collectable watches within its inventory, from pre-owned Rolexes to Omegas from the 1950s to 1970s. Each timepiece has its avid community of enthusiasts and collectors and the Storybook and Blogs section written by Tony gives the buyers a behind-the-scenes look of the trials and tribulations of a watch collector.

Omega Speedmaster (Image: Archant)

Tony constantly researches the timepiece marketplace to add more interesting and rare items to his inventory. However, he states that although his purchases are based on a business perspective he is still a watch lover at heart and still gets that great feeling when he lands an exceptional item

With the vast selection available on the market, it can be hard to know where to begin, but there is one key mantra that Tony adheres to when purchasing timepieces: ‘The keyword is authenticity, particular brands carry their own value and provenance of a timepiece is the most important aspect.’

Vintage watches are some of the most desirable timepieces on the market for a number of reasons; some prefer the unique style or mechanisms, while many collectors are attracted by the historical significance that a particular piece may hold.

For example, the Omega Speedmaster Professional has been in production since 1957, but gained iconic status when Buzz Aldrin stepped on the lunar surface in 1969 wearing the timepiece which has now been dubbed the ‘Moonwatch’. Certain models of the Speedmaster have seen an increased value of over 400% in a nine year period.

So what is the Watch Collectors’ opinion on the next big thing in the timepiece collecting? ‘I think diving watches from the 1960s and 1970s will do well in the next few years,’ he said. ‘There is a lot interest in these products right now.’

To view the timepieces currently on sale at the Watch Collector visit thewatchcollector.co.uk/shop