When the Apple Watch debuted this year, the blogosphere hit a fever pitch as Apple addicts eagerly joined wait lists to get one of their own. Would the mechanical watch go the way of the dinosaur? Er, not so fast. “I own an Apple Watch, but I don’t wear it all the time,” says Senior Director of Fine Jewelry & Watches, Michael Groffenberger. “It’s similar to how some people have a car they drive to work and a nicer car for the weekend. The Apple Watch is a useful tool, but it’s not timeless and it’s not a significant investment.” Here, Groffenberger argues three more reasons why you’re better off spending your money on a tried-and-true mechanical timepiece.
1. A mechanical watch won’t be outdated months from now.
The Rolex Submariner
Yes, months. Rumor is the Apple Watch 2 will show its face early next year — or as soon as this fall. “Like all technology, it will expire, but a mechanical watch never expires,” says Groffenberger. “The fundamentals of watchmaking haven’t changed in 200 years!”
The same can be said for design. While analysts are already guessing at new colors for the Apple Sport Watch, many iconic timepieces look the same as they did decades ago. “The design of the Rolex Submariner dates back to the fifties,” says Groffenberger. “So if I were wearing my grandfather’s Submariner, it would still be stylish to this day.”
2. It may be worth more in a few years.
Because the Apple Watch quickly becomes outdated, the one you already own is continually worth less and less. A mechanical timepiece, however, not only holds its value, it may even appreciate over time. Not only does that make it a better investment, it makes it much easier to justify repairs. “The value in repairing an Apple Watch is not there,” notes Groffenberger. “You might as well buy a new watch.” What’s more: “Watchmakers like Rolex, Omega and Patek Philippe will fix anything they’ve ever made, and if your watch is old enough that they no longer have the proper tools, then they’ll even make the tools to fix your watch.”
3. Think about the sentimental value.
The Omega Speedmaster
The Omega Speedmaster was the first watch worn on the moon, the Rolex Explorer II was designed in the ’70s for cave diving — apologies to the Apple Watch, but it simply can’t compete with the romantic history of a mechanical timepiece. Chances are your Apple Watch won’t become a family heirloom either. “There aren’t many things you can pass down from generation to generation anymore,” says Groffenberger. “But my mechanical watch is a representation of me and my style, so if I give it to my son, it’s like giving a part of me.”
Ready to invest? Shop our selection of men’s and women’s watches to find your own mechanical timepiece to covet and collect.
