I've been thinking about this more and more with the release of the C12 Loco. First came the Bel Canto, then the Twelve X Ti and steel models leading us to the new open heart watch. Looking at all these models today here in Ireland, they range between €4.5k and €5.2k which for many is quite a chunk of change. So my questions are these, and I would love to hear the views of others, I can't be mulling this stuff over in isolation.

1) Do you think these halo/premium models will hold their value in the manner of a more traditional watch from a heritage Swiss brand like Tudor, say?

2) Do you think we can expect to see them appearing on premium watch reseller sites like Chrono24 and Watchfinder?

3) Would potential resale values even be a consideration for you at this price point?

4) Perhaps, given its uniqueness, this is a watch that you can't see yourself selling. If so that renders the above questions somewhat mute. Is this your position?

Des

My thoughts…

1. CW value retention on ordinary models is already no better, no worse than many premium brands. In the current market I don’t view Tudor as a brand that is particularly good for value retention, but then again neither is say Omega.

2. I view Chrono24 and WF as completely different types of platform. Anyone can sell a watch on Chrono24, so no reason not to potentially see a CW. Would WF take one in? Maybe, but the buy in price would likely mean the seller was desperate.

3. No, not at any price, on any watch.

4. To me the Bel Canto, Twelve X and Loco all offer something completely different to my typical SS Sports, GMT, Diver, Chronograph watches so unlikely to be sold. Whilst I don’t have a Loco, I probably will at some point.

Neil

1. I agree with Neil here. CW does a better than some and worse than others but I would say slightly above average on resale. I also agree that Tudor is not really a strong example right now. I am seeing pretty soft numbers on the resale market for popular models.

2. My thoughts mirror Neil's here too. There are plenty of CWs on Chrono but also note Chrono does not currently track the sales. I doubt that WF and other closed platforms would pick them up. I am not sure there would be enough turnover for their business model.

3. No.

4. So far, none of the halo offerings appeal to me so this doesn't really apply.

I've always tended to track "sold"/"completed" on ebay (well up until recently where it's gone to manure) as a guide on prices - CW and others.

My impression is the CW halo models retain 70-80% of their value, as long as they're a full set.

It's also rare to see them popping up in nearly new sales. The recent sales had some Bel Canto, but not what I'd consider the "popular" ones. I even almost bought a BC noir until I checked myself on wanting the watch vs wanting the deal.

jtc wrote: ↑Mon May 05, 2025 3:24 pm My impression is the CW halo models retain 70-80% of their value, as long as they're a full set.

The Archive also tracks completed sales over a number of forums and platforms (eBay completed sales included). While it only posts an average, it is still pretty good data. It would be nice to have bounding bars around these numbers to tease out strap and bracelet options but I am not certain that is even possible with the platform that the archive is built on.

Most of the newer Halo models have no completed secondary sales. These include:

12 X
12 X Steel
12 Halo

These may be too new and only time will tell the whole story. It also shows that people are holding on to them and not going for a quick flip.

There is some data for the Concept which trades above selling:

The 12 Ti (not really a Halo) seems to take a pretty healthy hit:
The Lumiere seems to be holding its own relatively well:
The Super Compressor Elite is not horrible at about 70%:
The Sealander Elite takes a pretty good hit. Especially if bought new today:
Anyway just a friendly reminder that the data is there for everyone to see in the archive.

Thanks for the replies all. I think my questions were probably more aimed at potential buyers who might be looking to spend €5k on a watch for the first time, not buyers/collectors that perhaps have multiple watches at that price point of considerably higher. I think the questions may resonate differently with someone that may be used to spending >2K on a watch. I think a lot of people will be drawn to the Loco having never pondered spending €5k on a watch before; they may well view it as a big spend/investment.

Des

rkovars wrote: ↑Mon May 05, 2025 4:36 pm

jtc wrote: ↑Mon May 05, 2025 3:24 pm My impression is the CW halo models retain 70-80% of their value, as long as they're a full set.

The Archive also tracks completed sales over a number of forums and platforms (eBay completed sales included). While it only posts an average, it is still pretty good data. It would be nice to have bounding bars around these numbers to tease out strap and bracelet options but I am not certain that is even possible with the platform that the archive is built on.

It is not possible, with the current platform, for us to break out strap and bracelet sales. The averages include both. However, I do keep a seperate spreadsheet of every entry and many times over the years have compared strap and bracelet prices. With very little variation, the many times I have checked, bracelet prices average about 8% more. This is stated on the home page of the Resale section in the CWA.

Resale Information
This resales information has been collected over several years and shows recorded prices achieve in the secondary market via private and auction sales. This information is provided for guidance purposes and does not consider watch condition, demand and market situations - all of which can greatly impact sales values. The prices assume excellent working, but used condition, and would include box and manual, but not necessarily an original invoice or letter from CW. Prices should be adjusted accordingly for condition, extras, need of service, demand and market conditions. Add approximately 8% to prices for a model that includes a bracelet.

Resale prices are shown in US dollars. Sales have been calculated using the posted currency exchange rates on the day sold.

This information is provided as a free service and no liability is implied by the Christopher Ward Forum or Christopher Ward Holdings and affiliates.

I would also add that there is a Resales Performance League page that shows the top 25 performers over the years that have recorded at least 25 resales.

I'd say that the CW resale value also depends ( to a certain degree) on the scarcity of the model. Limited editions or smaller runs are more likely to realise higher resale values.

1. CW value retention seems to match other brands. On most watches expect to lose 30 - 50% of the price when you come to resell. There are perhaps 3 or 4 halo models that have kept their price or gone higher; C7 Apex (50 pieces), C60 Concept (300 pieces), C1 bel Canto Azzuro Blue and Green (both 300 pieces). I don't know about the C60 Apex prices. The recent halo models are not limited editions with, potentially, many thousands of watches made so I expect them to perform like regular models.
2. Anyone can post on Chrono24 so they may show up there. Sites like Watchfinder, 1916 in the US probably won't take a CW unless they are in a trade deal for something else (e.g., take my AP and my CW for something...)
3. No. Watches aren't assets, they are watches.
4. I always struggle to sell watches partly because I'm lazy and mostly because I don't like admitting to myself that I made a mistake when buying it. I buy to keep and so selling means I've changed my mind or didn't think a purchase through properly. I have sold watches and will do so in the future but they have to pass a test; One year without being worn and not missed. If after a year I don't miss the watch then it gets sold.

I think the only ones that will hold their value or maybe even sell for a premium are the discontinued and limited drop ones - The Red One Bel Canto, The Snake 12 etc and so on, especially if the brand continues to grow and gain more new fans. Watches are mostly a terrible investment unless you're Rolex or something. Best you can hope for is to get 80% or so of your money back and then you've paid very little for having and wearing the watch for as long as you did. Looking on ebay second hand Bel Canto's and Twelves seem to be doing decent and sometimes selling for a few hundred under retail. A Red One Bel Canto went for nearly £5k last month. Wish I kept mine now haha.

To throw my hat in the ring, Des, and offer my two pence worth, which compounds a number of answers / viewpoints already given;-

strapline wrote: ↑Mon May 05, 2025 2:10 pm . . . . . ..

1) Do you think these halo/premium models will hold their value in the manner of a more traditional watch from a heritage Swiss brand like Tudor, say?

Objectively, yes, I feel CW's halo/premium watches can these days hold their heads up on value / resale compared to other Swiss Heritage brands. For the best of the best a resale at or close to RRP is feasible. Some models have sold at a premium in recent years e.g. Bel Canto Azzuro Blue LE.

Basic supply vs demand equation comes into play here and an LE or SE is much more likely to sell at a high price than an open series model.

Looking back models such as C60 Apex, C60 Concept, C1 Bel Canto Azzuro Blue LE have stood me in good stead on resale.

strapline wrote: ↑Mon May 05, 2025 2:10 pm 2) Do you think we can expect to see them appearing on premium watch reseller sites like Chrono24 and Watchfinder?

There are currently 155 CW watches, all models, listed For Sale on Chrono24 with a significant number of these being halo/premium models at above RRP prices.

Watchfinder? Give it time and CW will be there.

strapline wrote: ↑Mon May 05, 2025 2:10 pm 3) Would potential resale values even be a consideration for you at this price point?

Not especially, beyond the usual new vs pre-owned thought. A lot depends on the model and my desire to buy it. In recent years I've owned several Bremonts, a brand not know for strength of resales. Open series models I owned were prey to the usual heavy depreciation. However, two LE models held well, selling close to the price I paid.

strapline wrote: ↑Mon May 05, 2025 2:10 pm 4) Perhaps, given its uniqueness, this is a watch that you can't see yourself selling. If so that renders the above questions somewhat mute. Is this your position?

A difficult one for me to answer as the Loco is not a watch that I have on my radar to buy.

That said; I have a remit that I am, bar a few 'untouchables', willing to sell any of my watches should a Forum or CWE Group member be looking to buy. Therefore, should I buy a Loco at some stage I would likely be willing to sell it on if appropriate.

Guy

strapline wrote: ↑Mon May 05, 2025 2:10 pm I've been thinking about this more and more with the release of the C12 Loco. First came the Bel Canto, then the Twelve X Ti and steel models leading us to the new open heart watch. Looking at all these models today here in Ireland, they range between €4.5k and €5.2k which for many is quite a chunk of change. So my questions are these, and I would love to hear the views of others, I can't be mulling this stuff over in isolation.

1) Do you think these halo/premium models will hold their value in the manner of a more traditional watch from a heritage Swiss brand like Tudor, say?

2) Do you think we can expect to see them appearing on premium watch reseller sites like Chrono24 and Watchfinder?

3) Would potential resale values even be a consideration for you at this price point?

4) Perhaps, given its uniqueness, this is a watch that you can't see yourself selling. If so that renders the above questions somewhat mute. Is this your position?

Des

Please take my responses with a grain of salt (or a few) as I have never considered myself a collector though I have tried to keep up with the industry and brands. I purchased my first new luxury watch, Rolex Explorer II Polar 16570, in 1994. My second luxury watch was a new 2010 DateJust 36mm in gold/steel. My first CW, Trident Pro 300 42mm, was in 2024. There were many other watches between 2010 and 2024 all over the price spectrum.

1/2) No. CW is still a relatively new brand. Tudor barely gets 50% when sold to a pre-owned dealer and about the same for Grand Seiko which are better known brands. I have never sold via forums because I do not want the hassle. I assume CW only holds value if sold to another person who knows about CW and thankfully that group is growing but it is still not large enough for pre-owned dealers to take on even the so-called halo models.

3) Even though I rarely sell, I would not buy a watch if I know it was going to tank on the secondary market. I consider that I might sell each one of my watches at some point in case I do not like it "in the metal" so resale value is a concern for me. This is the reason I have never purchased a Grand Seiko even though there are several models I would like to "try" and maybe keep long term. GS has been around a long time but they do not hold their value.

4) Does not matter. CW has not been around long enough for there to be a serious secondary market for any of its models. In another 20 years when there is more data, I might consider purchasing a CW Halo Model but for now the (probable) large loss on the secondary market is not worth it to me so I would not purchase a Bel Canto, Twelve X, Loco, or any future model at or above $3000.


As I was writing my response I received an email from CW stating that the Bel Canto is now "in-stock". I would think the secondary market prices will drop significantly over the next few months because this watch is now available immediately. It's a beautiful watch with a cool feature at a great price point but the hype has died down and now anybody can get one easily so secondary market prices will suffer. Again, I want to see another 20 years of market data to know what will truly happen to CWs on the secondary market.

I think simply put, very few brands and models of watches retain any kind of meaningful value at all. At best they become used items and are worth what someone is prepared to offer you for them. In many ways they remind me of new cars, they just haemorrhage money. I guess it's OK if you want an expensive trinket on your wrist and plan on wearing it for a great many years; you can break down the cost of ownership over a period. A £10k watch worn regularly for twenty years has cost you £500 a year which sounds a bit more palatable. As to whether that's money well spent only the wearer can decide. Like al things in life each of us has to determine how much money we're willing to put in to such endeavours. I'll probably never buy a new car, I'll let someone else suffer the depreciation over the first few years. I also see my watch spends being kept at a level where resale values is not even an issue.

Des