Can Investing in a Luxury Watch be Compared to Investing in a Luxury Car? Please Comment!

Patek Phillipe Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref. 5002

Upon commenting on a fellow blogger's post about the HYT HI hydro mechanical , I -  questioning the longevity and depreciation of a watch containing fluid as part of the mechanism.

My Comment:

What about the longevity of the timepiece? Does the liquid make the watch more vulnerable to environmental changes? How volatile is the liquid in the tube?
I love this watch, but I have been wondering this for a long time, especially if someone is going to save up to buy this watch.  Does the liquid actually increase its worth on purchase, but depreciate  more rapidly as time goes by?

  
Reply to my  Comment:  
Buying a new watch as an investment is like buying a new car as an investment: retarded.



 I have a friend who paid for the weddings of his children with money received from selling three of his watches.  Watches he  purchased thirty years ago. The three watches in question were Rolexes - known for their excellent resale value - and superb movement with proven longevity.  He sold them in a flash for for a quite a bit of cash.
Excellent resale values also apply to watch manufacturers like Piaget, Harry Winston,  Patek Phillipe - who actually pushes the concept of longevity with its clever advertising slogan -"You never actually own a Patek Philippe; you merely take care of it for the next generation."- Vacheron Constantin and the new players like Richard Mille, Parmigiani Fleurier,  Greubel Forsey and a host of others.
The scenario may have been quite different if, thirty years ago,  he had invested in a luxury car  and then tried to sell it in the same condition he had bought it. The car would have cost him a fortune in up keep.  In addition the market for a vintage luxury car is much smaller than a watch.

 When one purchases a watch from say $2,000 upwards - and watches nowadays happily gallop into the million dollar range - does one purchase the watch like one would a fancy car - just for the ride - or does one purchase the watch as an investment, as one would purchase a Rembrandt or Picasso painting?
Is the investment of a car the same type of an investment as a watch? or Is the purchase  of specifically the HYT H1 hydro mechanical timepiece like the purchase of a sports car? Do some watch companies like Tag Heuer, Breitling, Corum and Omega evoke the automotive desire to purchase a watch,  whereas others like Patek Phillipe push the "painting" perspective?

Of course I am not referring to the timepieces which are purchased predominantly to keep time - that idea faded when quartz erupted on stage and I am not referring to the Honda's and Mazdas or Kias for that matter which are purchased or leased to ferry family members or haul home groceries from Walmart.  I am talking luxury cars and luxury watches, which are purchased without necessity, for  investments, gifts (emotional investment) or purely hedonistic motives.

Please feel free to comment - I eagerly await response to the Question...

CAN INVESTING IN A LUXURY WATCH BE COMPARED TO INVESTING IN A LUXURY CAR? 

Parmigiani Fleurier Pocket Watch Leda

Perfectly fitting into ones palm, the $950,000 Parmigiana Pocket Watch Leda is a passionate depiction of Leda and the Swan. To understand this one-of-a-kind timepiece, one must surely know this tale from Greek Mythology. Leda, the wife of Tyndareus, King of Sparta was seduced by Zeus,  ruler of the Olympians of Mount Olympus.  He came to Leda in the form of a swan.  The swan fleeing an eagle,  fell out of the sky and into the protective  arms of Leda, where they lay. Two eggs resulting from this union bore two immortal children,  beautiful Helen of Sparta and Polydeuces, as well as the mortal children ,Castor and Clytemnestra, born from the union of Leda and her husband, King of Sparta,on that same night. This striking image of Leda and the Swan intertwined in a passionate embrace  has been reproduced by many great artists and sculptures.   16th century artists like  Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci captured the sensual languidness  of Leda and her Swan many years before depictions of humans in union were permitted.  

Parmigiani Fleuerer is reawakening Greek Mythology by creating exquisite one-of-a-kind timepieces representing tales from the time of the Titans and Olympians. The powerful images evoked by these tales serves as the perfect manifestation of artistic expression.  Thus it is no wonder, Parmigiani Fleurer chose the passionate theme of Leda and Her Swan to grace the surface of the 65mm 18k rose gold unique timepiece. Engraved by hand, Leda and her Swan, lie against the backdrop of majestic Gold Greek Pillars rising in an onyx night sky. Turning the watch over, one seems to take a step back and view Leda and Her Swan within the temple flanked by trees at the edge of a rippling pond filled with water lilies.  The entire scene is reflected in the pond. Above the temple hover a constellation of stars, Gemini, which is said to be the result of Polydeuces' request to Zeus to immortalize he and his twin brother, Castor,  so that they may remain together forever.

The unique number 2028 is engraved on the case back. The dial cover is opened via a push piece combined with a crown set baring genuine sapphire cabochon. The Greek key symbol rings the dial representing  infinity and unity.  This labyrinth type depiction adorned Greek Temples and was the most important symbol in Ancient Greece - a powerful reminder of Greece's formidable presence.  Beyond the "Greek Key" border,  upon the perfect blackness of the onyx dial, the 12 'o'clock position is indicated by the Greek Symbol for twelve  "ιβ" or iota + beta = 10 + 2.  The 8 day power reserve indicator occupies the 3 'o'clock position.  Parmigiani Fleurier oval trademark cartouche marks the 6'o'clock position.  Javelot shaped hands deeply rooted in Greek Mythology pay tribute to the "The Crown Games" or Olympics, where a Javelin was thrown as far as possible in display of strength and precision.

The openings of both covers and movement are in an oval shape representing the eggs from which the children were born.

The hand wound in-house calibre 24''' PF170 movement beats at a frequency of 18,000 vph. 29 jewels accentuate the exquisite two tone rose gilded and Rhodium plated hand engraved bridges inspired by Greek flora. The "Greek Key" - shaped from a continuous line surrounds the movement to form the egg shape.

 The pocket watch is delivered with an 18-carat rose gold pocket chain. 

Micheal Parmigiani, founder of Parmigiani Fleurier (Fleurier being the place of its headquarters)  utilizes his integral knowledge of his restoration of mechanical marvels of the past and adapts them to his current timepieces. Many unknown watch makers whose names have been lost by the passage of time, are being honored by their ideas in Parmigiani incredible timepieces.

Ref: Parmigiani Fleurier - Pocket Watch Leda   

KALPARISMA by Parmigiani Fleurier

The Kalparisma is a new luxury watch collection from Parmigiani Fleurier. Drawing on inspiration from its historical Kalpa form , the Kalparisma Collection is elegantly full of fun. The timepiece depicted above is by far my favorite - kind of resembles bubbling champagne. I can almost hear the slight sizzle as bubbles float to the surface and gently explode. Of course, the "bubbles" are 132 brilliant-cut diamonds.
A few things about this watch totally work for me; the elegant tonneau-shape case, slender lugs, 18k rose gold and the diamond speckles. Now don't assume the movement is quartz, it is actually an automatic movement with a 55 hour power reserve. The Parmigiani Fleurier's Calibre pF331 is specially redesigned to accommodate the Kalparisma's smaller size. Another remarkable feature in this particular model is the lovely 5 point star directly above the 6 o'clock marking the rhythm of the seconds .
I absolutely love when automatic movements are used in powering elegant ladies timepieces as most often you find a quartz movement. The watch face has tremendous appeal; indexes are rose gold applique, hands are delta shaped with luminous coating above a misty mother-of-pearl dial. Anti-reflective sapphire crystals on front and back protect the watch with exceptional scratch resistant quality.