We’re all looking for bargains. Transactions should never be seen as transactions in an absolute sense, but should always be seen relatively. Cheap doesn’t necessarily mean good value for money; in the watchmaking industry that is indeed the case. As a watchmaker and industry analyst, one question I am often asked is which watches people should buy if they want a good financial return on their replica watch investments.  
Many of the crazy success stories familiar, like someone opening a sock drawer of his late great-uncle to find a boxed 1950s Rolex watch with a mislabeled and worth seven figures, are like fairy tales. This “unicorn finds” are not common. And they will become even rarer. Why is that? The reason is that rare watches were not made to be rare or valuable. Remember, in those days, watches were just tools. Yes, there are good things and bad things, but it is a very modern invention to treat a watch first as a luxury and then as a practical thing.
Modern brands try to create demand and drive desire to fever pitch by creating scarcity, but these products will never be as rare or precious as their predecessors because we collectors will keep them safe. We will love and cherish them, fully aware of how valuable they would be if no one else took care of them in the same way.
In any case, some watches will age better than others. At the end of the day, it’s the brands perceived as celebrities that matter in this most competitive of sectors. In my opinion, Basel world 2019 has three excellent models worth pursuing if you are interested in. . .
This year, the famous black and blue Cerachrom bezel were paired with a Rolex’s Jubilee bracelet. Jubilee has always been my favorite fake Rolex bracelet, and some models (especially the 2018 two-color root beer) have no Jubilee, which keeps my finger on the trigger and bullet in the chamber. Today, whatever watch goes with it, a sophisticated and elegant Jubilee wristband can give batman extra bling. A smart, simple update will continue to drive this model for years to come. The price will be around $8,800.
I developed an unhealthy Tudor fetish. This new Black Bay Chrono is probably my favorite thing at the show for under $10,000. It’s already a retro classic. When a watch is released to an occasion like this – as Tudor is used to – you know there’s something special about it. The 41mm case is a two-color dream that looks most like a two-color bracelet at home. The fabric belt is a nice choice for a subtle, more athletic style, but the sheer retro vibe of gold and steel is unbeatable in my opinion.
Powered by the MT5813, the fake watch also has some good technical credentials. With the backing of its parent company Rolex, Tudor looks set to dominate the price range. What’s not to like? An affordable, aesthetically accessible product crafted with the best expertise in the industry. The price starts at $6,800.