This is Watch Your Style.
My name is Eric.
Today's video is going to be on Box and Papers.
[opening music]
So the question of the day is, do box and papers really matter?
I say, �No.� Yes, but no.
I mean it's kind of confusing honestly, but the truth is, they really don't matter on
certain watches.
I'm gonna go over a little bit of examples on where they do apply and where they do not
make a real deal importance in your watch collection.
So when it comes to box and papers, I mean this is something that has been...it's one
of my pet peeves, but at the same time, I understand what the consumer is going through
and coming from.
I can't tell you how many times people called me and asked me questions about a watch and
they're trying to buy the watch and it's like, does it have box and papers?
And it's like that box and papers gives them this warm feeling, that warm feeling of security.
Let's ignore the fact that I'm a reputable dealer and that I have 20 years of experience
and that I know exactly what fair market value in the game is.
All they wanna know is, �Does it have box and papers?
All my God it has box and papers!�
Guys, it's not a big deal!
Box and papers to me does not play the determining factor.
I'm all about price and condition and of course, if you're buying from somebody that's reputable,
that you're getting a receipt with the serial number of the watch, which will become pretty
much like your title, that is the single most important thing.
However, I get, some people want the box and papers.
I get it, man.
I remember my first watch.
It was a GMT Coca Cola.
It had box and papers.
I don't even know where the box and papers are right now.
Let's just be honest.
When was the last time you took your watch to a club or a happy hour with the box and
papers.
I know it just gives you that security at home.
�I have my box and papers!� But what the heck?
You know?
We're all crazy anyway, so if that's what you're into, that's what you're into, but
I wanna get down to the facts.
For some watches, it doesn't matter.
OK?
I remember one time a famous line somebody told me, which I call it the famous last words.
Some girl came in.
She wanted to trade her watch.
When I looked at it, it just looked funny.
And you know what she said?
She said, �I know my watch is real.
You know why?
Because it has the box and papers!� It's like Jesus Christ!
Like, so many things that can happen in a watch purchase and people put everything on
the box and papers.
Guys, it's a warranty card that's issued to the first person that bought it, that covers
manufacturer's defects, OK?
It doesn't say that the watch is not stolen.
It doesn't say that the watch is real.
It doesn't say that the watch hasn't had four tours in South Beach and has been re-polished
with a Home Depot grinder.
It doesn't give you anything.
It's just, you know, it's almost like when you buy a used car and you open up the glove
compartment and there's the original sticker price.
That would make a difference if it was a 72 Dodge Cuda, but a lot of them are not that.
And I get it guys, some of these watches even though it might be a stainless steel Sub might
be your girl watch and I do respect it, but never let box and papers be the deal breaker
for a deal.
So like I was mentioning before, never let box and papers be a form to authenticate a
watch.
If it has the box and papers, that's always a plus.
Don't let them overly raise the price.
And don't let them rape your when you go to sell your watch because it doesn't have box
and papers.
You have to know the market, OK?
A watch like this Patek.
This has a superb box.
I mean it's out of hand the craftsmanship in it.
There's obviously value in this box.
It's got piano finished wood.
By the way, Patek has the softest leather I've ever seen in my entire life on any box.
If you can find leather softer than this, please let me know because I want to line
my entire bathroom walls with it.
I just can't seem to ever touch softer than what's in this box.
So there's obviously value in this box.
When you go to Rolex, I mean common guys!
I know that for me it's a little different because I've touched a lot of watches.
This is a piece of cardboard wrapped in some leather with a little bit of suede inside.
Don't let the over value this box.
It's fun to have.
It's nice and all that, but it's really just the box.
I don't keep my watches in the boxes.
I keep them in the safe or in a bank mostly and in a bank, have you ever seen a safety
deposit box?
They're not big enough to put these boxes in.
This belong in your closet or something.
So you know what?
There is value, but it doesn't make the whole watch for me like, �Oh my God, man!
I feel so great I got it complete with box and papers!� It doesn't matter man.
If you got a good deal and the watch is good and you're happy with it, take it without
the box and papers if the price is right.
If you have to have it, then go for it.
Whatever!
You know what I mean?
But there's a lot of different things.
A lot of my Brazilian clients because of their culture or what not, they won't buy a watch,
especially Rolex, that doesn't have this stupid card, because for them, they feel that the
watch is not stolen, and I get it, OK?
I get it.
If you are buying a watch from somebody you can't trust, that might help a bit, but this
card does not tell you that.
This might not even be the right card for that watch.
If you don't even know how to like verify it, I could just give you just any card and
say, �That's the card for that watch.�
So again, it goes down to the dealer, the invoice with the matching serial number.
That's what's important with these types of things.
As far as I'm concerned, you could just get this card and just throw it over your shoulder.
It doesn't [beeping] matter.
It's not really a big deal.
It's not the end of the world for me, but I want the warranty.
There's the next one.
OK guys, look.
If I'm gonna pay retail for a watch and I'm gonna pay top dollar, and it's something complicated,
maybe like a Grand Complication, yeah man, by all means, I want the warranty, but again,
price and condition.
Ten year warranty on a Rolex is like 10-year warranty on a Toyota.
When does Toyota break?
Honestly?
Let's be honest guys.
When does Toyota break?
A lot of times this warranty what it covers anyway is manufacturer's defects.
So what happens is like, �Oh, my watch is not working.
Let me send it into Rolex.� Depending how they feel like treating you it's like going
to the dealer and at the end they wanna put windshield wipers and every single thing on
your car and charge you for everything.
So again, keep all that in mind so that you could weigh it all out.
Now, there are some watches that these things make a world of difference.
And a watch like a Patek, the box and papers is a big deal.
For example, we have this Patek here as an example with the papers.
See this is the real box and papers like people say.
You know what?
This certificate doesn't only just...you know, certificate of origin and authenticity.
Look guys, for Patek, it's very important to have this paper.
Will I still buy a Patek without papers?
Yes, I still would buy it at the right price, OK?
On a Patek, the papers can be anywhere from $1,500 all the way to $8,000 in difference,
so that could be a very big determining factor on the watch that you are buying.
So those are the kind of things you wanna think about and stop the craze of the box
and papers.
Guys, so don't get me wrong, OK?
I'm definitely a watch nerd and yes, my first watch I did open up all the little books and
read it and all that, and that's fine.
If that's what you want, I understand.
We'll make it happen, OK?
But, like I said, don't let that warranty be the killer for you.
Maybe for your first watch it's fine, but I know guys that have already bought six or
seven watches and they're still with that.
If you got a good deal and you got a watch, just buy it if it's a good price.
I wouldn't wanna overpay for a watch if it's not complete.
I get it.
At a high price, I want everything.
I want a glass of champagne that they give you at the AD and everything.
I want like a free cloth.
I want all sorts of thing.
You know on a Rolex, the boxes are relatively inexpensive and depending how you treat your
watch dealer, if you're not beating him up on the price...of course you're gonna get
a box because the boxes are readily available.
There's a lot of boxes available.
The card, not so much.
You'd be surprised what people do with these cards.
They file them away inside of a secret file like it's some type of a key to a property
instead of just leaving it in the box where it should be.
That's what I recommend.
Some people get this Patek certificate right out of this beautiful folder that it gives
you for it, file it away.
Then when the time comes to sell the watch, they can't find it, so keep them together.
Then people ask me, �How does the watch not have a card?� Very simple.
I have people that come travel halfway across the world to come see me, not expecting to
do a trade with the watch on their wrist.
Next thing you know.
The watch is traded in.
I don't got the card.
Do I kill'em about the card?
No!
Because that's another thing...
Don't let these guys out there beat you up over the card, you know?
On some watches papers do make a difference, OK?
On collector watches and AP Montoya or a Schumacher, it's kind of important, but don't let them
kill you for it, alright?
There's only a certain amount of value.
It doesn't mean the watch is worthless if it doesn't have the box or papers.
[burning box and papers with flamethrower]
Keep these things in mind on the hunt for your next watch.
At one point, I wanted everything as much as possible, but little by little as you progress
in the hobby, it starts becoming less important, partly in fact just because I feel like the
boxes lay around in my closet and I don't really get much use out of them.
And I never keep my watches in the box because I think that's just, I don't know, it's just
not practical.
All my watches are usually inside a safety deposit box and it takes too much space.
So, feel free to leave me some comments and tell me how you feel about the box and papers
today.
And if you're looking to purchase your next watch, contact me at eric@crmjewelers.com
and I'll be more than happy to help you out with it.
And if you liked this video, please like and share.
Also, remember to subscribe to our channel.
My name is Eric.
Watch Your Style!