In this episode of the Dual Time Podcast, Roman Sharf and Adrian Taskin explore how wealth changes the way people buy, sell, trade and collect watches. Roman opens with his pick for the most undervalued watch on the market today, the Patek Philippe 5102 Celestial in white gold, and explains why he calls it the "sleeper of all sleepers." He also shows the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore "Marcus" limited edition that shaped his early years in the watch business.In Counter Offer, the hosts answer viewer comments. Roman explains how a vintage Patek Philippe 3450 perpetual calendar with a leap-year "red dot" arrived without the red dot, and how honesty with clients saved the deal. They defend Gérald Genta's legacy beyond the Royal Oak and Nautilus, explain why exhibition casebacks can cost more to make than solid ones, why missing Patek Philippe secondary casebacks can drop a watch's value by 10–20%, why Rolex hang tags and the new wooden hang tags are a headache for dealers, and whether Audemars Piguet or Rolex does better diamond and gem-setting work.The main discussion covers the psychology of luxury spending: how billionaire clients behave compared to new money, why car dealers are the toughest negotiators, why clients in the South are among the best to work with, the "I have to ask my wife" excuse, buying watches from divorce and estate sales, and what happens when collectors go into debt to keep buying. The hosts also break down the true cost of constant trade-ins, the "never satisfied collector," and why the watch flippers of the 2021 Covid boom either built lasting businesses or went broke.They close with the big questions: Is watch collecting a hobby or an addiction? What percentage of your net worth should you hold in luxury watches? And are watches really an investment once you factor in liquidity, dealer margins, and in-and-out costs?Whether you're a first-time Rolex buyer, a Patek Philippe collector, or just curious about the business of the pre-owned and gray market watch industry, this episode is full of real stories, market insight and honest advice from two dealers who've seen it all.
