The Business of Watches [007] James Lamdin Of Analog Shift On The Vintage And Pre-Owned Market And Why All Authenticity Guarantees Aren't The Same

James Lamdin is a sage voice of reason and experience in the vintage watch market. He's earned those titles through his years in the business. A co-founder of the OG collector meetup RedBar Group, Lamdin went on to found Analog Shift, the vintage and pre-owned dealer acquired by Watches of Switzerland (also the parent company of Hodinkee) in 2020. In a conversation recorded live in front of an audience at UBS House of Craft in New York City in October, Lamdin breaks down the vintage and pre-owned watch market, how we got here, where we've been, and where we're likely going. He also gives plenty of useful insight on what it means for a second-hand watch to be truly authenticated and how collectors need to stay curious to get the most out of their watch-collecting journey. 

Lamdin proves himself a wealth of knowledge when it comes to used timepieces and what anyone should be thinking about when they're considering buying pre-owned. We had a blast recording this episode, especially taking questions from the audience. Be sure to leave any thoughts, comments, or questions in the comments, and we'll do our best to respond. 

Show Notes

00:30 James Lamdin and Analog Shift 

2:00 Bloomberg.com

4:15 The Biggest Ever Boom In Swiss Watches is Coming to an End

4:45 Watches of Switzerland Group USA Acquires Analogue Shift

6:09 Secondary Market Rolex and Patek Price Rise, Fall and Recovery

10:00 U.S. Tariffs Impact On Secondary Market 

12:11 Under The Radar: American Watches

16:00 RedBar Group 

20:40 Omega Speedmaster Professional 

23:00 Rolex Certified Pre-Owned 

25:15 There are not enough watchmakers 35:54 Secondary Watch Market To Top New Sales By 2033 At $85 Billion 

39:13 Neo Vintage Watches 

41:01 The Military Industrial Complex 

44:24 Cartier Tank Americaine Diamond 48:31 Ebay Authentication For Watches