Disruptors

Oscar Strong | Luxury Watch Dealer Reveals Top Investment Watches & Market Scams

Aug 24, 2025
Oscar Strong, a luxury watch dealer and content creator, dives into the thrilling world of high-end watches. He exposes the dark side of auctions and discusses the notorious 'Frankenstein' watches that can devalue a piece. Oscar shares his experience with scams and the risks of brand servicing on vintage pieces. He critiques brands like Hublot for overproducing limited editions and highlights the undervalued Vacheron. Lastly, he showcases his most expensive sale—a Patek 6002R for $4.1M—and connects with younger collectors navigating today's market.
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INSIGHT

Auctions Are A Fraud Hotspot

  • High-end auctions are a major fraud risk for vintage watches with wrong dials and aftermarket parts passed as originals.
  • Oscar warns collectors to use experts and full provenance to avoid million-pound scams.
ANECDOTE

Hotel Crypto Sale Gone Wrong

  • Oscar recounts a hotel crypto sale where the buyer's crypto was reversed and the seller was left with the watch and no funds.
  • He uses intermediaries and prefers brick-and-mortar to avoid such scams.
ADVICE

Open The Case Before You Buy

  • Always open vintage watches and verify internal parts and paperwork before buying.
  • Oscar only lists watches after in-house watchmakers check provenance and open the case.
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