Thoughts on the Damascus/Heritage models values?

[dks]

So, after a downturn in prices for a few years the Heritage model seems to be fetching 2, 3, 4 times its original value

The 2010 pioneer Damascus has been expensive for many years and keeps getting more expensive.

Most other Damascus models are now fetching at least twice their original cost.

The exception are the Elsener and the spartan Damascus that are real dogs. You can buy them for the same or for less than what they were originally selling for.

The 2016 Damascus also seems to be going up a bit, even though it is still easily available, at least in Europe.

Many of the models mentioned (apart from the 2010) are still available to buy from dealers.

These observations were made checking for sold items on eBay.

Are these still available in your countries? Is there really high demand or just people that do not know where to get these from, for less?
It seems like a good time to buy some more  (e.g., I know of at least 4 2016 Damascus for sale,at regular prices).

Any thoughts?

II do not rally care about the coloured alox investment market as this was basically killed off by the large releases of cheap coloured models in 2015 and 2016. Lets stick, mainly, to the Heritage/Damascus editions)

[twiliter]

Not sure what you mean by regular prices, but the retail price in the States was $185 for the damascus X, and on fleaBay the 2016s are currently fetching 70-100% over that, or more. 

[dks]

Regular price means the original, manufacturer/dealer set price.

(the 2016 was 220 to 250 Euro, from what I remember, in Europe)

As you pointed out, why do they need to sell for double the price, when they are still available?

[twiliter]

Not sure, maybe difficult to locate at the factory price or wanting to avoid overseas shipping? Could be any number of reasons. I think the market for alox has dipped a little overall, but alox is still hugely popular vs. the other damascus/wood models.

[dks]

I think that north America did not get that many of the 2016 Damascus, which may explain the higher prices.

I do expect all of the 2016 models to go up, in a few years at least, as it is an alox model, as opposed to the wooden ones of the past few years, similar to the 2010 pioneer, celebrating a new direction/design, with the scissors (Syph style).

[twiliter]

I think so DKS, I'm sure there are some that have been destroyed, locked away for posterity, or lost forever by now in some way or other, but 5000 is a fairly big run. Time will tell, but it took 5 years for the 2010's to reach the absurd $1000 range, and the run was smaller, so it will probably take longer, if ever, for the 2016's to fetch crazy prices. Also I think there may be more vendors who are wise to the profit potential than there were 6 years ago, so will be interesting to see how they trickle back in to the market over time.

[dks]

oh, yes.

I know of at least 2 vendors that have kept one of each behind (past 2, 3 years), for their own collection/resale later, whereas a few years ago they would have  just sold them all.

[AimlessWanderer]

As they are meant purely for collectors rather than for use, they will find their own level in time. I don't afford them any real thought as collecting for investment or purely for the thrill of ownership, doesn't appeal to me. They're not meant to be tools, their purpose is just to be desirable.... Some people will be prepared to pay silly prices if they get emotionally fixated on it, whereas I just tend to think it's overpriced if it costs more than standard.

I only have two (technically three) collector edition tools, a polished 25th anniversary Wave, and 30th Anniversary ST300 (with Micra). I bought them both for less than the retail price of a standard tool, and consider them both users.

[twiliter]

As they are meant purely for collectors rather than for use, they will find their own level in time. I don't afford them any real thought as collecting for investment or purely for the thrill of ownership, doesn't appeal to me. They're not meant to be tools, their purpose is just to be desirable.... Some people will be prepared to pay silly prices if they get emotionally fixated on it, whereas I just tend to think it's overpriced if it costs more than standard.

I only have two (technically three) collector edition tools, a polished 25th anniversary Wave, and 30th Anniversary ST300 (with Micra). I bought them both for less than the retail price of a standard tool, and consider them both users.

I think my 2016 was meant to be a tool, and I use it as such, but I agree this is not the intent of the marketing, collector box, etc. It was way overpriced (even at the original factory price) compared to the basic silver ones, and I did remove the keyring, and I have used it quite a lot, so maybe this was not a great investment for me ultimately. I definitely got it to carry, and it's an outstanding user, but I believe the majority of them will probably be collection/resale only. Thrill of ownership? Yeah maybe a little, but I also don't have a street legal race car in the garage with nowhere to drive it properly, so I think it's not such an extravagant vice...