Rolex prices in the credit crunch

[jonah35]

Hi all

Generally stainless Rolex sport models increase in value both second hand and due to Rolex increasing the prices

Question I have for you is what happened in the credit crunch to these watches? Did Rolex decrease the rrp or did they simply avoid price rises?
Secondly, what happened to stainless Rolexes like a stainless Daytona sub and gmt in the credit crunch on the second hand market? Did they take a bath?

[Sy1441]

The great thing about being a prestige brand. Your value can actually increase in a recession. Prices went up.

[hilly10]

My 1985 Sub as certainly gone up, and most definitely rode out the credit crunch and any other investment crashes

[Trev450]

The market for luxury goods is generally far less affected by economic downturn than those of more mainstream goods.

[jonah35]

Thanks

So if all they do is go up in value why don’t people borrow money to buy stainless sports Rolexes to make money?

[Sheetmaself]

At what percentage?
Borrowing money ha ls a cost to it, will this cost make the return on the investment significant enough for the effort?

The old Daytona prices are high because the piece was not a popular piece and therefore now is rare and deemed collectible.

[sammyb349]

Does anyone actually look at Rolex company financials to know they have been really struggling ever since GFC? The company has been limiting supply to try and get prices up, so they can pump up RRP and slowly increase stock into heightened demand. The hysteria in waiting lists is what they want!
To answer the question the RRP never dropped but the sales volumes plummeted as second hand market flooded. I bought a white gold Daytona of a guy who had lost his job flogging Marylebone property for £3k....

You have to ask yourself (much like Ferrari and other similar luxury brands) in today’s shareholder ‘value’ driven world whether the pumping up of volumes and multi-model variations will erode the ‘prestige’ value later in life - they certainly dilute developing the perfectly designed version.

They are of course lovely watches and I enjoy mine immensely but not to make money. I’d much rather my stocks and shares to do that for me 🤪

[MisterJD]

A lot of garbage in this thread.

Rolex is a privately owned company, so how do you get to read the accounts?

[mkindy03]

I think you will find that Rolex is part of the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a charitable trust, so pays no tax...

[Ari]

In the UK you can view the accounts of privately owned limited companies at Company Check or via Companies House.

No doubt other countries have similar arrangements.

[Badda]

It's not a privately owned company though and the accounts aren't available to the public.

[andy355]

I bought a wg Daytona 116519 in the height of the crunch. Was about 25% off list from iconic watches (grey importer)

[bobbybee]

Yes there is a lot of garbage in this thread, Below is a prime example

MisterJD said:

A lot of garbage in this thread.

Rolex is a privately owned company, so how do you get to read the accounts?

[Andy OH]

andy355 said:

I bought a wg Daytona 116519 in the height of the crunch. Was about 25% off list from iconic watches (grey importer)

A white gold Daytona, although a very nice watch, does not hold its value like a stainless steel version, has always lost money on the second hand market and you could always get a discount on a new one. I do however really like the white gold dial and would like that dial in my stainless steel Daytona. Sorry to be negative.

[andy355]

The reason I mentioned the discount is that at least new there were not bargains to be had. No rolex dealer in uk would discount anything near what I paid and this watch came via Italy as gbp euro was favourable. In comparison to the steel Daytona, I paid 70% of list which made it 7500 vs10600 list. At the time the list of the ss was i think 4K and they were going for 6k. So I thought it worthwhile at the time to pay a bit more and get the wg. I sold it couple of years ago for 10k
Having had the same dilemma recently between the 116519 ln and the 116500 at above list I went for the ss as I marginally prefer it though the 116519ln is a beauty too

[WaferThinHam]

I have noticed that the prices of Rolex subs seem to have jumped up on Watchfinder over the past few years. However I'm not sure how much of this is down to Watchfinder growing in size and profile, so chancing their arm more with their pricing.

[GC8]

Ari said:

In the UK you can view the accounts of privately owned limited companies at Company Check or via Companies House.

No doubt other countries have similar arrangements.

Indeed. He is still full of st though. Make money with 'stocks and bonds' FFS. You should get a job as a fund manager Son.

[bonerp]

I've got a Daytona on order....4-5 yr waiting list and those 'new' for sale today command a 200% price inflation due to lack of availability. Ridiculous. I must be patient!!