Rolex 18ct Day-Date
Discussion
I'm not a watch expert or collector by any means so I thought I would ask for some advice regarding the above watch.
My current daily watch is a steel submariner (black face/bezel) which I bought used and paid under 4k for. As the watch was bought for daily use and I have no intention of replacing it I did not look into potential depreciation.
The day-date however will not be worn daily, so there is a chance that at some point in time I may look at replacing it with something else.
I have a budget of 7k-9k, if I buy a watch in this price range (I know this will be a 14-20 year old watch but I have seen some very nice examples even at this age which have obviously been extremely well cared for), and come to sell it in say 2-3 years time either to one of the reputable dealers of higher end watches or privately what sort of price should I expect to get for it?
It's not very likely that I will sell it as the day-date has always been a favourite of mine and a watch I have wanted to own for some time, but still, it's always better to have some idea of what it will be worth in a few years.
Anyone have any experience in this area?
My current daily watch is a steel submariner (black face/bezel) which I bought used and paid under 4k for. As the watch was bought for daily use and I have no intention of replacing it I did not look into potential depreciation.
The day-date however will not be worn daily, so there is a chance that at some point in time I may look at replacing it with something else.
I have a budget of 7k-9k, if I buy a watch in this price range (I know this will be a 14-20 year old watch but I have seen some very nice examples even at this age which have obviously been extremely well cared for), and come to sell it in say 2-3 years time either to one of the reputable dealers of higher end watches or privately what sort of price should I expect to get for it?
It's not very likely that I will sell it as the day-date has always been a favourite of mine and a watch I have wanted to own for some time, but still, it's always better to have some idea of what it will be worth in a few years.
Anyone have any experience in this area?
I got mine almost 20 years ago as an engagement present and only really wear it on special occasions.
Prices seem to have plummeted since I got it, though they seem to be going back up again
However , I suspect you'd be able to pick up one for well under your budget and if you buy wisely you should get your cash back on a sale....maybe more
If that's the case then I will be buying one sooner rather than later
It's a stunning looking watch, a personal favourite. I too would be wearing it mostly on special occaisions though, which is why I wanted to check about potential re-sale value. I also prefer the smaller 36mm case which the older watches have, it is a eye catching enough watch so in my opinion does not need to be any larger than that, for me it's a style of watch that does not suit 40mm that well.
The cheapest I have a seen a nice well maintained one (with all documentation/box/etc) for is around 7k-8k depending on the watches age, althought I am sure some small discount is negotiable for a serious buyer.
Does anyone have any experience of buying/selling used or any other insight on the day-date with regards to prices and depreciation.
Considering it is 20k+ as new maybe values will not go much under 7k if/when re-selling?
It's a stunning looking watch, a personal favourite. I too would be wearing it mostly on special occaisions though, which is why I wanted to check about potential re-sale value. I also prefer the smaller 36mm case which the older watches have, it is a eye catching enough watch so in my opinion does not need to be any larger than that, for me it's a style of watch that does not suit 40mm that well.
The cheapest I have a seen a nice well maintained one (with all documentation/box/etc) for is around 7k-8k depending on the watches age, althought I am sure some small discount is negotiable for a serious buyer.
Does anyone have any experience of buying/selling used or any other insight on the day-date with regards to prices and depreciation.
Considering it is 20k+ as new maybe values will not go much under 7k if/when re-selling?
I've had one for 20 years and probably worn it less that 50 times! Even the clasp is still stiff.
Buy with care and don't go to the rip off Burlington Arcade dealers who offered me £4k for it when I went in out of interest. The fact that they had well worn examples on leather straps in the window at £7k+ is a joke.
18ct is soft gold so older ones will lose the crispness to the fluted bezel etc. You should be able to get a decent one for around £8k.
I cant be bothered selling mine and have a feeling my wife will end up wearing it now she is warming to the idea of a larger dial. I tried to convince of the larger watch idea when I bought her a new datejust a few years back, but would she bloody listen?
Buy with care and don't go to the rip off Burlington Arcade dealers who offered me £4k for it when I went in out of interest. The fact that they had well worn examples on leather straps in the window at £7k+ is a joke.
18ct is soft gold so older ones will lose the crispness to the fluted bezel etc. You should be able to get a decent one for around £8k.
I cant be bothered selling mine and have a feeling my wife will end up wearing it now she is warming to the idea of a larger dial. I tried to convince of the larger watch idea when I bought her a new datejust a few years back, but would she bloody listen?
A great picture of a really beautiful watch, thanks for posting it.
I'm surprised to hear you were only offered 4k as any half decent 18ct day-date (refurbished) is 7k-8k+, maybe they were just being a bit greedy with the margin, or had too much existing stock of this model that particular month that they were not clearing.
I think the day-date really suits the 36mm case, it's an eye catching enough watch so does not need to be any bigger than that, at 40mm it would start to look slightly ridiculous in my opinion a watch of this type should be smaller.
I'm surprised to hear you were only offered 4k as any half decent 18ct day-date (refurbished) is 7k-8k+, maybe they were just being a bit greedy with the margin, or had too much existing stock of this model that particular month that they were not clearing.
I think the day-date really suits the 36mm case, it's an eye catching enough watch so does not need to be any bigger than that, at 40mm it would start to look slightly ridiculous in my opinion a watch of this type should be smaller.
Oysterquartz a very 'specialist market' and not popular in the 80/90s given that all fake Rolex had quartz movements so no hacking second hand. The uninformed therefore believed it was a fake.
In a retro way it could be a good purchase?
In terms of my 'offer' at the stealers - it was a few years ago when gold prices were not what they are today. So like you say high price scrap gold would be a consideraton albeit pure sacrilege!
What I do like is the tapestry dial given that I have never seen another. So I think I'll stick with it.
In a retro way it could be a good purchase?
In terms of my 'offer' at the stealers - it was a few years ago when gold prices were not what they are today. So like you say high price scrap gold would be a consideraton albeit pure sacrilege!
What I do like is the tapestry dial given that I have never seen another. So I think I'll stick with it.
Having tried on one of the larger 40mm/41mm newer watches I think 36mm is a much better look for this particular watch.
For a sports watch, or something in black, and/or more modern I agree bigger can often be better, but for a solid gold watch, which is arguably more of a dress watch I think the 36mm is the better size.
It does also depend on wrist size though, a very large wrist and forearm could make a 36mm watch look somewhat feminine but for average wrist/forearm for this type of watch 36mm is more than enough in my opinion. It is a watch that people will inevitably notice, and also will inevitably recognise as it is a model and style that even people with a basic knowledge of watches have seen or know.
If it's around 3k for scrap value, then I would say 4k-5k so a reputable dealer, hence eventual selling prices on the sites being 7.5k-8k for a nice example.
Does this sound about right?
I don't know how watches of this type can be sold privately, there is always ebay where I have seen various genuine rolex watches, but I would be paranoid of accepting paypal payment on a large amount, as I know there is the risk of fraudulent chargeback months after the initial transaction.
Anyway, I'm not buying to sell...just good to know what the potential return would be.
For a sports watch, or something in black, and/or more modern I agree bigger can often be better, but for a solid gold watch, which is arguably more of a dress watch I think the 36mm is the better size.
It does also depend on wrist size though, a very large wrist and forearm could make a 36mm watch look somewhat feminine but for average wrist/forearm for this type of watch 36mm is more than enough in my opinion. It is a watch that people will inevitably notice, and also will inevitably recognise as it is a model and style that even people with a basic knowledge of watches have seen or know.
If it's around 3k for scrap value, then I would say 4k-5k so a reputable dealer, hence eventual selling prices on the sites being 7.5k-8k for a nice example.
Does this sound about right?
I don't know how watches of this type can be sold privately, there is always ebay where I have seen various genuine rolex watches, but I would be paranoid of accepting paypal payment on a large amount, as I know there is the risk of fraudulent chargeback months after the initial transaction.
Anyway, I'm not buying to sell...just good to know what the potential return would be.
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