Watch Values
Author
Discussion

Bob_Defly

Original Poster:

4,870 posts

248 months

Friday 8th December 2023
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Other than super high end brands (FPJ, PP etc), why, of the main luxury brands, is Rolex the only one that holds its value fairly well?

Correct me if I'm wrong but Omega, Grand Seiko, Cartier, JLC etc all tend to lose value the moment you walk out the door. Is it just scarcity/manufactured demand, or is it something else that Rolex are doing better than the other brands?

And for something like an Omega Speedmaster, how long would it take for a well kept example to be worth more than its original price?

hilly10

7,454 posts

245 months

Friday 8th December 2023
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First generation Planet Ocean’s in good order are fetching more now then when new

Maxym

2,465 posts

253 months

Friday 8th December 2023
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OP, there’s popularity and desire in the mix too. Also scarcity. Omegas are generally mass-produced and you can get hold of them easily. JLC and GS are terrific watches but are not generally perceived as ‘desirable’.

Even some Pateks and APs lose value on purchase, although not that much.

How long does it take for a piece to get back to RRP? Depends on the brand, the model and a host of other things. Maybe never.

Ikemi

8,566 posts

222 months

Monday 11th December 2023
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Following on from the post above, the annual price increases for new models also help pull up the values of older, second hand pieces. Just look at Seamaster and Speedmaster models, as well as Tag Heuer Monaco and Carrera models.

I bought my first generation Planet Ocean via Dominic H, so I immediately saved a fair chunk of cash. I’m pretty sure around 5 years later, second hand prices were similar to what I paid for the watch brand new. Today, it’s essentially doubled in value.

Not much different to buying a Rolex in the 80’s or 90’s though. You just have to choose the right brand, the right model and hope your choice is desirable in years to come - especially if the replacement models are a lot more expensive to buy!

It doesn’t matter though; I’m never selling my PO! smile

andy tims

5,594 posts

263 months

Monday 11th December 2023
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Bob_Defly said:
And for something like an Omega Speedmaster, how long would it take for a well kept example to be worth more than its original price?
For a non LE, given the current RRP & the amount sold - Many decades, if ever.

anonymous-user

71 months

Monday 11th December 2023
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I don't own a watch, but for me it is two reasons

1)Everybody has heard of Rolex, if someone is buying a watch to say "I have bought an expensive watch" then they are going to buy a Rolex. I know to a lot of people on here that is not a good thing, but to a certain brand obsessed demographic it is the most important thing.

2)Rolex strictly control the supply. It is very unlikely you will be able to go into a shop and buy one (especially for the more desirable models), so even if you have the money it is still not easy to get one. This guarantees there are a line of people willing to buy one second hand to avoid the wait.

To give credit to Rolex, their marketing and supply control are first class to cause this situation.

popeyewhite

23,007 posts

137 months

Monday 11th December 2023
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And they also make very good watches. Maybe in the top 5 or 6. I've been keeping my eye on used JLC values recently, they are doing rather well and if I had the readies would snap one up now.

Lotobear

8,074 posts

145 months

Monday 11th December 2023
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I was speaking to my watch maker a few weeks ago (who services Rolex amongst other brands) - he says that Omega movements are superior to Rolex who 'used to be good' up to early 80's or so when he said they changed the quality of the metals used in their movements. Reckons the movements are more prone to wear than Omega.

...an old guy and very experienced so I've no reason not to take his opinion at face value.

Badda

3,301 posts

99 months

Monday 11th December 2023
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I sold an omega for twice what I paid for it recently. Not as big an increase as Rolex but certainly not a drop.

anonymous-user

71 months

Monday 11th December 2023
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At todays rip-off prices. I doubt the used price would ever occur.
In more sensible times, 2011, my Omega Seamaster was £1400.
That was a lot of money for my wife to buy as a big birthday gift.
They seem to go for 2k now.
It was a £1400 watch then. A new one should cost 2k now. I prefer mine to the new one. The new one is more like 5k
Crazy.
Fools and their money..

popeyewhite

23,007 posts

137 months

Monday 11th December 2023
quotequote all
Lotobear said:
I was speaking to my watch maker a few weeks ago (who services Rolex amongst other brands) - he says that Omega movements are superior to Rolex who 'used to be good' up to early 80's or so when he said they changed the quality of the metals used in their movements. Reckons the movements are more prone to wear than Omega.

...an old guy and very experienced so I've no reason not to take his opinion at face value.
Yes I've heard several times the Omega movement is more advanced than the Rolex movement. But then Rolex watches in general are a step above (finishing/design) Omega IMO, (though Omega make some lovely dress watches whilst the Cellini is a bit of a letdown), and Rolex has the history.

gregs656

11,805 posts

198 months

Monday 11th December 2023
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popeyewhite said:
Yes I've heard several times the Omega movement is more advanced than the Rolex movement. But then Rolex watches in general are a step above (finishing/design) Omega IMO, (though Omega make some lovely dress watches whilst the Cellini is a bit of a letdown), and Rolex has the history.
The companies have existed for a similar length of time

popeyewhite

23,007 posts

137 months

Monday 11th December 2023
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gregs656 said:
The companies have existed for a similar length of time
I think everyone probably knows that wink

While Rolex has a number of world firsts, Omega has (some might say) the better/more complicated movement - thanks to a Brit.

Ninjin

1,322 posts

92 months

Tuesday 12th December 2023
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Joey Deacon said:
I don't own a watch, but for me it is two reasons

1)Everybody has heard of Rolex, if someone is buying a watch to say "I have bought an expensive watch" then they are going to buy a Rolex. I know to a lot of people on here that is not a good thing, but to a certain brand obsessed demographic it is the most important thing.

2)Rolex strictly control the supply. It is very unlikely you will be able to go into a shop and buy one (especially for the more desirable models), so even if you have the money it is still not easy to get one. This guarantees there are a line of people willing to buy one second hand to avoid the wait.

To give credit to Rolex, their marketing and supply control are first class to cause this situation.
Your point #2 has only been true for the last few years, let's say since 2016. Personally I don't believe Rolex holding back supply to control grey market pricing, rather the demand just exceeds supply.

The Rolex used value has always been the strongest, (smallest depreciation) of any brand out there. Even when you could walk in and get 20% off one in the noughties.



Louis Balfour

28,176 posts

239 months

Tuesday 12th December 2023
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Bob_Defly said:
Other than super high end brands (FPJ, PP etc), why, of the main luxury brands, is Rolex the only one that holds its value fairly well?
So far...

It's because Rolex makes really good watches, they are historically important... and they have been absolute masters at making every aspirational person in the world believe that, unless they buy a Rolex, they have failed in life.

But Rolex has been churning out a million or so watches every year for some time, and not a million used ones have been scrapped per annum. It remains to be seen whether they can perpetuate the demand in the future, in light of the volumes in the market and the state of the global economy.




SturdyHSV

10,297 posts

184 months

Tuesday 12th December 2023
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popeyewhite said:
And they also make very good watches. Maybe in the top 5 or 6. I've been keeping my eye on used JLC values recently, they are doing rather well and if I had the readies would snap one up now.
I assume you're caveating that with in the top 5 or 6 "that make more than 25,000 watches a year"?


popeyewhite

23,007 posts

137 months

Tuesday 12th December 2023
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SturdyHSV said:
I assume you're caveating that with in the top 5 or 6 "that make more than 25,000 watches a year"?
No, not really. Rolex make some very good watches and have a virtually unmatched pedigree. You wouldn't place Rolex in the top 6?

Somebody

1,456 posts

100 months

Tuesday 12th December 2023
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Louis Balfour said:
So far...

It's because Rolex makes really good watches, they are historically important...
There aren't many brands out there that have a series of truly "iconic" lines such as Day Date, Datejust, Daytona, Explorer, Submarina, etc, etc.....

Edited by Somebody on Tuesday 12th December 13:02

gregs656

11,805 posts

198 months

Tuesday 12th December 2023
quotequote all
popeyewhite said:
No, not really. Rolex make some very good watches and have a virtually unmatched pedigree. You wouldn't place Rolex in the top 6?
I think they are the top watch brand in the world, one of the top brands in the world in any segment. Everyone has heard of them.

Not sure they would make my list of top 6 watch makers, though. They're extremely conservative as a brand. Lots of companies make very nice watches.

SturdyHSV

10,297 posts

184 months

Tuesday 12th December 2023
quotequote all
popeyewhite said:
SturdyHSV said:
I assume you're caveating that with in the top 5 or 6 "that make more than 25,000 watches a year"?
No, not really. Rolex make some very good watches and have a virtually unmatched pedigree. You wouldn't place Rolex in the top 6?
I don't know, they historically made pretty robust watches for sure by my understanding, but in terms of actual manufacturing / finishing quality and so on I wouldn't, no.

JLC, Breguet, Grand Seiko, Glashutte Original, I'd argue all offer more quality / craftsmanship without mentioning the obvious AP, VC and PP and without going in to the realms of A Lange & Sohne, H Moser & Cie and all of the really silly stuff that costs house money getmecoat

I'd probably place Zenith and Rolex as similar quality by my completely arbitrary perception, but obviously one is comparatively worthless because nobody thinks you're rich if they notice your Zenith hehe

I find the whole watch value thing miserable to be honest, same with buying cars as investments, it just feels a bit sad to me to commodify something that has so many other qualities.