There are many people who buy luxury watches because of the look, mechanical engineering, and craftsmanship. Some people buy luxury watches to resell later on if they need cash, or to test drive different styles of luxury watches. One of the most common things you will hear is “What is the best watch to buy as an investment?” Most of the people that respond say “Watches are not an investment, just buy what you like.”
I am not necessarily buying watches as an investment, rather more as a portable savings account. I completely disagree with those that say watches aren’t an investment, however there aren’t many that are. I would definitely like to know how secure my money is if I do decide to resell a watch. I know my savings account will gather me around 0.25% interest after money sits in there a couple years. There is no guessing, I know what to expect.
Being educated in various watch brands, and knowing what a watch is worth after purchasing a watch from an authorized dealer is a powerful tool to have. In this blog post, I will share some information on the most recognized watch brands and how they stack up if you decide to resell them.
How did I choose the watches?
While there may be other brands more prevalent to you, I specifically looked at the most well known watch brands and what they sell online. There are many other quality brands but few actually hold up well for resale.
What’s the MSRP (Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price)
Most of these manufacturers don’t sell directly to the public, and if they do, they also have a retail network of jewelers and watch sellers that sell to you. They give this MSRP to each model and is what is suggested as the price for sale when new.
How Did I find out about the Current Market Value?
I used the steps discussed in this blog post
The main sources for pricing data are Chrono24, eBay, and Watch Recon.
How does supply and demand affect retail?
Keep in mind that prices are dictated by what’s available on the market. If the demand for a specific timepiece outweighs the pieces available, people will pay more since they don’t have any other option to procure that precious watch. If there are plenty of supply for a specific model, and people aren’t paying premiums for them, the price will fall. When you factor in other conditions such as inflation, this current pandemic, or a recession, the price will not be as stable as when the economy is operating normally.
Is the retail value the amount of money I will receive?
No, the retail value is generally what you can expect to pay for something. It’s very possible to sell a watch at its retail value but that is rarely the case. If you are so lucky, you still have to take into account any fees that you will have to pay whichever website you sold the watch on.
Resell your watch for free at our Marketplace today!
The best Luxury Watch Brands for Resale
| #1 Rolex | #7 Panerai |
|---|---|
| #2 Patek Philippe | #8 Cartier |
| #3 Audemars Piguet | # 9 Hublot |
| #4 Omega | #10 Tag Heuer |
| #5 Grand Seiko | #11 Bell & Ross |
| #6 Breitling | #12 IWC Schaffhausen |
#1 Rolex
Rolex is one of the most iconic luxury watch brands. When you ask anyone what they think of when talking about luxury watches, it’s most likely going to be Rolex. They have built a name around the globe as a leading brand in the luxury watch space. Whether you agree with this sentiment or not, Rolex is the most sought after brand and both the new and preowned market volume proves this. No other brand in the world sells as many watches as Rolex in terms of value of watches sold.
The Best Resale Watches From Rolex
Rolex Submariner Date (126610LN)
- MSRP: $10,100
- Resale Value: $15,000-$17,000
Rolex Submariner Date Green (126610LV) aka “Starbucks”
- MSRP: $10,600
- Resale Value: $20,000-$22,000
Rolex GMT Master II (126710BLNR) aka “Batgirl”
- MSRP: $10,750
- Resale Value: $19,000-$21,000
Rolex GMT Master II (126710BLRO) aka “Pepsi”
- MSRP: $10,550
- Resale Value: $25,000-$30,000
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona (116500LN) aka “Panda”
- MSRP: $14,550
- Resale Value: $32,000-$39,000
The Worst Resale Watches From Rolex
Rolex Celini Date (50519)
- MSRP: $17,900
- Resale Value: $14,000-$17,000
#2 Patek Philippe
“You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.” This advertisement from Patek Philippe couldn’t be more accurate. As a company in existence since 1839, they have withstood more than many companies can claim. Their timepieces have also withstood the test of time as evidenced by the fact that you can buy a Patek Philippe that is over 150 years old. A favorite among the 1%, I have a friend with a Patek Philippe and he is going to be leaving his timepiece to his son.
The Best Resell Watches From Patek Philippe.
Nautilus Steel Any Dial (5711/1A)
- MSRP: $30,620
- Resale Value: $100,000+
