The rocketing demand of the vintage Datejust

[Tongyk]

Vintage DJ are fantastic looking, aged really well but the price they are hovering now, I would rather spend abit more and get a new one with better movement, warranty, peace of mind.

Hopefully this ages well



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Yachtbuoy]

Originally Posted by carwashchris

So yes ! I watch both the 1800 & 1600 series and just since January they seem to be up 20 % and probably more when your looking at an un-comon pieces, like WB, Sigma, Gilt, Non-Lume, or blue,black,gray,silver,buckley, dials.

It makes hard to pony up going forward.

But I love it.

I picked up a 1603 earlier this year and I notice the price trend for these watches are up from when I bought. Wild.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by iliketime

nice! thought i paid $4400 until ebay collected taxes which made it $4900 almost last year.

That will look like a massive bargain in a few years.

[watch-guy.com]

Got this one earlier this year

[Old Expat Beast]

I got this 1603 for my wife right here on TRF a few years ago for about $2,250 as I recall. They weren't that popular back then, and this one had been bumped about 25 times by a reputable seller when I made an offer on it.

[ILuvSubs]

Originally Posted by JBZ

There's been a noticeable spike in the asking price for both Datejusts and 36mm Explorers in the last couple of months. Not sure if it's a blip or a real trend.

A rising tide for all vintage Rolex models brought about by the demand for the sports models?

I think it’s a case of DJs and EXPs getting the attention they rightfully deserve. They have historically been under appreciated relative to the GMTs, SDs, Subs and Daytonas. Compared to the pricing of those sport models, they are undervalued.

Some great variations within the DJ family. I also think there are great variations within the 14270 - blackout dial, tritium, lug holes, Swiss only, luminova, etc.

[Wahlberg]

They sold millions of datejusts between the 60s and end of the 80s but a lot don't appear online. I think a lot are still being worn by the current owners but that could change in 10-20 years. Not trying to sound to sinister.

I still want a clean 1601/1603 and I've been keeping my eyes open the past few years but perhaps I'm too picky and the perfect one will never come.

Originally Posted by ILuvSubs

A rising tide for all vintage Rolex models brought about by the demand for the sports models?

I think it’s a case of DJs and EXPs getting the attention they rightfully deserve. They have historically been under appreciated relative to the GMTs, SDs, Subs and Daytonas. Compared to the pricing of those sport models, they are undervalued.

Some great variations within the DJ family. I also think there are great variations within the 14270 - blackout dial, tritium, lug holes, Swiss only, luminova, etc.

I knew the Explorer 1 would go up because of the smaller case and the white dial. It's too funky and special. Especially for 4-5k a short time ago.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by ILuvSubs

A rising tide for all vintage Rolex models brought about by the demand for the sports models?

I think it’s a case of DJs and EXPs getting the attention they rightfully deserve. They have historically been under appreciated relative to the GMTs, SDs, Subs and Daytonas.

Absolutely this. People are starting to sit up and take notice of the awesome but undervalued 16xx. Won't be undervalued for long...

[iliketime]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

I got this 1603 for my wife right here on TRF a few years ago for about $2,250 as I recall. They weren't that popular back then, and this one had been bumped about 25 times by a reputable seller when I made an offer on it.

thats in great shape too, what a steal!

[NYFatboy99]

Originally Posted by Tongyk

Vintage DJ are fantastic looking, aged really well but the price they are hovering now, I would rather spend abit more and get a new one with better movement, warranty, peace of mind.

Hopefully this ages well



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It looks really good on you... buzz me if you're letting go, lol..

The increased price is very much expected especially if there's a continuous demand for it.

[Platypus]

The 1575 is arguably better than any modern movement. I’m not a fan of the modern datejust aesthetics: no tritium, polished lug hoods, etc.

Originally Posted by Tongyk

Vintage DJ are fantastic looking, aged really well but the price they are hovering now, I would rather spend abit more and get a new one with better movement, warranty, peace of mind.

Hopefully this ages well



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Slimpee]

Originally Posted by Tongyk

Vintage DJ are fantastic looking, aged really well but the price they are hovering now, I would rather spend abit more and get a new one with better movement, warranty, peace of mind.

Hopefully this ages well



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gorgeous!

I thought it was new and then googled the 1575 movement. Well done!

[aasubo]

Originally Posted by dhknola

This thread has me inspired.
I have a line on this example. Bad ding to dial about 8:30/9.
Do the lugs look too thin?
The asking isn’t too bad and I’ve never really contemplated a vintage DJ, but, this thread has me thinking...









Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi there,
I don’t know about the asking price, but I think, you can get way better examples: the bezel and lugs are heavily polished, you’d have to replace the crystal and there is no bracelet. So I’d search more....

Look at my unpolished 16000 for comparison of the lugs.
Got it for 3300 eur 2 years ago.
Cheers
Torsten


Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk

[chinaski]

Originally Posted by aasubo

Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk

Beautiful watch!

[JBZ]

Originally Posted by ILuvSubs

A rising tide for all vintage Rolex models brought about by the demand for the sports models?

I think it’s a case of DJs and EXPs getting the attention they rightfully deserve. They have historically been under appreciated relative to the GMTs, SDs, Subs and Daytonas. Compared to the pricing of those sport models, they are undervalued.

Some great variations within the DJ family. I also think there are great variations within the 14270 - blackout dial, tritium, lug holes, Swiss only, luminova, etc.

I have two stories that are only anecdotes and dispositive of nothing, but I thought they'd be worth a share.

First, a well known dealer had a 2004 114270 (watch only) on sale back in August. It was listed for roughly $4,700. The same dealer recently listed a 2002 114270 (again, watch only) for about $5,900. In looking at the photos, the cosmetic condition of the two watches looked roughly the same.

Second, I recently inquired about possibly purchasing a 16200 Datejust from a different online dealer. I didn't end up moving forward, but I saw that the dealer raised the price of the listed watch from $4,200 to $4,900 the day after my inquiry.

I'm not surprised that prices are moving up, but I have been surprised at how fast it's happened with these two models. It's just the way Rolex is heading, I guess.

[aasubo]

Originally Posted by chinaski

Beautiful watch!

Thanks a lot!


Gesendet von iPad mit Tapatalk

[Ancestral Star]

I love all the older Datejusts but also Day-Dates. 1973 1603 here.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dhknola]

Originally Posted by aasubo

Hi there,
I don’t know about the asking price, but I think, you can get way better examples: the bezel and lugs are heavily polished, you’d have to replace the crystal and there is no bracelet. So I’d search more....

Look at my unpolished 16000 for comparison of the lugs.
Got it for 3300 eur 2 years ago.
Cheers
Torsten


Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk

That is a killer example!

The main reason I am contemplating the one I posted is that the price is somewhat reflective of the issues it has (2800 usd)....

[Claven2]

Originally Posted by dhknola

That is a killer example!

The main reason I am contemplating the one I posted is that the price is somewhat reflective of the issues it has (2800 usd)....

If you don't mind it not being a mint collectible, at that price, you could have rsc make it look like new again. Another option is to hunt for an orphan case that is not overpolished, they do show up.

Rsc would offer you a new dial and hands if you don't mind service parts.

Personally I like the rsc restored dj's for actual regular wear.

[SubLover50]

Often overlooked, super nice model

[brockburst]

Originally Posted by Platypus

I remember a time 2-3 years ago when nice 1601 and 16014 models could be had for $2800. Today, $4500 is the norm for a decent example. Has anyone else noticed the unavailability of honest clean examples? As a datejust collector, I have even seen rare examples such as the wideboy or linen sell for as much as $5500. Crazy. What is going on?!

Nothing, most things in rolex are up 50%-100% over the last three years.

[Filipão]

My kids will be happy when I pass them on my father's 6305.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by SubLover50

Often overlooked, super nice model

Nobody who knows their stuff is overlooking a nice DJ. Only noobs...

[lhendrickson]

Originally Posted by zapokee

Nobody who knows their stuff is overlooking a nice DJ. Only noobs...

Lollll

[lhendrickson]

Originally Posted by Filipão

My kids will be happy when I pass them on my father's 6305.

Filipão! What a splendid example. Rest assured that, should your children turn out to not like watches, you have someone in San Francisco who would be more than happy to appreciate it

[aasubo]

I have been searching for my DJ grails over this past 5 years and even though I have found and purchased pretty much all of my sought after pieces, I still continue to look at the offerings in Europe.

The prices for good value DJs has risen between 40-100 per cent over that five years, it’s crazy but somehow I am also quite happy, that my DJs became valuable collector items.

Here’s one of my favs: DJ 16030 from 1984 with grey tapestry dial.

Cheers
Torsten




Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk

[aasubo]

Originally Posted by chinaski

Beautiful watch!

Thanks, much appreciated!
Cheers


Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by aasubo

Here’s one of my favs: DJ 16030 from 1984 with grey tapestry dial.

Nice of you to let a gorilla wear it.

[aasubo]

Originally Posted by zapokee

Nice of you to let a gorilla wear it.

That’s how sturdy that watch is

Maybe in the future no extreme closeups....

Cheers!


Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk

[Börn]

My 86 Blue and 72 Wideboy. Happy with both and enjoy wearing them.