1990 rolex retail prices

[Casey VP-26]

Just looking at Bailey, Banks & Biddle Retail Catalog from 1990, Just a few examples, from 23 years ago.

S.S. Submariner no date...................................1,650.
S.S. Submariner date.......................................2,250.
S.S. Explorer.......................................... ........1,350.
S.S. Explorer II...............................................2 ,150.
S.S.&18Kt Submariner (blue).............................4,250.
S.S. Datejust with Jubilee................................2,350.
S.S.&18Kt Datejust with Jubilee.........................3,650.
S.S. GMT Master...W/Jubilee.............................2,225
S.S. GMT Master II...W/Oyster..........................2,250.
S.S.&18Kt GMT Master II Bronze with Jubilee........4,350.
S.S.&18Kt GMT Master II Black with Oyster..........4,100.
18Kt Day-Date President.................................12,250.
Tudor S.S. Chronograph....................................1,2 50.

[Audemars Piguet]

[nick c]

We all wise this prices today

[kilyung]

That's just depressing when I think of some of the dumb things I bought for more than those prices.

[dysondiver]

but ,,,, how were your pay cheques back then too ,,,

[Vincent65]

I guess my 'E' (1990) 16600 SD would have been about 2,500 then!

[Kobayashi]

If I only knew back then what I know now.....

[SWISSAHOLICS]

Is it safe to assume that in 2036 (23 years from now), we will be laughing at the prices we are paying today? Seriously, how much are we expecting a 116610 to cost in 20+ years? Is it scary to even imagine?

[aeon888]

Yeah but let us not forget about inflation and how much people are earning monthly salary wages back then.

So, it all boils down to relative cost of the watch back in 1990 and the current cost of the watch now. I wonder how much discounts people get back then. lol

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Casey VP-26

Just looking at Bailey, Banks & Biddle Retail Catalog from 1990, Just a few examples, from 23 years ago.

S.S. Submariner no date...................................1,650.
S.S. Submariner date.......................................2,250.
S.S. Explorer.......................................... ........1,350.
S.S. Explorer II...............................................2 ,150.
S.S.&18Kt Submariner (blue).............................4,250.
S.S. Datejust with Jubilee................................2,350.
S.S.&18Kt Datejust with Jubilee.........................3,650.
S.S. GMT Master...W/Jubilee.............................2,225
S.S. GMT Master II...W/Oyster..........................2,250.
S.S.&18Kt GMT Master II Bronze with Jubilee........4,350.
S.S.&18Kt GMT Master II Black with Oyster..........4,100.
18Kt Day-Date President.................................12,250.
Tudor S.S. Chronograph....................................1,2 50.

But what was your wages then.

Prices in 1986 in the UK.


16750 GMT Master £834.
16760 GMT Master11 £998.
16800 Submariner £1012.
16660 Seadweller £1161.
16550 Explorer11 £954.
6263/5 Daytona £882. how time have changed now today.
16000 Datejust £840.
17000 Oysterquartz £992. almost the price of the sub.
5500 Airking just £555. and a full service now cost that on some watches.

[rolio]

30 years ago, I came close to buying a GMT Pepsi. It was at Samuel's Jewelers. I don't believe they exist anymore, but they were one of the ADs who carried Rolex at the time. $1,400 if memory stands. Boy how I wish I had made that purchase, now. We only have so many minutes in this lifetime, next time I'll just "eat the cake," and not think too much about it. Eat the Cake

[John in MA]

$4,021.35 in 2013 dollars.

[samsmart]

Originally Posted by Vincent65

I guess my 'E' (1990) 16600 SD would have been about 2,500 then!

I will give you 3500 for it right now! Lol

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by kilyung

That's just depressing when I think of some of the dumb things I bought for more than those prices.

x 2 . . .

HAGOne Mike

[Trouble15]

I guess 23 years from now 8,850 for a SS Sub will be a bargain? I hope that's not the case... Lol

[iazrollie]

i love the way the daytona was priced at a discount to almost all other references. Boy, have times changed.

[samsmart]

Originally Posted by John in MA

$4,021.35 in 2013 dollars.

This proves Rolex pices have risen much faster than inflation alone. Another great reason to own these watches.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

[samsmart]

Originally Posted by iazrollie

i love the way the daytona was priced at a discount to almost all other references. Boy, have times changed.

I wonder why that was... Was that when they were using the Zenith Movement?

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

[Oyster Al]

Originally Posted by kilyung

That's just depressing when I think of some of the dumb things I bought for more than those prices.

Damn, you're right!

[domenick512]

Good find. Interesting.

[Brandon(phila)]

If you compare that to a 2000 price list, it is only about 1 - 2 thousand less. So in those 10 years the prices only went up a little. I don't have a list, but I can think of a few off hand from 2000 (these are from memory ...so give or take $100)
TT Blue Sub $5900
TT DJ $4900
SS Sub Date $3800
SD $4000

In 2010
Sub date was almost $8100 I think and a TT DJ was over 10 thousand.

In those 10 years prices almost doubled

I am in the Tech field and unfortunately from Year 2000 to present my salary is not much different than 2000...in fact I had a few contract gigs that I made more back then than now...due to all the off shoring of tech jobs.

[Doug T]

Very informative! Now I've got a headache.

[JohnFM]

Interesting how the SS Subs have increased in value but you can still find a two-tone DJ for something close to the prices.

[Sperry]

In '77 the local jeweler saw I was preparing to buy a 0.1ct diamond pendent for my GF.
He strongly advised me to buy a watch instead. Air Kings were, what, $155?

[Brandon(phila)]

Originally Posted by JohnFM

Interesting how the SS Subs have increased in value but you can still find a two-tone DJ for something close to the prices.

Sports models seem to keep the value ...DJ's are a dime a dozen.
I am not knocking the DJ at all, I had one and currently own a DJ II...but there are more of those out there than anything else

[Piloto]

I think it's pretty relative.

I remember VERY well going into an AD in Boca Raton back in 1990, and talking them down to $3500 on a TT DJ jubilee. As much as I wanted the watch, I could not pull off $3500 back then. Not even close. Had to stick with my $350 SS Tag 1000, and $20 Iron Man.

Thanks for jogging the memories. Even though I could not afford a $3500 watch, the late 80's and early 90's were some darn good times.

[Boardman]

Dammit!

[rolepam312]

Proves inflation and cost of living has no bearing on random Rolex price increases.. I really doubt the subs will double in price in the next 10 yrs.. Because no one will buy them ! Rolex has reached its ceiling... Glad when I got mine when I did, no way am I purchasing another Rolex....

[Brandon(phila)]

Not sure if they reached the ceiling, but should slow a bit (I am guessing, I don't really have knowledge of this)

Back in the late 90's early 2000's there was only 1 increase about 1.5 years and it was only $100-200 bucks on some models and other models didn't change at all.
It's really only been the past 5-6 years where the 2 times per year high % accross the board increase came.
A lot of that was due to weak US Dollar too, not all, but I know a few of those increases a few years back...also the whole line of watches are "upgraded" clasps bracelets, movements etc...
So I'm sure that went into the increases as well.

[tommyz24]

the 114060 is 7550+tx here in Canada
in 1990 it was 1650 (14060), using the inflation calculator that gave me 2854$ in 2012

the average household is about 50000 before tax now , in 1990 it was 28000

so 28000 using the inflation calculator is pretty much 50K. so that means the salary was the same but the watch price has when up 60% more or less