Future Rolex Classic-best investment watch now?

[montecarlo77]

Let's speculate and have some fun here in selecting our top choice for a watch to buy now that could be a great investment and future classic. Let us know which watch model and why it might appreciate in value/become a future classic.

Let's not have any holier than thou answers where people say you should only buy a watch because you like it not because it might be an investment, that is boring and NOT what this post is about.

[DocHorton]

Kermit and Zenith Daytona's.

[Horse12]

Deep sea blue


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[GB-man]

Bao dai 6062

[WEST HAM ROLEX]

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[montecarlo77]

Those all seem like great picks, but it would be great if everyone elaborates as to why the Kermit or Zenith daytona is going to be a future classic....

[springer]

Without a doubt - the Submariner 16610LV - the earlier, the better. Appreciates yearly and what's not to like...it's green.

Next is the GMT II 16710, complete sets, any year. I also like the GMT 16700, but it is more classic than modern as well as the Zenith Daytona models - both models being discontinued almost 20 years now which makes them classics in my opinion, not vintage, but definitely classic Rolex. (Ten years ago, nice GMT IIs were selling for $2700-3,000. They are selling for over double that now.)

That's it. The rest of the newer, and somewhat later models, are just eye candy. If you are really savvy and want to invest in some fine Rolex watches, go vintage. Ten years ago, nice GMT 1675s were selling for $3,000. Now nice ones are bringing five figures on up. Buy right and Rolex can be a great investment.

[montecarlo77]

Originally Posted by springer

Without a doubt - the Submariner 16610LV - the earlier, the better. Appreciates yearly and what's not to like...it's green.

Next is the GMT II 16710, complete sets, any year. I also like the GMT 16700, but it is more classic than modern as well as the Zenith Daytona models - both models being discontinued almost 20 years now which makes them classics in my opinion, not vintage, but definitely classic Rolex.

That's it. The rest of the newer, and somewhat later models, are just eye candy. If you are really savvy and want to invest in some fine Rolex watches, go vintage. Ten years ago, nice GMT 1675s were selling for $3,000. Now nice ones are bringing five figures on up. Buy right and Rolex can be a great investment.

Great post! I think if we buy the right watch you can enjoy it and not lose money and even make money in some cases if you ever wanted to sell it!

[Marcus09]

Daytona 116520 white dial. I know that for a fact because the AD told me the other day that a client was ready to pay $30,000 for it.


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[KDS777]

None of them. They make about 800,000 watches a year. There was no price increase this year either.

We're in a price bubble right now........especially in vintage.

Every asset in the world is over valued due to ZIRP.

Buyer beware.

[Danny83]

A serial 16520 Daytonas

[arcadelt]

It's gonna be something that you don't expect. Who among you had heard of a Bao Dai before this year, or even recall it from 2002 - c'mon, be honest? Even the much discussed Newman Daytona, with its exotic dial, was a wholly unpopular model at the time it was new.

Therefore, I'm going to pick a lower-volume Rolex watch, like the Cellini Moonphase; or the Milgauss, because in the future a fault will be discovered in the blue dial, which after 30 years turns a glorious shade of baby blue and the orange second hand turns a soft pink - they will call it the nursery Milgauss. Mark my words, it's going to happen, so buy up big now.

[sensui]

Originally Posted by springer

Without a doubt - the Submariner 16610LV - the earlier, the better. Appreciates yearly and what's not to like...it's green.

Next is the GMT II 16710, complete sets, any year. I also like the GMT 16700, but it is more classic than modern as well as the Zenith Daytona models - both models being discontinued almost 20 years now which makes them classics in my opinion, not vintage, but definitely classic Rolex. (Ten years ago, nice GMT IIs were selling for $2700-3,000. They are selling for over double that now.)

That's it. The rest of the newer, and somewhat later models, are just eye candy. If you are really savvy and want to invest in some fine Rolex watches, go vintage. Ten years ago, nice GMT 1675s were selling for $3,000. Now nice ones are bringing five figures on up. Buy right and Rolex can be a great investment.

[henrylee]

I agree the 16610LV and the 16710 will be future classics due to the colors and classic slim case.

[AASH]

Originally Posted by arcadelt

It's gonna be something that you don't expect. Who among you had heard of a Bao Dai before this year, or even recall it from 2002 - c'mon, be honest? Even the much discussed Newman Daytona, with its exotic dial, was a wholly unpopular model at the time it was new.

Therefore, I'm going to pick a lower-volume Rolex watch, like the Cellini Moonphase; or the Milgauss, because in the future a fault will be discovered in the blue dial, which after 30 years turns a glorious shade of baby blue and the orange second hand turns a soft pink - they will call it the nursery Milgauss. Mark my words, it's going to happen, so buy up big now.

Unexpected, who doesn't like candy?

[RSP]

My bet would be the 116600 and the Deep Blue Sea Dwellers.

The early 'true anniversary' editions of the 16610LV seem rare and already command a premium. However, there never seems to be a shortage of LV's for sale online.

For example there are about 180+ LVs currently listed for sale on Chrono24 (UK).

If you take the only recently discontinued 116600 there are currently 114.


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[arcadelt]

Originally Posted by AASH

Unexpected, who doesn't like candy?

Sure, but more like this:



With the advent of true equality of the sexes, women will have plenty of disposable income and will all be wearing larger watches by then. The Nursery Milguass will be very popular with expectant mothers.

[japenney]

the only watch in the current lineup would be the D-blue I would think.

[osamu]

I agree on some of the 5-digit models posted here, well because they're already seem to be commanding a premium.

Out of more modern pieces I agree with the SD4k, it had a pretty limited run and wasn't a big seller, making it probably one of the more rare pieces in the future.

out of the box idea, might be the regular black dial Milguass (non-GV), which was discontinued, whereas the rest are currently available. I think you're a long time away from this becoming a collectors item though, since the Milgauss was never a highly sought after item.

[beshannon]

The watches that are being sold at auction by Sothebys or Antiquorum would make excellent investments, you should try those.

http://www.antiquorum.com/home/

[m j b]

I think that a watch is not a good investment in and of itself (compared to equities, for example) so I will suggest, even though I know the OP doesn't want me to write it, that you buy something that you can wear and enjoy, and hope that when (if) you tire of it, you can sell it for something reasonable.

In my limited experience, it seems that if you can buy a nice watch used at a fair price, you should be able to wear it for a number of years and then sell it later - if still in good condition - for close to what you paid or maybe even more. We will ignore inflation and consider ourselves savvy investors.

[TimeToWatch]

16520 Zenith Daytonas- dials will have a great variance in price.

116600 Sea Dweller 4000- an unloved watch that never found its place in the Rolex lineup. 3 years of production

17013 oysterquartz- another unloved, limited run rolex. Only 25k made, only 2,500 of the one liners

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by aschneid

16520 Zenith Daytonas- dials will have a great variance in price.

116600 Sea Dweller 4000- an unloved watch that never found its place in the Rolex lineup. 3 years of production

17013 oysterquartz- another unloved, limited run rolex. Only 25k made, only 2,500 of the one liners

The automatic in a OQ case is a better bet. Much much rarer and you don't have to deal with irreparable Quartz movements.

[TimeToWatch]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

The automatic in a OQ case is a better bet. Much much rarer and you don't have to deal with irreparable Quartz movements.

The OQ remains serviceable by Rolex. The automatic has already appreciated considerably, but I agree that would be a good buy as well.

[montecarlo77]

Originally Posted by KDS777

None of them. They make about 800,000 watches a year. There was no price increase this year either.

We're in a price bubble right now........especially in vintage.

Every asset in the world is over valued due to ZIRP.

Buyer beware.

Interesting contrarian analysis! I agree central banks have done too much financial engineering and created a bubble in many assets, mostly real estate.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by aschneid

The OQ remains serviceable by Rolex. The automatic has already appreciated considerably, but I agree that would be a good buy as well.

You're correct that they're currently serviceable (at a remarkably high cost). However, once those electronic parts are used up... then you're left scrounging parts out of take off watches. Even so, I'd like an OQ.

The idea that these watches will keep going up and up and up in value seems highly questionable to me. Rolex is tightening part availability (there are threads on VFR about this), to an extent that's hurting the vintage specialist repair shops. If this continues, we will be left with two options for vintage watches: the RSC (if they will take them), and custom fabrication of movement parts.

Neither sounds ideal unless Rolex opens a vintage only service division.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by montecarlo77

...mostly real estate.

Checks your location - see's SF. I can smell what you're cooking!

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

The automatic in a OQ case is a better bet. Much much rarer and you don't have to deal with irreparable Quartz movements.

Irreparable quartz movements?

Are you shorting the OQ market?

These movements are and will continue to be serviceable. Rolex would never allow them to be sold ending in 2002 new, without being able to service at rsc for at least 50 years.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

Irreparable quartz movements?

Are you shorting the OQ market?

These movements are and will continue to be serviceable. Rolex would never allow them to be sold ending in 2002 new, without being able to service for at least 50 years.

The quartz module isn't reparable. It's replacement only. When those are gone... they're gone.

How long will that take? I bet even Rolex doesn't know.

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

The quartz module isn't reparable. It's replacement only. When those are gone... they're gone.

How long will that take? I bet even Rolex doesn't know.

Ah. But it can be fixed to work.

Stop scaring the kids.