Should I buy an SD4000?

[Jonnewbank]

Current collection is a blro, sub date maxi case and a ym 116655.

I want another watch, was thinking a black datejust for formal occasions etc which I don’t really go to often and I don’t wear a suit for work.

Then I considered a jaeger Le coultre deep sea chronograph, still am considering.

I don’t collect watches to make money but a part of me thinks I should buy an sd4000 as they are literally going up £1500 per year and they aren’t making any more.

I know it’s basically the same as my sub but is it worth getting in now as they look like they maybe a real collectors piece in a few years.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Blansky]

I realize this is a Rolex forum but personally I wouldn't want a collection with essentially the same dial on all my watches. I love my SD but I wouldn't want all my watches to look like one.

That being said if you are buying for investment or availability reasons then that's a different story. But buying something because they are going up in price and is sort of a duplicate of what already have doesn't do it for me. I guess it depends on how much disposable income you have.

I think, I would branch out and buy something else.

[Jonnewbank]

Originally Posted by Blansky

I realize this is a Rolex forum but personally I wouldn't want a collection with essentially the same dial on all my watches. I love my SD but I wouldn't want all my watches to look like one.

That being said if you are buying for investment or availability reasons then that's a different story. But buying something because they are going up in price and is sort of a duplicate of what already have doesn't do it for me. I guess it depends on how much disposable income you have.

I think, I would branch out and buy something else.

What do you think to that jaeger?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[yoast]

Buy a full set 16710 or kermit. sd4k is too thick imo and the aforementioned are to be had cheaper and also imo a better buy

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by Jonnewbank

What do you think to that jaeger?

For some reason there aren't many Jaegers I really like. But watches are a real personal decision.

But lots of cool divers around. UN, Omega, PP, AP, Breguet etc etc

[Atone]

love the SD4k one of my all time favorites from modern rolex offerings.

[epicurus]

My favorite Rolex diver....Only buy it if you love it. Watches are not investments in my book. Give the 17k to your financial advisor if you want a return on your money.

[Jonnewbank]

Originally Posted by epicurus

My favorite Rolex diver....Only buy it if you love it. Watches are not investments in my book. Give the 17k to your financial advisor if you want a return on your money.

Normally I would agree, I don’t think of any of my others like that, but this one had a short run and is going up 10% a year! That’s a good return and I get to wear a nice watch. That’s my thinking.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[330ci]

Originally Posted by Jonnewbank

Normally I would agree, I don’t think of any of my others like that, but this one had a short run and is going up 10% a year! That’s a good return and I get to wear a nice watch. That’s my thinking.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Watches don't pay dividends, you can't easily sell a watch for market price. And then there's timing. Once the 50-70s crowd with all these 10+ Rolex collections starts dying out, do you think subsequent generations are going to be lining up to buy them for premiums? Tastes and trends change. There will be plenty of low production, and limited release mass produced watches available in the upcoming years as well. There really inst anything too special or important about this watch in the grand scheme of things, I don't think you'll ever take a bath on it, but I wouldn't expect a continuous gain over the coming years.

You also have servicing costs, and depreciation from wear you'd have to factor in.

Another problem I have with these comparisons is people select a single watch out of an entire watch market, and it appears to buck the general depreciation trend and they think its a great asset acquisition when comparing it to S&P 500avg. Returns or whatever. But ignore the fact that plenty of stocks out perform the market as well with far less holding risk and almost guaranteed upside potential and marginal trading costs in comparison.

[Finslayer83]

SD4K matte dial is supreme.

[jay_kay]

You'll not go wrong with a SD4K. Incredible watch.

[shoppy]

I have the same ym, sub and GMT; I also have the SD4k and would not sell it. It would be one of my last ones to go out of my collection.

[Jonnewbank]

Originally Posted by 330ci

Watches don't pay dividends, you can't easily sell a watch for market price. And then there's timing. Once the 50-70s crowd with all these 10+ Rolex collections starts dying out, do you think subsequent generations are going to be lining up to buy them for premiums? Tastes and trends change. There will be plenty of low production, and limited release mass produced watches available in the upcoming years as well. There really inst anything too special or important about this watch in the grand scheme of things, I don't think you'll ever take a bath on it, but I wouldn't expect a continuous gain over the coming years.

You also have servicing costs, and depreciation from wear you'd have to factor in.

Another problem I have with these comparisons is people select a single watch out of an entire watch market, and it appears to buck the general depreciation trend and they think its a great asset acquisition when comparing it to S&P 500avg. Returns or whatever. But ignore the fact that plenty of stocks out perform the market as well with far less holding risk and almost guaranteed upside potential and marginal trading costs in comparison.

To be honest, my business is where I make my cash, I’ve never really needed to play the market but I suppose I was just thinking rather than buy a mass produced Batman or hulk which there are a lot of, is it better to buy something with a low production run that has a classic style? People still want subs and sds from the 60s as the style of the watch hasn’t really changed. I would take your point if it was an offshore or hublot but this design doesn’t seem to change and probably won’t.

I take your point though!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[samson66]

Why would you want a SD4K when you already have a Sub? Go outside your box a little. I think the Datejust is a great idea. If you decide to get the SD4K maybe replace the Sub with a DJ

[Finslayer83]

Originally Posted by samson66

Why would you want a SD4K when you already have a Sub? Go outside your box a little. I think the Datejust is a great idea. If you decide to get the SD4K maybe replace the Sub with a DJ

Matte dial and fully hashed bezel is far better than Sub.

I'd have one but don't like the thickness, if it was 12.5mm thick I'd have one.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by Finslayer83

Matte dial and fully hashed bezel is far better than Sub.



I'd have one but don't like the thickness, if it was 12.5mm thick I'd have one.

Not saying it's better or worse, just very similar. I would go a different direction in a collection. A DJ41 would be a perfect addition to the OP's collection IMO.

Sent from my Galaxy S20 using Tapatalk

[Xerxes77]

No

[Wrist Watcher]

Originally Posted by samson66

Not saying it's better or worse, just very similar. I would go a different direction in a collection. A DJ41 would be a perfect addition to the OP's collection IMO.

Sent from my Galaxy S20 using Tapatalk

Agree with this. Also, while the SD4K is a great watch (I owned it), I don't find it as comfortable as the Sub given the extra thickness of the SD4K.

[330ci]

Originally Posted by Jonnewbank

To be honest, my business is where I make my cash, I’ve never really needed to play the market but I suppose I was just thinking rather than buy a mass produced Batman or hulk which there are a lot of, is it better to buy something with a low production run that has a classic style? People still want subs and sds from the 60s as the style of the watch hasn’t really changed. I would take your point if it was an offshore or hublot but this design doesn’t seem to change and probably won’t.

I take your point though!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was just addressing your comment which insinuated you expected to be able to wear a watch and make money on it in the end based off past market trends.. Sure Subs and SDs are hot now, but who knows if that trend will change. Mint bubble backs were pulling 10k+ in the 80s while you could've bought mil subs for a pittance. Look what happened to the pocket watch market in that time as well.
The offshore again is an amazing performer and probably better value for money than an SD4K. The fact that you're bashing a Genta design when early time only offshores are pulling close to 6 figures now should probably convince you to do a bit more research. His watches are far more desirable than most any watches out there. Why do you think a new nautilus goes for $100k+ grey.... everyone wants a Genta watch. I'm sure if you looked at offshore production numbers, there will be less of them in the future than this "scarce" rolex as well.
Hublot isn't the joke brand it used to be either. Judging by how trends work and the tastes of the current millenials & Gen z'ers, these are likely going to be the hot watches of the future as "nobody wanted em". When you compare them to a company like RM who specializes in unique material builds, they actually are rather competitive with modern tech in watches. I wouldn't be caught wearing one, but I imagine they continue to gain marketshare over time. Every company absorbed under the LVMH cloud has performed exceptionally it seems. Theres a reason they're continuously breaking sales goals.


At the end of the day, no matter if it was a short lived production or not, its still a mass produced watch and there will be plenty of them for years to come. Comparing it to 60s production watches that were never meant to be collectible, overall had far less production(3 million watches between 55-70) where as production is around 1M units annually now is naive at best. If you got the money spend it, but you stated this was a good piece to buy, wear, and likely make money on based on your current knowledge of the market; but 10 years out when the next trend takes hold, these might not retain anywhere near the value people are expecting them too when it comes time to cash in.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by samson66

Why would you want a SD4K when you already have a Sub? Go outside your box a little. I think the Datejust is a great idea. If you decide to get the SD4K maybe replace the Sub with a DJ

I agree with Mike

That said, some enthusiasts focus specifically on divers, GMT’s, chronographs, etc etc.

No right or wrong answer but if you’re building a small collection without a specific focus, I’d go with a different brand or at least reference

[Sandpit]

Seems like there’s already crossover and that would only get worse by adding an SD. I personally just don’t see the point, but then I like variety.

[Bill2]

I think your mind is made up so yes buy it.

[prnceofpersia23]

I'd be trading the Sub for the DJ. You already have a matte dial "diver" in the YM.

DJ, GMT, and YM would be an excellent trio and the DJ dial would break up the monotony of maxi dials.

[Jonnewbank]

Originally Posted by samson66

Why would you want a SD4K when you already have a Sub? Go outside your box a little. I think the Datejust is a great idea. If you decide to get the SD4K maybe replace the Sub with a DJ

I was thinking that! But I do like the maxi case and the gloss dial and it’s boring but my favourite watch!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[7enderbender]

I’m biased. I finally bought a SD4K (16600T from 2006) last year as my only Rolex so far. I personally think it’s the best watch Rolex ever made as far as looks and features. If it remains my only Rolex I’m ok with that and I wouldn’t trade it for any other. A close second would be the new 36mm Explorer. Third might be a Milgauss. They can keep the rest unless we’re talking real vintage.
So yeah, you should buy one while they are still comparatively affordable (can’t believe that’s the word now) and available. For reasons I never understood it was never as popular with the crowd. Our gain.

[Rick_Nashville]

Originally Posted by Jonnewbank

Current collection is a blro, sub date maxi case and a ym 116655. I don’t collect watches to make money but a part of me thinks I should buy an sd4000 as they are literally going up £1500 per year and they aren’t making any more.

I'm partial to Sea Dwellers. One of the first Rolexes I ever purchased was a 16600 D-serial in 2005. When the 116600 came out in 2014, I jumped on it. Imho, it's an absolutely awesome watch, I totally love this reference. It's rugged, robust, & handsome, and a perfect fit on my 7.5" wrist. Get it for its intrinsic beauty and bombproof engineering! -Rick.

[Linuxpenguins]

Your future self will thank you for purchasing a SD4k.

Your current self will too. Absolutely remarkable watch. By far the best diver watch and 'sports' watch that Rolex have ever made imo.

Plus, as you say.. it continues upward in price year in year out.

[Thanos]

Originally Posted by Linuxpenguins

Your future self will thank you for purchasing a SD4k.

Your current self will too. Absolutely remarkable watch. By far the best diver watch and 'sports' watch that Rolex have ever made imo.

Plus, as you say.. it continues upward in price year in year out.

This about sums it up

also add the fact that it had a 2.5-3 yr production run....

[OldOak]

Depends. So similar to models you have. Increased to a premium so not a massive investment.
If you love it, get it. If not, get something different. Dress watch or rubber


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CoolChris909]

You can't go wrong with the SD4K. It has great balance in design vs the evolution of the case sizing. Def a collectors piece as nobody I have ever heard has had a negative thing to say about the watch, so it seems there will always be interest for it. If it speaks to you, get it.