One of the geniune experience as a Patek Philippe watch owner is the joy of taking your watch out from a fine exquite wooden box, that came along with the watch. Patek Philippe believe all their watches are equally prestiges, hence the boxes are all the same, for most wrist watches.
However, we do know that some of the Prepertual Calendar wrist watches do come in a Winder Box. Occasionally we do came across a larger version, those that comes with ultra-high end complication such as minute-repeaters. It is a massive box with a drawer tray and a key and lock:
Time of the year to look what’s worth buying. Swiss-watch collectors are certainly in a daze, price for some collectable models had surged. Nowadays buyers tend to more prudent; watch acquisition has become a very selective and deliberate process. Probably that’s the main reason why some particular Rolex and Pateks commands such high resale prices nowadays.
Discon: Rolex 116600 the shortest production for a modern stainless steel Rolex SportsRolex 116710LN
$15000-20000
– Rolex Yachtmaster2 116680 (old Dial & hands)
– Rolex DeepSea 116660 (Deep Blue dial)
– Rolex SD4000 116600 (discon)
– used AP Offshore Black Themes or Volcano (discon)
– AP Royal Oak 15300 (discon)
Rolex Deep Sea: DEEP BLUE
$20000-25000
– AP Royal Oak Offshore Bumble Bee (discon)
– Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167A;
– Rolex Yachtmaster2 (2tone) 116681
– Rolex GMT master 2 16718 (discon)
Rolex Yachtmaster II 116681
$25000-30000
– Rolex GMT2 green dial 116718LN;
– used Rolex YG Daytona 116528;
– discon Rolex Submariner 16618 (Blue Dial)
– Vacheron Constantin Overseas (2016 release)
Patek Philippe Nautilus: (left to right) 5980/1A; 5711/1A; 5712/1A
$30000-50000
– Patek Phillippe Nautilus 5712/1A or 5711/1A
– Patek Travel time 5164A
– Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921
– A.Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 Moonphase
A.Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk “Striking hour”
$50000-$100000
– Patek Philippe Nautilus 5980/1A or 5980R
– Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5168G
– Rolex Platinum Daytona 116506,
– discon Rolex Platinum Day-Date2 218238;
– AP Royal oak perpetual calendar or Equation of time;
– used Patek Philippe 5070J, 5070G, 5070R (discon)
– A.Lange & Söhne Platinum Datograph (power reserve)
Rainbow Daytona very limited production run (8months)
$100000-$250000
– Patek Philippe 5070P (discon)
– Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5650G (Advance Research)
– Patek Philippe World Time 175th 5575;
– Patek Philippe World Time enamel dial 5131R/J/G
– Richard Mille RM011
Patek Philippe “Grande Complication” 5270G
$250000 and beyond
– Patek Philippe 5004, 5970 or 3970 Grande complications;
– Jaeger-LeCoultre Gyrotourbillon 1
SPECIAL SECTION: Watch value picks for 2018
Many of the collectable models are now simply too expensive to keep for investment. Or rather low lying fruits have been picked. Hence it is paramount for Collectors and Investors to be even more careful in the selection process. Fortunately there are still some well liked models that are still having bearable prices.
*Tips: When searching for watches, go for one with full set. Not just the box and paper; tags and operator’s manual is best accompanied with the timepiece. Also have to make sure all the accompany accessories are that of the correct era. This will ensure high resell value and more highly sough after.*
Here’s some recommendations:
Omega:
Omega watches seem to be less affordable now, mainly thanks to the push towards in-house movement. As such many of the older model seem relatively under-valued.
– Likes of non-ceramic Sea-master or Moonwatch professional 3570.50 seem to be a good bet.
– James Bond 007 limited editions (like sky fall, Casino Royal, etc.) is worth a keep if you are a die-hard Bond fan.
Rolex:
Noticed this time round the much loved Rolex models such as 16710, 16610LV, 116610LV, 116520 are not in my list above. Quite obvious, there are some element speculative elements harping up their market prices. Hence, they are been omitted,
For 2018 my pick:
– Full Gold GMT master 2 with Brown dial 16718;
– discontinued black Submariner 16610, Explorer 2 216570
– Also the Explorer2 16570 (40mm) that’s always super good value.
Patek Philippe:
Stainless Steel Nautilus resale price are sky high at the moment, nevertheless, the Annual Calendar pricing is still pretty decent
My Pick:
– used Nautilus 5726/1A or 5726A seem slight under-priced (relative to other Nautilus counterpart like 5711 5712 or 5980)
– World Time Enamel dial 5131R;
Audemars Piguet, AP:
AP wouldn’t have survive the quartz crisis if not for Royal Oak. For me AP is all about the Royal Oak. The popular Offshore is in a mini delcine. Hence I’ll advise to be more careful with Offshore. Traditional Royal Oak ultra-thin 15202 (st), with its legendary 2121 movement, has seen a large price surged. Hence, I will see AP 15300 comparably as a more value of money option now.
Panerai
Perhaps the main driver (along with AP offshore) for the big watch trend which we saw over the past decade. Now this brand had sadly over-run itself. I will not regard most of the modern PAMs as “investable”, as over-production had eroded Panerai appeal to collectors. Perhaps now it is better to avoid. Only the base models are worth a consideration .
Remember, number 1 rule is buy what you like to wear. Most of us only have limited funds or budget for watches. Buying an illiquid watch will run into difficulties to resale later on. My list above will probably contains some of the most resellable in today’s market.
But do remember: bigger things in life, like family and housing do come first. Invest sensibly and please don’t buy on impluse. Wishing all a better and safe 2018! Happy investing!!
With equities market at now on ecstasy. Main benchmark indexes hitting record high, many investors are busy getting their bucks working even harder. However, there always are a handful of doomsayers, whom believe in “what goes up must come down”. In the recent years, the rise of Swiss watch industry has created another investment vehicle or asset class. Swiss watches are well known for value keeping, it has liquidity to some extend too. However judging from the prices achieve at auction houses in last couple of years, prices can be nothing short of speculative.
First one must know, there are an element of TREND influencing the resale prices of wrist watches. Trend of the past, like chunky watches for example, inflated resale price of historic Panerai and Audemars Piguet Offshore. While these watches did not become worthless, owners did find themselves overpaid in the past and facing the problem of finding buyer when they wish to liquidate. Fashion are less cyclical than financial markets, hoping and praying for a return of an outdate trend/style may just be too folly.
Iconic models: these are the evergreens and timeless design. Model of the past and design for the future. Patek Philippe Nautilus, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Rolex Submariners, GMT or Daytona are the obvious choices for today. They are the hottest watches of the moments and a long standing history. It is very easy for investor to believe today’s daring of the market will still be a blue chip of the future. Look at the sky high prices of these models, I will not advise everyone to jump into this frenzy without making a proper study. A stark reminder of some Iconic that became a thing of the forgotten past, IWC big pilot, Franck Müller Crazy Hours, Cartier Tank or Rolex Datejust. They are still iconic and recognizable today, but do they worth as much as the popular counterpart now?
Hence, it is downright important for any wrist watch investor keep abreast of current trend and resale prices. Not doubt wrist watches are worthy investment. Ones’ must know what’s up and coming and what’s turning cold. Just like selling off petroleum related stocks as the crude oil industry experience over-production problem. Best is to stay ahead and observe the changing market taste. Review your collection from time to time.
How collectable are the SEA DWELLER 4000 ref.116600 (SD4000)?
2017 marks the 50th Anniversary for the Sea Dweller. Originated as the upgrade version of the Submariner, in collaboration with COMEX; it is goes on to become an entire linage by itself.
Ref. 116600 was unveiled at 2014 Baselworld. To the surprise of many, it was discontinued this year (2017) making way for ref. 126600 (43mm with cyclope). Ending a brief and unremarkable production run. A smaller case (comparing with Submariner and Deepsea) coupled with a higher price tag, make sales reasonably slow. Perhaps, these are the real factors that made Rolex decide to kill this reference, for good…
On the hindsight, this create an interesting scenario for Rolex collectors:
1) Shortest production span for any of the pure stainless steel sports Rolex, no different dial variants discovered so far, homogenous batch.
2) First Rolex professional watch in the “ceramic bezel” era to be discontinued.
3) Most importantly, how many 116600 really existed?
Already the price for 116600 in the preonwed market is already surging. Collectors and dealers have realize its potential. Value of watches is always a balancing act between the supply and demand. We now know the 116600 supply is now finite and dwindling. How high it will go perhaps will depend on the future demand….
Rolex Anchor refers to those miniature anchors that’s included with Submariner & Sea-dwellers watches. In 2005 (F series) Rolex decided to stopped issuing Anchor as an accessory with the Sea-Dweller ref. 16600 and Submariner ref. 16610/16613/16618.
Nevertheless owners of these old watches will love to include them with their watches, having it as part of “complete” package (set).
We believe Rolex first began including the anchor with the early generation Submariner models ref. 6536 & 5508. They are known to be issue with 100m/330m Anchors.
Vintage 1680 or 5513 Submariners with 200m/660ft anchor are rather well documented.
SGD$250
Sea-Dweller 1665 anchor, however was of a rare and curious thing. Rolex did a trick: they stick a plastic green dot over the standard Submariner anchor. Green dot of 200m & 610ft was glue over the depth rating of the 200m/660ft anchors.
The introduction transitional models Submariner 16800 and Sea-Dweller 16660 in the early 1980s, when Rolex started using sapphire as replacement to plexi. The depth rating increased: Maybe the anchor with the new depth rate probably wasn’t ready in time. So Rolex used the same old trick once again: they stick a plastic green dot on top of the old rating. Green dot of 300m and 1000ft was glue over the old 200m/660ft anchors: and we have a transitional Submariner anchor. Similarly for 16660 it’s anchor has green dot of 1200m & 4000ft.
The modern Submariner anchor: The silver 300m/1000ftanchor (below) is the most commonly found anchor variant, as it was included with the stainless steel 16610/14060/14060m and two tone Submariner 16613 variants, for a period of one and a half decade.
SGD$80
A much rare Gold-plated Submariner Anchor (see insert) is for the full gold Submariner 16618:
ROLEX SEA-DWELLER 16600‘s TOOLKIT set
One of the most interesting item that Rolex has ever issued with a Rolex watch. Seem like most of the preowned 16600 watches were traded nowadays are without this tool set. They could be in the hands of collectors or quite simply discarded/lost in the early days. The mini SCREW-DRIVER (ref 2100) has the best fit to remove the screws on Rolex bracelet. This could quite explain why so many of these tool sets has the screw-driver missing.
Leather texture and leather holder layout varies slightly over different period.
items found with a complete kit:
1) Screw driver, caps, and a spare black screw
2) Buehlmann Table
3) extra extension folding links, spring bar, and black screw
4) Leather holder
Possible others items it can hold: calendar, service booklet, warranty paper
First one must know, there are an element of TREND influencing the resale prices of wrist watches. Trend of the past, like chunky watches for example, inflated resale price of historic Panerai and Audemars Piguet Offshore. While these watches did not become worthless, owners did find themselves overpaid in the past and facing the problem of finding buyer when they wish to liquidate. Fashion are less cyclical than financial markets, hoping and praying for a return of an outdate trend/style may just be too folly.
