Rolex

The Rolex Submariner ref. 114060 is one of the most famous watches in the world. The three-hand model without a date display costs around 7,900 USD in mint condition. Pre-owned pieces cost about 500 USD less. A never-worn Submariner Date with a date display and the reference number 116610LN comes in at around 9,300 USD. Pre-owned models cost about 8,600 USD. The "Red Sub" with the reference number 1680 is a highly-coveted vintage Submariner and demands prices of about 18,500 USD pre-owned. The COMEX Version, developed by Rolex for the French company Compagnie martitime d'expertises, is also sought-after. Prices for this model often reach sums of 37,000 USD.

Watch collectors aren't just enamored with vintage Rolexes, but also with the green Submariner models known as "Hulk" and "Kermit". The Hulk ref. 116610LV has a green bezel and green dial. It costs about 11,100 USD in mint condition and about 10,200 USD pre-owned. Only the bezel is green on the Kermit with the reference number 16610LV . The dial is black, which is in line with the standard Submariner dials. Set aside around 16,000 USD for a never-worn Kermit model. Pre-owned watches are markedly more affordable at about 11,000 USD, though this is still more expensive than the stainless steel Submariner Date with a black bezel.

The stainless steel Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is one of the best investments you could make in the watch sector. Released in 2016, the model with the reference number 116500LN is so popular among watch fans that long wait times are par for the course when purchasing from offline retailers. Purchasing online is faster, though it is also more expensive. The official list price is 14,000 USD, whereas a never-worn stainless steel Daytona on Chrono24 demands around 20,500 USD. Pre-owned models are only slightly less expensive, making them a solid investment. The ref. 116500LN has a black Cerachrom ceramic bezel. Thanks to its use of the in-house caliber 4130, it also boasts a 72-hour power reserve.

Its predecessor ( ref. 116520) has a stainless steel bezel and is powered by the same in-house 4130 movement. Before the introduction of the new Daytona in 2016, it officially cost 13,500 USD. Only a few years after its production ended, this sports watch with a stopwatch function was already selling for 15,400 USD pre-owned. If you are looking for a never-worn model, plan to spend over 19,100 USD.

The model released in 1988 is also highly sought-after. It is powered by the caliber 4030, based on the Zenith El Primero. The price for a pre-owned Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with the reference number 16520 comes in at almost 23,400 USD. The so-called "Paul Newman" Daytona is especially rare. The only difference to other Daytonas from the 1960s and 1970s is the dial. In terms of technology, watches from this time period are all identical. You will need to have at least 123,400 USD on hand for a Paul Newman Daytona. If you're not particularly interested in the famous dial, you can get a Daytona from the 1960s starting at 55,500 USD.

Models with 18-karat yellow, white, or rose gold — also called Everose gold by Rolex — (ref. 116508) are generally more expensive than the stainless steel models due to their material value. That being said, they are significantly more affordable online than their list price. The official list price is around 42,500 USD, but you can get a mint-condition gold Rolex Daytona on Chrono24 for as little as 30,200 USD. The bicolor models in stainless steel and gold are a bit of an insider's tip. You can find pre-owned watches with the reference number 116503 starting at 14,700 USD, while those in mint condition cost around 15,800 USD. Older versions from the 1990s can even be purchased for under 11,200 USD.

Anyone who bought a Rolex Sea-Dweller in the last few years can look forward to appreciating prices. This is due to the fact that certain reference numbers are no longer in production, thus making them harder to find. The ref. 16600 was manufactured for a relatively long period of time, from 1988 to 2008. It was then replaced by the much larger 44-mm Sea-Dweller Deepsea.

Over the last 10 years, prices for a ref. 16600 have consistently increased. A pre-owned model that demanded 4,900 USD in 2008 now goes for around 7,800 USD. New watches are even rarer and therefore cost about 11,500 USD. The Deepsea with the reference number 116660 is water resistant to 3,900 m (390 bar, 12,795 ft) and has a list price of 13,600 USD. However, the same watch only costs around 12,700 USD online. Even though this is less than the official list price, its value has still skyrocketed in the last five years.

In 2014, Rolex released yet another 40-mm model with the ref. 116600. It was only in production for three years before it was replaced by the 43-mm 50th anniversary model with the ref. 126600 in 2017. This resulted in an abrupt spike in prices for the former model. Never-worn models that had cost 10,500 USD prior to Baselworld 2017, quickly rose in price to around 13,200 USD in October 2017. The most recent Sea-Dweller now features the Cyclops lens over the date display, a characteristic of the Submariner, and costs almost 14,700 USD in mint condition. If you'd rather buy your watch online to avoid the long wait times in offline retailers, be prepared to spend a good 1,800 USD more.

A Rolex is more than just a piece of jewelry on your wrist. These watches represent a long tradition of technical developments. The history of this unique watch manufacturer reads more like an encyclopedia of horology. The original Oyster model was introduced in 1926 and was the world's first water-resistant and dustproof wristwatch. It remains the ultimate classic to this day.

The watch is water resistant thanks to a hermetically sealed case, screw-down crown, and synthetic watch glass that fits firmly in the case. To prove its water resistance, the manufacturer decided to display the Oyster ticking away in a fishbowl filled with goldfish. In 1927, another marketing opportunity presented itself: British swimmer Mercedes Gleitze swam for more than 10 hours through the English Channel with an Oyster. Although she failed to complete her swim, the watch survived.

On January 23rd, 1960, the deep-diving bathyscaphe Trieste reached the bottom of the Challenger Deep with a special passenger on board: Rolex's Deep Sea Special . The watch had been specially designed for the dive and was attached to the outside of the bathyscaphe. It handled the extreme conditions of the ocean floor impressively well, functioning perfectly even at a depth of 10,916 meters (35,814 ft) . This proved the Swiss watch manufacturer's capabilities. Rolex repeated this test in 2012, attaching the experimental Rolex Deepsea Challenge diving watch to the robotic arm of the Deepsea Challenger. It reached a depth of 10,908 meters (35,787 ft). This watch is water resistant up to 12,000 meters (39,370 ft) and can withstand up to 1,500 bar of pressure.

Rolex calibers made in-house are considered to be especially precise. Each watch comes with a certificate from the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). The COSC measures the precision of a movement in five different positions and three different temperatures based on a standardized testing method. The entire testing process lasts 15 days. In addition to the COSC tests, Rolex tests all of their watches in-house once the movement is in its case. A watch can only pass their test if it has a maximum deviation of +/- 2 seconds per day .

Rolex founder Wilsdorf also valued precision back at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1910, he sent a watch to a local watchmaking school in Biel so it could be evaluated. The movement was subjected to a 14-day test, which it passed. At the end of this two-week procedure, the testers issued the world's first wristwatch chronometer certificate and sent it to London.

The next sensation followed only four years later: Wilsdorf sent an Aegler movement to the National Physical Laboratory in London. The caliber passed their tests with flying colors. It was subjected to three different temperature conditions and five different positions: crown facing up, left, and right, and dial face down and face up. After 45 days, the watch, with its golden case and blue enamel bezel, was named the first wristwatch in history to receive a class A certification. This type of certification was previously only awarded to larger watches, such as navy chronometers.

Whoever buys a Rolex is simultaneously doing a good deed. Wilsdorf never had any children of his own, and after his wife's death, he left all of his Rolex shares to the newly established Hans Wilsdorf Foundation. The foundation belongs to Rolex and receives a large part of their annual profits. This money is used to support social initiatives, environmental protection programs, and scientific, artistic, and cultural projects.

Whether new or vintage, whenever you buy a Rolex, you're buying more than just a watch. Rolex has been the undisputed number one in the world of luxury watches for decades and is among the most well-known brands. Rolex stands for top quality Swiss watchmaking, harmonious designs, and stable value – qualities that are highly valued in the watchmaking scene. Rolex has something for everyone's taste. Platinum, 18-karat solid gold, and an aesthetic design represent the prestige embodied by Rolex. The stainless steel models are perfect for those searching for robustness, simple functionality, and a companion for years to come.