5 Watches that Won't Depreciate in Price [2018-Early 2019 Edition]

What do you look for when buying a luxury watch?
Among the various points to consider, such as functionality and price, there is one thing that is particularly important.

That means thinking about what will happen when you sell it .

Have you ever heard that luxury watches such as Rolex and Omega are "less likely to depreciate in value"?

That is one of the charms of watches.

The price at the time of purchase is called " resale value ."

A so-called " watch that does not depreciate in value " is one in which the difference between the purchase price of a new watch and the selling price (resale value) of a used watch is very small.

In other words, if you purchase a luxury watch that does not depreciate in value, when you trade it in for another model, you can get a new luxury watch for just a few tens of thousands of yen more ! (In the case of used watches, in rare cases, the resale value may exceed the purchase price!)

If the price does not fall, it means that the (market) value will not change, and that the value will continue to be recognized, so this should be good news for those who have no intention of selling.

To help you choose such a watch wisely, we will briefly explain the conditions for a watch with high resale value , and then introduce some examples of watches that will not depreciate in price .

Conditions for a brand with high resale value

There are many luxury watch brands in the world, but there are only a few brands whose luxury watches do not depreciate over time.

Let me quickly explain the conditions.

①Perfection of the watch

Watches that do not lose value over time are characterized by a high overall specification level .

In addition to being waterproof and durable, watches that are made with attention to detail, such as the dial, are likely to be valuable.

②Brand recognition

The second condition is, simply put, brand power .

Brands that represent a market, such as Hermes bags or Godiva chocolates, are naturally more valuable.

Brand power is the strength of name recognition. Many people will want to buy a watch if they know that "a famous Hollywood star wears the same watch."

In this way, watches from well-known brands are unlikely to depreciate in price in the future.

Timeless and unchanging value

Most products lose their value over time as new products are produced.

Luxury watches are no exception, and generally speaking, their selling prices tend to gradually decrease one to two years after their release date.

However, on the other hand, antique items such as furniture and limited edition premium items can be highly rare.

In addition, items with historical value, such as paintings considered masterpieces and antiques considered masterpieces, tend to be expensive.

Similarly with watches, some items do not lose value over time.

Watches that have not simply remained popular with the public, but also have a background such as becoming premium due to some reason, will retain their value for a long period of time.

Below is an example of one such case for your reference.

⇒Click here for an article that discusses "watch purchasing" in conjunction with "asset management": What are the benefits of buying a luxury watch?

5 watches that are expected to remain in good condition

New models of luxury watches are released every day, and many brands are loved by people.

Among them, we will introduce five brands that boast high resale value, will continue to be loved by people, and have the potential to maintain an unshakable position.

1. Rolex Daytona

There are many different Rolex models, but the most famous one is the Daytona.

Surprisingly, the Daytona is the only Rolex equipped with a chronograph mechanism.

Rolex Daytona Lineage

■ 1930s-1940s
This watch, released in 1933, was called the Cosmograph, and in 1939 it evolved into a model with a waterproof Oyster case and a hand-wound movement.

■1950s Later, in 1955, Rolex released the Ref. 6234. This model was produced until 1961, but it was not a success as it could not compete with competitors who specialized in chronographs.

■The 1960s and early 1960s saw the birth of the first Daytona, called the "Cosmograph Daytona." Since space development and car racing were popular at the time, the name was taken from "Cosmo" (space) and the Daytona circuit.
In the late 1960s, a second model of the Daytona was released. It looked almost the same, but its functionality improved, and it was called the perfection of the manual winding chronograph .

■The third model of Daytona appeared around this time in the 1970s. It was equipped with a new waterproof function called "screw-lock pusher", which made it waterproof to 50 meters. In addition, following the winding bracelet, the screw-down bracelet, which is still major today, also appeared.

■In the 1980s, Rolex finally created the self-winding chronograph that they had been longing for. However, it was not made in-house, but was made by improving the Zenith El Primero. Also, around this time, the model number was changed to five digits, the exterior size was increased to 40mm, and the water resistance was increased to 100 meters.
This Daytona was such a big hit that it was constantly out of stock.

■The Ref. 116520, equipped with the long-awaited fully in-house chronograph movement, Cal. 4130, has been released in the 2000s. The layout of the sub-dials has been changed, and the thickness of the index has also been changed, resulting in a watch that exudes a sense of luxury.

Rolex Daytona New Ref. 116500

The Daytona that won't depreciate in value that we will introduce here is the "New Daytona Ref. 116500" that was released in 2016. The bezel has been changed from the previous model, and the design is more refined.
As production will end soon, it will become a premium item and prices may go up.

2. Rolex GMT Master

In recent years, the GMT Master has become popular in Japan as well.

Originally developed for pilots, the GMT-Master is Rolex's only pilot's watch with the ability to keep track of the time in different locations .

There are two lineages of the GMT Master: the GMT Master I, which can keep track of two different times, and the GMT Master II, which can keep track of three times.

The GMT-Master Lineage

■In the 1950s, Pan American World Airways introduced international passenger aircraft, and the pilots who operated them needed a watch that could keep track of two time zones. So Pan American World Airways asked Rolex, which was popular at the time, to develop a watch for international pilots to wear. This was the beginning of the GMT Master.
The first model of the GMT Master was released in 1955 and was used by Pan American World Airways, and other airlines followed suit, too, and the watch was well received by pilots.
Eventually, the GMT-Master would go through several model changes.

■In the 1980s, in addition to the conventional GMT Master I, the GMT Master II, capable of tracking three time zones, was born.

■In the 1990s, production of the GMT-Master I, which was inferior in terms of functionality, finally came to an end, and only the GMT-Master II remained.

■The specifications of the bracelet were changed in the 2000s, resulting in a more luxurious finish. This model change led to a sudden rise in the popularity of the GMT Master, which continues to this day.

GMT Master Ref.116710BLNR

This model, released in 2013 and characterized by its vivid blue color, was once in a situation where used prices exceeded the list price . Between August and October 2017, the price rose by 80,000 yen in just two months.
If you want to sell, now might be your chance.

New GMT Master Ref.126710BLRO

In 2018, a watch that Rolex fans have been waiting for was released. It is the GMT Master II 126710BLRO with a stainless steel red and blue bezel. It features a five-link Jubilee bracelet, making it even more Rolex-like. In terms of movement, the Cal3186 that was installed in the previous GMT Master had a power reserve of 48 hours, but this model has a long power reserve of 70 hours .

The GMT-Master 126710BLRO, which utilizes Rolex's most cutting-edge technology, is expected to have great resale value.

3. Rolex Submariner

As the name suggests, the Submariner is a Rolex sports model that is especially specialized in waterproofing. The Submariner is the ultimate waterproof watch, equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel that prevents accidental reverse rotation during diving. It also became famous as the watch worn by James Bond in the movie 007.
Let's start by looking into its history.

Rolex Submariner Lineage

■ 1950s
In 1953, the Submariner was developed, the world's first watch with a rotating bezel and water resistance to 100m. The following year, in 1954, it was released as the world's first diver's watch. The Submariner, which became a pioneer of diver's watches, has been loved by many people ever since.
In 1959, a model with crown guards was released and the case size was enlarged, and the styling of this model has been inherited to this day.

■ 1960s
In 1965, in addition to the traditional "Submariner," a model equipped with a calendar called the "Submariner Date" was developed and became very popular.

■Around this time in the 1980s, Rolex underwent a period of change, with the development of various new functions, and finally the watch was equipped with a water resistance of 300m .

■2000s In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Submariner, the Submariner Date with a green bezel was released in 2003. Since then, various models have been released, leading to the present day.

Submariner Ref. 116610LN

The stainless steel model of the Submariner is only available with two dial colors: black and green. The very simple black Submariner 116610LN has a black dial base and edged dot indexes.

At first glance, it may look like a plain watch with few distinctive features, but it is highly functional and is recommended for sophisticated adults.

It is a classic among diver's watches and is so popular that it is unlikely to lose value in the future.

Submariner Ref. 116610LV

Of the two stainless steel Submariner models, the green one gives a more flashy impression compared to the black one.
On the other hand, it also gives off a special feeling that black doesn't have.

Since fewer were produced than the black version and the price is higher, this is a very valuable piece.

4. Patek Philippe Nautilus

The Patek Philippe Nautilus, which was introduced in 1976, not only boasts a stunning design that is slim yet three-dimensional, but also has an innovative case structure that makes it water resistant to 120 meters .

The Nautilus celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2006 and underwent various improvements, including a more flexible bracelet and a more luxurious feel to the dial and other parts.

Since then, various variations such as chronographs and petite complications have been introduced, making it a popular series.

Recent price hikes for Nautilus

It is no exaggeration to say that the Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A-010 is a masterpiece from Patek Philippe and is a very popular current model.
The selling price has now risen to more than twice the list price, making it a very premium watch.

This luxury watch, which originally retailed for 3,013,200 yen, was selling for 3,400,000 yen second-hand in early 2017. However, since early 2018, the price has skyrocketed to 5,400,000 yen.

Why has the price risen so much? It's because the production volume is very small .

The Nautilus is popular not only for its functionality, such as its thin case and high waterproof performance, but also for its distinctive design.

If you are considering selling, now is the time.

5. Patek Philippe Aquanaut

The Patek Philippe Aquanaut is a unique luxury watch with a dial that links to a tropical band.
The Aquanaut was launched in 1977 and is now available in five models.
The Aquanaut has a simple design and is a very versatile watch with 120m water resistance .

Another feature that is unique to the Aquanaut is its smooth octagonal case and its stylishly designed tropical band made from original materials.

Due to its design and durability, the Aquanaut is popular with many people.

Recent price hikes for Aquanaut

Aquanaut, which still attracts a lot of attention around the world, has seen an abnormal rise in price in recent years.

In particular, the early Aquanaut released in 1997 was very short-lived, with production ceasing after just one year.
That's why it now commands a premium value.
In fact, the purchase price of an Aquanaut increased by 200,000 yen in just six months from January 2017 to June 2017.

It is unlikely that the price will fall in the future, so this is a recommended product for those who are thinking of buying and those who are considering selling.

summary

How was it?

This time, we explained the conditions for a watch with high resale value (a watch that does not depreciate in value), and then narrowed it down to five brands and introduced them.

For watches that do not depreciate in value, the purchase price and selling price may be almost the same.

This is welcome news for those who are currently considering selling, but it also has the benefit of helping those who are thinking about buying a watch in the future by choosing a watch that will not depreciate in value, meaning they will spend less money replacing it in the future.

• Rolex Daytona
• Rolex GMT-Master
• Rolex Submariner
• Patek Philippe Nautilus
• Patek Philippe Aquanaut

Both brands of watches are believed to retain their value over time.

In addition to the five we have introduced here, there are many other brands that boast high resale value!

However, to know the value of a watch, you need to have an accurate understanding of the number of units on the market, the level of demand, and exchange rate conditions.
Even if a watch appears to be valuable to the untrained eye, it may not actually be worth that much because there are so many of them on the market.

At Commit Ginza, we offer watch appraisals with the lowest brokerage fees in the industry .
Our experts, who are well versed in the market prices of watches, will explain everything to you from the very beginning, so you don't have to worry about anything.
Please contact us by all means.