Vintage Rolexes disappearing from the Japanese market?

Restrictions on movement due to the COVID-19 pandemic are starting to be lifted in countries around the world, and travel restrictions to Japan are finally beginning to ease. We are seeing more and more foreigners on the streets, and with the yen's depreciation to around 150 yen to the dollar for the first time in about 32 years, we are seeing reports of them buying all kinds of things in the news and on the Internet. While we are very happy to hear such "lively" news, there are also some things that are threatening a "crisis?".

That is it

[Vintage Rolex]

is.

So why is this crisis happening? In this article, we will start by asking "What is vintage?" and introduce the reasons for the crisis and the vintage Rolex models you should buy now from our stock. Please read to the end and use this as a reference for buying and selling.

First of all, you should know that:
There is no clear definition of the word "vintage"
about it.

There is a lot of information on the internet and many different definitions of the term "vintage ," but the most commonly used definition is just a rough one: "a watch manufactured up until the 1980s."

☞※For more detailed articles about vintage watches, click here

The price and value of vintage watches vary greatly depending on the brand's recognition, the number of pieces in circulation, and the condition of each piece. Rolex , as you all know, has established a solid position as a brand with particularly high recognition and demand, and one of its greatest characteristics is the way it ages .

A typical example of "aging" is when the dial or luminous material changes color and the watch looks completely different from the original. Have you ever looked at a watch and thought, "The color is dull" or "Is this a different watch?" This is exactly what happens when a watch changes due to "aging."

For example, the two pictures above are of the same model, but the difference is obvious, right? Both originally had a "white" dial, but one has changed to a "cream" color (left).

By the way, it is not clear how this change occurs, but it is believed that there are individuals that have changed due to the following factors:

Due to advances in industrial technology, the "aging" process is rarely seen in current model watches. This uniqueness is one of the attractions of vintage Rolex watches.
*The "burnt" image is just one example.

Another important aspect of the vintage world, apart from vintage Rolexes, is the timepieces "Originality" Of course, in order to continue using something that is decades old, it is necessary to carry out maintenance and replace parts along the way. However, the value and price of the item will vary greatly depending on how much of its originality it is still retained. For this reason, items often referred to as "dead stock" in the world of physical assets can be incredibly valuable.

In this way, the supply of vintage items is drastically decreasing. Even though the absolute number of items decreases when they are discontinued, there is a sense of romance in the unknown. Vintage Rolexes even undergo "aging" and are so full of charm that once you are hooked, it is difficult to escape.

As mentioned at the beginning, with travel restrictions being eased and the yen depreciating rapidly, foreign tourists are now buying a variety of things in Japan. This is also true for luxury watches. As awareness of "vintage" watches, as well as luxury watches themselves, is increasing worldwide, more and more foreigners are buying vintage Rolex watches in Japan. So, let's take a step-by-step look at what will happen if this situation continues.

First of all, the above table shows that luxury watches themselves have come to be recognized as assets, leading to an increase in demand worldwide. These figures are published by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH, and although the total volume of Swiss watch exports decreased in 2020 due to the effects of COVID-19, it has continued to increase steadily year by year.

Next, let's talk about the interest of people overseas in vintage Rolexes.

[Period 1] September 20th to October 10th, 2022 (3 weeks before entry restrictions are relaxed)
[Period 2] October 11th to October 31st, 2022 (3 weeks after entry restrictions are relaxed)

Comparing the sales data from periods 1 and 2, the number of overseas purchases of vintage Rolexes increased three-fold. (※ Actual sales data from Commit Ginza )

This is of course due to the weak yen, but another factor is that Japanese people tend to be particular about "parts," while many overseas people buy without worrying so much. Japanese people are good at handling things, and it is said that there are many vintage Rolexes in Japan that are in good condition, so even if some parts have been changed, there may still be many pieces that are worth buying. In other words, the longer the current situation continues, the more overseas people will accelerate the trend of purchasing vintage Rolexes in Japan, and eventually they will disappear from the country... It is easy to imagine this happening. If you are considering purchasing one, it may be a good idea to get in early.

From here, we would like to introduce our stock of Vintage Rolexes, which are attracting a lot of attention both domestically and internationally, so please take a look!

■ Daytona

The Cosmograph Daytona, launched in 1963, was designed to meet the needs of professional race car drivers, and more than 50 years after its creation, it remains unparalleled and reigns supreme among sports chronographs.

■ Explorer I

The adventure watch, named "Explorer" in honor of the achievement of the first man to summit Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, is designed to be easily readable under extreme conditions, and features a simple dial, a robust case, and a highly reliable movement. While inheriting the same concept from its birth to the present, it has been updated with the times.

■ Explorer II

The Explorer II, released in 1971 as a higher-end model of the Explorer I, was equipped with a 24-hour hand to distinguish between day and night, and its design made it an instant hit. Vintage models in particular are often traded at high prices, as there are few of them in circulation.

■GMT Master

The GMT Master, released in 1955, was designed to display the time in two different time zones at the same time and was developed as a navigation device for professional pilots who fly around the world. The Bakelite bezel was changed to an aluminum bezel and then to a ceramic bezel, and the GMT Master II was later born, which can read not only a second time zone but also a third time zone.

■ Submariner

The Submariner, which was born in 1953, is a pioneer and representative of diver's watches, and is said to be a model for design. When people around the world think of diver's watches, the Submariner is probably the watch that comes to mind.

I believe that in the future, interest in luxury watches and vintage Rolexes will increase, and demand will only grow. On the other hand, I think that the supply will be limited and the gap between supply and demand will continue to widen.

If that happens, we expect the price to rise significantly, so we recommend that those who are interested in purchasing one do so as soon as possible. However, we think that many people do not know much about vintage Rolexes. Please feel free to consult with our appraisers first. We will do our best to answer your questions so that you can make a purchase with confidence and satisfaction.