What is the "next big thing" in vintage Rolex?

[jfmiii]

I always find it interesting when I read about a watch that was saw 10 or 20 fold increases in just a few short years bc they all of the sudden became desirable by collectors. while i collect watches that appeal to me bc i want to wear them and enjoy them, ill admit that i hope that one day i will buy a watch for $5000 and watch it's value explode to $25,000 in 5 years (i can dream right?). that being said, what do you think is undervalued now that may command high premiums in the future or what is highly valued today that will be a year's tuition at Harvard tomorrow? 1675 Root Beers? Full set 1803s?

[ecsub44]

Unfortunately, no one knows.

[jfmiii]

Originally Posted by ecsub44

Unfortunately, no one knows.

id be on my private island in bora bora if i did. but just like assh0les, everyone has an opinion and sometimes it is entertaining to to have an exercise in futility.

[omitohud]

personally, I think the vintage market has stabilized to the point that all rare ref. have been accounted for. Many here only consider plastic crystal to be the only true vintage and those are not made anymore. As far as fad goes, I think in the near future the smaller size will be popular again after people get tired of those gigantic watches everyone seems to crave for nowadays. If I have to speculate, maybe explorer II and oysterquartz. Or maybe gold watches like the 116619, they are not that many around.

[Old Expat Beast]

Of the watches I own, I think the only one with any chance of future collectibility is the Oysterquartz. It's a single-line pre-Cosc 17000, of which perhaps fewer than 2,000 were made, and the case design is unique. That's fewer dials than red subs or Comex. I doubt it will have the desirability of those models but for current price v. potential price, I think there's a chance of an upswing in value in the coming years.

[crowncollection]

i wish i knew i would buy a few lol

[jackruff]

Everything I sold...nothing I own....

[silversurfer96790]

Gmt 1675

[Robbyvm]

asked my wife yesterday but... she refused to answer...

[Ue11]

If my memory is right, Princes were the big thing, then bubblebacks, now sport watches. At some time, though maybe not even in my lifetime, the pre-1950 watches will probably come back in style. After all, Rolex now makes almost as many watches each year as they did from the start of the company through 1950. ????

[Mark020]

No way. Too small.

[andromeda160]

bubblebacks were upwards of $10k because executives in china enjoyed them because of their rather small wrists. while bubblebacks in a modern sense are very small. the Chinese market only seems to be getting stronger so I believe that midsize watches would hold you best return on investment. Especially since currently midsize manual wind oysters, as well as any midsize rolex sells for a fair percentage less in the US than they do in European countries. there are billions of people in china that currently could never imagine affording a rolex. but in the future if they do, chances are they are going to be more interested in the midsize watches, as they suit their body better.

[Puffy]

ANYTHING new old stock

[motoikkyu]

Pick the most hideous unit you bought in the last ten years, maybe the salmon/copper dial two-tone, the watch that you were DELIGHTED to sell at a minimal loss: that's the one that will demonstrate a massive upswing in value. Vintage watch values have to obey Murphy's law, there is no alternative.

Objectively, there is already no need for anyone to wear a wristwatch, except for special applications like diving or space exploration. Yet, I sincerely believe wristwatches will continue to be popular for another fifty years. But when was the last time you saw someone carrying a pocket watch? They were out of style by the late 1920s, had a substantial collectors market/affinity/value in the 1960s/70s/80s, and are now specialized collector items only, with values down for most examples. Pocket watches will NEVER be back, except as an affectation. Today's children have no need of a wristwatch: the time is on the telephone, the computer screen, the Googleglass. There is no need to shift your vision to your wrist. So, they will go away. There were probably a lot of used horse-wagons available in 1910, so shall it be for wristwatches. So what? I still like 'em.

[omitohud]

I see the watches I own as jewelry. They are part of my wardrobe. Can you say that about your iPhone? I rarely wear watches before I start collecting relying mostly on the most accurate timepiece, your phone. I hardly doubt a watch will go out of fashion in the near future. I like the idea of keeping your least favorite watch though, hey you will never know.

QUOTE=motoikkyu;4732063]Pick the most hideous unit you bought in the last ten years, maybe the salmon/copper dial two-tone, the watch that you were DELIGHTED to sell at a minimal loss: that's the one that will demonstrate a massive upswing in value. Vintage watch values have to obey Murphy's law, there is no alternative.

Objectively, there is already no need for anyone to wear a wristwatch, except for special applications like diving or space exploration. Yet, I sincerely believe wristwatches will continue to be popular for another fifty years. But when was the last time you saw someone carrying a pocket watch? They were out of style by the late 1920s, had a substantial collectors market/affinity/value in the 1960s/70s/80s, and are now specialized collector items only, with values down for most examples. Pocket watches will NEVER be back, except as an affectation. Today's children have no need of a wristwatch: the time is on the telephone, the computer screen, the Googleglass. There is no need to shift your vision to your wrist. So, they will go away. There were probably a lot of used horse-wagons available in 1910, so shall it be for wristwatches. So what? I still like 'em.[/QUOTE]

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by motoikkyu

Pick the most hideous unit you bought in the last ten years, maybe the salmon/copper dial two-tone, the watch that you were DELIGHTED to sell at a minimal loss: that's the one that will demonstrate a massive upswing in value. Vintage watch values have to obey Murphy's law, there is no alternative.

Objectively, there is already no need for anyone to wear a wristwatch, except for special applications like diving or space exploration. Yet, I sincerely believe wristwatches will continue to be popular for another fifty years. But when was the last time you saw someone carrying a pocket watch? They were out of style by the late 1920s, had a substantial collectors market/affinity/value in the 1960s/70s/80s, and are now specialized collector items only, with values down for most examples. Pocket watches will NEVER be back, except as an affectation. Today's children have no need of a wristwatch: the time is on the telephone, the computer screen, the Googleglass. There is no need to shift your vision to your wrist. So, they will go away. There were probably a lot of used horse-wagons available in 1910, so shall it be for wristwatches. So what? I still like 'em.

I agree with you. Wrist watches aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Hollywood is wearing them, and the youngsters of today idolize and follow Hollywood celebrities like lemmings. Have you not seen the Michael Kors craze? All the young kids are wearing them when you go to the mall. That brand copy-cats Rolex so much it is pathetic.

Maybe wristwatches will go the way of the pocket watch someday.......but not in the next 50 years IMHO.

[andromeda160]

Originally Posted by Jason71

I agree with you. Wrist watches aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Hollywood is wearing them, and the youngsters of today idolize and follow Hollywood celebrities like lemmings. Have you not seen the Michael Kors craze? All the young kids are wearing them when you go to the mall. That brand copy-cats Rolex so much it is pathetic.

Maybe wristwatches will go the way of the pocket watch someday.......but not in the next 50 years IMHO.

I don't see how Michael kors copy cats Rolex, granted I've never bought one, my girlfriend likes them. Im sure the youngsters would all be wearing a rolex if funds allowed. Their michael kors is just as much a status to them as a rolex is to you and i. Sure they couldve bought a $20 timex, but they wanted a michael kors. Many other brands offer much cheaper in house movements and rolex, but i dont hear anyone bashing rolex owners. From the time I was in 6th grade on I was always infatuated with the stock market, spent the rest of my schooling geared as much towards math science and business as I could. Ended up not going straight into business, but engineering instead. And Ive always wanted a Rolex or omega or Patek for that reason, I saw the ads in my dads Barron's, or on the wrists of the CEOs and stockbrokers I dreamt to be. It's not a "new" thing people love watches at all. People have been obsessed with timepieces for 100's of years, prior to wristwatches there were pocket watches, prior to pocket watches there were pocket sized sun dials. And throughout history these items have always been considered a status symbol. I see my Rolex and omega as liquid assets. I bought right so i would be quite surprised if I lost money. My speedmaster is worth 2-250% more than when I bought it, and it keeps increasing in price. My Rolex is a vintage manual wind oyster matte black with gold lettering, a pretty rare dial variant that usually costs a decent premium. That I would make about 500 on if I went to sell it. Not to mention I sold my air king for a $600 profit in 3 months, and a $250 profit off of my tag heuer in the same ammount of time. Call me a lemming all you want, I see financial opportunity in this market, and I have a passion for watches. Watches aren't going anywhere, but my generation isn't as dumb as you credit us to be.

[Lgear080]

Turn o graphs - the last sport style vintage that hasn't exploded.

[dysondiver]

gold turnographs maybe ,,, but , who knows , like others ,, i wish i did .
at the moment hondas seem to be winning.

[Vincent65]

I reckon it's all out there in the open already, but there may be a surprise or two. Can't see a new 'trend'/'big thing' emerging in vintage Rolex, though...

[StaceeJaxx]

pork bellys

[Cc1966]

Originally Posted by StaceeJaxx

pork bellys

or orange juice!

[Oyster Al]

Originally Posted by Cc1966

or orange juice!

Frozen concentrated orange juice, we should corner the market.

[RolexPete]

Originally Posted by Oyster Al

Frozen concentrated orange juice, we should corner the market.

Might I suggest you hire Clarence Beeks of Lyndhurst Security. I hear he has access to crop reports before they go public. I'm just sayin.

[Rennfahrer]

I probably know the answer to this, but you don't see a lot of Bubblebacks - particularly decent ones - pop up for sale a lot. Where are they? Asia most likely. I still like them and have a nice old 2940 with a non-original but nice looking dial I bought from Ricbard Paige ages ago.

[Ue11]

Might be some opportunities out there if these auction prices hold up. I'm pretty sure that these can be bought for considerably less. Maybe an indicator or just an aberration?

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/...01/lot.60.html

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/...01/lot.62.html

[mdw3]

Originally Posted by Ue11

Might be some opportunities out there if these auction prices hold up. I'm pretty sure that these can be bought for considerably less. Maybe an indicator or just an aberration?

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/...01/lot.60.html

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/...01/lot.62.html

Let us know when you find minty gold "ovettone" Datejust models with original black dials for "considerably less." Thanks.

[Ue11]

Originally Posted by mdw3

Let us know when you find minty gold "ovettone" Datejust models with original black dials for "considerably less." Thanks.

Is $13,500 (negotiable) with a gold jubilee bracelet considerably less than $20,000? Not hard to find that watch on the internet. The one at auction didn't have the bracelet.

[mdw3]

Originally Posted by Ue11

Is $13,500 (negotiable) with a gold jubilee bracelet considerably less than $20,000? Not hard to find that watch on the internet. The one at auction didn't have the bracelet.

Please show where a watch in comparable condition can be bought with bracelet for $13,500 on the Internet. Thanks.

Michael

[JustinK]

I enjoy the TT versions of GMT's and Subs, nipples of course, they seem to be under appreciated. The Oysterquartz has to appreciate at some point, it's crazy that a nice example can be purchased for under 2k.