Looking for a Rolex Sports Model with a good preserving of worth

[arkon]

hello everyone,

my girlfriend is looking for a rolex sports model Submariner/Seadweller at the price range of 5500$ to 6500$. She is looking for a capital invest and a nice watch to wear.(not a daily rocker, but sometimes)

We were looking at the models 14060(M), 16800, 16600, 16610, 5513. Now we want to know, what do you guys think is the best option for the capital investment? I thought the vintage models 16800, 5513 could be very interesting for the capital investment. But on the other side, the 16600 has a nice value today.

greetings

arkon

[gwalker]

IMO its a watch. Not an investment. They all retain value ok. I wouldn't let the value of a watch influence which watch I purchased. I'd pick the one I like best.

To elaborate Buying a watch for financial gain makes about as much since as trying to buy a car as an investment. Could turn out in your favor but most of the time you will lose some money. To those that say otherwise if you service the watch like you are supposed to even a watch that cost only hundreds 20 years ago will have thousands in service costs and the overal actuall cost to you is still a loss in most cases.

[TSW]

Originally Posted by gwalker

imo its a watch. Not an investment. They all retain value ok. I wouldn't let the value of a watch influence which watch i purchased. I'd pick the one i like best.

x2

[gimpex]

Like with any unsecured investment it can go up or down - and you will not know until after the fact.

Like others have said - if you want a nice watch , get it and enjoy. If it happens to keeps its value or even appreciate in value then that's great.

If you want capital guarantee - speak to one of the banks.

Just my thought.

[Baronrojo]

"Capital investment" + watches = LOL

[MoBe]

You`d have just as much luck with gold as an investment,nobody knows where the price will be next week let alone next year.

Any kind of speculation on commodities is risky and a Rolex is a commodity just like any other.

[arkon]

But when you look at the last 50-60 years the sports models seem to hold its value or the value went up.

[gimpex]

50 - 60 years ?

So when you invest aged 20 , you get the benefit at retirement

If you look at that period then property , equity , precious metals , watches , antiques , art , whiskey .... Almost anything was a good investment.

[arkon]

She is 23 and the investment can be for a time for about 10-40 years. The question is now, which model seem to be the best investment.

[S``]

I am 24, and believe me... investment is a platinum bar.... not a watch lol... in 10-40 years style will change and only time will tell if it's going to be worthless or a hot ticket item

[Speed]

Originally Posted by arkon

She is 23 and the investment can be for a time for about 10-40 years. The question is now, which model seem to be the best investment.

Answer = none of them.

All are great to wear and enjoy though!

Just pick one

[HORNBLOWER]

better chance of making money on a 3 legged donkey running in the grand national. Only spend money on a watch to wear and enjoy it, .

[psd1966]

Greg is spot on - if your girlfried wants a watch she should get one and enjoy...

If she really wants an investment, then there are aother more certain places to put your money...

The joy of owning a beautiful watch has rewards other than monetary, as anyone on TRF will testify..

[MoBe]

Originally Posted by HORNBLOWER

better chance of making money on a 3 legged donkey running in the grand national. Only spend money on a watch to wear and enjoy it, .

`better to bet on the one legged man in the ass kicking competition.

[gwalker]

Originally Posted by arkon

But when you look at the last 50-60 years the sports models seem to hold its value or the value went up.

Do you realize service costs on 50-60 year old watches. Four figures easy a pop plus trying to find parts. A watch that old probably needed 6-10 services since new. Most vintage peices aren't worth more than a few k with exception of the sports models and even most of those are less than $15k except for really rare peices. Any way you slice it you lose money. A watch isn't an invesment unless you can buy very expensive grand complications that only 1-10 are made and then the market is very small.

[S``]

Come on guys... dont be too hard! That's a common misconception about watches being a "viable" investment vs an "emotional" investment

[herbie911]

I buy my watch to enjoy wearing it. It's an added bonus if it retains value when I need to sell it!

[Kevin B]

I totally disagree with the idea that a watch is a bad investment. I bought My first sub. right before the ceramic model came out. It is now worth well over $1500 dollars than I paid for it. I have since added an exp.II a GMT II coke and GMT II Pepsi a Seiko ananta spring drive a paneri all of which have gone up considerably in value. They might not be the next Microsoft or qualcom stock but I am very happy with their constantly increasing value. If this was not the case why are there so many listings on Craigslist and other sources to buy your old Rolex? One of the very well respected sellers on this site beat me to a very reasonably priced GMTII Pepsi on Craigslist and flipped it for a great profit, so don't tell me its not a good place to put your money. Check the price on a patak perpetual Calender and the price increase over the last 10 years and compare it to your portfolio and see how it compares.

[MoBe]

Originally Posted by Kevin B

I totally disagree with the idea that a watch is a bad investment. I bought My first sub. right before the ceramic model came out. It is now worth well over $1500 dollars than I paid for it. I have since added an exp.II a GMT II coke and GMT II Pepsi a Seiko ananta spring drive a paneri all of which have gone up considerably in value. They might not be the next Microsoft or qualcom stock but I am very happy with their constantly increasing value. If this was not the case why are there so many listings on Craigslist and other sources to buy your old Rolex? One of the very well respected sellers on this site beat me to a very reasonably priced GMTII Pepsi on Craigslist and flipped it for a great profit, so don't tell me its not a good place to put your money. Check the price on a patak perpetual Calender and the price increase over the last 10 years and compare it to your portfolio and see how it compares.

Are you putting all your money in luxury watches?

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by MoBe

Are you putting all your money in luxury watches?

Maybe not all your money but I guess that is better than what the banks currently pay you in Europe as interest . . . 1 % . . . minus taxes . . . and minus annual costs
You make more on a good watch . . . . no doubt about it
Rolex increases their prices about 3 % each year so . . .

HANW

[dysondiver]

invest the money in a lottery ticket once a week , next 40 years , may win , may not ,,,,

[DiamondJack]

Whilst I agree completely with the advice given above that a watch (Rolex or not) should not be treated as an investment, and that there are far more sensible ways to invest money............

I still think it is perfectly reasonable for someone to buy a pre-owned or vintage Rolex, if careful, and expect to have the enjoyment of wearing the watch (effectively the income of ownership) without too much depreciation over the longer term, particularly with the growing interest in vintage in the Far East/China.

In terms of the model, I would look at the 16800 which IMO is still undervalued primarily as it falls just outside the classic vintage non sapphire crystal window (but for how long) and has many firsts to it's name in the Submariner timeline......

[Welshwatchman]

There are no bargains to be had as far as I can see.

I'd opt for a clean 16750 or 16710 for sub 4k Euro.

You'll probably not lose much money.

[arkon]

Originally Posted by Kevin B

I totally disagree with the idea that a watch is a bad investment. I bought My first sub. right before the ceramic model came out. It is now worth well over $1500 dollars than I paid for it. I have since added an exp.II a GMT II coke and GMT II Pepsi a Seiko ananta spring drive a paneri all of which have gone up considerably in value. They might not be the next Microsoft or qualcom stock but I am very happy with their constantly increasing value. If this was not the case why are there so many listings on Craigslist and other sources to buy your old Rolex? One of the very well respected sellers on this site beat me to a very reasonably priced GMTII Pepsi on Craigslist and flipped it for a great profit, so don't tell me its not a good place to put your money. Check the price on a patak perpetual Calender and the price increase over the last 10 years and compare it to your portfolio and see how it compares.

Thanks for youre post.
I did see the same things with the 16600 a friend did buy.

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

Whilst I agree completely with the advice given above that a watch (Rolex or not) should not be treated as an investment, and that there are far more sensible ways to invest money............

I still think it is perfectly reasonable for someone to buy a pre-owned or vintage Rolex, if careful, and expect to have the enjoyment of wearing the watch (effectively the income of ownership) without too much depreciation over the longer term, particularly with the growing interest in vintage in the Far East/China.

In terms of the model, I would look at the 16800 which IMO is still undervalued primarily as it falls just outside the classic vintage non sapphire crystal window (but for how long) and has many firsts to it's name in the Submariner timeline......

We think the same way. She has fun wearing a nice rolex sports model and the money is not gone, maybe better than 1% or less we get at the bank. With 5500-6500$ its a good amount to do things like this.

She does not like the GMT watches. And the 16800 seems like a really nice one. I see more ppl with money from china entering markets like this also.

[azguy]

Buy a "red sub" with box and papers, in 25 years who knows what it's be worth. But it needs to be a perfect, unmolested example

[king arthur]

My take on this is that Rolex is a "safe" investment. Get one, hold it for at least 5 years, if you sell by then there's a good chance that you can get your money back. So that's like enjoying the watch for "free".

[NYMike]

Consider it a place to park money, not increase value. First thing to do is buy USED! That will save you a few K's. But don't forget the cost of service every 5-10 years.

I suggest a submariner used from the mid 1990's to Early 2000's.

[Kevin B]

Are you putting all your money in luxury watches?

Hardly, but by the end of 2009 I wish I would have . I'm sure everyone has a "mad money" stash and all I'm saying is for the last few years that's what I've been spending mine on. I like the fact that I have something tangible that I can enjoy wearing and enjoy the FACT that they are increasing in value. It's all about timing and doing your research. I agree with the statement that there are fewer good deals to be had.......in Rolexes, my guess, and I reserve the right to be wrong, is that in the next few years (especially in the U.S) the Tudor brand will see some very nice gains and so that is where I'm pitting my money right now. I also just got a fantastic deal on a Android watch with a Seagull automatic flying tourbillon. Say what you will about Android watches but the movement on this watch is awesome, I know, I know its Chinese but look at the price gains that Seagull has seen in the recent past, and its a beautiful flying tourbillon . I'm not a "flipper" as the only watch I've flipped was a B&R 01 Heritage that I let go to get a sweet DJ with factory diamond dial for my wife (which she loves) and did very well on the deal in the process.
All I'm saying is it's a very fun and addicting hobby that you can actually make a little money at if you so choose. When I'm gone I hope I will have instilled in my son the same appreciation and love I have for Rolexes and watches in general.......................cause he'll have a great collection