Is the 15300 not a good buy anymore? - advice needed please

[tough]

So I was talking to a friend of mine about it, as a friend's friend has his for sale. A black dial mint condition with box and papers, serviced, and is selling for $13,000.
He doesn't think it's worth that much, as it was probably bought around this price years ago brand new.

I'm slightly doubtful on how well the prices will retain when the prices for the 15202 go lower.
I don't care if there is no seconds hand to be honest, I just can't afford 19K at this time for a 15202, but i'm not sure whether it's best to hold off, save some more money, and go for the jumbo a few months down the line instead.
Or just pull the trigger and have the RO that I have been craving for so long and be done with it. Then hunt for my first Patek.

What do you suggest?

[AK797]

We had a thread before where prices seem to have shot up a few grand this year, so I would pause and not buy at this level and wait to see if prices come down later.

[theflywrist]

Originally Posted by AK797

We had a thread before where prices seem to have shot up a few grand this year, so I would pause and not buy at this level and wait to see if prices come down later.

This.
I am kind of in the same boat actually.
I have also heard the 15300 gives trouble with it's movement.
So I guess it would need to be serviced more often as well.

[Slider817]

I would go for a 15400 above a 15300, I prefer the larger case, and the 15300 always seemed like a cheaper variant of the 15202, whereas the 15400 is a different watch.

If you really want 39mm, got for the RO Dual time, a very useful complication, and having a power reserve is very nice, although the 15202 is nice, it's hard to justify the price considering you can get a 15400 and a Stainless Rolex for the same price, or for a bit more you can get a gold Royal Oak on leather.

Another better value option is the RO chrono, another model I would purchase instead of the 15202

I'm not that mechanically minded, so the advantages of the 15202 above the 15300 are not that significant, there's no second hand, and o think pretty much any RO has plenty of Jumbo DNA in it.

[leisen]

The fact is that over time will be more and more difficult to find a mint or BNIB 15300 (now discontinued), while you can more easily get a new 15202, still in production.

[onthemoney]

Originally Posted by leisen

The fact is that over time will be more and more difficult to find a mint or BNIB 15300 (now discontinued), while you can more easily get a new 15202, still in production.

Agreed.
I think the 15202 will eventually lose it's value, and you should get that one if you're tight on the budget.
Simply don't think the 15300 is worth $13,000 dollars IMHO.
Wasn't worth that much years ago almost brand new.
Also, especially since the 15202 is easily found at $18,000.

My $0.2

[viczeva]

Originally Posted by onthemoney

Agreed.
I think the 15202 will eventually lose it's value, and you should get that one if you're tight on the budget.
Simply don't think the 15300 is worth $13,000 dollars IMHO.
Wasn't worth that much years ago almost brand new.
Also, especially since the 15202 is easily found at $18,000.

My $0.2

I agree with the above statement.
I was on the fence about getting a 15300 vs 15202, and then decided that the spike was just too insane for the 15300. A year ago they were everywhere in the 10 k range.

If i was worried about proper DNA, for 13k you could get a very well taken care of 5402... which has more character and will always be the original. Will probably hold better value against those two models also.

[lapince]

Around January last year I almost pulled the trigger on a blue 15300 for 8.900 euros, when I see at what price they go for these days I think I should have...

[jjnd08]

I do think there is some price gouging going on with the blue dial ones. I think some sellers are hoping buyers aren't informed enough to know that the blue dial is not boutique exclusive like the 15400. Anyone can send a 15300 black or white dial to Clearwater and get a blue dial put in.

[kb24]

Originally Posted by Slider817

I would go for a 15400 above a 15300, I prefer the larger case, and the 15300 always seemed like a cheaper variant of the 15202, whereas the 15400 is a different watch.

If you really want 39mm, got for the RO Dual time, a very useful complication, and having a power reserve is very nice, although the 15202 is nice, it's hard to justify the price considering you can get a 15400 and a Stainless Rolex for the same price, or for a bit more you can get a gold Royal Oak on leather.

Another better value option is the RO chrono, another model I would purchase instead of the 15202

I'm not that mechanically minded, so the advantages of the 15202 above the 15300 are not that significant, there's no second hand, and o think pretty much any RO has plenty of Jumbo DNA in it.

I completely agree with this.. Don't waste your time on an old model and besides AP knows their future which is why they discontinued the 15300..

[lmcgbaj]

If you look at the history ROs don't hold value very well over the long term like a sports Rolex or a Patek for example. 15300 while a great watch is no exception. However, I would still get that over a 15400.

[viczeva]

Originally Posted by jjnd08

I do think there is some price gouging going on with the blue dial ones. I think some sellers are hoping buyers aren't informed enough to know that the blue dial is not boutique exclusive like the 15400. Anyone can send a 15300 black or white dial to Clearwater and get a blue dial put in.

Are you 100% sure about this? I've heard otherwise, plus sending it to Clearwater ain't cheap! Prob the dial and maintenance alone are more than the premium for the blue.

[ewdi]

Originally Posted by viczeva

Are you 100% sure about this? I've heard otherwise, plus sending it to Clearwater ain't cheap! Prob the dial and maintenance alone are more than the premium for the blue.

Yes you can send it in for dial change, in Japan AP I was quoted 196,000 yen (my full overhaul cost 108000 yen) - so dial change is almost 2k usd :(, too much

[lapince]

Originally Posted by jjnd08

I do think there is some price gouging going on with the blue dial ones. I think some sellers are hoping buyers aren't informed enough to know that the blue dial is not boutique exclusive like the 15400. Anyone can send a 15300 black or white dial to Clearwater and get a blue dial put in.

Yeah but even the ones which are not blue dial are starting to be also expensive

Originally Posted by viczeva

Are you 100% sure about this? I've heard otherwise, plus sending it to Clearwater ain't cheap! Prob the dial and maintenance alone are more than the premium for the blue.

That's what I was thinking also, would be good to know how much they charge for the dial replacement...

[Abdullasaif]

That's what I was thinking also, would be good to know how much they charge for the dial replacement...[/QUOTE]

The blue dial is around 4000aed (1086USD) i wanted my white 15300 replaced and you also need to buy the hands for the watch(dunno the price) plus the market is almost filled with blue dial 15300 at some point we wont have white and black dials.

[Abdullasaif]

Prices wont drop too much they will probably keep going up slowly since they are discountiued cant expect it to go under $10k

[SMD]

Originally Posted by ewdi

Yes you can send it in for dial change, in Japan AP I was quoted 196,000 yen (my full overhaul cost 108000 yen) - so dial change is almost 2k usd :(, too much

Is it a swap or do you get to keep the old dial?

[lapince]

Originally Posted by SMD

Is it a swap or do you get to keep the old dial?

As I understand in the US you don't keep the old dial, maybe different in Japan...

[viczeva]

Originally Posted by Abdullasaif

Prices wont drop too much they will probably keep going up slowly since they are discountiued cant expect it to go under $10k

I saw one for 8.5 less than 6 months ago.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Abdullasaif

Prices wont drop too much they will probably keep going up slowly since they are discountiued cant expect it to go under $10k

Until AP introduces a 15400 in 39mm. probably won't but not impossible.

[jolimont]

Prices for the 15300 have gone up already

Not sure if its because of demand or because of dealer gouging

[myc ritz]

The 39mm size is more classic, and wearable, IMO. If someone is looking for a classic size "Holy Trinity" watch with world class DNA, water resistance and everyday wearability it is very hard to compete with a 15300. There is no reason a 5711 should be twice the price of a 15300. I don't see 15300's continuing to climb this rapidly, but there is a void for wearable Haute Horology at <$15k.

[masterkiller]

Originally Posted by jjnd08

I do think there is some price gouging going on with the blue dial ones. I think some sellers are hoping buyers aren't informed enough to know that the blue dial is not boutique exclusive like the 15400. Anyone can send a 15300 black or white dial to Clearwater and get a blue dial put in.

Not in Sweden anyway, I asked my AD when I had an Black dialed 15300 and I was free to swap my black dial to a white but not to a Blue...

Even still the price was about 1500 USD for the swap, and I could not keep the dial....