What would you do? Sell Ceramic and buy Vintage?

[Pureform]

So I have a 2017 Ceramic date sub i got 8 months ago.. I can get a nice vintage one that's for sale on this forum for $12500 which is a 1680. Beautiful patina and practically all original and like new.. I know i can get a ceramic sub anytime in the future since its modern, but the 1680 and in good honest condition is few and far between...

What would you do? Sell or not to sell for a vintage piece? Am I having a vintage bug and will regret selling the ceramic? hmmm

[beshannon]

I would keep the ceramic

You should do what you like

[Dr.Smellody]

1680 for the win!

[Onequik135i]

Keep the Ceramic.

[Finslayer83]

The SubC Date is more durable and will last longer.

[037]

Only major downside to the 1680 for me is the lack of quickset date. If you're okay with changing and re-synching the time every other month then the 1680 isn't a bad option.

The only two ceramic Subs I'd own are the 114060 and LV. The standard LN doesn't interest me personally.

[Scholar]

SubC is ugly, and in ten years will look out of date, like wearing a 1980s "power suit" today.

Get the 1680.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by Scholar

SubC is ugly, and in ten years will look out of date, like wearing a 1980s "power suit" today.

Get the 1680.

[cptdean]

Originally Posted by Scholar

SubC is ugly, and in ten years will look out of date, like wearing a 1980s "power suit" today.

Get the 1680.

OMG, now I’m not going to see those lugs without thinking about padded shoulders.

[MinMay]

1680 without paper is nothing to collector.

It's your money...do what makes you happy....no need to ask for other's opinion.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by MinMay

1680 without paper is nothing to collector.

Really?

It is rare indeed - in my experience - to see a 1680 on offer with papers. There are a ton of these getting sold based on condition alone.

The one caveat to a 1680 as a daily wearer is the lume (eventually) cracking and falling out. If that happens, you need to deal with it...

[superdog]

Originally Posted by MinMay

1680 without paper is nothing to collector.

It's your money...do what makes you happy....no need to ask for other's opinion.

Ha. Isn’t that half the point of this forum?

[CPRWATCH]

After reading carefully through all the replies on this thread, And there's some very interesting thoughts on this subject. There is to me no real right or wrong way to go as it always boils down to personal choice. To some, the advantages of a newer Rolex for obvious reasons far outweigh the worry or concerns over vintage. But to others, vintage models just ooze character & charm that modern Rolex don't offer . My own recommendation would be choose middle ground & go classic ,that way you usually get a mix of age , charm , character & ease of servicing , parts replacements etc & it will retain value even if the " Bubble " bursts tomorrow . I may be slightly biased though as my " classic "collection includes,
1982 16800 matte dial
1999 16700
2008 16610LV

[marcotagudelo]

Originally Posted by CPRWATCH

After reading carefully through all the replies on this thread, And there's some very interesting thoughts on this subject. There is to me no real right or wrong way to go as it always boils down to personal choice. To some, the advantages of a newer Rolex for obvious reasons far outweigh the worry or concerns over vintage. But to others, vintage models just ooze character & charm that modern Rolex don't offer . My own recommendation would be choose middle ground & go classic ,that way you usually get a mix of age , charm , character & ease of servicing , parts replacements etc & it will retain value even if the " Bubble " bursts tomorrow . I may be slightly biased though as my " classic "collection includes,
1982 16800 matte dial
1999 16700
2008 16610LV

LV you will get a nod from those in the know, its a transitional model and no doubts if its a franken watch plus probability of having papers is very high

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by MinMay

1680 without paper is nothing to collector.

Utterly absurd comment. You give any collector over in the vintage forum an all-original, unpolished, 1680 in near mint condition....even without papers....I'm certain he will hardly consider it "nothing."

[ccaballero]

Why not pick up a nice 16610Lv or 16600 instead?

[Jason71]

Once you go Plexi, it is tough to go back to Sapphire. I love my vintage Rolex watches.

[Pureform]

Originally Posted by Jason71

Once you go Plexi, it is tough to go back to Sapphire. I love my vintage Rolex watches.

Even if it's polished?

[askdanny]

Make the swap if you’re attracted to the idea of ever owning a vintage Rolex. The way the prices are trending you might soon be priced out of the market and wish you had bought one while they were within reach.

Because we could be in a bubble, it is actually a riskier investment to buy a new sports Rolex at full retail price today than it is to buy a vintage. I wrote about why now is the time to pivot to the vintage market, why I did, and what to look for when going on the hunt for one:

http://www.rolexmagazine.com/2018/05...ge-market.html


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[dmash]

Originally Posted by askdanny

Make the swap if you’re attracted to the idea of ever owning a vintage Rolex. The way the prices are trending you might soon be priced out of the market and wish you had bought one while they were within reach.

Because we could be in a bubble, it is actually a riskier investment to buy a new sports Rolex at full retail price today than it is to buy a vintage. I wrote about why now is the time to pivot to the vintage market, why I did, and what to look for when going on the hunt for one:

http://www.rolexmagazine.com/2018/05...ge-market.html


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This logic makes absolutely zero sense.

Were in a bubble in the sense that things are selling above MSRP and way more than 2 years ago. Bubble bursts, we will go back to MSRP (or slightly under) on new models, but you’re talking about vintage models going back almost HALF of the price some are fetching now. How in the world is paying retail on a new Sub, more risky than purchasing vintage? The ‘premium’ you’re paying compared to 2-3 years ago on vintage is astronomical in comparison to a SubC.

[askdanny]

Originally Posted by dmash

...but you’re talking about vintage models going back almost HALF of the price some are fetching now.

I don’t understand the sentence above.

To answer your question: he can get top dollars for his Sub C now, but the Sub C is currently produced and no one knows Rolex plans for production output in the future. That’s the risky part.

Vintage models are obviously not produced and value is only going one way: up! A $12,000 vintage Sub he is eyeing can cost him $15,000 or $18,000 next year — and he could be priced out of the market. I believe there is less uncertainty in the retention value of discontinued watches.



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[dmash]

Originally Posted by askdanny

I don’t understand the sentence above.

To answer your question: he can get top dollars for his Sub C now, but the Sub C is currently produced and no one knows Rolex plans for production output in the future. That’s the risky part.

Vintage models are obviously not produced and value is only going one way: up! A $12,000 vintage Sub he is eyeing can cost him $15,000 or $18,000 next year — and he could be priced out of the market. I believe there is less uncertainty in the retention value of discontinued watches.



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A lot of people claim the ‘real’ bubble is the vintage market and a lot of models are double what they were years back. Those models will depreciate in value at an exponentially greater rate than a basic SubC that’s only at a 10% premium over MSRP.

[siempreko]

Originally Posted by dmash

A lot of people claim the ‘real’ bubble is the vintage market and a lot of models are double what they were years back. Those models will depreciate in value at an exponentially greater rate than a basic SubC that’s only at a 10% premium over MSRP.

My thoughts exactly. Everyone thinks that there is a bubble in the new Rolex market, because of the significant spike in demand. The REAL bubble has been in the dramatic price increases in the vintage market!

But to the OP... you have to listen to your heart... get what you want to get!


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[Bladeshot]

I’ve struggled with this kind of thing. To enjoy vintage or modern? If it’s your only watch, just decide what you like most and want to wear. I like wearing modern most days because I like good lume and the features of glidelock. Sometimes I prefer to wear vintage; and I have a couple I can enjoy, thank goodness. If you are concerned you won’t find an example of a good 1680 down the road, get it and you can always add back the Sub Date. I did that and put a 16710 into the collection when I found a good example. Did not want to miss it.


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[037]

Only other caveat I'll make is that it looks like it needs serviced. The date wheel doesn't line up in the window. Expect to have to service it shortly after purchase if you plan on keeping it, especially if you need the case to be water resistant.

The case having been polished is personal preference. I prefer my vintage with unpolished cases and honest scratches.

[Pureform]

Originally Posted by 037

Only other caveat I'll make is that it looks like it needs serviced. The date wheel doesn't line up in the window. Expect to have to service it shortly after purchase if you plan on keeping it, especially if you need the case to be water resistant.

The case having been polished is personal preference. I prefer my vintage with unpolished cases and honest scratches.

Ahh so you know which one in talking about... Damn ill never find a good piece lol

[MinMay]

Originally Posted by Pureform

Ahh so you know which one in talking about... Damn ill never find a good piece lol

just buy it..it's only money. If you're wearing a Rolex, then you should have plenty of dispensable money laying around.

[037]

Originally Posted by Pureform

Ahh so you know which one in talking about... Damn ill never find a good piece lol

I'd ask about movement condition for sure. It looks like it needs work.

If you can't find a worthy 1680, maybe consider a 16800 matte dial instead. It's not acrylic but falls in your budget and gets you a solid watch in the end.

[GradyPhilpott]

Keep what you have and save for what you want.

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Keep what you have and save for what you want.

Solid advice here.