Value of the lapis day date

[watchlover135]

I’m looking at purchasing either a plain lapis day date yellow gold or the lapis dial with the diamonds on just the 6 and 9 hour markers…any opinions on which is the more desirable dial etc. Prices seem to be all over the place but the range is 40-60…so these hold value well? Thank you


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[Incroyable12]

The plain lapis dial is far more desirable than the 6 and 9 dial.

[watchlover135]

Originally Posted by Incroyable12

The plain lapis dial is far more desirable than the 6 and 9 dial.

Yes I heard but is a 6 and 9 still worth good $$. I found one where I can get it for $45k. Complete set


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[crowncollection]

Plain Lapis is more desirable


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[watchlover135]

Originally Posted by crowncollection

Plain Lapis is more desirable


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Plain lapis is gorgeous but I do like the 6 and 9 Arabic diamond marker dial too. Just wondering what the true value is…seems like they range from 40-50….just don’t want to make a mistake as I know nothing about vintage. I found one from the year 2000 looks like it’s in great shape


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[miamiclay]

I’d say … be patient, hunt a while!

This lapis 6/9

https://loupethis.com/auctions/rolex...diamond-dial-1

sold for $52K in 3/23, when the market was hotter, and it’s WG, which carries a generous premium.

I’d think a YG 6/9 lapis should be well under $45K today.

[watchlover135]

Originally Posted by miamiclay

I’d say … be patient, hunt a while!

This lapis 6/9

https://loupethis.com/auctions/rolex...diamond-dial-1

sold for $52K in 3/23, when the market was hotter, and it’s WG, which carries a generous premium.

I’d think a YG 6/9 lapis should be well under $45K today.

I found a nice 6/9 one complete from 2000-2001. Last year of production they want 45k. Rolex certified preowned etc. but I duno. I keep hearing from people that the 6/9 lapis dial is not very desirable and could be tough to resell later. I’m not a vintage expert so I just don’t know….


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[miamiclay]

Originally Posted by watchlover135

I found a nice 6/9 one complete from 2000-2001. Last year of production

BTW - Presumably this was a 18238, so iirc, that would have been from the ‘99-00 models at latest. The 6-digit models debuted in 2000-01.

A good lapis 18238 is certainly findable, but there are also plenty of fakes, *especially* of the no-markers dials. If this were me, I’d just ask a reputable vintage dealer what could be found - I’m lucky in that Matt Bain and Adam Golden of Menta are both very nearby, and Eric Wind is near enough, but they all sell nationwide. (When this *was* me, about 5 years ago, I got mine from Matt.)

This is distinctly not an area for novice bargain-hunting.

[Toxicant]

I can't imagine anyone spending 45k dollars on a 25 year old day date, so many nicer watches in that price range, this is of course my opinion.

[offrdmania]

45K is an insane price. Without that dial, the watch is 12-14K with a basic dial. I dont think a lapis dial alone is worth over 30K

[watchlover135]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

45K is an insane price. Without that dial, the watch is 12-14K with a basic dial. I dont think a lapis dial alone is worth over 30K

I definitely agree with you but these are the prices unfortunately and not many available


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[Incroyable12]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

45K is an insane price. Without that dial, the watch is 12-14K with a basic dial. I dont think a lapis dial alone is worth over 30K

If that a were a plain lapis DD in WG the dial alone would be worth more than $150k.

For some reason the factory stone dials for WG DDs are extremely rare and are all six figure dials.

[miamiclay]

Originally Posted by watchlover135

these are the prices unfortunately

You can’t gauge by a few asking prices on C24 etc., look through recent closed auctions and see what they are actually selling for. My crystal ball is on the fritz, but patience is very likely your ally just now. The thrill of the hunt is much of the fun.

Originally Posted by Incroyable12

If that a were a plain lapis DD in WG the dial alone would be worth more than $150k.

Really?! I mean, I like mine and all, but yoinks!
.

[watchlover135]

Originally Posted by miamiclay

You can’t gauge by a few asking prices on C24 etc., look through recent closed auctions and see what they are actually selling for. My crystal ball is on the fritz, but patience is very likely your ally just now. The thrill of the hunt is much of the fun.




Really?! I mean, I like mine and all, but yoinks!
.

You’re right. I looked at some prices on Sotheby’s online. Not sure if there are other more notable auction houses The range was around 30-45


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[Dan S]

Originally Posted by watchlover135

You’re right. I looked at some prices on Sotheby’s online. Not sure if there are other more notable auction houses The range was around 30-45


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Good start. Phillips, Christies, Aniquorum, etc. Don't forget other reputable places with less prestige, like Heritage, etc. No reason the auction house needs to be "notable," as long as it's a legit seller with well advertised auctions.

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by Incroyable12

If that a were a plain lapis DD in WG the dial alone would be worth more than $150k.

For some reason the factory stone dials for WG DDs are extremely rare and are all six figure dials.

Show me a single one that has sold for that price. Not an asking price but a sold, cold hard cash has exchanged hands price.

[Incroyable12]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

Show me a single one that has sold for that price. Not an asking price but a sold, cold hard cash has exchanged hands price.

They rarely appear on the open market so dealers sell them privately.

Johnson167 of HK told me he sold an 18206 with factory lapis for $350k. Amsterdam Vintage had an 18206 with factory onyx that was listed at 286k Euros. There are also extremely convincing aftermarket stone dials now so bonafide factory ones seem to trade at even higher prices now.

You can easily sell rare WG DD dials loose starting from $20k plus to dealers and collectors all day long. They will gobble them up. The more unusual and gemset the better.

The 6/9 lapis is a service dial which you can still order from the RSC.

[watchlover135]

Originally Posted by Incroyable12

They rarely appear on the open market so dealers sell them privately.

Johnson167 of HK told me he sold an 18206 with factory lapis for $350k. Amsterdam Vintage had an 18206 with factory onyx that was listed at 286k Euros. There are also extremely convincing aftermarket stone dials now so bonafide factory ones seem to trade at even higher prices now.

You can easily sell rare WG DD dials loose starting from $20k plus to dealers and collectors all day long. They will gobble them up. The more unusual and gemset the better.

The 6/9 lapis is a service dial which you can still order from the RSC.

What do you mean you can order a 6/9 service dial? Rolex service center sells them?


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[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by Incroyable12

They rarely appear on the open market so dealers sell them privately.

Johnson167 of HK told me he sold an 18206 with factory lapis for $350k. Amsterdam Vintage had an 18206 with factory onyx that was listed at 286k Euros. There are also extremely convincing aftermarket stone dials now so bonafide factory ones seem to trade at even higher prices now.

You can easily sell rare WG DD dials loose starting from $20k plus to dealers and collectors all day long. They will gobble them up. The more unusual and gemset the better.

The 6/9 lapis is a service dial which you can still order from the RSC.

You stated that the dials only sell for that much but then you showed me a complete platinum watch sold in Monaco along with hearsay from a dealer. Dealer sales dont count because they intentionally inflate the price between each other to create a market, hoping to find a sucker to buy it at that price.

[Dan S]

Don’t expect us to do your work for you. A Rolex certified preowned example will be ridiculously overpriced. Buy it if you love it, but you will get creamed if you ever sell it. Otherwise do your own comprehensive research like we all do, and hunt patiently.

[watchlover135]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Don’t expect us to do your work for you. A Rolex certified preowned example will be ridiculously overpriced. Buy it if you love it, but you will get creamed if you ever sell it. Otherwise do your own comprehensive research like we all do, and hunt patiently.

What work lol? Was just asking peoples opinion


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[Dan S]

Originally Posted by watchlover135

What work lol? Was just asking peoples opinion

It's called research, not opinion. Give it a try.

[IS2000]

My uncle had the plain Lapis dial DD back in the days. He ended up selling it for like $7k back in the 2000’s. I wish I could’ve bought that watch.

[Modiferous]

Originally Posted by IS2000

My uncle had the plain Lapis dial DD back in the days. He ended up selling it for like $7k back in the 2000’s. I wish I could’ve bought that watch.

Around that time, as I discussed here
https://www.rolexforums.com/showpost...7&postcount=16
many people wanted newer not older, at least for some models.

But it was a good time to pick up mechanical wind older Daytonas, as I did, because their prices were just starting to ramp up. I am talking Year 2000, not much later than that.

[Incroyable12]

Here's an 18026 lacking the original 8385 platinum bracelet but with a factory onyx dial that sold for $187,000 USD:

https://www.monacolegendauctions.com...eces-32/lot-56

[crowncollection]

They have gone crazy. Wg are worth big dollars as stated above. I sold a onyx DD dial for 1200 bucks twenty years ago I wish I had it now still


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[Incroyable12]

Some RSC are a bit more liberal or willing to take risks but generally they will only order dials that would have originally came with the watch. Some RSC also require a full service to swap parts such as the language discs which explains why the Arab and Chinese discs sell for such a high premium on the secondary market. The white Arabic discs for the WG DDs trade for around $2000.

The exotic gemset dials can be ordered but they seem to be more willing to do it for white gold or platinum DDs since those were originally more expensive watches and presumably allowed for more options.

I was told by one of the European RSC that the plain stone dials are now completely unavailable. Apparently the Stockholm RSC was the source of many factory onyx dials for years since they were quite generous with their policies. Many of the YG factory onyx dials floating around for sale now came from the Stockholm RSC. Unsure why the silver print ones are so rare since the WG DD itself isn't a particularly rare watch.