36mm Explorer 1 - ability to hold value?

[jrgannon]

now that the Explorer 1 is 39mm what does this do to the ability of the 36mm model to retain value? In this case I am taking about a mid 90s model. Do you think is will be viewed as too small as the years progress thus impacting its ability to hold value.

[tomchicago]

I almost got one but ultimately went with the 39. The 36 is a great watch.

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[Ditch]

I'm a relative newb, so take anything I say as my opinion alone, but I'd have thought the opposite.

I'm trying to find a UK 114270 (preferably from the mid-naughties, without engraved rehaut) explorer because they are the last to have the classic Explorer proportions. To me that makes them the last of a legend.

[travellingbrit]

Personally I think the 36mm will outlive the 39mm in desirability. 39mm was driven by short term fashion....the 36mm is a classic

[Ditch]

Originally Posted by travellingbrit

Personally I think the 36mm will outlive the 39mm in desirability. 39mm was driven by short term fashion....the 36mm is a classic

Precisely!

[Feras]

Imo there will be always be the older vintage fans and the modern larger case fans, just like the 16610 vs 116610. No piece will outlive it's update, instead both will live together happily ever after

[penfold]

I think the 114270 is a very good buy at the moment and can't see their value getting any lower. It is a very eligant watch that is perfectly proportioned. Does appear small compared to some of the behemoths available today from the likes of Omega and Breitling but it's just as tough.

[mikeinalexandria]

Given that any older (25 or more years) Explorer is worth far more than the original purchase price, I think the modern 36mm will most likely drop a little ore in value, maybe down to say $2500. But after that, given the new 39mm is $6550 in the US, they will start to increase.

Rolexes are not an investment, they are very, very nice watches. Over a fifty year period, buying a $10,000 watch vs buying $10,000 in securities, you'll make way more money in the stock market. If one bought Apple a few years ago at $20/share, say a $20,000 investment, and sold recently at $700/share, they'd have a tidy profit of $680,000! Only in the last couple of years! That same $20,000 dropped on a nice Daytona, today is probably worth a little under $20,000. Buy a watch because you want it, or maybe want to leave it to someone someday, but nothing can earn money like the stock market!

[Kanger]

Very easy to sell. Can't keep them in stock.

[floater156]

Originally Posted by travellingbrit

Personally I think the 36mm will outlive the 39mm in desirability. 39mm was driven by short term fashion....the 36mm is a classic

I'm going to have to disagree with you. Is women wearing pants also a short term fashion trend? Relatively speaking, wrist watches haven't been around that long; therefore, I think it is short sighted to think the trend over the last 40 years will be trend for the rest of mankind's time on earth.

I think the short term fashion trend is watches over 50mm. I think 39-42mm watches will be the next 40 year fad for men instead of 34-36mm. I'm assuming you're in your 40s or 50s. I dont' know anyone in my generation (upper twenties) that wears 34-36mm watches.

Personally, I love the 39mm Explorer, but have absolutely no interest in the 36mm version.

[Ditch]

Originally Posted by floater156

I dont' know anyone in my generation (upper twenties) that wears 34-36mm watches.

You do now

[jrgannon]

appreciate all the comments and look forward to more. One point I would like to make - I am not looking at a watch as an investment where I would anticipate meaningful appreciation. It is a unique asset in that you can actually use it daily and still have a good chance of selling for more that it cost you many years down the road.

[Speed]

Asking prices are approaching $4k US here...

[autisticlove]

Picked mine up 2 years ago and have since helped father-in-law and another friend find the 36mm as well. They both paid more than me by almost 5-700 and all were similar serial and condition. It's such a great watch with immense versatility. I'd agree with the above poster regarding folks in their upper 20s not wearing anything in the 34-36mm range, but thankfully, I've been doing my best to buck that trend...

In addition to the Explorer, I've recently added a 1964 Seamaster 600 date and a Universal Geneve Polerouter Date, each measuring right around 34mm or 35mm. Can't beat the featherweights with their slim profiles ease of wear.

[Ditch]

114270 tend to be £3000-£4000 in physical London shops. Cheaper online of course.

[NYMike]

It will maintain the value in the same way all other 36mm's do. It was never such a popular watch, but had a long run. There are many out there, so don't expect it to become some type of collectors item, somehow move valuable than something else.

All the collectors items, in my mind, have been established.

[Mr. RoC]

NOS are still available. Maybe not at a AD but they're still available. A GM dealer in Toronto has a NOS "U" serial one available still.

[capote]

Originally Posted by travellingbrit

Personally I think the 36mm will outlive the 39mm in desirability. 39mm was driven by short term fashion....the 36mm is a classic

[sea-dweller]

Well said!

Originally Posted by travellingbrit

Personally I think the 36mm will outlive the 39mm in desirability. 39mm was driven by short term fashion....the 36mm is a classic

[doubleinfive]

I am more concerned about a watch's ability to tell accurate time than it's perceived value. Time, afterall, is priceless...

[DolphinV8]

It looks like it does retain its value very well. I see most F-Serials are selling for close to $4G's. The retail back then was $3750, and it wasn't hard to get a nice discount 5+ years ago. But I guess the demand also has something to do with its price. It's getting harder and harder to get a Rolex for less than $4G's.

[joe100]

The 36mm Explorer is a legend. It just looks like it means business.


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[mreed7864]

I purchased 36mm new early 2011 and haven't looked back. The 39mm looked over-sized to me in that design. A smaller increase may have worked, but the sheer mass of it changed quite a bit.

Also (big one here), with a suit the 36mm looked far better. I still think the "large" trend may be fed by the relaxing if dress overall (less suits at work), so the larger models look better on bare arms.

[Ditch]

Originally Posted by mreed7864

I purchased 36mm new early 2011 and haven't looked back. The 39mm looked over-sized to me in that design. A smaller increase may have worked, but the sheer mass of it changed quite a bit.

Also (big one here), with a suit the 36mm looked far better. I still think the "large" trend may be fed by the relaxing if dress overall (less suits at work), so the larger models look better on bare arms.

A lot of good sense here!

[lukemil]

Originally Posted by travellingbrit

Personally I think the 36mm will outlive the 39mm in desirability. 39mm was driven by short term fashion....the 36mm is a classic

Agreed.

[kyle L]

Time will tell...but I think if you buy pre-owned you have a pretty good chance of retaining value.

[floater156]

Originally Posted by travellingbrit

Personally I think the 36mm will outlive the 39mm in desirability. 39mm was driven by short term fashion....the 36mm is a classic

This is the battle cry of the TRF old fuddy duddys

[Chewbacca]

i think it will hold steady but certainly not appreciate from current values. 36mm is now considered 'mid-size' and it was always a niche player when in production, while it also had a very long production run. the 39mm is also a good evolution of the 36mm which was well received by the market. that inhibits appreciating trends with any replacement model. at the end of the day, its a good rolex and if one likes it, buy it and wear it well.

[franklin]

Originally Posted by ditch

precisely!

+1

[franklin]

Originally Posted by floater156

This is the battle cry of the TRF old fuddy duddys

Not funny. I am a proud fuddy-duddy.