Value of watches made briefly query

[Rolessor82]

Sup everyone! Hope everybody is good.

I've been thinking...how come pieces that were made aprox in ONE year only not be valued more? Ex. Underlines, Bart Simpson...

What I mean: the gap between any of them and, for example, another gilt is not that wide.

Another example (not made for one year, but briefly) the "swiss only" dials from late 90s...they are close in value to the rest.

Interesting how the market behaves....

[Andad]

Yup.

[Dan S]

Enumerating and detailing all these variants is useful for historical reasons and authentication, but I don't see why you would expect tiny variations to make a big difference in value. Moreover, I'm not sure why it really matters, since there's no point in trying to hunt for a specific variant. If you come across a watch you want in good condition and at a fair price ... buy it.

[TuRo]

53-58 subs changed practically all the time eg two, four, Cosc, gilt,red,silver,spaced exclamation, doub' Swiss, floating lines etc and SWISS only dial (previously used up to early 50s) thing as investment is a bit of con that dealers started propogating about 2017.. as Rolex made these Luminova dials in big big numbers at the end of the 90s and decided to stockpile them into service centres in early 2000s (when they returned to pre 1952 Swiss Made nomenclature). I don't get why anyone would want to purposely collect a watch that looks like it has a service dial !

[Rolessor82]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Enumerating and detailing all these variants is useful for historical reasons and authentication, but I don't see why you would expect tiny variations to make a big difference in value. Moreover, I'm not sure why it really matters, since there's no point in trying to hunt for a specific variant. If you come across a watch you want in good condition and at a fair price ... buy it.

Totally Dan! Thanks for sharing.

But it's curious... I mean, even with different condition, with the underline or a Bart having the worse condition I would totally buy and underline or a Bart - they are scarse. But if look closely...very similar prices and maybe (depending on something) they could be cheaper than a big volume model.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Rolessor82

with the underline or a Bart having the worse condition I would totally buy and underline or a Bart - they are scarse.

Not me, I would focus much more on condition than minor differences in the dial printing.

[1watch]

Condition is the first aspect I focus on, then rarity/scarcity. That said, rare models in top condition command premiums over less rare and higher production pieces. For example, the underline was produced for approximately one year, 1963 and is widely believed to signify the move from radium to tritium lume. That makes it rare and interesting from a historical perspective. I know of one such top 5513 example that sold for 80k. A similar and later gilt 5513 example in comparable condition would likely not exceed 50k currently.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[swish77]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Not me, I would focus much more on condition than minor differences in the dial printing.

X1000! Been saying this for years as dealers/sellers jack up prices because of tiny dial differences. Rail, meters-first, Swiss-only, etc … Overall condition is so much more important and I’d never pay a premium for those little details over another watch, assuming condition was equal. (Red Subs and DRSDs are exceptions).

[springer]

Originally Posted by swish77

X1000! Been saying this for years as dealers/sellers jack up prices because of tiny dial differences. Rail, meters-first, Swiss-only, etc … Overall condition is so much more important and I’d never pay a premium for those little details over another watch, assuming condition was equal. (Red Subs and DRSDs are exceptions).

Why are Red Subs and DRSDs an exception or different? All Subs from the red Sub era had red dials - just variations in dial fonts alignment, and the placement of a couple words. At one point Rolex even decided to reverse the placement of the meters and feet positions. How precious! Same watch, same dials, just a different location for a couple of words.

Sorry Justin, the premiums for some of these variations are plain nonsense and silly, and for me, this includes most red Subs and Sea Dwellers.

It doesn't matter what you collect, variations in a collectable drives many collectors and, of course, much of it is nonsense.

[Rolessor82]

Originally Posted by springer

Why are Red Subs and DRSDs an exception or different? All Subs from the red Sub era had red dials - just variations in dial fonts alignment, and the placement of a couple words. At one point Rolex even decided to reverse the placement of the meters and feet positions. How precious! Same watch, same dials, just a different location for a couple of words.

Sorry Justin, the premiums for some of these variations are plain nonsense and silly, and for me, this includes most red Subs and Sea Dwellers.

It doesn't matter what you collect, variations in a collectable drives many collectors and, of course, much of it is nonsense.

Great insight John

To add to your comment, I believe that maybe¿? the premiums are justified? For example, meters first in all Sub variances and specially the mark1 Red Sub were made for a few years. So maybe that would be a reason for a premium¿?

[Rolessor82]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Not me, I would focus much more on condition than minor differences in the dial printing.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by springer

Why are Red Subs and DRSDs an exception or different?

Because a big splash of red on a dial is visually significant, unlike a lot of those other microscopic details regarding font or placement of text.

Now, I wouldn't pay a premium for a meters-first red 1680 over a feet-first, but a premium for a red vs. white 1680, or for a DRSD vs. a Great White, makes sense. Those lines of red are quite noticeable to the naked eye, and for me, more appealing.

Same goes for Maxi dial 5513s. Those big lume plots make a difference visually.

Originally Posted by Rolessor82

I believe that maybe¿? the premiums are justified? For example, meters first in all Sub variances and specially the mark1 Red Sub were made for a few years. So maybe that would be a reason for a premium¿?

Maybe for some collectors, but rarity doesn't always equal desirability, the latter being a much stronger force in the market. To extend it to the modern world, there's nothing rare about a 116500 Daytona, but it's the most sought-after modern piece, and hardest to get unless you're willing to pay about four times retail on the secondary market.

[Rolessor82]

Originally Posted by swish77

Because a big splash of red on a dial is visually significant, unlike a lot of those other microscopic details regarding font or placement of text.

Now, I wouldn't pay a premium for a meters-first red 1680 over a feet-first, but a premium for a red vs. white 1680, or for a DRSD vs. a Great White, makes sense. Those lines of red are quite noticeable to the naked eye, and for me, more appealing.

Same goes for Maxi dial 5513s. Those big lume plots make a difference visually.




Maybe for some collectors, but rarity doesn't always equal desirability, the latter being a much stronger force in the market. To extend it to the modern world, there's nothing rare about a 116500 Daytona, but it's the most sought-after modern piece, and hardest to get unless you're willing to pay about four times retail on the secondary market.

Yep yep yep. Totally true!