Old vs New

[KR200]

I was thinking. I have nothing against the new maxi case sports watches. Indeed to the layman there is no difference. But to a Rolex enthusiast it sort marks the end of an era.

The GMT, Sub Date and Sea Dweller in their original format are gone forever. Todayt if you're looking you may get a non date Sub from an AD. But those too within a few weeks will be NLA.

So I'm thinking at what point will a BNIB old style piece cost more than the list price of the new equivalent? Most new unworn old school "V" series units (using say a 16600 as an example) will stay that way in safes. But they will come up for whatever reason from time to time.

Now you can go buy a new sports watch anytime anyplace as long as you're holding the folding. But if you have your heart set on one of the last of the classics you'll have to wait. For how long is anyone's guess but they will get fewer as time rolls on.

So as a supply/demand thing surely the NOS collector end of line sports steel units will climb past current RRP.

I think the new ones will end up being traded and auctioned and never worn. For that will destroy their uniqueness. Some will say just wear it and be happy. But there will be tens of thousands of used but mint units for that.

Rolex prices of late have soared for the rare collector stuff.

Like wine. You can never pop the cork!! A travesty but a fact. Unless you choose to!!!

Just pondering.

N.B., one other thought is the emerging markets. One in three humans is Chinese! and them dudes are hoovering classic vintage wine up like it's going out of fashion.

Hmm?

[Speed]

[Grissom]

Originally Posted by Speed

I think our London friend is wondering out loud if the more recently discontinued models will appreciate like some of the more valuable vintage pieces, catching up with and overtaking the "current" renditions......

I think more or less no, based on a few things. More folks are buying and putting away (future NOS) than ever before. And, Rolex is certainly making many more of everything than in the past. Thus, both of these observations suggest many more of these watches being able to become available for sale in the future. While I have no doubt that they will all appreciate in some fashion, based on inflation, increasing retail pricing, and possibly growing demand (such as in emerging economies), I personally don't see them, as a general rule of thumb, doing what our London friend suggests, and that is surpassing current retail pricing.....although perhaps in some limited instances, a particular model subset may in fact do so.

My thoughts, anyways.......

[Sixxgrand1]

Originally Posted by Grissom

......

....I think more or less no....
.....based on a few things.....
.....observations suggest.....
.....While I have no doubt.....
.....appreciate in some fashion......
......and possibly.......
......as a general rule of thumb......
.....although perhaps.....
.....in some limited instances.....
My thoughts, anyways.......

Thanks for your thoughts....you could have summarized though....

[Grissom]

Originally Posted by Sixxgrand1

Thanks for your thoughts....you could have summarized though....

I know...... You did a good job for me, however!

I may have to offer you a job!

[mike]

I'd be hard pressed to think of a professional model that at some point won't pass it's original price.

I have GMTs from the 60s and Subs from the 70s I bought brand new. They're now worth many multiples of their original price. Good investment?--Coulda done better a whole lotta places.

Man I did (and do) have fun with them though, and the memories and history are priceless to me.

The point is, with time and price increases they all go up. Does that make them good investments? Depends on what you're looking for. Few things are as personal as a fine timepiece. Enjoy it everyday for what it is.

Isn't that what's it's really all about?

[phelix_da_kat]

Originally Posted by mike

I'd be hard pressed to think of a professional model that at some point won't pass it's original price.

I have GMTs from the 60s and Subs from the 70s I bought brand new. They're now worth many multiples of their original price. Good investment?--Coulda done better a whole lotta places.

Man I did (and do) have fun with them though, and the memories and history are priceless to me.

The point is, with time and price increases they all go up. Does that make them good investments? Depends on what you're looking for. Few things are as personal as a fine timepiece. Enjoy it everyday for what it is.

Isn't that what's it's really all about?

Agreed.
Buy to enjoy - wear it...

If it has sentimental value to you - all the better. Will be more of a pleasure for you to wear and then pass down to your sons or daughters.

PS And make them promise not to sell! lol

[Howie]

Rolex produces thousands of watches a week, so there are a lot of these out there... but then again, I still remember when the world population was 4 billion, now it's 7 billion. What will it be in another 30 years? There will for sure be many more wrists and hopefully a percentage will be affluent enough to afford and want a Rolex to drive up demand and prices on the ones so many are keeping LNIB in bank safes. That on top of inflation should continue to drive up prices, but who knows what will happen. 2012 is almost here!

[Speed]

Ok...thanks Grissom

It will be interesting to see if modern watches - or watches in general - are popular in 20 years...

I just can't see these models - discontinued or otherwise - attain Red Sub or Paul Newman Daytona status...maybe stick dial / 3186 GMT status tho. Hahahahah. Where's Padi ;-)

[Clay]

Here's a thought...Find a watch you like....Buy it....Wear it....Enjoy it......And stop worrying abut what it will be worth down the road.....Just a thought...

[Speed]

+ 1,000,000 Clay!

[Johny]

Originally Posted by Clay

Here's a thought...Find a watch you like....Buy it....Wear it....Enjoy it......And stop worrying abut what it will be worth down the road.....Just a thought...

x2....or if its a lv keep it nice and new in its box so that i can buy it if i wreck my own lv somewhere down the line .

[CDNWatchNut]

I'm in the buy it and wear it camp
I just can't imagine keeping a watch BNIB and only to look at, just to possibly make a few bucks years down the road.

[Sixxgrand1]

Originally Posted by Howie

Rolex produces thousands of watches a week.........!

ROLEX produces a watch every 2 minutes (based on 700K units over a 7/24/365 work year..)...

Thus how much can a watch which takes less then 150 seconds to create by ROBOTS really be worth..now or in the foreseeable future..I mean ROLEX increases production the same way I adjust my room heat....;) UP or DOWN (Daytona would be adjusted DOWN...)

[HL65]

In the end--I don't really care what my Rolexes are worth! I love hunting them down and wearing them! If I am depending upon them to fund my retirement-I am in trouble as are you! I just hope when I am gone that my wife has fun auctioning them off!!! For me-I will choose to enjoy the heck out of them and continue to hunt down historic-classic-pieces of Rolex history and wear them till me wrist falls off!!