How come some people willing to pay so much for a vintage/discontinued Rolex watch?

[leslie]

I've seen some case of vintage/discontinued Rolex sports model watches being sold for high prices despised being quite bad in condition. Thin lugs and cases. Scratches all over and seems over polished. But people are willing to pay good money for them. Some even sold higher than modern rolex you can buy easily at ADs.

Is there are secret to it?

[116520]

The secret is the uniqueness and scarcity of each watch...

I've seen some case of vintage/discontinued Rolex sports model watches being sold for high prices despised being quite bad in condition. Thin lugs and cases. Scratches all over and seems over polished. But people are willing to pay good money for them. Some even sold higher than modern rolex you can buy easily at ADs.

Is there are secret to it?

[leslie]

The secret is the uniqueness and scarcity of each watch...

Some even dun have proper water proofing seals liao. Still can wear meh?

[116520]

Can. Vintage rolex are like vintage cars, you wear them once in a blue moon. Of course you can wear it everyday but you must be able to afford the maintenance costs and also the shortage of replacement of some parts. RSC even refused to accept some vintage models for general servicing, so you need to know your lobang to service your vintages as well...

Some even dun have proper water proofing seals liao. Still can wear meh?

[taxico]

there is no secret: (supply + demand) doesn't always = reasonable purchase.

it is worth only as much as someone is willing to pay...

in the murky world of vintage cars, there'll always be buyer for cars of any condition as long as the price is right.

sometimes a seller can get lucky and get a better than expected price for a below average (or even poorly rated) car.

as someone who has a slight interest in vintage cars, when properly restored and maintained, they can be daily drivers. i have friends who are happy to have just one vintage car as a daily driver rain or shine (maybe not snow), and others who have a garage full of vehicles under ferrari red satin covers that only see light once a year or two (once every one OR two years).

all of the above apply to vintage rolex watches.

if you can buy a beat up vintage rolex watch at the right price and restore it into a daily wearer for a good (low) price, it's well worth it for, if nothing, just the experience itself. modern rolex watches cannot replicate the feel of vintage pieces.

and like vintage cars... it's definitely not to everyone's taste so YMMV.