Which Rolex to invest?

[dleekc]

for this, it is hard to say.

some people say zenith movement daytona is an iconic piece. i agree. probably the die hard rolex fans and collectors will know the difference between a zenith movement one and a non-zenith movement one.

in the past, i told myself that if i get the daytona, i must get the zenith movement now. after looking @ trying to purchase one for 4 years, i still dont own a daytona.

reason 1- i dont feel it is worth to pay so much for a zenith movement one.

reason 2 - the premium price before the financial downturn was too high a price for me to pay. if one had purchase a daytona during the first quarter of 08, one may had paid up to 18k. look @ the price of a BNIB now. it is ~15k. black dial.

if u really want to get a zenith movement, ask yourself, how much is it worth in your eyes. everyone one of us puts a different value on it. u have to decide for yourself, do you want to part premium pricing for a watch just for this movement? i wont.

Yo pal, thks for yr pointers. U're absolutely right. At times it is a very tough decision. Based on my last shopping back in a couple of mths, the price for zenith movement still very stiff. Probably I will hold & wait till Q2 & Q3 of 2009as I'm not in a hurry to purchase one yet. Maybe I could save a couple of thousands if I purchase during then. Btw, back in 11yrs ago, I was offered 11K for zenith movement but I did not execute becos at that price, this watch was still selling above list

[keltzar]

If you're buying new, I don't think any of them are a real investment purely because they are not all that rare. If you HAVE to get a new watch, consider the rarer 3186-movement GMT-2 16710.

If you want to talk investment, go real vintage.

Learn about and go find a Red Sub 1680. There are lots of duds and non-original parts watches out there... but if you have $15k to spend... keep an eye open and you may find one this year as prices slide. These were trading for S$30k at their peek 1+ year ago... so plenty of upside.

The head of Antiquorum was quoted as saying the Sub 1680 will be a good investment moving forward... he was only referrin to the later white-sub. The earlier red-sub is far rarer.

Other "investment" type pieces , all being vintage... would be say Submariner 168000 (produced for 9months), Sea-Dweller 16660 (produced for 2 years?)... GMT 16750 (5++ years), GMT 16760 (2 years) and Explorer-2 16550.

There are even earlier and rarer pieces of course, but that is for a richer budget.

If you look at regular rolex production from the 1990s onward... the volumes are so large that they will never be truly rare... so their prices will be subject to the economy and fashion/fads.

If you must buy recent production ... can also consider the sub16610LV... at least that one is notionally rare and as I understand, has stopped production.

[Destro22BT]

I'd love to get a Zenith Daytona myself, and here's why: The Zenith Daytona has moved into the cartegory of 'neo-vintage'. Once a watch moves into this category, its price hardly takes a massive beating, recession-wise. Just look at the 1655, 3 pieces were offered to me at S$13k in 2005, but I gave it a pass since I wasn't really that crazy about watches and I felt that anything more than S$5k is too much to pay for a watch....too bad for me. So, although prices have dropped significantly, no way the price of the 1655's gonna drop back to the S$13k level at any point of time. It might normalize to about S$20k+ at its lowest, but nothing lower IMO. In regards to the Zenith Daytona, there is a visible difference in the dial between the Zenith and the contemporary 116520, and that's what matters. Rolex enthusiasts have cooked up the market with even the slightest of dial difference e.g. GMT 2 stick dial, a.k.a. GMT 'eleven', charging a premium over the standard GMT II dial. With this in mind, what more can you say about the difference between Zenith Daytona's dial over the contemporary ones? Inner chapter rings are different, hands are different, placement of the subdials are different. And therefore, I feel that it definitely deserves a premium over the contemporary daytona. My 2 cents.

[teo]

I'd love to get a Zenith Daytona myself, and here's why: The Zenith Daytona has moved into the cartegory of 'neo-vintage'. Once a watch moves into this category, its price hardly takes a massive beating, recession-wise. Just look at the 1655, 3 pieces were offered to me at S$13k in 2005, but I gave it a pass since I wasn't really that crazy about watches and I felt that anything more than S$5k is too much to pay for a watch....too bad for me. So, although prices have dropped significantly, no way the price of the 1655's gonna drop back to the S$13k level at any point of time. It might normalize to about S$20k+ at its lowest, but nothing lower IMO. In regards to the Zenith Daytona, there is a visible difference in the dial between the Zenith and the contemporary 116520, and that's what matters. Rolex enthusiasts have cooked up the market with even the slightest of dial difference e.g. GMT 2 stick dial, a.k.a. GMT 'eleven', charging a premium over the standard GMT II dial. With this in mind, what more can you say about the difference between Zenith Daytona's dial over the contemporary ones? Inner chapter rings are different, hands are different, placement of the subdials are different. And therefore, I feel that it definitely deserves a premium over the contemporary daytona. My 2 cents.

Yes I agree with what you said bro. Indeed the Zenith Daytona has moved into the cartegory of 'neo-vintage'. It will be more expensive when time to come.

[Ballwatch]

Hi Bros, I saw you've some insight into the Daytona.

Just saw this comment in one of the WTS threads: "...a very collectable daytona . SS black dial A series . To my limited knowledge only the A and P series comes with Luminova markers thus making it a very collectable pc."

What're these Luminova markers & is it true only A & P series come with them?

[Destro22BT]

Hi Bros, I saw you've some insight into the Daytona.

Just saw this comment in one of the WTS threads: "...a very collectable daytona . SS black dial A series . To my limited knowledge only the A and P series comes with Luminova markers thus making it a very collectable pc."

What're these Luminova markers & is it true only A & P series come with them?

I think u're referring to T dials? if memory serves me correct, some of the P series dials are T dials and not l dials. A series should be the last of the Zenith Daytonas that come with L dials and SEL. Maybe some bros who are more well versed with Daytona could confirm this? Rolex collectors are more interested in gilt dials as opposed to glossy dials instead of whether they are L or T dials (Of course, the Rolex gilt dials are by default T dials). Panerai enthusiasts on the other hand are pretty crazy about T dials, as the tritium markers, once patina'ed gives a very vintage feel.

[Destro22BT]

Yes I agree with what you said bro. Indeed the Zenith Daytona has moved into the cartegory of 'neo-vintage'. It will be more expensive when time to come.

Not to mention also.... in the earlier Zenith Daytonas... the inverted 6...grrrr.... kekeke....

[Ballwatch]

I think u're referring to T dials? if memory serves me correct, some of the P series dials are T dials and not l dials. A series should be the last of the Zenith Daytonas that come with L dials and SEL. Maybe some bros who are more well versed with Daytona could confirm this? Rolex collectors are more interested in gilt dials as opposed to glossy dials instead of whether they are L or T dials (Of course, the Rolex gilt dials are by default T dials). Panerai enthusiasts on the other hand are pretty crazy about T dials, as the tritium markers, once patina'ed gives a very vintage feel.

Pardon me, but I'm more confused:

1. T dial.
2. l dials.
3. L dials
4. SEL.
5. gilt dials
6. glossy dials

Initially, I quoted "Luminova markers" from a WTS thread cos dunno what it refers to.

Can help to enlighten? Thanks

[Destro22BT]

T dials - Tritium Dials
l dials - small typo in my previous post. I was referring to 'L' Dial which means Luminova dials
Gilt dial - Matt dials, go check out some vintage rolex.
Glossy dial - the shiny dials with piano finish on contemporary rolexes.

[Ballwatch]

T dials - Tritium Dials
l dials - small typo in my previous post. I was referring to 'L' Dial which means Luminova dials
Gilt dial - Matt dials, go check out some vintage rolex.
Glossy dial - the shiny dials with piano finish on contemporary rolexes.

Thanks...guess I have to do more read-up

[yeshe]

If you must buy recent production ... can also consider the sub16610LV... at least that one is notionally rare and as I understand, has stopped production.

source from where? confirm boh?

[theOrion]

Hi There!

For the Daytona , the A series is somewhat of a transition. With some still bearing T dials(tritium) and same later ones Luminova dials. As the Zenith Daytona's production stopped at P, the ad was correct to say that not many of the Zenith's bear the Luminova dial.

The Daytona to me is quite a facinating watch, it somehow captures my heart like no other watch I've owned or own. It's evolution throughout the years and the variations in dials, makes it a very interesting watch to have, especially should you find one with a dial that is harder to come by(inverted 6, Floating cosmograph, etc) .

[cwtan12]

I dont believe you can enjoy the hobby to the fullest if you are thinking of making $ from it.

To answer your question, the Rolex investment with the highest return in Montres Rolex S.A. Look for Patrick Heiniger to find out more. Contact details is as follows:

Address: Rue Francois-Dussaud 3-5-7
CH-1211 Geneva 26, Switzerland
Phone: +41-22-302-22-00
Fax: +41-22-300-22-55

[triton]

Solid End Links

4. SEL.
Can help to enlighten? Thanks

[Ballwatch]

Solid End Links

Thanks