Many watch enthusiasts have been shaking their heads at the financial performance of certain luxury watches. **It is not uncommon to deviate completely from the previous list price and remain high. In another article, I talked about how you can buy a watch for less than the list price. This time, we will take a look at five watches that have been **large** but still worth the money in recent years. We looked at some data on used models collected between 2017 and 2023, bringing together some classics as well as some lesser-known ones. What all these watches have in common is that they are likely or very likely to appreciate in value. This means that they not only offer a good price/performance ratio today, but also have a lot of potential in the future.
The Omega Speedmaster Pro Moonwatch "Tintin".
The OMEGA Speedmaster Pro "Tintin" Moonwatch Racing Dial Reference Number. 311.30.42.30.01.004 performed well between 2017 and 2023. The watch's ** went from about $3,500 to about $14,000. That's a 300% appreciation.
This moon watch was nicknamed "Tintin" because the colors on the minute scale were reminiscent of the rockets that comic book heroes Tintin and Strupi landed on the moon. Like other Speedmaster Pro Moonwatch models, the Tintin comes in a 42mm stainless steel case. At the heart of the watch is the OMEGA 1861 manual movement (based on Lemania 1873) with a power reserve of 48 hours. A hesalite crystal and five-link stainless steel bracelet are standard.
The Omega Speedmaster Pro "Tintin" Moonwatch appreciates by 300%.
Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 1A-010
Patek Philippe is a star of performance – how could it not?Classic stainless steel Nautilus 5711 1A-010. It's no secret that the ** and value of this model has fluctuated over the years, so everything we're saying here applies as of mid-November. So far, the watch has appreciated by 297% in six years. In other words, the intact piece sells for $122,000.
In 2006, Patek Philippe launched the Nautilus 5711 1A-010 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the collection. In case you forgot, Gérald Genta, the world star of watches, designed the first watch in 1976. According to Genta, he wrote the design on a restaurant napkin two years ago and apparently it was a huge success.
The main features of the Nautilus are its wide octagonal bezel, the "ears" on either side of the case, and the integrated bracelet. At the heart of the watch is the Patek Philippe Manufacture Caliber 324 C, which offers a power reserve of 45 hours.
Patek Philippe's best-in-class Nautilus 5711 1A-010
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo 15202stoo.1240st.01
This list would not be complete without a high-quality Audemars Piguet watch. The brand is almost entirely defined by its successful Royal Oak collection. Like the Patek Philippe Nautilus, the original royal oak was designed by Gérald Genta. However, the Royal Oak was born in 1972, a few years before the Nautilus. This model features an octagonal bezel with eight screws (called a porthole look) and an integrated bracelet.
The Royal Oak was the first luxury watch made of stainless steel. Prior to this, only watches made of *** were considered true luxury. Today, model 15202stoo.1240st.The 01 (also known as the Royal Oak "Jumbo" ultra-thin watch) is particularly popular. This 39mm model is powered by the Audemars Piguet calibre 2121 calibre with a power reserve of 40 hours.
Since 2017, the value of this watch has increased by 240%. *From approximately $20,000 to $68,000 (as of mid-November 2023).
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo 15202stoo.1240st.01 Excellent.
Rolex Daytona 116508 Green Dial**
Geneva-based manufacturer Rolex has a myriad of popular models on the market that are likely to remain firm or appreciate in value. Among them is the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, which is one of the most popular watches. It has been referenced countless times since it was first released in 1963. Over the past six years, the value of almost all of these references has increased.
The 18-carat**, green-dial Rolex Daytona 116508 has been remarkably stable in value between 2017 and 2023. The case of this model houses the Manufacture Rolex Calibre 4130 with a power reserve of 72 hours.
Fact: 116508 was about $27,000 in 2017 and about $80,000 now. The appreciation is about 200%.
Very good value for money – Rolex Daytona 116508
Cartier Santos Carrée 2961 White dial Rolesor.
French luxury watch jewelry brand Cartier also has a model that has performed well over the past six years and is still worth the money. I'm talking about Santos Carrée 2961 with a white dial. The first Santos was designed by Louis Cartier in 1904, making Santos the world's first men's watch. One of its signature features is its large, oblique Roman numeral hour markers.
Cartier launched the Santos Carrée in 1978 and ceased production in the 90s, meaning it was already a vintage model. The watch is made of stainless steel and** and measures just 29mm x 41mm, making it the perfect watch for any gender. Inside, it is based on the Cartier automatic calibre EA 2671 and has a power reserve of 38 hours.
While the ** of many luxury watches has declined in recent months, the ** of the Santos Carrée 2961 has been steady**. In 2017, the watch sold for around $1,700, while in late 2023, the watch sold for around $4,400. So, it's a good investment that still has a lot of potential.
Cartier Santos Carrée 2961 A vintage watch with great potential.
That's it for our curated reference list of value for money. All of these watches come from well-known luxury watch manufacturers and have the potential to remain stable or increase in value over time.