Last week I talked at length about the launch of the new 2020 Rolex Submariner. At the time I wondered what effect that launch might have on the pre-owned market. Mystery over! In the last couple of weeks I have been lucky enough to sell three absolutely exquisite Rolex Subs 5513's and an 'as new' 2019 Hulk. Let's just say demand is high. And who can blame those buyers. There is nothing more appealing than a legendary timepiece which, by default, is now in limited supply.
As I wrote last week I think the new sub is a very nice watch and probably a future classic. But what it seems to have done, more than anything, is stimulate the used market into meltdown. And where demand goes up, so does the value of those watches. And if history tells us anything there are few timepieces that generate a bull market quite like the Rolex Submariner.
The truth is the whole history of Rolex Submariners is littered with classics that have proven resistant to the competition, economic downturns, impersonators and changes in cultural tastes. As always the thing about Subs is the glacial evolution of the design. (I'd still argue you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between this 1963 model and this one from 1984.) Rolex have always had the knack of making subtle changes in line with the ever changing zeitgeist. In fact in many instances they have led the way in setting the trends of tomorrow.
That makes them incredibly contemporary and incredibly wearable. And with that bomb proof build quality it's hard to think of an investment that is so close to a sure thing that you can enjoy day in day out. So if you've ever been tempted perhaps now is the time to take the plunge with a Sub. That is if you can find one of course!