Rolex Market Overview 2019

Yacht Master II Ref 116621

Rolex Watch overview

Some people invest in a luxury item to celebrate a major achievement in their career or personal life, while others just want to wear this elegant timepiece that holds its value for years and years to come.

In Hong Kong, I know many parents have bought his kid a Birth Year Rolex and give them when they graduate from their University. Lucky kids!

The important thing to remember is to never rush into buying your first Rolex watch. You should do research to understand the different features that matter to you. Generally, you have the option to buy a brand new Rolex or a vintage one. For people who are planning on buying one for the first time, it may be worth considering buying brand new to make sure there are no issues.

One key thing you should know is, nowadays, it is almost impossible to buy Rolex at SRP (List price or Supplier Recommended Price) at AD (Authorized Dealer) for sport model.

If you decide to go for a previously-owned Rolex, you need to be sure about its histories such as any problem, defect, and its authenticity. Buying from a renowned Seller is suggested. From there, you can ask yourself if you want a Rolex that is dressy, sporty, casual or a little on the flashy side. The price tag also depends on the model and the features you want in the watch.

What are the Rolex Sport models?

Yacht Master II, Explorer II, Daytona, Submariner, Sea Dweller, GMT Master II, Sky Dweller, Air King and Milgauss.

Non Sport Model is Day Date, Perpetual Oyster, Date Just, and the Cellini.

Price and Discount in Hong Kong

All Rolex watch under the same model carries the Same SRP price in all AD shops as this is controlled by Rolex.

Discounts

All Sport model might not be offered any discount now at AD.

Well, to my understanding, there is some exceptional cases that if you are the SVIPs as you may buy another watch or jewelry item worth Half a Millions the same time you buy the Rolex.

New Rule since November 2018.

All Rolex watches are require to put name of the purchaser on the name card,

The White tag carries the S/N number of the watch had to be confiscated by the Manager

The manager will put done the Date of the purchase on the Warranty card

All the sticker on the watch have to be removed

And the bracelet has to be resized a nd you are required to wear it immediately to leave the Shop.

Also they have t take a picture on the resized watch and the filled up warranty card and that picture will be sent to Rolex HQs in Hong Kong.

Price Adjustment

There are two major price adjustment, one is Nov 2012 for all Rolex Model increased by 3-5%

The other time was August 2014 that only few Sport models price were increased by 3 to 6 Percent.

Only till 31 Jan 2019, all Rolex model price were increased from HK$2000, to HK$30,000

With exception that the model GMT Master II White Gold Pepsi Ref 116719BLRO decreased from HK$297,900 to HK$286,800!

Market Price

Due to Demand and supply not in balance, also a lot of people going to invest on Rolex after they surrender in purchase of the home in HK, as House in Hong Kong has been the world No. 1 highest since 2011.  An average hone will take us 19 years annual income to buy!

Daytona Ceramic Ref 116500LN white is now selling at HK$188,000  which is 1.94X the SRP HK$96,700

GMT Master II Pepsi Ref 126710BLRO is selling at HK$131,500 which is 1.8X the SRP HK$72,700

Batman GMT Master II Ref 116710BLNR is now selling at HK$107,000 which is 1.53X the SPR HK$69,600

Submariner Single Red Ref 126600  is selling HK$106,000 which is 1.19X the SRP of HK$88,500

Submariner Ceramic Ref 116610LN is selling HK$79,000 which is 1.189X SRP of HK$66,400

Discontinued Model

Rolex Manager told me that Explorer II has been discontinued. Though He is a manager but Rolex seldom announce that certain Model will be discontinued till the Release of the new Model. So let’s watch out at Basel World 2019.

Milgauss green glass should be also in the list of discontinuity. Ref 116400GV 

Basel 2019 Rolex new release

There used to have a lot of guess on what Rolex would have in the Basel 2019

These are some of my idea

Explorer II

2018 was the 65th anniversary of the Submariner and the Explorer Ref 214270. Obviously both anniversaries went by unobserved. In fact, I'm not aware of any anniversary model that wasn't a 50th-year tribute - I'm not aware of any significant anniversaries next year. The Explorer II turns 50 in 2021, so it might make sense for Rolex to hold off on any changes in that model until then.  Ceramic Explorer II may come with ceramic Bezel for the first time by 2020

Submariner

I think the Submariner will get some attention in 2019. I think that the Submariner's current 3135 movement will get replaced with the new 3285 movement that was placed in the new Pepsi. The new Model shall be 216610LN with 70 hour power reserve and may have a slightly tapered lug transition to bracelet. The other not new in 2018 but current GMTs still have the 3186 movement.

GMT Master II

Will there be a Coke Version released this year, I am not too sure, may not be in this year.

Daytona

I cannot think of what major changes could take place on the Current Model 116500LN!

Supply to Watch Buyer

Still Rolex has a high production still cannot supply enough to the Rolex Fans…. So price will be still up in the SKY

Will you imagine that a Daytona Steel would be going to the price of HK$195,000 ? Possible and soon!

How Many Rolex Watches were made a year?

Nobody outside Rolex (or Wilsdorf foundation) knows the exact number of Rolex Watch made each year, but our estimated number is between 800,000 and 950,000 a year. As remembered that Rolex had reduced 50% of Sport models in 2017.  We also think that Rolex control its number as dynamic, which means they can go up and down depending on the economic climate, demand situation or price control. We’ve seen some years that weren’t easy, probably also not for Rolex. It makes us a bit hard to convince that Rolex is not able to fulfill the demand for these stainless steel models such as the Submariner and GMT-Master. In my opinion, Rolex Simply does not want to make vast expansion on production because Rolex Does not need to be responsible for his share-holders as Rolex is a private company!

How Do I look at the Rolex as for Investment?

Well, I think there is possibility Hulk will be discontinued this 2019 after its first appearing on 2010, Sorry We say this every year but it seems the Hulk never Die, LOL!

Batman instead was introduced in 2014 but up to now its price is even higher than Hulk in the open market! Why? Because rumor is that will be discontinued, again this may be rumor only.

But the fact is Batman is selling in the market HK$107,000 whereas Hulk is priced at HK$102,000.

I think these are the best Rolex investment for 2019.

BUY:-

1. Daytona Ceramic 116500LN White
2. Batman GMT Master II 116710BLNR
3. Submariner Hulk 116610LV
4. Explorer II 216570 Black

This is purely my personal comment on Rolex, you are welcome to give your comment.

HK Snob