Best Investment Watches | Seven Luxury Watch Brands That Retain Their Value
A beautiful watch has a timeless appeal. Watch collectors will attest to the allure of a classic timepiece by a reputed watchmaker. Enthusiasts who keep their vintage watches in working condition can often sell them for high prices— sometimes running into tens of thousands of dollars— even decades after they first bought them. Read on to find out what are the best investment watches.
An Investment, Not Just an Accessory
The resale value of a watch depends on various factors, which we will explore further. We will also learn which brands make watches that retain their value better than others. Even pre-owned, certain brands like Rolex and Patek Philippe are so well-reputed that their watches remain in high demand. The second-hand and used watch market for luxury brands represents a chance for collectors to indulge their passion without burning a hole through their pockets. And when it comes to limited edition pieces, or high demand timepieces, pre-owned watches are the only option for passionate collectors.
A luxury watch is not just an accessory. It’s an investment. Depending on the brand and make of the watch, its value can even appreciate over the years. For example, used Rolex watches that are no longer in production can be sold for an even higher price than they were bought. If you want to buy a watch from a luxury watchmaker, certified pre-owned watches can get you a better price. In turn, if you ever wish to sell the watch yourself, you can recoup its value more quickly since you did not pay the retail price.
Watch Brands With the Best Resale Value
Whether you are buying from the watchmaker itself or from a pre-owned watch dealership, there are some brands you can always count on to command a good resale price. These are brands with traditions of craftsmanship and artistry. Brands that have built a reputation for unmatched quality over decades, if not centuries. Demand for their timepieces is always high among watch enthusiasts. Buying a watch from them represents a worthwhile investment, as the value will not likely depreciate over time. The best investment watches that retain the most value on the second-hand watch market include:
1.) Rolex
Where else to begin but with Rolex? The Swiss watchmaker’s brand has been synonymous with luxury watches in consumers’ minds for decades. Ever since the company was founded in 1905, Rolex has delighted watch collectors with series after series of luxury watches.
Among luxury brands, Rolex is famous for creating watches specially designed for use in extreme environments. There is a Rolex model for deep-sea diving, caving, mountain climbing, polar exploration, and aviation! Used Rolex watches command a high resale price because their high-quality movements keep them accurate for years.
Recommended Rolex Models
Shop online for pre-owned Rolex watches here.
2.) Patek Philippe
When it comes to luxury watches, there are few brands with a legacy as impressive as Patek Philippe. This Swiss watchmaker first began manufacturing watches and clocks in 1839. Nearly two hundred years later, Patek Philippe watches are considered the most prestigious among watch collectors.
Patek Philippe watches have been sold through prestigious auction houses like Christie’s and Sotheby’s. Throughout its history, the brand has pioneered new techniques in watchmaking, making some of the most complicated wrist watches and pocket watches ever seen.
Recommended Patek Philippe Models
Bring home a Patek Philippe watch for your collection.
3.) Cartier
The Cartier brand has been synonymous with luxury since its inception. Cartier’s designs have set new standards for premium accessories for over 150 years, whether it’s jewelry or watches. The company’s founder, Louis Cartier, is sometimes credited with inventing the first-ever wristwatch in 1904.
In 2005, Cartier began manufacturing its movements at a newly opened, ultra-modern facility in Switzerland.
Recommended Models
Embrace luxury with a second-hand Cartier watch.
4.) Audemars Piguet
Watches from Audemars Piguet have been a symbol of luxury since the company’s beginnings in 1875. The exquisite designs, with cut-outs that reveal the watch’s inner workings, have been a hallmark of the Audemars Piguet brand. The most popular series from this brand is the Royal Oak line. There have been many iterations of this highly successful series since its first appearance in 1972.
As with many other top luxury watch brands, Audemars Piguet is also a proud follower of the Swiss watchmaking tradition. From octagonal dials to tapisserie patterns, Audemars Piguet watches boast a signature, unmistakable style.
Recommended AP Models:
Buy used Audemars Piguet watches online.
5.) Vacheron Constantin
The company motto of Vacheron Constantin translates to “Do better if possible, and that is always possible.” With an attitude like that, it’s no surprise that the Vacheron Constantin brand has been associated with excellence in horology since its founding in 1755. The company has had over 260 years to perfect its art and has made some of the most sought-after timepieces for collectors. Even royalty harbors a desire for Vacheron Constantin watches, with a dignitary no less esteemed than the King of Egypt bidding $2.77 million for one at an auction in 2005.
With two manufacturing plants in Switzerland and a centuries-old legacy for inspiration, Vacheron Constantin watches represent a high-value investment for any collector.
Recommended Vacheron Constantin Models
- Overseas Chronograph Blue Dial
- Historiques American 1921 Pink Gold
- Fifty-Six Self-Winding
Add a certified pre-owned Vacheron Constantin watch to your collection.
6.) IWC
The International Watch Company, better known as IWC to watch collectors, offers pieces that are an ideal blend of luxury and functionality. The company was founded in 1848 and has even played a part in the greatest conflicts of the 20th century! IWC manufactured watches for pilots during World War I and World War II. That focus on aviation-centric design persists to this day, with IWC being one of the most popular luxury watch brands among pilots. IWC was also one of the first Swiss watchmakers to start operations in an industrial manufacturer, doing so at a time when many contemporaries still worked out of their homes or small workshops.
The IWC brand represents ambition, precision, and luxury. And the popularity of its designs among watch enthusiasts makes it a worthwhile addition to any collection.
Recommended IWC Models
- Big Pilot’s Watch
- Portugieser Chronograph
- Da Vinci Moon Phase 36
Browse a selection of like-new IWC watches online.
7.) Tudor
All long-time watch collectors know about the links between Tudor and Rolex. But for the uninitiated, here’s the short version: Tudor was founded in 1946 by Hans Wilsdorf, the same watchmaker who founded Rolex. Since then, it has existed as a sister brand to Rolex.
But Tudor watches are worth owning for more than just the Rolex association. The brand has carved out a niche as a beginner-friendly luxury watch. For those looking to start their collection, Tudor watches represent a sensible investment that will retain value. Tudor’s timepieces are also rugged and durable, even for a dress watch. In fact, from the 1960s to the 1980s, national navies of countries, including the U.S. and France, would issue Tudor watches to their divers.
Buying a Tudor watch is a sensible decision for collectors. They can possess a luxury item at an affordable price, which will likely increase in value over time.
Recommended Tudor Models
Begin your luxury watch collection with a second-hand Tudor watch.
Why Watches Make a Good Investment
A premium watch is a prestige item. Those passionate about watchmaking appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into making something so intricate. Apart from the years of joy a collector gets from owning rare, beautiful timepieces, luxury watches can also be sold for a fair price by a savvy owner.
Collecting watches is undoubtedly an enjoyable hobby. But it can also be a lucrative one. Here are the top four reasons you should consider your luxury watches as investments, not just collectibles.
Portable Asset
Luxury watches are highly portable, high-value assets to own. In this regard, they serve a similar function to jewelry collections. They can be moved around or safely stored with great ease.
Potential Profits
While most luxury items lose value over time — think of sports cars or designer clothes — watches do not. A watch’s value stays relatively stable and might even exceed the price it was bought at if it was a second-hand purchase.
Reasonable Stability
Like stocks or real estate, watch prices are at the mercy of market forces. Although even during an economic downturn, luxury watches often have good resale value on the second-hand market and in most cases appreciate over time.
Resale Value
Owning a watch is not just a style statement. It’s also a potential windfall. A thriving community of watch collectors worldwide fuels a robust market for quality second-hand and pre-owned watches- and they are willing to pay top dollar for the right timepiece.
Any budding watch collector must learn more about the second-hand watch market. Armed with knowledge, you can add the best investment watches that boost the value of your entire collection.
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