Introduction

In the world of luxury timepieces, certain watches stand out not only for their craftsmanship but also for their investment potential. For collectors looking to combine passion with profitability, these top 5 investment watches for 2024 are prime candidates.

2. Patek Philippe Nautilus

• Investment Rationale: Limited production and high desirability drive the Nautilus’s value. Known for its elegant design and exceptional craftsmanship, it remains highly sought after.
• Notable Features: Stainless steel construction, porthole-inspired design, integrated bracelet.
• Historical Significance: Designed by Gérald Genta in 1976, it’s a symbol of luxury sports watches.

3. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

• Investment Rationale: The Royal Oak’s legendary status and innovative design contribute to its strong market presence. Its unique octagonal bezel and integrated bracelet set it apart.
• Notable Features: Stainless steel case, “Tapisserie” patterned dial.
• Historical Significance: Introduced in 1972, it was the first luxury sports watch made of stainless steel.

4. Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch

• Investment Rationale: The Speedmaster’s association with NASA’s moon missions and its steady value growth make it a wise investment. It combines historical significance with reliable performance.
• Notable Features: Hesalite crystal, manual-winding chronograph movement.
• Historical Significance: The first watch worn on the moon in 1969.

5. Tudor Black Bay

• Investment Rationale: Tudor’s rising popularity and affordability make the Black Bay an attractive investment. Its vintage-inspired design appeals to both new and seasoned collectors.
• Notable Features: Domed dial, “snowflake” hands, robust movement.
• Historical Significance: Inspired by Tudor’s diving watches from the 1950s and 60s.

Conclusion

Investing in luxury watches offers the dual benefit of owning exquisite timepieces and potentially significant financial returns. Each model listed has a proven track record of value appreciation and remains in high demand among collectors. As the market for luxury watches continues to grow, these investment watches are set to become even more desirable in 2024.

The Birth of Rolex

• 1905: Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis established Rolex in London, initially importing Hermann Aegler’s Swiss movements.
• 1910: Rolex earned the first Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision for a wristwatch, marking the beginning of its reputation for accuracy.

Key Milestones

• 1926: The Oyster Case
  • The world’s first waterproof wristwatch, the Oyster case, revolutionized watchmaking. Its hermetically sealed design protected the movement from dust and moisture, setting a new standard for durability.
• 1945: The Datejust
  • The Datejust was the first wristwatch to display the date through an aperture on the dial, combining functionality with elegance. It remains one of Rolex’s most beloved models.
• 1953: The Submariner
  • Designed for diving, the Submariner was the first watch waterproof to 100 meters. Its robust build and rotating bezel made it indispensable for divers and became an icon in the watch industry.
• 1963: The Cosmograph Daytona
  • Tailored for professional racing drivers, the Daytona featured a tachymetric scale and robust chronograph functionality, gaining legendary status, especially after its association with Paul Newman.

Iconic Models

• Rolex Submariner
  • Introduction: Launched in 1953, the Submariner is famed for its association with diving and its rugged design.
  • Features: Waterproof to 300 meters, unidirectional bezel, luminescent markers.
  • Significance: Known as the archetype of the diver’s watch, it has seen numerous iterations and remains highly sought after by collectors.
• Rolex Day-Date
  • Introduction: Unveiled in 1956, it was the first watch to display the day and date.
  • Features: Available only in precious metals, iconic President bracelet.
  • Significance: Worn by numerous world leaders, it’s nicknamed the “President’s Watch.”
• Rolex GMT-Master
  • Introduction: Created in 1954 for Pan Am pilots, capable of displaying multiple time zones.
  • Features: Rotatable 24-hour graduated bezel, additional 24-hour hand.
  • Significance: A favorite among travelers and aviation professionals.
• Rolex Explorer
  • Introduction: Inspired by the 1953 Everest expedition, launched in the same year.
  • Features: Robust, easy-to-read dial, Oystersteel construction.
  • Significance: Designed for extreme conditions, embodies the spirit of adventure.

Technological Innovations

• Perpetual Movement
  • Introduced in 1931, the Perpetual movement marked the advent of the self-winding mechanism, a staple in Rolex watches that harnesses kinetic energy from the wearer’s wrist movements.
• Cerachrom Bezel
  • Developed to resist scratching and fading, Cerachrom bezels are crafted from a highly durable ceramic material, ensuring the watch retains its aesthetic appeal over time.

Conclusion

Rolex’s journey from a small workshop in London to a global symbol of luxury and precision is marked by continuous innovation and a commitment to excellence. Each milestone and model has contributed to the brand’s prestigious status in the world of horology. Rolex’s legacy is not just in its watches but in its unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of watchmaking.

To the untrained eye it might just appear to be any old Rolex Submariner, however this one has just sold at Auction for a staggering £230,000. This new record was set on the 11th October 2017 at Lockdale Auctioneers, near Ipswich where bidders from all around the world had flown in for the auction. The watch was brought by an Italian collector after a bidding war which set a new UK record.

The watch has had a lucky life to say the least after falling off the original owners wrist and diving into a cement mixer a few years ago. Its a miracle its in the condition its in, not to mention the extremely rare, original Arabic Numerals on the dial. The dial is also called the “explorer dial” amongst watch enthusiasts, an ultra rare piece of Rolex history.

Over 100 people entered the Auction online and in house however nobody knew it would achieve 30times more than its original estimate.

To date, the highest bid ever placed on a watch is the stainless-steel Patek Philippe that achieved an eye-watering $11.1 million at the Phillips auction house in November. Patek Philippe only produced 281 of these vintage 1941 models, majority in gold. However only 4 were made in stainless steel.

Amongst the most collectable timepieces is the Rolex Daytona 6239, a rare, limited run produced from 1966 until the mid-1970s. The watch was only made famous by the actor Paul Newman who wore one daily in the 1970s. When they were first introduced they were not the most popular, in fact most dealers had difficulty selling them! Recent auctions have previously sold the Daytona 6239 for extremely high figures as in May an 18ct solid gold “Paul Newman” Daytona reached $3.7 million at Phillips in Geneva. A year prior the same auction house sold a stainless-steel version for $2 million, however these two watches were not owned by one the biggest actors of the 1970s.

Phillips auctioneers estimate that Newman’s stainless-steel Rolex Daytona watch will fetch more than $1 million, considering a standard Daytona 6239 achieved $2m its quite an under-estimate! Given its history and condition, vintage watch enthusiasts are predicting figures as high as $10 million! The auction will take place in New York October 26th.

To mark the 40 years of the Royal Oak, A.P have collaborated with jewellery designer Carolina Bucci and produced an ancient Florentine technique on the Ladies range. Carolina Bucci has said “We have had nothing added to the watch, nor subtracted anything– Just altered the surface of the Gold to make it sparkle whilst catching the light”

The process is rooted in ancient gold hammering, which was known as the Florentine technique. Beating the gold with a diamond tipped tool creates tiny indentations on the surface, giving a sparkle effect similar to that of precious stones, like diamond dust.

The Bao Dai Rolex Watch Sells For Over $5 Million At Phillips Auction, Effectively Setting A New World Record

As the auction is still going on in Geneva US, Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, a leading watch auction house, has announced that it’s set a brand new world record for the highest bid ever achieved at auction for a Rolex wristwatch.  The Rolex watch that sold for an astonishing $5,060,427 is infact a legendary timepiece,  Reference 6062: “Bao Dai.”  The Boa Dai Rolex watch was owned by His Majesty Bao Dai, who was the last emperor of Vi

As told, there was a staggering eight-minute bidding war between 10 bidders at the Hotel La Reserve in Geneva US, and 3 people bidding by telephone. The Bao Dai watch is a triple calendar with moonphase indication. Crafted in 18-karat yellow gold, it’s just one of only three black-dial models known to exist to date. The Bao Dai is the only one that features beautiful diamond markers at the even hours, making it a sought-after unique piece.

In order for them to put the diamond marker at the 12:00 position, certain things had to be shifted. The Rolex crown logo was moved down on the dial along with the “Rolex Oyster Perpetual” words, and the “officially Certified Chronometer” wording was placed under the moon phase indicator as oppsed to being in the center of the dial. This Rolex watch is considered by many experts and extreme collectors as the holy grail piece and quite possibly one of the most valuable Rolex watches on the market to date. Believe it or not, it was first sold at auction in 2002 for a then record breaking 370,000 Swiss Francs.

Born Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thụy, Bao Dia was the 13th emperor of Nguyen Dynasty (and the very last). He was never granted the title Bao Dai (Keeper of Greatness) until he took the throne in 1925 at the age of just 12 years old.

In 2013 Rolex introduced the Rolex Yacht-Master 116680 in Stainless Steel. 4 years on the Yacht-Master II has had a minor facelift. So whats new? If you compare the old model to the new model there isn’t huge, clear and visible changes however the Yacht-Master II now contains a slightly new dial, and new/traditional “Mercedes” hands to enhance the legibility of the overall appearance of the watch.

The white dial now has a small triangular hour marker at the 12 o’clock position and a discreet rectangular hour marker at 6 o’clock, rather than a square which featured on its predecessor. The facelift isn’t just available on the stainless steel model, the whole Yacht-Master II range has been updated which include the Solid 18ct Yellow Gold , White Gold and the Bi-Metal model.

Launched in 2012, the Sky-Dweller was initially available in the choices of precious metals such as 18ct Yellow, White and Rose Gold. With the ability to set two time zones, annual calendar and date, Rolex have never produced such a complicated movement which proved an instant hit.

5 years later Rolex have impressed us again by producing this watch in stainless steel and bi-metal. First unveiled on March 22nd 2017 at the Basel Watch Fair the watch has a variation of Blue, White & Black dial formats. If you choose to go for the steel & 18ct yellow gold model you have the choice of Champagne, Black, and White dials.

The 42mm stainless steel model bears the reference 326934 and holds a solid 18ct white gold fluted bezel as standard and is fitted to the stainless steel oyster bracelet with the latest Oyster Clasp and 5mm extension link for additional comfort. The bi-metal model holds the reference number 326933 and comes with the solid 18ct yellow gold fluted bezel and the oyster bracelet in stainless steel and solid 18ct yellow gold. The calibre 9001 movement still remains the same as the solid gold pieces and is water resistant to 100 meters/330 feet.

The current UK RRP for the Stainless Steel Model is £10,600 and £12,600 for the Bi-Metal, which is not too harsh when you consider the complicated movement within! Unfortunately it is extremely unlikely to be getting one anytime soon if you haven’t already had your name down on the list as the waiting list! You might be expecting to pay quite a large percentage over list price if you are feeling impatient when the first models appear on the scene late September this year. If you would like to register your interest for the new Stainless Steel / Bi-Metal Sky-Dweller please contact us via E-mail…. info@ukspecialistwatches.co.uk

The All New 2017 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller “Red Writing”.

On March 22nd 2017 Rolex announced the discontinuation of the 40mm Sea-Dweller for it be replaced with the new 43mm Rolex 126600. The new model features a distinctive Gloss black dial with “Sea-Dweller” in the classic red font used on the very first model back in 1967 on the Rolex 1665 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Sea-Dweller. The dial also features large Chromalight hour markers and hands for the watch to be still visible in the dark depths of the ocean.

So what’s new with this model? The watch now has a larger 43mm 904L stainless steel case and features a completely new calibre 3235 movement developed entirely by Rolex with the ability to withstand shocks and magnetic fields, not to mention its impressive 70 hour power reserve and hold the ultimate precision in time-keeping.

Its not just the movement that’s new, the Rolex 126600 now has a sapphire crystal cyclops above the date window to make the date more legible underwater, although this has caused a slight stir with Sea-Dweller fans! The depth rating still remains the same to its predecessor (4000ft = 1220m) although that is nothing compared to the Deepsea’s talent!

Without a doubt the new Sea-Dweller will be the sports watch to own at the end of this year with waiting lists at Authorised Rolex Dealers getting bigger and bigger, its a must have piece. The current UK list price for the watch is £8,350 but if you want to beat the waiting lists you might be expecting to pay a lot more to get your hands on one. Please call us if you wish to register your interest in the new 2017 Rolex Sea-Dweller 126600!

The company known as Rolex who produce Rolex watches is possible one of the most secretive companies in the world to date.

Luckily, Rolex’ secrets are not of a shameful nature, such as this one secret recently revealed by a journalist who goes by the name of Alan Downing.

As it turns out, Hans Wilsdorf the founder of Rolex had left some specific instructions concerning a very small church in Geneva, Switzerland before he passed away.

The English Church of the Holy Trinity is the tiny church in question and for the past 147 years there has been a clock inside that has been ticking ever since.

Alan Downing found out from the church’s secretary that it was indeed Rolex that actually maintained the clock inside the church and a Rolex representative would come every Wednesday morning to wind up the clock.

Alan Downing pushed for answers from the Rolex technician – one Antonia Garcia –  to try and find out who performed the service and what the deal actually was. However Antonia Garcia could only reveal that it was an exclusive service provided completely free by the well known watch brand and had began way before his time.

According to The English Church of the Holy Trinity they had actually stopped paying for a watch winder in 1940 which is shown to be true on their church records. Wilsdorf unfortunately died in 1960, so it may have possibly been around that time when he told his company to keep the clock in good order.

It turns out that Wilsdorf was in fact a member of the congregation of the church whilst he lived in Geneva. It is quite possible that he adopted his faith in London during his early years of watch making.

As Downing persisted to ask questions regarding the clock he came to a stonewall when he tried to ask Rolex as to why the church clock was still on Rolex’s to-do list. This was no surprise to Downing, however after reaching out to the charity that legally owns Rolex, The Hans Wilsdorf Foundation was learned a bit.

Here is the response that Alan Downing received: “It is in keeping with Hans Wilsdorf’s personal wishes that the English church clock is maintained by Rolex,” said the Wilsdorf foundation representative.

New Zealand young person Lydia Ko amplified her lead on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings discharged Monday after she won the Marathon Classic for her fourth LPGA Tour triumph of the season.

Ko birdied the fourth playoff hole to win a playoff Sunday at the competition in Sylvania, Ohio.

The 19-year-old Ko won for the fourteenth time in her professional career. She has remained No. 1 for the 39th sequential week and is right now three weeks from tying Annika Sorenstam on the unsurpassed career weeks list at the highest point of the Rolex Rankings. Ko has burned through 58 all out weeks at No. 1 in her professional career.

Ko has a respectable 15.47-point average as the main five spots are unaltered from the earlier week.

Brooke Henderson, a 18-year-old Canadian, is second at 8.37, trailed by South Korea’s Inbee Park (7.88). Lexi Thompson (7.76) is No. 4 as the top American, took after South Korea’s Sei Young Kim (6.87.)

American Stacy Lewis is No. 8 in the wake of climbing one spot

License to sell: James Bond’s 1960’s Rolex Watch

James Bond may be best known for his smooth clothing and spy devices, however for his maker Ian Fleming “a honorable man’s decision of timepiece says as much in regards to him as does his Savile Row suit”.

Furthermore, now, one of the watches that framed a crucial piece of 007’s look right around five decades prior is to be sold in Monte Carlo by auction.

A Rolex uncommonly adjusted for George Lazenby in the 1969 Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is available to be purchased with sales management firm Artcurial and is assessed to go for upwards of €200,000 (£167,000).

The substantial silver watch, with a special chronograph hand, was composed by Swiss gem dealers Bucherer.

For sharp peered toward James Bond fans the watch is a particular piece of Lazenby’s look in the unrivaled time he showed up in the part, assuming control from Sean Connery for the 6th trip of the establishment. Bond can be seen wearing the look as he penetrates Piz Gloria, the Swiss allergy clinic run by Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the head of worldwide criminal organisation Spectre.

It is additionally the same watch that 007, caught in a cable car machinery room, used to record the timings of the cable cars and plot his getaway down the Swiss Alps.

The watch was purchased for 790 Swiss francs in 1968, and will be sold by auction together with the first receipt and a written by hand note from Bucherer, which says “this is the watch for James Bond”.

In spite of the fact that Bond has donned an Omega in late trips, in his original books, Fleming was exceptionally specific about the watch his spy ought to wear. Writing in his 1953 novel, Casino Royale, Fleming indicated that 007 “couldn’t simply wear a watch. It must be a Rolex watch“.

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If you’re an individual thinking I need to sell my rolex, why not contact UK Specialist Watches for a valuation.