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05/18/2020
 4 minutes

Will the coronavirus crisis burst the Rolex bubble?

By Donato Emilio Andrioli
CAM-1201-Preisentwicklungsartikel-2-1_Rolex

Will the coronavirus crisis burst the Rolex bubble?

The coronavirus crisis has shaken the entire economy, and the watch industry is no different. The crisis will certainly leave its mark: The end of Baselworld is nigh, licensed dealers are closing, and there seems to be a general decline in overall demand. Some brands have been bold enough to debut new releases on their websites and elsewhere despite the turmoil, but most of the industry giants have been playing it safe. Patek Philippe, for example, has decided to skip this year’s debuts and postpone all new releases until 2021. It remains up in the air whether or not Rolex will unveil anything new this year. So far, the famous Swiss manufacturer has postponed their new releases until further notice. But what does all of this mean for existing Rolex models? Is this crisis enough to finally burst the Rolex bubble? Or is the brand with the crown logo immune to the economic upheaval? We dug into our Chrono24 market data to find answers to these questions and more. 

 

Signs the Rolex Bubble Could Burst 

If you look at Chrono24’s figures, there are two indications that may suggest the bubble is ready to pop. First, the number of Rolex models listed for sale on Chrono24 has risen by 4.8% in 2020 compared to the previous year. This could signal that some Rolex owners are presently looking for more liquidity. If the number of Rolex watches listed for sale increases significantly, it could impact both the brand’s image and prices. After all, prices tend to fall if supply outpaces demand. 

Live Rolex listings on Chrono24 (2019 – mid-April 2020)
Live Rolex listings on Chrono24 (2019 – mid-April 2020)

 

Let’s take a closer look at the performance of some popular Rolex models, such as the Rolex Daytona 116500LN, Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi 126710 BLRO, Rolex GMT-Master II Batman 116710 BLNR, and the Rolex GMT-Master II Lunette Noir, which was first introduced in March 2019. In the first quarter of 2020, each of these models experienced a slight decrease in value. Is this the start of a downward spiral or just a transient slowdown? 

 

Performance of the Rolex Daytona 116500LN
Performance of the Rolex Daytona 116500LN

 

Performance of the Rolex GMT-Master II 116710BLNR
Performance of the Rolex GMT-Master II 116710BLNR

 

Performance of the Rolex GMT-Master II LN
Performance of the Rolex GMT-Master II LN

 

Performance of the Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi
Performance of the Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi

 

Signs the Rolex Bubble Won’t Burst 

While the aforementioned models have depreciated slightly in value, other Rolex models have enjoyed stable prices or even upward price trends. Some examples include the Rolex Datejust 1601 and the Rolex Air-King 5500, both of which have seen slight appreciation since March 2020. Prices for the Rolex Explorer II 16570, on the other hand, have been stable for months, as have prices for the Rolex Submariner Date 16610, which has seen a slight upward trend. 

Performance of the Rolex Air King 5500
Performance of the Rolex Air King 5500

 

Performance of the Rolex Datejust 1601
Performance of the Rolex Datejust 1601

 

Performance of the Rolex Explorer II 16570
Performance of the Rolex Explorer II 16570

 

Performance of the Rolex Submariner Date 16610
Performance of the Rolex Submariner Date 16610

 

Moreover, while the total number of Rolex listings on Chrono24 has risen, the average sales price has more or less stayed the same at -1.8%. 

Median sales price for Rolex models on Chrono24
Median sales price for Rolex models on Chrono24

 

If we compare the number of purchase requests in the 4th quarter of 2019 to the 1st quarter of 2020, interest in Rolex watches has actually increased by 7.8%. We are, therefore, not in a situation where supply is exceeding demand. On the contrary, the average price suggestion has risen by 5% in the first quarter of 2020, meaning potential buyers are generally willing to pay more to get their hands on a Rolex. That certainly speaks against the idea of a bubble ready to burst. 

 

Summary 

It is notable that prices for models that were trading far above their list prices last year have lost some of their momentum. These include the Rolex Daytona 116500LN, Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi 126710 BLRO, and the Rolex GMT-Master II Batman. That said, you have to remember that the current market price for each of those watches is still significantly above official list prices. These timepieces certainly won’t lose any of their popularity or desirability in the near term. 

On the other hand, models like the Rolex Datejust 1601, Rolex Air-King 5500, and Rolex Submariner Date 16610 have enjoyed remarkably stable prices or even slight upward trends. This more or less rules out any talk of a bursting bubble. The performance of individual watches is always subject to minor fluctuations and this can impact pricing trends, but in this case, we can hardly speak of major changes or even a drop in interest in Rolex watches. Plus, Rolex knows better how to maintain its status and desirability than any other brand. The coveted Swiss manufacturer announced a while back that they will reduce their production numbers by 20% in 2020. It’s a smart move in these uncertain times and will help ensure supply doesn’t surpass demand – an essential balance that maintains the coveted status Rolex fans appreciate so much. 

Read more

Quarantine Talk: BarkandJack, WatchGecko, WatchVice, and Jenni Elle Discuss the Current State of the Luxury Watch Industry

The State of the Global Watch Industry: 5 Questions and Answers

2020 Watch Events: A Revised Schedule


About the Author

Donato Emilio Andrioli

With the purchase of my Tudor Black Bay 41, I discovered a passion for mechanical watches. I am particularly drawn to iconic watches with long and exciting histories.

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