This combination of quality and heritage is why Swiss luxury mechanical watches have long been coveted collectibles, and in 2021, their status was elevated to high-return investment items. Due to pent-up demand and scarcity, the resale prices reached 3-digit percentage increases for several iconic timepieces. They are by Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin, known as the “Big Four” investment watch brands.
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Resale prices reported as of January 2022 were the following: Patek Philippe’s Nautilus 5711,
which retailed for about $35,000 last year, had a resale price of nearly $160,000 at the end of December 2021, a 357 percent increase between 2020 and 2021. An Audemars Piguet classic, the Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin in rose gold with a blue dial, reached $189,000 on resale in 2021, a 284 percent rise on retail. A Rolex Daytona that retailed for $13,150 was resold for over $38,700, an increase of 194 percent. The Overseas Self-Winding by Vacheron Constantin, which retailed at $22,500, could be found at $64,950 on the secondary market, a 189 percent jump.
Big 4 Watch Resale Market, 2-Year Horizon Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-010 Rolex Daytona 116500LN
udemars Piguet Royal Oak 15202OR.OO.1240OR.01 A Vacheron Constantin Overseas 4500V/110A
220%+
$200K $180K
RESALE PRICE IN USD ($)
$160K 101%+
$140K $120K $100K $80K $60K
140%+
$40K 56%+
$20K $0
2019
2020
These wristwatches had the largest increases in their attainable resale values from the respective heritage brands. Source: Chrono24
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2021