Unsurprisingly, both China and the US get allocated the lion's share of global Rolex stock. Despite this, neither country are a particularly great place to find popular models: they might get plenty of supply but there's an enormous amount of demand. It's a similar situation in virtually all European countries, too.
Interestingly, China is the country that buys the most Rolex watches, with significant demand for luxury timepieces in recent years. This surge in interest can be attributed to the country's growing economy, the rise of the middle class, and an increasing appreciation for high-quality products and prestigious brands.
The UK has the most people likely to purchase a Rolex. In the country, there are 6.3 million searches made each year, more than half of the 10 million made in the US, which has five times its population.
That could be as early as around 2025 when the first temporary factories will be in operation. The good news, though, is that there are signs that peak Rolex scarcity has already passed. The highest secondhand prices have started to come down and new watches are, anecdotally, a little more available.
To buy a Rolex Daytona, the waitlist is often suggested to be 5 or 10 years long. The harsh reality is that unless you have a large spending history with your Authorised Rolex dealer you're unlikely to ever be offered a Rolex Daytona.
The rationale is to make money, but according to experts, the prices of these goods have fallen so rapidly in recent times that it is a loss-making trade for the panicked sellers.
Why do people say Rolex watches are relatively inexpensive when they travel to Dubai if that is the case? It is because of the pre-owned market situation. Due to the low availability, these watches often go at a premium in the pre-owned market. And that is where you can see a price difference.
The most commonly sought-after Rolex watches include Rolex Daytona, GMT-Master(II), Submariner, and Sea-Dweller.
According to Statista Consumer Market Outlook estimates, China was the leading market for luxury watches in terms of revenue. In 2022, the market revenue for this segment amounted to approximately 10.4 billion U.S. dollars.
Buy a new Rolex in Paris
Finding a modern Rolex in can be difficult. Availability is uncertain and can be subject to the goodwill of the seller.
Eastern Europe can offer Rolex watches at cheaper prices, but there's often not much choice or range. Countries that are best for buying a cheap Rolex in Eastern Europe include the Balkans, Romania, Hungary, Poland, and Greece.
Exports In 2021 the top exporters of Watch Movements were Japan ($414M), Switzerland ($200M), China ($137M), Hong Kong ($56.6M), and United Kingdom ($49.6M). Imports In 2021 the top importers of Watch Movements were Hong Kong ($522M), China ($71.2M), Switzerland ($52.9M), Japan ($42.4M), and Netherlands ($37M).
Airport Dealers Probably Have Limited Rolex Selection
Generally, if you are buying from an Authorized Dealer, you can expect the most popular models to be in stock. However, you are unlikely to be able to buy waiting list models, or limited edition timepieces.
In Australia, the waiting list has now been superseded in favour of the expression of interest. Australian Rolex ADs have stopped taking deposits and stopped using the term waiting lists but will offer an EOI. With an EOI, they are not obliged to provide the product but you just get placed in a queue.
Patek Philippe arguably owns the top-tier of high-horology. Once, the most expensive watch ever sold was a Patek Philippe with many complications and sold for over 11 million dollars, second only to a Rolex that was worn by Paul Newman.
In the vintage Rolex market, a well kept and rare Submariner or GMT reference is worth a tremendous amount compared to how much it was sold for at retail price. A worn in unserviced Datejust might not be as desired as a pristine vintage model from the same year in great condition.
- The INITIAL cost of a Rolex is SLIGHTLY Cheaper in Switzerland than in Scandinavia. - The VAT refund in Scandinavian countries is BY FAR more generous than that of Switzerland's, resulting in Scandinavia being "CHEAPER than Switzerland to purchase a NEW Rolex."
You may be happy to learn that, generally speaking, yes, a Rolex watch will hold its value or increase in value over time.
The company maintains lists of clients who get certain watches and lists of those who don't. The company limits its waitlist for Rolexes to 4,000. The limit for Patek Philippes, which makes a fraction watches Rolex produces each year, is about 20 to 30. customers.
First, understand that a real Rolex timepiece is not made in China. If you find any Rolex box that states it's made in China, you should know that it is not an original. All Rolex wristwatches are made in Switzerland.
Financial Times said prices for some of the most popular brands of luxury watches and designer handbags (such as Rolex watches and Hermès bags) on secondary markets have plunged between 20% to 50% since Shanghai imposed strict Covid lockdowns earlier this year.
The Rolex vintage models have a higher demand compared to the Grand Seiko vintage models. This has caused the Rolex vintage models to have very high prices, both new and pre-owned, unlike their Japanese counterparts.