The best investments: clever watch investments

Especially if you are aiming for a collection of beautiful pieces, the investment in each luxury watch should be worthwhile in the long term. The value of some pieces has increased significantly over the years, while with newer models, with a little knowledge and skill, you can plan exactly which watches will still have a significant We will help you make the right choice for your investment and reveal which pieces are guaranteed to always be right and will practically give you an immortal cash cow. The top brands in the watch market had already proven during the financial crisis of 2008 that there was no loss of value here. threaten.

What you need to know

Timepieces are an attractive investment, considering the currently extremely low interest rates on fixed deposits. However, watches as an investment generally require a good level of prior knowledge, as even minimal differences can affect the market value. In addition, there are many counterfeits on the market. You should always be cautious with private individuals, as the goods could be stolen or counterfeit, or original goods with counterfeit parts. Optimal planning, information and purchasing from a reputable dealer or renowned auction house are therefore essential in order to be on the safe side in terms of authenticity and details - both with historical and newer models. Pieces in excellent condition with a guarantee card, invoice and complete box are also always worth the most. Treating the watch with care is therefore extremely important. With examples with a German serial number, you are also covered in case you later have questions about import sales tax. When buying abroad, German VAT and possibly customs duties are payable on import. When exporting to other countries, you can partially reclaim their VAT. You have to do the math here, because some bargain prices can turn out to be a waste of money. It is also important to remember that you will have to pay sales tax if you resell a watch within a year.

Rolex is always worth it

A Rolex is always chosen primarily because of the brand's outstanding design combined with incomparable watchmaking craftsmanship on the inside. However, if you take a few small details into account, you can take advantage of the constant increase in value of Rolex watches and amass a small fortune in this way. The increase in value can be up to 10 percent in just three years. Even the most expensive wristwatch in the world comes from Rolex: A Daytona reference 6239, which once belonged to Paul Newman, was auctioned in 2017 for around 15 million euros - a proud price when you consider that the new price in 1972 was less than 1,000 euros. But even if this incredible increase in value was an exception, immense increases in value for Rolex watches are not uncommon. Since Rolex has long been one of the most popular watch brands in the world, timepieces from the Swiss brand are always the right choice if you want to invest your money wisely. Some new Rolex watches are suddenly worth twice as much the next day – who would want to miss out on an opportunity like that? If you want to invest in Rolex pieces that are particularly promising, you should go for the stainless steel sports models such as the Submariner Date (reference 116610LN ) or the Explorer (reference 214270 ). The Cosmograph Daytona chronograph in steel ( reference 116500 ) is also a smart investment, but unfortunately the watch is extremely difficult to get hold of. In addition to the Daytona models, which are constantly increasing in value and can now fetch up to 100,000 euros, the Rolex GMT-Master II watches in steel are sometimes very popular and are often resold for twice the purchase price, for example the version with a blue and red bezel or the one with a blue and black bezel. Basically, the more limited the number of pieces on the market, the more the value of a timepiece increases. If a model is suddenly reproduced, this can reduce the value of the watch, while limited special editions and particularly old pieces are very promising. Other "hyped" Rolex watches that are currently trading for way above their original price are the Submariner Date with a green bezel and green dial (also known as the "Hulk", reference 116610LV), and the Deepsea with a blue D-Blue dial (also known as the "Cameron", reference 126660 ). The Rolex Submariner models are among the most well-known watches of all time and are ideal classics for a profitable investment. Do you have the chance to purchase one of the Rolex models mentioned at the original price? Be sure to grab it, as you are guaranteed an enormous increase in value. You should also remain alert, as the value of a model usually increases as soon as it has been revised and demand for it increases. In addition, Rolex tends to repeatedly raise its prices - it cannot go in the other direction. It is therefore often worthwhile to invest in a new, currently less popular piece from a series that will certainly produce a successor and whose price will rise over time.

Wristwatch instead of shares: 3 more frontrunners

At the top of the value increase pyramid are Rolex and other well-known luxury brands such as Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet . These stable brands are attractive investments, because less well-known or popular providers hardly increase in value. The Patek Philippe Nautilus model is a classic collector's item and for many it is practically the epitome of an investment watch. This is not surprising, because many Nautilus models have increased in value enormously and with complete stability. Proud profits of between 50 and 100 percent are possible here. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore are also true value increase miracles with which you can achieve huge returns. The lucrative watches, limited to just a few hundred pieces, are dedicated to famous racing drivers and achieve high market prices. With a new price of 15,000 euros, you can now fetch at least twice that for an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore special edition dedicated to “Terminator” Arnold Schwarzenegger. Omega and A. Lange & Söhne are also recommended because they are also among the most stable brands in the world. The limited Omega Speedmaster editions are perfect as an investment. The Omega Speedmaster Professional , also known as the “Moonwatch”, is one of them, for example, because it is the one watch that has been to the moon (reference 3570.50.00). The hand-wound timepiece with hesalite glass, steel case back and stainless steel bracelet has experienced an immense increase in value in recent decades: the market price has actually more than tripled between 1995 and 2019. Old Speedmaster models of any version can currently fetch up to several hundred thousand dollars, provided they are in at least good condition - especially since their value continues to rise steadily, so that a loss is definitely out of the question here. The Grand Complication by A. Lange & Söhne is actually one of the most valuable watches of all today. The wristwatch is completely decorated with diamonds and is strictly limited, which has caused the price to rise immeasurably. Only six pieces were produced, with only one example being made per year - for an impressive 1.9 million euros. In the end, with all the thoughts about returns, there is one thing you should not forget: that you should primarily like the watch. Otherwise, investing in it is no fun.

This post is also available in: English