These Watches Have Increased in Value the Most

Can you make a guess that watches that have increased in value the most, in the recent? The top-performing watch models may be surprising, with Rolex and several popular pandemic-era picks notably absent from the top 20.

Online watch marketplace Chrono24 tracked which watch models have risen in value the most since 2018, and a few surprises are at the top of the list.

Karlsruhe, Germany—Online watch marketplace Chrono24 crunched the numbers to determine which watch models have risen in value the most in recent years.

Surprisingly, the watches that increased the most in value since 2018 were not the most expensive or the most well-known watches, it said.

Chrono24’s data analysts looked at the price development of several thousand watch models across two time periods: the past eight years (2018–2026) and the past four years (2022–2026).

Using this methodology, analysts were able to evaluate the speculative pandemic-era boom and the correction that followed.

These are the top four takeaways from its recent report.

1. Rolex Didn’t Make The Top 20

While Rolex is one of the most well-known and traded watch brands on the secondary market, there were no Rolex models among the top 20 strongest value gains.

The Datejust 41 (Ref. 126334), which is one of the best-selling Rolex references on Chrono24, recorded a gain of 59 percent since 2018, a far cry from the triple-digit gains seen in the top group.

“Rolex models were already comparatively highly valued in 2018 and were driven particularly hard by speculative demand during the pandemic years,” said the report.

“After the boom ended, prices stabilized at a high level or softened slightly – leaving little room for triple-digit returns.”

2. Cartier Took The No. 1 Spot

At the top of the list is the Cartier Tank Vermeil (Ref. 1613) with a gain of 299 percent.

The top performers were not the expensive watch models, but more affordable classic watches, like the Cartier Tank, which had an entry price in the low three-figures in 2018.

“This analysis dispels a widespread misconception: You don’t need a five-figure investment in a Nautilus or Royal Oak to buy a watch that appreciates over time,” said Balazs Ferenczi, head of brand engagement at Chrono24.

“Some of the best performers of the past eight years could be had in 2018 for a fraction of the cost. What these models have in common is not their price but their substance: iconic design that endures for decades and demand that is not dependent on waiting lists but on genuine collector value.”

..Rocking the number 1 spot

Several of the best-performers could be purchased around the low- to mid-four-figure range in 2018.

Cartier took the No. 2 and No. 3 spots as well with the Cartier Panthère in yellow gold (Ref. 1070) up 218 percent while the two-tone version (Ref. 1057917) posted a 208 percent gain.

There were 10 Cartier references in the top 20, as well as five from Omega, and two from Jaeger-LeCoultre.

The Omega Speedmaster (Ref. 3310.10) was up 119 percent while the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra (Ref. 2517.30) was up 83 percent.

3. Many Of The Watch Models Hyped Up By Pandemic-Era Speculators Have Lost Some Of Their Value.

The watch market was in a pandemic-era bubble between 2020 and 2022, said Chrono24, with prices of well-known watch models soaring.

This was driven by “speculators who treated watches like short-term financial products” rather than watch collectors, it said.

The correction that followed hit the “most hyped” watch models especially hard.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus (Ref. 5712/1A) has lost around 45 percent of its value since its 2022 peak, but still trades at close to three times its 2018 level.

The Vacheron Constantin Overseas (Ref. 4500V) lost more than half of its peak value. —

The Hublot Big Bang (Ref. 301.SB.131.RX) didn’t see any benefit from the pandemic boom, said Chrono24, losing 20 percent since 2022.

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“The 16 models that more than doubled across both time periods share one common trait: Their value growth was not driven by speculation but by organically growing demand that withstood the market correction,” said Chrono24.

“You don’t need a five-figure investment in a Nautilus or Royal Oak to buy a watch that appreciates over time.”-Balazs Ferenczi, Chrono24

4. The Overall Watch Market Has Seen Price Growth Over The Past Six Months.

Chrono24’s luxury watch market index, ChronoPulse, posted a 2.5 percent gain on a one-year basis, with momentum picking up in the second half.

Over the past six months, the market has risen by 5 percent, as per its index.

The upward trend has continued short term, with a 3 percent gain over the past three months and a 1 percent gain in the past month.

This growth, Chrono24 said, signifies a return of broad buyer demand.

-National Jeweler