Rolex

The Rolex Submariner ref. 114060 is one of the most famous watches in the world. The three-hand model without a date display costs around 7,900 USD in mint condition. Pre-owned pieces cost about 500 USD less. A never-worn Submariner Date with a date display and the reference number 116610LN comes in at around 9,300 USD. Pre-owned models cost about 8,600 USD. The "Red Sub" with the reference number 1680 is a highly-coveted vintage Submariner and demands prices of about 18,500 USD pre-owned. The COMEX Version, developed by Rolex for the French company Compagnie martitime d'expertises, is also sought-after. Prices for this model often reach sums of 37,000 USD.

Watch collectors aren't just enamored with vintage Rolexes, but also with the green Submariner models known as "Hulk" and "Kermit". The Hulk ref. 116610LV has a green bezel and green dial. It costs about 11,100 USD in mint condition and about 10,200 USD pre-owned. Only the bezel is green on the Kermit with the reference number 16610LV . The dial is black, which is in line with the standard Submariner dials. Set aside around 16,000 USD for a never-worn Kermit model. Pre-owned watches are markedly more affordable at about 11,000 USD, though this is still more expensive than the stainless steel Submariner Date with a black bezel.

The model released in 1988 is also highly sought-after. It is powered by the caliber 4030, based on the Zenith El Primero. The price for a pre-owned Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with the reference number 16520 comes in at almost 23,400 USD. The so-called "Paul Newman" Daytona is especially rare. The only difference to other Daytonas from the 1960s and 1970s is the dial. In terms of technology, watches from this time period are all identical. You will need to have at least 123,400 USD on hand for a Paul Newman Daytona. If you're not particularly interested in the famous dial, you can get a Daytona from the 1960s starting at 55,500 USD.

Models with 18-karat yellow, white, or rose gold — also called Everose gold by Rolex — (ref. 116508) are generally more expensive than the stainless steel models due to their material value. That being said, they are significantly more affordable online than their list price. The official list price is around 42,500 USD, but you can get a mint-condition gold Rolex Daytona on Chrono24 for as little as 30,200 USD. The bicolor models in stainless steel and gold are a bit of an insider's tip. You can find pre-owned watches with the reference number 116503 starting at 14,700 USD, while those in mint condition cost around 15,800 USD. Older versions from the 1990s can even be purchased for under 11,200 USD.

On January 23rd, 1960, the deep-diving bathyscaphe Trieste reached the bottom of the Challenger Deep with a special passenger on board: Rolex's Deep Sea Special . The watch had been specially designed for the dive and was attached to the outside of the bathyscaphe. It handled the extreme conditions of the ocean floor impressively well, functioning perfectly even at a depth of 10,916 meters (35,814 ft) . This proved the Swiss watch manufacturer's capabilities. Rolex repeated this test in 2012, attaching the experimental Rolex Deepsea Challenge diving watch to the robotic arm of the Deepsea Challenger. It reached a depth of 10,908 meters (35,787 ft). This watch is water resistant up to 12,000 meters (39,370 ft) and can withstand up to 1,500 bar of pressure.

Rolex calibers made in-house are considered to be especially precise. Each watch comes with a certificate from the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). The COSC measures the precision of a movement in five different positions and three different temperatures based on a standardized testing method. The entire testing process lasts 15 days. In addition to the COSC tests, Rolex tests all of their watches in-house once the movement is in its case. A watch can only pass their test if it has a maximum deviation of +/- 2 seconds per day .

Rolex founder Wilsdorf also valued precision back at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1910, he sent a watch to a local watchmaking school in Biel so it could be evaluated. The movement was subjected to a 14-day test, which it passed. At the end of this two-week procedure, the testers issued the world's first wristwatch chronometer certificate and sent it to London.

The next sensation followed only four years later: Wilsdorf sent an Aegler movement to the National Physical Laboratory in London. The caliber passed their tests with flying colors. It was subjected to three different temperature conditions and five different positions: crown facing up, left, and right, and dial face down and face up. After 45 days, the watch, with its golden case and blue enamel bezel, was named the first wristwatch in history to receive a class A certification. This type of certification was previously only awarded to larger watches, such as navy chronometers.

Whoever buys a Rolex is simultaneously doing a good deed. Wilsdorf never had any children of his own, and after his wife's death, he left all of his Rolex shares to the newly established Hans Wilsdorf Foundation. The foundation belongs to Rolex and receives a large part of their annual profits. This money is used to support social initiatives, environmental protection programs, and scientific, artistic, and cultural projects.