Putting The Pre-Owned Spotlight On Prices Of Current Rolex References

Is there ever a good moment to buy a Rolex? These watches are just so popular they simply won’t go down in value. Or at least not in any dramatic way. But there are certainly better and worse times to buy one. Watch prices on the secondary market have decreased since the market stabilized after the global pandemic. Does this mean that there are some good deals to be had on pre-owned Rolex models? Jorg already wrote a great overview on friendly-priced five-digit Rolex references. But what about current Rolex references?

Jorg’s overview shows that if you’re looking for a Rolex at a fairly reasonable price, a five-digit reference is probably the way to go. Since then, we even found a two-tone Daytona, ref. 16523, for a little over €13k. But what if you’re not looking for an older reference and don’t want to wait for a call from your authorized dealer? Then, what’s the situation like with the current Rolex references on the pre-owned market? Let’s take a look.

Don’t go for a titanium Yachtmaster or a stainless steel Daytona

Before we get to the actual “bargains,” let me start with a bit of a disclaimer. Unfortunately, Rolex watches, and especially (almost) brand-new ones, are still highly sought-after items. In general, a recent Rolex reference will cost you the same or more on the secondary market. But for some models, you’ll pay a higher premium than others. Especially if you’re looking to buy a titanium Yachtmaster or a stainless steel Cosmograph Daytona, you’ll find prices that sit well above their recommended retail price.

The titanium Yachtmaster, ref. 226627, is listed on the official Rolex website for €14,650. That’s already quite expensive when you compare it to a similar Submariner. However, the prices on the secondary market start at about €10k more than that. The same counts for the stainless steel Cosmograph Daytona, ref. 126500LN. While its official price is listed at €15,700, you probably won’t be able to find one for under €30k, especially when you’re looking for the white dial version.

Stainless steel and (steel) gold models at list or a bit more

Don’t worry, though, because there are also some current Rolex references that aren’t worth much more than their list prices on the pre-owned market. For example, the stainless steel Datejust and Submariner are models you won’t likely find under their list price. However, their prices won’t exceed the RRP (recommended retail price) by much more than a few thousand. This means you should be able to find a nice and recent reference for around €10,000.

The same principle is true for the current Rolex references of the Oyster Perpetual. It’s listed at €6,300, and you should be able to find one for around €7,000, which isn’t that big of a difference in the end. Of course, there are a few exceptions here, especially if you’re looking for the more colorful versions, like the one with the “Tiffany” or the Celebration dial.

Another good way to avoid paying a lot more than the list price is to go for a non-stainless steel model. One of my current favorite Rolex models, the GMT-Master II, ref. 126713GRNR, is listed for €17,850. The ones that you find on Chrono24 are listed for the same or just a little more than that. Another favorite of mine is the yellow gold Day-Date with a white dial and deconstructed Roman numerals, ref. 128238, which finds itself in a similar situation. It is listed for €37,900 and can be found for a little more than that.

The Rolex Explorer is a “bargain”

But if you’d really like to get one of the current Rolex references under the list price, I’d advise you to look at the Explorer. I’m utterly in love with my neo-vintage 114270, and our former in-house photographer, Morgan, will say the same thing about his brand-new 124270. However, I also quite often hear people say that they get tired of this particular model pretty quickly. Maybe that’s also why you see them being offered quite regularly on the dedicated forums.

Anyway, the fact is that if you’d really like to get a Rolex under the list price, then the current Rolex Explorer is the one to get. It’s listed at €7,450 on the brand’s website, but you’ll easily find one being offered for somewhere around €7.000 or maybe even less. Sure, that’s still a lot of money, but in any case, you’re not paying more than what it’s sold for in Rolex boutiques.

Final disclaimer

As you can see, there aren’t truly any real bargains—not when it comes to very recent Rolex references. The good thing is that your watch probably won’t decrease in value any time soon, either. But always beware. All of the above is based on my online research. I have also not contacted any dealers who have listed the watches I took as a reference point. It’s always important to remember that there are many shady dealers out there. They’d love to get their hands on your hard-earned euros and sell you a fake. So, please always be careful when looking for a Rolex watch outside the official channels. That said, there are also many very respectable dealers out there, especially on well-known platforms such as Chrono24. As always, shop the seller, and when in doubt, remember: it’s best not to risk it.

What advice would you give to people who are looking to buy a current Rolex reference? Which reference would you pick up if you could? Let me know in the comments below.