It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster year for watch collectors with the push/pull aspects of worldwide lockout rules lessening and the recent financial crisis.
The good news is that this year’s go-to watch expo, Watches And Wonders Geneva 2022 (formerly SIHH), took Baselworld’s place, which was cancelled. As a result, watch aficionados and collectors alike were finally able to experience the most anticipated new timepieces in person once more. With 22,000 actual attendees and a combined worldwide reach of over 300 million, this was the largest watchmaking conference ever hosted in the city and included 38 top brands, so there was no question that the crowd was prepared.
The market has, however, generally slowed down, which reflects the current expense of living. According to Jonathan Murray of Quintessentially’s watch experts, Black Label Supply, “things had been rocketing up, so it was always going to fall down little.” Fortunately, things have settled down a bit, so if you bought at the pinnacle of the pricing, you just lost a little value.
Parallel to this, a general tendency in 2022 has been for the major launches to be a bit less flashy, with an emphasis more on simplicity and traditional elegance in the design. Naturally, there are always exceptions to the norm, though. In light of this, here are seven expert-recommended timepieces to add to your collection.
Rolex Daytona
Murray advises the Rolex Daytona as a sure bet among collectors for those searching for a timepiece that will always be a fan favourite. The “OGs” of Rolex are said to be the Daytonas. If a client wants to purchase a watch only as an investment and not to wear, we will frequently advise them in the direction of a Daytona since they always sell very readily. You may always sell them since they are constantly in demand and sometimes the toughest to obtain.
For instance, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Panda” 116500LN , which got its name from the colour combinations of its sister piece with the colours inverted and a white face with black portions, has become popular.They will always be in demand.
Best Sellers in Shoes & Handbags
Rolex GMT Master- II
Both the new Rolex GMT Master II ‘Sprite’ 126720VTNR (3, with the crown on the opposite side, making it left-handed) and the Rolex GMT Master II ‘Batman’ 126710BLNR , with blue and black surrounding the dial) are extremely well-liked. Murray estimates that we get requests for a Batman and a Sprite a few times every week. Both of these will be simple to resale if you’re seeking to invest, however you might want to hold onto the Sprite a little longer (because of the hype around it being left-handed when it was first released, demand pushed the price up, and it has since dropped back). It shouldn’t stay this cheap for long because of rarity. The 228235 Rolex Day-Date Rose Gold with green dial is also worth considering
Patek Philippe’s Aquanaut 5167A
If you’re looking for something a little more flashy, Patek Philippe’s Aquanaut 5167A has been very well received by high-profile buyers, including sports stars. This is especially true of the black version (it also comes in red, green, and blue), which has a distinctive square dial and rubber strap. A chronograph version is also available, and it will cost more than £120,000.
The Nautilus Blue Dial 5711/1A (6), another popular watch from Patek, comes in a variety of materials, with the steel version with a blue face being the most popular. Murray compares it to being in a luxurious sports vehicle at a stoplight when a Lamborghini pulls up next to you and wears a Patek Philippe watch on their wrist.
Swatch X Omega
This year’s Swatch X Omega collaboration is particularly intriguing if you’re looking for a more unique option. Demand has stayed high because of the “Drop” approach to sales, which is unique at this end of the market. You could only buy one, and there was very little supply, so you had to take a risk and hope they got the stock in for that week, according to Murray. People would line up outside the store at the crack of morning. “We still have a few.” The entire branding and marketing strategy has been incredibly creative, and people have just embraced the space idea in general. The fact that the watch is rather lightweight and has a quartz movement is another thing to take into account.
Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak
As for a vintage item you can dependably count on, Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak (8) is so iconic that Bill Prince, acting editor-in-chief of Wallpaper*, wrote a heavyweight book on it to commemorate its 50th anniversary. Murray thinks that any model is “always a solid shout,” but he recommends the Royal Oak 15500ST. The Royal Oak’s sizing is fantastic; it fits wonderfully under a dress shirt and is the right fit for the target market.
