What Might My Rolex Daytona be worth?

If you’re lucky enough to own a Rolex Daytona - congratulations!  You own a wearable piece of history and a stylish timepiece that tells people you live a top quality life.  Perhaps your Daytona is an inherited heirloom that you want to pass on to the next generation, or maybe it’s a purchase you made for yourself when you had some money to invest.  A luxury watch can be a very sentimental piece - far more than just a watch. 

Rolex watches perform really well year after year as investments that increase in value so they are worth holding on to.  But the time might come when you want to cash in on your investment.  Perhaps you’ve got the chance to go traveling. You might want to start a business or be ready to buy a property.  This could be the time to cash in on your Rolex investment and put the money into something else you value.  

So where do you start? 

The easy way to know the value of your Rolex Daytona

The first step is to contact the Chrono Hunter team, give the details of your watch - brand, reference, model, year and condition.  You can also tell us your price expectations if you have an idea.  Chrono Hunter doesn’t charge a fee for finding a buyer.  We don’t buy and sell watches ourselves, so our interest is in getting you the best price possible. 

If you’re ready to get a no obligation estimate right now - get started! 

Factors to consider to find out the real value of your Rolex Daytona watch 

Materials 

Let’s take a look at some of the materials used in Rolex watches. 

• Stainless Steel - Oystersteel - one of the most used metals in the making of Rolex watches.  The model Oyster gets its name from this steel as it goes to make up the casing. Extremely resistant against corrosion even in extreme conditions - such as extreme temperatures or water depths.  Oystersteel can be polished to a very high sheen, making it as attractive as it is hardy. 
• Gold - Yellow, white and rose.  Obviously a metal that has stood the test of time for its beauty and shine, Rolex uses 18 karat gold which is 75% pure and blends it with silver and copper which heightens the strength and beauty of the timepiece. 
• Platinum - Platinum is about the longest-lasting, hardest wearing metal.  Rolex watches are made of a Platinum 950 alloy - i.e. 95% pure - and it is mixed with ruthenium to make the metal sturdier and even shinier. 
• Rolesor - the Rolesor material is a mix of gold and stainless steel.  This takes the decision making out of whether to wear gold or silver, as it gives you both.  This is found on the Datejust. 
• Cerachrom - ceramic is used to create the hardwearing and reliable bezel that you will find on the GMT watch.  This means it copes in places where the watch needs to stand up to extreme temperatures.  
• Sapphire Crystal - this is the material that makes up the glass encasing the watch.  Sapphire Crystal is extremely tough but more importantly, it’s scratch resistant and can be polished to a high level to match the other materials. 

Has your watch model been discontinued?

As Rolex introduces new references, older ones get dropped from the production line.  Some of the discontinued watches become highly sought after which pushes their value higher. Generally, the older the model, the more valuable - assuming it’s in good condition of course.  A Rolex reference 11652 from 2011 can have a very high value and the 6263 from 1974 could be worth tens of thousands. 

If you’re not sure whether or not your Rolex model has been discontinued, check with the specialists, Chrono Hunter, for help.  [is there a catalog somewhere listing ALL discontinued references?] 

Is it in demand? 

A watch that’s discontinued doesn’t automatically get valued at a higher figure. Some Rolex watches are highly sought after even though they are still being manufactured. 

The next thing to determine is - is your model in demand at the time you want to sell?  Again, in swoops Chrono Hunter’s team to help you determine this. They have their finger on the pulse at all times and can tell you what’s hot and what’s not.  

Do you have the box and papers, i.e. the full set? 

Having the box and papers (preferably in good condition) is going to get you a much better price on your Rolex Daytona.  Not having the box and papers could reduce the value of your timepiece by as much as 10% or even more. 

Like Rolex watches, the boxes also have reference numbers.  There have been many styles of boxes over the years and so the box that your watch original arrived in is also important and quite valuable.  

What is the condition of your watch? 

Watches get worn a lot.  They travel a lot.  They are subjected to extremes and accidents happen.  Rolex watches are particularly good at surviving all that’s thrown at them with very little evidence of it.  The materials they are made of are chosen specifically to withstand daily life.  

A watch that has been worn can be considered in mint condition if everything is working and there is very little evidence of wear or scratches not only on the watch case and face, but also on the bracelet.  

If the watch has been around longer it may have a few tell-tale signs such as very minor scratches on the metal or the glass that you have to look hard to see.  If the movement is in great condition, this might be considered to be in fine condition which is still really good, but a step down from being in mint condition. 

Maybe your watch has been around quite a bit, possibly passed to you as an heirloom, and has some visible scratches.  It might look duller on the outside and inside, the movement may be overdue for a service.  Is the bracelet the original, or has it been changed somewhere along the line?  Maybe the links are a bit loose?  In this case, your watch may be considered to be in fair condition.  

And finally, on the lower end of the spectrum, your watch might have very heavy wear and tear with potential damage to the case, face or even the hands and internal movement.  This would  lower the value of the watch, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not worth anything.  Watches can be cleaned, serviced, fixed and made shiny again.  

Find out more about evaluating the condition of your watch. 

Take online prices with a pinch of salt 

You will likely see a huge range of prices online.  They will vary from one seller to another, some prices will likely be hugely inflated.  You could browse several sites and see what the average price is, but it still doesn’t give you an accurate value on your own watch.  The site may not be up to date, or may just be inaccurate to start with.  As we have seen, there are many aspects that affect the value of a second-hand Rolex, so you really need to get an up-to-date valuation. 

Online prices can vary by thousands of pounds.  They are sold on social media and Ebay where there is no regulation of pricing.  So how can you tell? 

The value of your Rolex Daytona watch? 

People list watches at hope prices and it may not be an informed price and indeed, may be deliberately inflated. The watch could have been sitting around for months or even years which can affect the movement.  Also, keep in mind that something like this is only worth what somebody is willing to pay for it - not necessarily the list price.  

A watch that was gifted - or that you bought for yourself to mark an occasion or achievement - can have enormous sentimental and emotional value.  You decide to sell when the monetary value outweighs the sentiments and memories linked to the watch.  But there may well come a time when you want to put the monetary value of the watch to a different use, and then it’s time to get a real and accurate valuation so that you can make that decision. 

Conclusion 

Taking all these things into consideration - the materials used in your watch, whether or not the model has been discontinued and how in demand the model is.  Add to that whether or not you have the box and papers, what condition the watch is in and perhaps most importantly, how you feel about owning the timepiece with all its history - it’s really important that your watch value be calculated by a professional who can ascertain all the variables accurately.  

Prices can fluctuate from one month to the next, or even one week to the next, so getting a professional opinion is a top tip.  With such a potentially valuable timepiece, it’s a no-brainer to get a  valuation from Chrono Hunter right away to find out the true value of your Rolex Daytona.  Should you decide to sell, Chrono Hunter can also make the process easy and problem-free for you. 

Buy Or Sell A Luxury Watch The Smart Way With Chrono Hunter 

If you are considering your new purchase or perhaps the sale of a beloved timepiece, Chrono Hunter is the smart way to buy or sell a luxury watch.

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