Why are we asking this question at this very moment? Of course, there is a good reason, and that is the Watches & Wonders Show, which will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from March 27 to April 2. The Watches & Wonders is an event that causes quite a stir in the Rolex community, as every year at this time Rolex releases new models, but also announces which models will be discontinued, which can cause turmoil in the pre-owned watch market.
Although Rolex usually doesn’t announce which models will be discontinued and rumors should always be taken with a grain of salt, there is speculation about which models will be discontinued this year.
In this article, we’ll try to answer the following questions:
1. Which models will be discontinued and which new models will be introduced?
2. How will the regular evolution of the Rolex product line affect the pre-owned watch market?
3. Should you sell your Rolex before or after March 27?
So let’s cut to the chase.
Which models will be discontinued and which will be launched?
As we mentioned earlier, Rolex’s future plans in terms of product releases or discontinuations haven’t yet been officially announced. Rolex is known to be very discreet in such matters and usually announces such news through official channels when they see fit.
However, according to the circulating rumors we can expect Rolex to discontinue more models than usual this year.
The models that will most likely be discontinued are the Submariner Kermit, Pepsi and Batman from the GMT-Master collection, the Wimbledon Datejust, and some of the colored Oyster Perpetuals (maybe even Tiffany dial). The Milgauss and Daytona collections are also expected to be renewed. Of course, not all of these models will be discontinued, but our predictions are that some of them certainly will be.
On the other hand, it’ll be interesting to see what novelties Rolex will surprise us with this year. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Daytona model, this series is expected to be renewed. Some other interesting predictions are the Submariner in steel in red dial and bezel color, then the GMT-Master II in new colors (Coke, green or even Tiffany blue) and finally the solid yellow or rose gold Datejust. Our prediction is that Rolex will release at least one new titanium watch, and that could be the Submariner for the 70th anniversary.
Please note that Rolex is certainly one of the most secretive watch brands, and it’s impossible to exactly predict what Rolex will launch or phase out each year.
How will the regular evolution of the Rolex product line affect the pre-owned watch market?
What is certain is that Rolex will raise prices on its new watches, but how that will affect the used watch market is unknown. There are two points of view on this issue.
On the one hand, it’s expected that the prices of used models that will be discontinued will increase, but the question is how fast that will happen. On the other hand, there is the possibility that people will sell their watches in large numbers to make room in their collections (and budgets) for the new models that come on the market. This could lead to a flood of used watches on the market, which would inevitably lead to a drop in prices.
In any case, it’s a classic issue of supply and demand, and the situation on the market will largely depend on the behavior of owners and their need to sell their watches.
So should you sell your Rolex before or after March 27?
If you have a discontinued model and want to sell it, especially if youre not in a hurry, it might be a good idea to wait and see how the market develops. This is especially true for some of the most popular models like the Daytona or the Submariner.
If you have a model that is definitely not discontinued and you want to make room in your collection for a new model, you can put the watch on the market right away, because its price will most likely not go up in the near future, and there might even be a slight decrease due to the flooding of the market that we have already talked about. You can find a trusted watch buyer to sell your Rolex to, such as Cheshire Gold Xchange.
However, since it’s not yet officially known which watches will be discontinued and which new models will be launched, everything is just a guess and should be taken with a grain of salt. At the end of the day, you’re the owner of the watch and the final decision is yours, and we are always here to help you with whatever decision you make.
