Has the wristwatch market ever received this much attention in its 200-year history? The luxury watch market, Once considered a league of its own, Has changed with evolving consumer culture. Even those who knew nothing about watches have begun to show interest in these items, And beginners are being drawn into the captivating world of watches that is hard to escape once experienced.
However, It is impossible to predict where the decline in Rolex resale prices, Which had been rising endlessly, Will end. Still, Premiums remain in the secondary market.

In this article, We introduce the ‘Top 6 watches with the highest resale price compared to retail price, ’ based on which models still command a significant premium.

All data is based on the VIVER Index, Using resale prices from the fourth week of December compared to retail prices. The ‘%’ in the title indicates the rate of increase in resale price compared to retail price.

6th Place
GMT-Master 2 (Ref. 126710BLNR)
- Oyster 52%
- Jubilee 48%

Ref. 116610LV / ⓒ Watch club

This is the GMT-Master Ref. 126710BLNR, Known as ‘Batman’ and ‘Batgirl.’ As expected from the GMT-Master 2, It continues to enjoy steady popularity. It is a reference that inherits the bezel color combination of the GMT-Master Ref. 116710BLNR released in 2013. The Jubilee bracelet was introduced in 2019, And the Oyster bracelet in 2021. As of 2022, The retail price is in the mid-13 million KRW range, But the resale price remains in the 20 million KRW range, Showing continued strong demand. As a steady seller in the entire Rolex catalog, It also sees frequent trading and price fluctuations.

GMT-Master 2 116710BLNR

40mm, Black, Oyster

GMT-Master 2 126710BLNR

40mm, Black, Jubilee

GMT-Master 2 126710BLNR

40mm, Black, Oyster

5th Place
Datejust (Ref. 126334)
- Blue Dial, Jubilee 54%

This is Ref. 126334, Which shows the highest resale price increase among the many models in the Rolex Datejust catalog. With its large 41mm size, Blue dial, And Jubilee bracelet, The bar indexes fill the dial in a harmonious and striking way. It has all the elements of a classic watch, But the sporty feel unique to Oystersteel and the refreshing blue color give it a charm that crosses both formal and casual styles. It is also known as the watch of US President Joe Biden.

Datejust 41 126334

41mm, Bright Blue, Jubilee

4th Place
Sky-Dweller (Ref. 326934)
- Oyster 59%
- Jubilee 54%

Sky-Dweller Ref. 326934 looks very similar to the blue version of the Datejust 41mm, But it is a professional watch boasting the most complex complication in the Rolex catalog. Among the steel lineup, It has the highest retail price but also boasts an outstanding price premium. The fluted steel bezel adds a sense of restraint to the dazzling dial, Completing a fusion of sportiness and classic style. Due to frequent price fluctuations in both Jubilee and Oyster models, It is difficult to say which version commands a higher premium, But both maintain stable prices. Sometimes, The price of the Jubilee bracelet model, Which has a higher retail price, Overlaps with that of the Oyster bracelet model. However, The outlook for the blue dial Sky-Dweller remains ‘bright’ in 2023.

Sky-Dweller 326934

42mm, Bright Blue, Oyster

3rd Place
GMT-Master 2 (Ref. 126710BLRO)
- Jubilee 104%
- Oyster 75%

This is the second GMT-Master 2 to appear in the Top 6 list. Ref. 126710BLRO is the latest ‘Pepsi’ model in the GMT-Master series, Which has a history as long as the Submariner.
Why does the Pepsi command a higher premium than the Ref. 126710BLNR, The ‘Bat’ series? It may be because the original GMT-Master had a red and blue two-tone bezel, Reflecting its history. Unlike the Ref. 16710BLNR series in 6th place, The Jubilee version commands a much higher premium than the Oyster version. Ref. 126710BLRO was affected by price drops in the secondary market in 2022, But the VIVER Index shows that demand remains high.

GMT-Master 2 126710BLRO

40mm, Black, Oyster

GMT-Master 2 126710BLRO

40mm, Black, Jubilee

2nd Place
Oyster Perpetual
- Ref. 126000 Turquoise 157%
- Ref. 124300 Green 66%

This is the latest series of Oyster Perpetual (OP), Ambitiously re-released in 2020. The lineup is thriving with its sharp and diverse colors. Many colors were discontinued in 2022, But the premiums on current models remain strong. Some may remember the sudden discontinuation of the OP 41mm Ref. 124300 with turquoise dial, Which shook the secondary market. The turquoise dials in 36mm and 31mm sizes have inherited this popularity and are highly sought after by collectors. It remains the dial color with the highest premium in the OP lineup. The next highest premium goes to the green dials in 41mm and 36mm. As a signature Rolex color, These watches continue to enjoy steady popularity. OP is the most affordable in the Rolex catalog, Making it accessible for beginners and relatively easy to trade in the secondary market without significant burden.

Oyster Perpetual 36 126000

36mm, Turquoise Blue, Oyster

Oyster Perpetual 31 277200

31mm, Turquoise Blue, Oyster

Oyster Perpetual 41 124300

41mm, Green, Oyster

Oyster Perpetual 36 126000

36mm, Green, Oyster

1st Place
Cosmograph Daytona (Ref. 116500LN)
- White Dial 137%
- Black Dial 88%

ⓒ Vipstation

The long-awaited number one is the Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 116500LN. The Rolex Daytona is one of the three most coveted and beloved watches worldwide, Along with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus. Demand for the white dial is relatively higher than for the black dial version, But the black also maintains a solid premium. Due to its unending popularity, Acquiring any version at retail requires considerable luck. Even though prices have been steadily declining since 2022, Obtaining a steel Daytona is still as difficult as picking stars from the sky. Will the Daytona, Everyone’s long-time favorite, Be able to maintain its throne in 2023?

Daytona 116500LN

40mm, Black, Oyster

Daytona 116500LN

40mm, White, Oyster

Will perspectives on watches change in 2023?

In a rapidly changing society with various investment methods such as stocks, Real estate, And cryptocurrency, We have adapted quickly. Thanks to the innovation culture of finding and growing one’s own ‘assets, ’ the secondary watch market has grown to this extent. The prices of Rolex watches, Which soared until early 2022, Have been declining. I imagine many resellers are concerned about whether the premiums on popular models will disappear. However, Looking at the premium rankings introduced here, Demand for Rolex in both primary and secondary markets has not decreased significantly, And many models still command considerable premiums. If the secondary market stabilizes, I dare to predict that this phenomenon will further encourage active trading and foster an even healthier trading culture.