Price Increases For Rolex, Omega, And More — Does Anyone Care? When prices change on luxury watches, does it really matter?

roadwarrior

Grand Tyme Master
Founding Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2014
Messages
64,649
OeN7I1T.jpg


Price Increases For Rolex, Omega, And More — Does Anyone Care?​

When prices change on luxury watches, does it really matter?

MICHAEL STOCKTON
JANUARY 19, 2022

SHARE

And he came riding through town on his horse screaming, “Price increases are coming, price increases are coming!” The sheep looked up, stopped chewing grass for a brief moment, and put their heads back down to keep eating. And just like that, the horse was gone.

If you enjoy reading about watches, you’ve likely noticed a barrage of articles over the past couple of weeks discussing price increases for Rolex, Omega, and Patek Philippe watches. Seemingly, you must be interested because everyone is clamoring to talk about the subject. On the other hand, it’s January and the news is slow. If you’re like me, though, you haven’t read any of these tales of woe because, honestly, who cares? Yet, here I am writing something on this subject. So, how do I do something different with it?

mmYUTNK.jpg


Price increases in 202zzzzzzzzzzz…​

I do everything possible to keep the rest of my life out of my “watch life,” but sometimes worlds collide, if only for a moment. For most of my professional life, I’ll simply say that I’ve “bought stuff.” You name it, and I’ve probably bought it. Negotiations are a part of the game and it’s a two-sided struggle where one party wants more for less and the other desires the exact opposite. The hope is that both meet somewhere in the middle. Markets change, one side gains an advantage for a period, and then the balance swings. Reasons abound, and no matter what’s happening, costs are always on the rise. It’s amazing how so few who haggle are classically trained in music, yet all know how to play the violin like Itzhak Perlman. All of this adds up to why I greet news of price increases in the watch world with a big — fat — yawn.

0hnt3BJ.jpg


Inflation and other reasons​

Diatribes about the pandemic, wage increases, supply chain woes, et cetera abound when trying to explain price increases in the watch world. Is there truth to any of this? Sure, and while wages never really go down, other things do change both up and down. To battle this and improve margins, the watch industry, like every other industry, drives productivity internally and externally. What do you see when you visit that brand-new watchmaking facility? Strip away all the cottage industry, handcrafted jibber-jabber, and these mega investments are meant to increase efficiency and bring improvements. Good companies work on these topics, but they also take note of the marketplace.

Again, I’m not suggesting that these newly announced price increases lack any foundation. The bigger factor, though, is that the external environment makes this the perfect time. People are conditioned to news about inflation. They’re used to empty shelves and they’ll knock each other over to be first to get something. Folks, behind all the written rationale, the reality is that watch companies are levying price increases for one simple reason — because they can.

icrxITj.jpg


Rolex​

Let’s chat about Rolex and price increases. Why is this even a topic when the watches are impossible to find? Let’s go through the motions, though. Rolex raises its prices like clockwork every 12 to 18 months. Most steel sports models are up at least 10.5%. Do I think it’s a coincidence that the hottest models increased most? No, I don’t. Raising the price of entry on these makes sense especially when the secondary market is feasting on these models. More than that, though, is there anyone waiting for a Submariner, GMT, Explorer, or Daytona who will walk away due to an extra €600 to 1,200? I didn’t think so.

DJJDXn6.jpg


What is somewhat disturbing is that we have heard reports of AD’s calling buyers to pick up their watches only after the price increases took hold. Hopefully, that wasn’t across the board, but such behavior is in stark contrast to ten years ago. I still recall my dad getting the call for a stainless Daytona the last year before retail prices went above $10,000. Our local AD even guided him to come in within the next “x days” to ensure he secured the lower price. Those were different times!

UsRS9xo.jpg


Omega​

Omega announced prices increases in the 5% range that seem to focus largely on currency discrepancies. In some regions, the price increases only affect the Seamaster Professional 300 and Speedmaster Professional. The value of certain currencies always moves up and down. Maybe the Swatch Group locked in currency rates for 2022 at a certain level and this adjustment is in line with that. Maybe not… Here again, with the market in full boil, the price announcement doesn’t surprise me. And just like with Rolex, do I think that an additional €400-700 will make a big difference to luxury watch buyers? Not really.

yPt3RVC.jpg


Patek Philippe​

Talking about price increases at Patek Philippe sort of feels like asking the price of a Rolls-Royce. Meaning, if you have to ask, you probably hit the wrong button in the elevator. We don’t have detail on the increases set to happen in February, so assume that expensive will simply become even more so. Similar to Omega and Rolex, I don’t think we will see much of a change in demand as a result.

aw4LJxQ.jpg


Are there alternatives?​

If you think I’m being dismissive over watch-related price increases, it’s because I am. In the world of negotiations, sides clash with each other. Supply becomes the weapon of one side while alternatives are the best defense of the other. Are you angry? If so, go spend your money elsewhere. News flash: most brands are increasing prices, but if you haven’t been following them, you’d be less or none the wiser. Also, check out newer used pieces from ten years ago or so if you desire a modern watch. Realize, though, that for a brand like Rolex, price increases usually bolster the modern secondhand market. Still, you control your destiny a bit more in that arena.

0w1JdMV.jpg


Where does this end?​

Will price increases continue? As long as demand seems to be inelastic on the upside, I’d guess so. At some point, however, things will slow and the increases will hopefully become less noticeable. Whether that’s interest rates, changing tastes, market saturation, or something else, the insatiable thirst for more, more, more has to modulate. Will it mean a return to absolute normalcy and better prices? Ha! One thing that’s absolutely certain, as these reasons for increases fall to the wayside, never expect price decreases. This is the world of luxury after all.
 
Price increases where going to happen. I mean of the companies listed the only one you most likely can still get one of their watches is Omega. Rolex and the others I guess they are trying to match grey market prices :) I would love to get my hands on a Rolex EXPII but I not paying grey market prices or the games it seems AD's are using on who can purchase anything.

Interesting post
 
well rather than produce "growth" through fiscal policy central bankers have used MMT ...i.e. money printing

in a full blown money printing cycle money finds it's best use

equities real estate

NFT ? crypto ?

in late cycle capitalist bubbles money chases luxury goods

in the watch world though a mechanical wrist clock is a redundant anachronism and suffered collapse with the japanese quartz calamity the product has successfully re-marketed as must have luxe

supply has been well managed to create shortages of product in a few select trademarks

overall prices on watches are falling as unlimited supply from asia with improving technology continues unabated

JEREMY GRANTHAM calls a big bubble ...federal reserve has announced taper and reduction of "quantum easing" every month

fed buys 80 billion of it's own supply of new treasury bonds...

so luxe tool prices going up...noted... but the bigger picture

is a global money bubble on the lookout for a black swan

KARNAC's got nothing...even with the tin foil hat...

will there be WEIMAR INFLATION ?

or gr8 depression DEFLATION ?

i guess the above ruminations are far from the minds of folks buying a wrist clock $10,000-$20,000

asking the salesman at the AD ..." really you think it makes my fat, hairy wrist look like BRAD PIT's ? ; really ? "
 

Rolex Prices Are Changing​

Talking Hands | Andrew Morgan Watches
-gOH5oxFlatJzxpCwy6MRBhhG7KKwDjI4eVT66CMCIwc1czoFofTEOW7YuAbHxIv2eARTlKt=s48-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj

Jan 22, 2023

If you’ve been following Rolex prices recently, you’ll be familiar with how crazy they’ve become. They shot up and they’ve crashed back down again. But I think that’s about to change.


 
:wink: Thanks for posting this one, Mike.:hat:
 
:wink: Thanks for posting this one, Mike.:hat:
money printing has been full blown since THE CRASH OF '08

what shudda been a short term fix if at all has been resorted to for one crisis after another until today 15 years vastly inflating assets and sitting metrics to value...rewarding borrowers who buy risky assets creating billionaires ...

NOW the federal reserve is tightening to tamp excess... it's tyme to pay the bill...the wealth that got transferred on to corporate and individual balance sheets now is a liability at the UNITED STATES TREASURY 31 TRILLION

the federal reserve has to keep going until they " break things " ...like WARREN BUFFETT says when the tide goes out you get to see who is swimming naked

too much paper out there...if asset prices come down across the board stocks-real estate-collectibles then price rises on luxe redundant discretionary wrist clock trinkets

will matter


ON A RELATED BIRD OF ANOTHER FEATHER :
ScottyB watching with interest the ROLL-OUT how certified used on the company that controls 29% of the market will function
 
Last edited:
money printing has been full blown since THE CRASH OF '08

what shudda been a short term fix if at all has been resorted to for one crisis after another until today...

NOW the federal reserve is tightening

they have to keep going until they " break things "

too much paper out there...if asset prices come down across the board stocks-real estate-collectibles then price rises on luxe redundant discretionary trinkets

will matter

watching with interest how certified used on the company controls 29% of the market will function

Just like trinkets are worldwide, so are money issues.

  • An international comparison among OECD countries shows that rising inflation is a global phenomenon, not unique to the United States.

  • This fact argues strongly that high inflation in the U.S. has not been driven by any unique American policy—not the American Rescue Plan and other generous fiscal relief during the pandemic recession and recovery nor anything else U.S.-centric.

  • Some have argued that the global rise of inflation means that many countries— including the U.S.—overstimulated their economies and generated excess aggregate demand. But this explanation is not supported by the data. The countries with larger declines in unemployment over the past 18 months have not seen larger inflation spikes.
 
Just like trinkets are worldwide, so are money issues.

  • An international comparison among OECD countries shows that rising inflation is a global phenomenon, not unique to the United States.

  • This fact argues strongly that high inflation in the U.S. has not been driven by any unique American policy—not the American Rescue Plan and other generous fiscal relief during the pandemic recession and recovery nor anything else U.S.-centric.

  • Some have argued that the global rise of inflation means that many countries— including the U.S.—overstimulated their economies and generated excess aggregate demand. But this explanation is not supported by the data. The countries with larger declines in unemployment over the past 18 months have not seen larger inflation spikes.
THE contra can be argued by RANDALL WRAY and THE PROPONENTS of MODERN MONETARY THEORY

but IMHO " the lure of E-Z MONEY " caused asset inflation

- true another phase of E-Z MONEY PRINTING happened as a response to PLAGUE to avoid DEPRESSION

-and yet another of the POLY CRISES happened WITH the invasion of the world's bread basket BY PUTIN

-exaecrbating and igniting inflation

BUT THE TYME HAS COME TO PAY THE MONEY PRINTING BILL causing a 400 BASIS POINT RISE IN INTEREST RATES AND THE LARGEST LOSS IN THE US BOND MARKET ...ever
 

Omega Price Increases and the Market Effect​

Bruce Williams
Jun 19, 2023

Price increases, and margin adjustments... it will have an effect on this brand that so many of us enjoy. What are your thoughts?


0:00 - 2:12 Losing some luster?
2:12 - 3:20 Rolex goals
3:20 - 5:45 The end game
 
monetary policy works with a lag... because of money printing on unprecedented scale since WEIMAR REPUBLIC ...JAMES GRANT INTEREST RATE OBSERVER says asset prices are distorted by fun house mirrors

rich got a lot of paper

HENRY KISSINGER centenarian and NIALL FERGUSSON agree XI will take TAIPEI within 5 years

makes cold war look like cave men hurling stones

the world is nuke armed to the teeth

yeah the price of grail trinkets- collectible cars- baseball cards -art still way high

is this a bubble moment ?

KARNAC crystal ball sez cloudy with a chance of rain
 
Back
Top Bottom