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VINTAGE ROLEX – FAQ
Although there is no law or standard uniform definition for what can be considered vintage, a commonly accepted rule within the collecting community is that a vintage Rolex is a watch that is at least 25 to 30 years old. Consequently, for something to be considered antique, many individuals maintain that it must be at least 100 years old.
Among the various models that make up the brand's current catalog, the cheapest Rolex is the Oyster Perpetual. This entry-level Rolex collection consists exclusively of time-only watches (no date displays), and it is available in a number of different sizes, with all current-production models crafted entirely from 904L stainless steel. Retail prices for Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches start out at $4,850 for the 26mm version in stainless steel and increase from there, depending on size. With that in mind, certain vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches are crafted entirely from solid gold, and can cost significantly more than brand-new Oyster Perpetual watches that are made from stainless steel.
A Rolex is one of the best investment watches that you can buy. Rolex watches are known to hold their value incredibly well over the years, and some models have even been known to appreciate. Additionally, there are many used Rolex watches that sell for more than their original retail prices on the secondary market, and certain rare and collectible vintage references can be worth millions of dollars.
There are a number of ways to tell whether or not a Rolex is real; however, what to look for when authenticating a Rolex watch will differ slightly from one reference to the next. Counterfeit watches are getting increasingly convincing, and sometimes the only way to confirm that a Rolex is genuine is by opening it up and inspecting it with the help of high-powered magnification.
In general, a watch should be at least 30 years old to be considered vintage. Therefore, for our purposes, we consider Rolex watches made before the late-1980s as vintage Rolex watches. Rolex models such as the Oyster, Triple Calendar, Triple Calendar Chronograph, Datejust, Explorer, Submariner, GMT-Master, Milgauss, Day-Date, Daytona, Cellini, Sea-Dweller, and Explorer II were all introduced before the 1980s. Therefore, there are vintage examples of these particular Rolex models. However, collections like the Yacht-Master, Pearlmaster, Deepsea, Yacht-Master II, and Sky-Dweller, all debuted in the 1990s or later. Therefore, these Rolex models are not considered vintage (just yet).
