The secondary timepiece resale market has dropped, though it should come as no surprise that the best “total” value retention still comes from one brand.

Rolex is still the king of timepiece resale when you consider the volume and total value across all models. Not to mention the ease of resale.

Yes, Patek Philippe is at the top of these charts as far as the average value per watch and percentage of value retention, whereas Rolex is number two in both statistics. However, when you include hard-to-obtain models like the Nautilus 5711, it skews the average. Plus, there are significantly fewer Patek Philippe timepieces in circulation — Patek makes approximately 60,000 units per year whereas Rolex makes upwards of 1,000,000 — making the Patek Philippe resale market far more specialized compared to Rolex, which has wider recognition and is accessible to a much broader demographic.

Patek Philippe is a great investment but the total dollar value increase of all Rolexes as a whole is many times higher. Rolex requires a lower dollar value entry point and is generally less risky and more stable in the long and short term, making it a better investment for most buyers.