What's the iconic Bond watch? (to you) [+]

[Olgar Shiverstone]

You're talking about Connery's Rolex Submariner 6538 with the gilted dial. So gorgeous. Ignoring the strap, that'll set you back a tidy $100K. It's a truly beautiful watch. They don't make those gilted dials any more.

It's funny how much things have changed, and not purely from inflation. Back in the '40s and '50s, Rolexes were pricey but still affordable watches, used by divers for their functionality and somewhat common in the military (to the point that there's an old 60s-70s-era Army joke that to be a real special forces member you have to not only earn your green beret, but also have a divorce and a Rolex). Commander Bond would have found a Rolex highly functional from his Naval service (and explaining the cheap but practical NATO strap).

Now they're status symbols priced insanely out of proportion to their engineering, content, and rarity.

I wear a Submariner clone (still a mechanical, Swiss movement, but a knock-off brand) -- but I can't imagine ever paying the price of an actual Rolex.

 

[Morrus]

It's funny how much things have changed, and not purely from inflation. Back in the '40s and '50s, Rolexes were pricey but still affordable watches, used by divers for their functionality and somewhat common in the military (to the point that there's an old 60s-70s-era Army joke that to be a real special forces member you have to not only earn your green beret, but also have a divorce and a Rolex). Commander Bond would have found a Rolex highly functional from his Naval service (and explaining the cheap but practical NATO strap).

Now they're status symbols priced insanely out of proportion to their engineering, content, and rarity.

I wear a Submariner clone (still a mechanical, Swiss movement, but a knock-off brand) -- but I can't imagine ever paying the price of an actual Rolex.

The reason it will cost $100K is because it’s a 60 year old watch which they don’t make any more. Those prices are on the collector’s market—you can’t buy one from Rolex.

You can pick up a modern Submariner for about $10K on the used market which is basically today’s equivalent. Not cheap, but nowhere near the cost of the antique!

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

You can pick up a modern Submariner for about $10K on the used market which is basically today’s equivalent. Not cheap, but nowhere near the cost of the antique!

Yeah, but a new Sub in the '50s ran about $150 US, which inflated to 2024 dollars is about $1,950 US today. So there's a 500% markup today for a used watch. Kind of crazy (but that's luxury goods for you).

 

[Ryujin]

Yeah, but a new Sub in the '50s ran about $150 US, which inflated to 2024 dollars is about $1,950 US today. So there's a 500% markup today for a used watch. Kind of crazy (but that's luxury goods for you).

Quite normal, for some things. Rarity increases value. Just look at trading cards and coins. Back in the '70s I bought some Canadian "silver" (mostly nickel) dollar coins, fresh from the Mint, because I heard they were going to be low minting years. A buck apiece. They're now worth more than $11.00 on the collectors' market. Including inflation they've essentially more than doubled in value. Now as a poor kid I couldn't afford many of them, but I bought a couple of dozen.

 

[Morrus]

Quite normal, for some things. Rarity increases value. Just look at trading cards and coins. Back in the '70s I bought some Canadian "silver" (mostly nickel) dollar coins, fresh from the Mint, because I heard they were going to be low minting years. A buck apiece. They're now worth more than $11.00 on the collectors' market. Including inflation they've essentially more than doubled in value. Now as a poor kid I couldn't afford many of them, but I bought a couple of dozen.

Indeed. And Rolex deliberately limits quantity to ensure they’re hard to get—a new Rolex usually involves a multi-year waiting list. You can’t just walk into a Rolex dealer and buy one (and Rolex dealers are not allowed to sell used watches).

 

[Ryujin]

Indeed. And Rolex deliberately limits quantity to ensure they’re hard to get—a new Rolex usually involves a multi-year waiting list. You can’t just walk into a Rolex dealer and buy one (and Rolex dealers are not allowed to sell used watches).

Pawn shops, on the other hand, tend to be a good place to find them for some reason

 

[Morrus]

Pawn shops, on the other hand, tend to be a good place to find them for some reason

Or eBay!

 

[Joshua Randall]

From Russia with Love is the best Bond movie and in it he wears the Rolex Submariner. Here endeth the lesson.