Watch prices have been a major topic of conversation among watch enthusiasts in recent years. After a long period of skyrocketing prices, the financial performance of many watches has changed drastically. This doesn’t mean that prices have fallen below their official list prices. Popular models are still trading well above those levels.
This article will look at the best performers of the last quarter of 2023. We compared Watch Collection data from October 1st, 2023 until December 31st, 2023 to see which watches have gone up in price. Some of them are classics, while some of them are less-than-usual suspects.
Grand Seiko Heritage Spring Drive SBGA301
The watch that outperformed all the watches in the last quarter of 2023 is the Grand Seiko Heritage Spring Drive SBGA301. This Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) model bumped up in price from around $2,400 to $2,900 in the last three months of 2023, which translates into a price increase of 20.83%.
This watch is part of the brand’s Heritage line that contains models inspired by classics from the past, like the iconic 44GS and 62GS. The SBGA301 has a 40.5-mm stainless steel case, 100 meters (10 bar, 328 feet) of water resistance, and houses Grand Seiko’s Spring Drive caliber 9R65. The extraordinary Spring Drive movements are unique to Seiko and Grand Seiko, and are known for their superior accuracy. On top of that, they’re almost always easily recognizable, as the watches housing them having a power reserve indicator on their dials – something that spices up the deep black dial of this Grand Seiko SBGA301 perfectly.
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16203
Will 2024 be the year of the two-tone watch? If there’s one timepiece that perfectly embodies the two-tone style, it’s the Rolex Datejust. While it looks great in stainless steel, the combination of gold and steel has been instrumental in making it an industry icon. (Rolex calls its two-tone steel combination Rolesor, by the way.) That’s why it’s no surprise that the steel and gold Rolex Datejust ref. 16203 with a gray dial increased in price from around $6,500 to $7,200 in the last three months of 2023 – a price increase of 10.77%.
The Datejust ref. 16203 is one of the neo-vintage five-digit Rolexes that have become popular with Rolex aficionados, and was produced from the late 1980s through the mid-2000s. The Datejust ref. 16203 has a 36-mm stainless steel case, a smooth yellow gold bezel and crown, and a sapphire crystal. Inside the case is the legendary Rolex self-winding caliber 3135. The watch comes with a two-tone Oyster or Jubilee bracelet and a choice of dial colors. The gray dial variant, which is more expensive, is often found with either Roman or Arabic numerals on the dial, giving it a distinctive character.
Omega Seamaster 300 Ref. 233.90.41.21.03.001
The third watch on our list is the Omega Seamaster 300 ref. 233.90.41.21.03.001. The prices for this specific model went up from approximately $5,000 to $5,600, resulting in a price increase of 12.00%. The Seamaster 300 was inspired by the original Seamaster 300 that was introduced along with the Speedmaster and Railmaster in 1957. The Seamaster 300 series that this model was part of was introduced in 2014 and stayed in production until 2021, when it was replaced by the current Seamaster 300 generation.
The watch has a 41-mm titanium case with a blue dial and a blue ceramic bezel insert. Additionally, the watch is fitted with a beautiful titanium bracelet. Inside the case, you’ll find the automatic Co-Axial Master Chronometer caliber 6400 that delivers 60 hours of power reserve. This lightweight retro-inspired diver offers plenty of vintage charm combined with modern-day specs.
Breitling Navitimer 01 Ref. AB012721/BD09
Big watches were all the rage in the early 2000s. And two decades later, big watches are making something of a comeback. Is this 46-mm Breitling Navitimer 01 ref. AB012721/BD09 the perfect example? Maybe. We can tell you that the price for this version of Breitling’s iconic pilot’s watch has increased from around $5,900 to $6,500 on Chrono24, meaning a price increase of 10.17% in the last quarter of 2023.
This specific Navitimer comes with a 46-mm stainless steel case combined with the Navitimer’s iconic black and white panda dial. Inside the case, you will find Breitling’s in-house COSC-certified B01 automatic chronograph movement with 70 hours of power reserve. A detail that Navitimer fans love about this timepiece is that it has the famous Breitling “wings” logo on the dial instead of the current Breitling “B,” making this a sought-after model by Breitling fans.
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ref. 215.30.44.21.01.001
The last watch on our Top 5 list is another Omega Seamaster, the Seamaster Planet Ocean ref. 215.30.44.21.01.001. The watch was first introduced in 2016, and is still part of the current Omega catalog. This reference saw a price increase from around $4,900 to $5,300, representing an upwards price development of 8.16%.
The Seamaster Planet Ocean could be seen on Daniel Craig’s wrist in a few of his James Bond movies. This particular Seamaster Planet Ocean has a 43.5-mm stainless steel case that is a hefty 16.1 mm thick with 600 meters (60 bar, 1,968 feet) of water resistance, and makes quite a statement on its solid stainless steel bracelet. The watch is powered by the automatic Co-Axial Master Chronometer Omega caliber 8900, with 60 hours of power reserve, sealing it in its rightful place as the perfect modern dive watch.
