Latest news with #Submariner
Time Business News
3 days ago
- Business
- Time Business News
Why Timing Still Shapes Every Rolex Story in 2025
Choosing when to purchase a Rolex is not a trivia question but a leverage point. The brand's share of Swiss watch turnover exceeded 32 % in 2024 and crept toward 33 % in Q1 2025, even while total industry volumes cooled by roughly 4 % (Morgan Stanley & LuxeConsult 2025 Report). That concentration means small shifts in supply or sentiment ripple quickly through price lists. In practical terms, the day you swipe your card can swing the final bill by a month's mortgage payment—something I learned firsthand in Lisbon this March when a dealer shaved €1 500 off a Submariner the moment quarter-end targets loomed. The goal of this guide is to make such moments predictable rather than lucky, combining hard numbers with life-cycle sense. For readers researching alternatives alongside authentic pieces, visit rolex-replicas to explore a curated catalogue. Retail schedules move with the precision of a chronometer. December's gift frenzy, February's Valentine surge, and the mid-June Father's Day spike all leave dealers over-stocked once the ribbons hit the trash. Smart collectors step in when showrooms echo. In 2024, average secondary-market ask prices for steel sports models fell 5.2 % in the first two weeks of January, then rebounded by early February (WatchCharts 2024). The same cadence repeated after Father's Day, suggesting a repeatable pattern rather than coincidence. Adding a simple 'two-week-after-gift-holiday' reminder to your phone can therefore function as a free discount voucher. Modern luxury chains manage to the quarter, not the calendar year. Sales managers risk bonus claw-backs if Q1, Q2, or Q3 ledgers miss plan, so they turn rigid MSRP into negotiable suggestions. Concentrate firepower on four cutoff dates: 31 March – First performance test; unsold Cellini and oyster-quartz references surface. 30 June – Mid-year inventory purge; gold-case dress models often see double-digit markdowns. 30 September – Last stock rotation before holiday allocations freeze. 31 December – Anything not nailed down is fair game. In September 2024, Daytona 116500LN premiums on a leading peer-to-peer platform narrowed from 23 % to 14 % inside 72 hours. Buyers who set alert filters captured the spread without leaving their sofa. Each April, Watches & Wonders detonates a news bomb. When Rolex introduced the titanium Yacht-Master 42 in 2024, trading prices for its white-gold predecessor dipped nearly 11 % within a month before climbing back once novelty faded. Similar dips are expected around the new 1908 complications teased for 2025. Strategy: pre-draft wish lists of discontinued or updated references, fund your escrow account, and pounce in the 30-day window after press day. Price data behave like tides—you can surf the swell or be dragged by it. Three tell-tales signal a market that is exhaling: listings older than 60 days, bid-ask spreads below 2 %, and forum chatter shifting from 'How high?' to 'Should I sell?' During the 2023-24 correction, Explorer II references lost roughly 18 % from January highs before leveling. Collectors who tracked those indicators on WatchCharts and Subdial Index timed entries at multi-year lows, converting patience into thousands saved. Since 2016, Rolex has lifted global list prices every January except pandemic-crippled 2020. The average bump from 2021-2025: 6.1 % on steel, 7.8 % on gold. Buying in December is therefore arithmetically smarter—yet timing is only half the game. Exchange-rate moves, rising material costs, and even U.S. tariff threats (see April 2025 31 % Switzerland import duty chatter) can trigger mid-year surcharges. Keep a watch on macro headlines: when gold breached US$2 400 /oz in January 2025, Rolex tacked an extra 3 % onto precious-metal SKUs weeks later. Economic turbulence shifts negotiating power to buyers. Secondary-market volumes jumped 12 % YoY during the 2023 tech-stock slump as owners liquidated discretionary assets. Deloitte's 2024 Pre-Owned Report shows that 47 % of sellers cited 'raise cash quickly' as the motive, up from 31 % in 2021. Cash-ready collectors exploited that stress, snagging GMT-Master 'Pepsi' pieces at single-digit premiums that would have seemed fantasy in 2022. A Rolex should never outrank your emergency fund. Simple rule: allocate no more than 5 % of net investable assets to a single discretionary watch. That ratio would have protected over-leveraged flippers who dumped hulking chronographs at 20 % losses during 2023's price retreat. Remember, opportunity cost compounds—€12 000 tied in a waitlist deposit is €12 000 not earning 4 % in a money-market fund. Yet when base finances are squared away, the same outlay becomes a luxury that pays dividends in daily enjoyment. Rolex itself markets the watch that 'marks a date.' There is logic beneath the slogan: emotional ROI smooths any modest overpayment. Popular trigger points include: Professional peaks – first partnership vote, Series A close Educational highs – PhD defense, language-fluency certification Family chapters – child's birth, silver anniversary Personal bests – ultra-marathon finish, charity funding goal I bought my Explorer II after completing the Camino de Santiago; every glance at the orange GMT hand recalls that 800-kilometre trek—far more valuable than the €800 price swing I could have saved waiting. High-demand references still command 'hurry-up-and-wait.' Average lead time for a ceramic-bezel Daytona at EU ADs stretched beyond 34 months in early 2025 (WatchPro audit). Building rapport—servicing a Datejust, ordering straps, and simply showing up—nudges your file to the top. Some collectors maintain a digital 'contact cadence' spreadsheet, noting every store visit and staff name. Overkill? Perhaps, but a dozen coffees can shave a year off a hot-model queue. The pre-owned segment is forecast to eclipse US$50 billion by 2030, and Rolex Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) outlets ballooned from 25 pilots in early 2024 to 107 doors by January 2025 before plateauing. This abundance improves transparency but also introduces spread: in April 2025, three-year-old Submariners ranged from –6 % to +18 % versus list, depending on provenance. Navigating that band requires structured data and a clear threshold of what 'fair' means for you. Secondary prices soften in tandem with macro wobbles, but they harden the moment equities rebound. Keeping an always-on price alert can reveal fleeting valleys. Example: during the NASDAQ pullback of May 2024, a yellow-gold Sky-Dweller slid 14 % below its six-month average; by July, gains in tech stocks had reversed 80 % of that drop. Acting in the trough demands confidence in your valuation homework. Market Backdrop Pre-Owned Edge Tactical Play Peak retail demand Zero wait time Accept moderate premium Price correction phase Value gap widens Accumulate core models Launch of new references Older models discounted Target discontinued SKUs Tariff / currency shock Sellers seek liquidity Negotiate all-in bundles A watch can be serviced; original papers cannot be re-issued. For vintage or limited references, box and papers can swing price by up to 25 %. Equally decisive is 'full-set originality' on items like bezels or dials. A 1999 A-serial 'Pepsi' GMT with tritium lume and no polish fetched 26 % above comparable pieces at a Geneva auction in November 2024. Ergo, when condition perfection aligns with your desired spec, jump—even if macro conditions feel lukewarm. The piece may not resurface for years. Many dream of catching the exact price bottom, yet spread-betting that point is statistically harder than timing an equity index. While you wait, annual Rolex hikes quietly widen the gap you hoped to close. Better hedge: define a 'value band' (say ±5 % of the six-month median) and commit when a target falls inside it. The mental freedom beats chasing unicorns. Paying February highs for a Submariner without checking waitlist length or currency shifts is like ignoring weather before sailing. In late 2022, offshore demand plus a weak euro pushed EU premiums sky-high; by March 2023, currency normalized and supply upticked, wiping 12 % off prices. Quick research could have flagged the hazard. Regularly cross-check AD wait times, WhatsApp group asking prices, and production rumours before wiring funds. The sweet spot to secure a Rolex forms where three vectors intersect: your financing comfort, observable market slack, and a watch that tugs at your narrative. Get two without the third and something feels off—either regret at overpaying or disappointment in a compromise model. Patience, data, and self-knowledge twine those vectors into a single, unmistakable signal to buy. When that moment arrives, trust your prep work, shake the dealer's hand, and start writing new memories with every tick of the seconds hand. What time of year usually offers the most inventory? January and early July often bring higher listings and more negotiable pricing as retailers unwind post-holiday stock. January and early July often bring higher listings and more negotiable pricing as retailers unwind post-holiday stock. Do Rolex prices ever really fall? Yes, especially in the pre-owned segment; popular sport models slid 10-15 percent during the 2023-24 correction before stabilising. Yes, especially in the pre-owned segment; popular sport models slid 10-15 percent during the 2023-24 correction before stabilising. Is waiting for a retail price increase announcement worth it? Buying before Rolex's typical January uplift can save 3-8 percent, assuming you're already financially prepared. Buying before Rolex's typical January uplift can save 3-8 percent, assuming you're already financially prepared. New vs. pre-owned—which is smarter in 2025? Pre-owned wins on immediate availability and diverse choice, but retail offers the full warranty and dealer relationship that may unlock future allocations. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Tom's Guide
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Marvel drops first 'Ironheart' trailer — time for Riri Williams to suit up
After multiple delays, Marvel's "Ironheart" miniseries is nearly here — and we've finally got a trailer and release date to prove it. On Wednesday, May 14, Marvel Studios gave MCU fans a first look at the solo show spotlighting Riri Williams (played by Dominque Thorne), a genius MIT engineer introduced in 2022's "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." Riri became a hero when she assisted the Wakandans against the attacks of Namor, the Submariner (Tenoch Huerta). The six-part miniseries, which is set to debut on Disney Plus on June 24 at 9 p.m. ET with the show's first three episodes, will reunite star Thorne with her "Wakanda Forever" director Ryan Coogler, who is an executive producer on the new spinoff series. The two-minute trailer sees Thorne's Riri — soon to be known as Ironheart — having to navigate her way through her first "interview," which forces her to utilize that brilliant mechanical mind to free herself from a trapped elevator that is slowly but surely filling with a fatal gas. Talk about a stressful 101 course! Per Marvel, the official logline for the series reads: "Set after the events of 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,' Marvel Television's 'Ironheart' pits technology against magic when Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne)—a young, genius inventor determined to make her mark on the world—returns to her hometown of Chicago. Her unique take on building iron suits is brilliant, but in pursuit of her ambitions, she finds herself wrapped up with the mysterious yet charming Parker Robbins, aka 'The Hood' (Anthony Ramos)." It's during one of her encounters with Ramos's character that Riri declares that she wants to "building something undeniable ... something iconic." Something like your very own Iron Man suit? Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. That might be easier said than done, The Hood warns: "I can give you the tools to help you carry out your vision. But anyone who's ever accomplished anything iconic in life has had to do some questionable things to get it done. What will you do, Riri?" Along with Dominique Thorne and Anthony Ramos, the "Ironheart" cast also includes Lyric Ross as Riri's friend Natalie Washington; Alden Ehrenreich as Joe McGillicuddy; Matthew Elam as Xavier Washington; Anji White as Riri's mom; Manny Montana as Cousin John; and "RuPaul's Drag Race" star Shea Couleé as Slug. With scripts overseen by head writer Chinaka Hodge, the six episodes are directed by Sam Bailey and Angela Barnes. "Ironheart" has faced several delays, moving from 2023 to 2025, along with changes in Disney and Marvel Studios' content strategy. We'll see exactly what Riri ends up choosing to do in her quest for greatness when "Ironheart" premieres on Disney Plus next month. As always, Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things "Ironheart" related in the meantime, from character details to plot points to new teaser trailers.
Tatler Asia
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
What 2 watch collectors took away from Watches and Wonders 2025
Self-confessed Cartier watch nerd Nic James and TickTockBelle Stephanie Soh share their highlights from the Geneva watch fair With Watches and Wonders 2025 (WWG) still fresh in our minds, Tatler GMT reached out to Nic James, head of The Horology Club Malaysia, and Stephanie Soh, one-half of TicktockBelles in Singapore, for their thoughts on the fair from an enthusiast's perspective. Read more: Watches and Wonders 2025: Tatler GMT editors pick their favourite watches NIC JAMES What watch releases or trends stood out to you? Last year's event left me a bit underwhelmed. There were plenty of releases, but nothing that really grabbed my attention. As a collector, it came across like the industry was playing it safe. But this year brought back the wow factor. We saw new movements, interesting technology, better case proportions, and thoughtful updates that made the watches more wearable. It felt like the brands cared about what was happening under the hood, not just how the watch looked on the outside. I was genuinely excited, and that hasn't happened in a while. Which maisons made the strongest statements this year? Rolex really stood out to me. They launched the Land-Dweller with the new Dynapulse escapement, and that's a big move from a brand known for slow and incremental changes. Rolex doesn't often introduce entirely new models, so this was exciting to see. The engineering behind the escapement is interesting, and I'm curious to see how it performs over time. What excites me most is its potential— does this mean we will get to see a slimmer Submariner one day? Ulysse Nardin also impressed me. I've always appreciated the Freak, but the new Diver [Air] really excited me. The skeletonised diver can handle 5,000g of force and is water-resistant up to 200m. It's like Richard Mille technology that can be taken underwater. It wore so well too for a 44mm.
South China Morning Post
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Behind the new Rolex Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller is 5 years of designing and engineering
It takes Rolex five to seven years to create a new watch model, I just learned. Advertisement It is March 24, and I am sitting in the Geneva headquarters of the watchmaker with the platinum version of its brand-new, not-yet-announced Rolex Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller in my hands. It is a fresh entry in a lineage that includes such legends as the Datejust , the GMT-Master II, the Submariner and the Cosmograph Daytona I was summoned to this top-secret meeting to discover the wonders of this new timepiece. A week later, the Land-Dweller will be introduced during the Watches and Wonders trade fair across town in the Swiss city, and within minutes of its debut, collectors and fans around the world will be dissecting it. A close-up of the Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller 40. A totally new collection from Rolex is a rare thing. Advertisement
Bloomberg
31-03-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
How Rolex Makes a New Watch: The Story Behind the Land-Dweller
It takes Rolex five to seven years to create a new watch model, I just learned. It's March 24 and I'm sitting in the Geneva headquarters of the most important watchmaker in the world, with the platinum version of its brand-new, not-yet-announced Rolex Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller in my hands. It's a fresh entry in a lineage that includes such legends as the Datejust, the GMT-Master II, the Submariner and the Cosmograph Daytona. The Land-Dweller, which also comes in steel and rose gold, looks a bit like a Datejust—with a glittering fluted bezel, a cyclops bubble over the date window and a metal bracelet with a mix of link sizes and textures. Of course, on second glance, any aficionado will see there's a world of difference. More on that later.
