Then Is Now
The vintage market is having a positive effect on the modern pre-owned and new retail segments. As witnessed by the profusion of vintage-inspired watches at Basel this year, the brands are closely watching the vintage market for inspiration in making new product offerings. The vintage market also plays an important role in determining consumer demand for modern pre-owned watches. A modern Rolex Daytona 16520 that traded for around $8,000 just 12 months ago now sells for around $11,500 due to the many record sales of vintage Rolex Daytonas—most notably Paul Newman’s, which brought more than $17 million.