07/20/2020 | Updated on: 07/30/2024
 5 minutes

Three Watches Under $6,000 With Good Value Retention (That Aren’t Rolexes)

By Chrono24
Wertstabile-Uhren-2-1

Three Watches Under $6,000 With Good Value Retention (That Aren’t Rolexes)

Timepieces from Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe are considered to be particularly stable in value, but is that really unique to those brands?

One of the reasons luxury watches have gained notoriety in recent years is the impressive value retention of certain models. Part of what makes this hobby so interesting is the fact that if you buy certain luxury timepieces, their value will remain stable or perhaps even appreciate! That’s a good thing; after all, you work hard for your money. The watches with the best value retention and appreciation tend to come from brands like Rolex,Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe. That said, the most popular Rolex models will cost you upwards of $10,000, and Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet timepieces are often priced at double or triple that amount. Considering many of these timepieces trade for up to twice their list price, it is safe to say they are unattainable grail watches for the majority of collectors. Instead, we’ve selected three popular watches priced below $6,000 that also enjoy stable prices; none of which come from the big three brands mentioned above.

Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional

The Speedmaster is one of those few watches that is also known outside the watch world. It was the first watch on the Moon in 1969, which is how it earned the “Moonwatch” moniker. This gives the watch an impressive, one-of-a-kind history. Anyone who had a TV at the time would have seen the Moonwatch on the astronauts’ wrists during the Moon landing, or during NASA’s numerous other missions. It has its own unique design, which distinguishes it from many other watches that imitate or are based on more well-known models.

 Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional (Image: Watchvice)
Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional (Image: Watchvice)

It should come as no surprise that the Speedmaster is a solid and robust watch, especially considering it has withstood the extreme conditions of space. That aside, it also makes a great everyday watch. Despite its 42-mm diameter, it measures just 45 mm lug to lug, making it a pleasant size overall that suits just about any wrist. Moreover, at 14.3 mm thick, it slips smoothly under most shirt cuffs. The Speedmaster is, therefore, the perfect watch for any attire or occasion. This watch is comfortably worn on a stainless steel bracelet, but it can also be paired with a range of straps. Regardless of whether you opt for a NATO strap or leather band, the Speedmaster always looks sharp and provides plenty of opportunities to change its look. The watch comes with a huge package of extras that can be described as nothing short of extraordinary. In addition to a beautiful brochure about the history of the watch and NASA missions, it comes with two NATO straps, a magnifying lens, a spring bar tool, and more. The Speedmaster is available in two different versions. The first comes with a Hesalite crystal and is officially flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions. This is the watch for all the purists out there. The version with a sapphire crystal, on the other hand, boasts a display case back and offers the perfect balance of history and practicality.

 The Omega Speedmaster Professional's movement (Image: Watchvice)
The Omega Speedmaster Professional’s movement (Image: Watchvice)

Despite some minor drawbacks, such as water resistance to just 5 bar (50 m, 164 ft) and the need to wind the watch by hand at least every 48 hours, the Omega Seamaster Moonwatch Professional is an absolute must-have in every watch collection. It’s also extremely stable in terms of value. The Speedmaster is one of the few watches that has increased in value by up to 20% even pre-owned. You hardly find figures like this outside of Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe.

Cartier Santos-Dumont

The second watch on our list also has a rich history, as it is part of the seasoned and extensive Santos collection from the Parisian jewelry and watch label Cartier. The Cartier Santos is considered the first men’s wristwatch and pilot’s watch. It was commissioned by the Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont, who gave the model his name. His wish for a practical way to read the time while flying was realized by his good friend Louis-François Cartier. The Cartier Santos replaced the pocket watches that had previously been used in the cockpit, and eventually found its way onto the wrists of Cartier’s wealthy clientele.

Cartier Santos-Dumont
Cartier Santos-Dumont

Today, the Santos series is divided into the Cartier Santos de Cartier and the Cartier Santos-Dumont lines. The latter was introduced in 2004 and comes closest to the historical original from 1904. Like every Santos watch, the Cartier Santos-Dumont boasts a timelessly elegant and tidy design: The square Art Deco dial comes with Cartier-typical Roman numerals and a railway minute track on the outer edge of the dial. A screw-down bezel and cabochon crown are also present here, giving the timepiece a classic Cartier look. This is all rounded off by a crocodile leather strap, which gives the watch an elegant touch compared to the Santos de Cartier on a steel bracelet. Now to the question of price: A model like the ref. WSSA0022 with a steel case and quartz movement is available in the largest variant (43 mm) from around $7,000 – you can even find listings on the Chrono24 marketplace for significantly less. A look at its performance in the Chrono24 Watch Collection reveals that the model has been steadily appreciating since 2019 and has been quite stable in value for several years now. 

Tudor Black Bay 58

The Black Bay 58 may have been the watch that the world was waiting for. With the release of the first Black Bay in 2012, Tudor could have hit it big. However, despite its undeniable popularity, it had – quite literally – a huge shortcoming for many potential buyers: The watch was quite thick and chunky, which discouraged some fans despite the watch’s other appealing design features. It comes as no surprise then that the Black Bay 58 has been one of Tudor’s most popular models since its launch at Baselworld 2018. This watch looks similar to the popular Heritage model, but is significantly smaller and flatter.

 Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight (Image: Watchvice)
Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight (Image: Watchvice)

The diameter of the watch is 39 mm instead of 41 mm. Instead of a 50 mm lug-to-lug, it measures 47 mm, and instead of a hefty 14.8 mm thick, the height is now only 11.8 mm. This makes the watch nearly the slimmest Black Bay in the range and suitable for almost any wrist. 200 m (656 ft) of water resistance and an in-house Tudor movement with a generous 70-hour power reserve round out the overall package. All of that aside, the biggest argument for the Black Bay 58 is its unique character. The rose gold hands, grainy matte black dial, aluminum bezel with gold accents, and red triangle complete with a pearl come together to lend the Black Bay 58 a great deal of retro charm. The watch is definitely reminiscent of Rolex and Tudor watches from the 1950s, but it doesn’t go over the top.

 Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight's bezel (Image: Watchvice)
Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight’s bezel (Image: Watchvice)

The great design and appealing overall package mean this watch is very popular. It is one of the few non-Rolex watches that trades slightly above its official list price.

What makes a watch retain its value?

It doesn’t always have to be a Rolex, an Audemars Piguet, or a Patek Philippe. A watch typically enjoys price stability if it’s particularly popular or respected in the watch world. But the three watches presented here clearly show that it’s not just the brand name that counts. A watch earns cult status primarily through its eventful history, innovation, or simply by demonstrating great value for money, coupled with a timeless design.  

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About the Author

Chrono24

The team behind the Chrono24 Magazine consists of Chrono24 employees, freelance authors, and guest authors. They're all united by a passion for anything and everything…

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