Watch collecting is a deeply personal endeavor that leads us all on a journey to discover what it is that we are drawn to in certain watches. Whether it is their design, their history, their craftsmanship, their value retention, or their combination of all of these facets and more, we are all drawn to watches for different reasons. With that said, here at Chrono24 we have the good fortune of being able to collate all of those individual purchases and see how they combine and translate into demand for certain models on the open market. As such, we have taken the time to take a look at the top ten best-selling models above €500 – to make this list more versatile (you probably know which brand would make the top ranks), we present the best-selling model per brand.
Rolex Datejust 41 126334
Was it ever going to be any other way? Rolex has a catalog filled with iconic models, but the Datejust defines the watchmaker’s appeal to modern watch collectors with its broad-ranging appeal as the perfect blend of casual and dressy. While plenty of the Datejust’s many variants sell very well on Chrono24, the Datejust 41 ref. 126334 is the best-selling, with its 41mm diameter case, newly introduced automatic cal. 3235 movement, and understated combination of an all-stainless steel construction with an 18kt white gold fluted bezel that serves to add a nice pop of luxury to a legendary timepiece.
In addition to its iconic design and renowned heritage as one of Rolex’s longest-standing models, the ref. 126334 also commands some fantastic value retention, with its average price on Chrono24 hanging around the €12,500 range depending on the specific variant, and its price losing only 0.2% in 12 months, which means owning it for a year would be virtually free.
Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch 310.30.42.50.01.002
The Speedmaster Professional is inarguably iconic and historically significant. Selected by NASA as the watch to be worn into space and on the Apollo Moon landing missions, the Speedmaster has earned its stripes as one of watchmaking’s most important timepieces. As such, its inclusion in our list as Omega’s most popular watch on Chrono24 should shock just about nobody. The newest variant, the ref. 310.30.42.50.01.002, also shouldn’t be a surprise as the specific best-selling option.
Nicknamed the “sapphire sandwich” thanks to its domed sapphire crystal and sapphire exhibition case back sandwiching its manual-wind cal. 3861 movement and timeless black dial, this 42mm stainless steel chronograph offers the best of both worlds as a watch that meets the needs of modern collectors while also remaining aesthetically true to the original. Coming in at around €5,800 on Chrono24, this legendary watch has only lost 2.9% of its value in 12 months.
Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight M79030N-0001
When Tudor launched the Black Bay Fifty-Eight collection in 2018 it was hard to deny that they had a home run on their hands. Since its debut as a heritage-inspired dive watch that married Tudor’s rugged construction quality with a collection of the vintage Tudor Submariner ref. 7924’s best bits, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight collection has grown to include several variants. However, the original reigns supreme on our list of best-sellers, with collectors drawn to the ref. M79030N-0001’s black dial and bezel combination, gilt inscriptions, and comfortable 39mm stainless steel case – all of which have combined to allow this timeless timepiece to retain all but 0.2% of its value over the last 12 months and command a market price of around €2,840.
Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 T137.407.11.041.00
Much like when Tudor launched the Black Bay Fifty-Eight, there was no denying that the Tissot PRX was going to be big for the brand. With its integrated bracelet design, tonneau-shaped case, interesting dial options, and stylish execution, the PRX dominated social media for months. While not offered with the original release, the Powermatic 80 collection, powered by the automatic Powermatic 80 movement with 80 hours of power reserve, has stormed into the number one spot for Tissot thanks to its better watchmaking credentials than the PRX’s less expensive quartz models, its tapisserie textured dials, and its impressive value retention, as seen by the most popular variant, the 40mm stainless steel blue dial ref. T137.407.11.041.00, which gained 2.3% in 12 months as it commanded an average market value of almost €500.
Seiko Spirit SARB033
Every watch collector’s favorite watchmaker at heart, Seiko has a place in all of our hearts, and plenty of their sizeable offering has made its way into the watch collecting conscience, but one model reigns supreme: the SARB033. Boasting a clean aesthetic that was introduced as a dressy extension of the iconic Seiko 5 family, the SARB033 has become Seiko’s de facto Datejust-killer, thanks to the everyday wearability that Seiko has come to embody combining so well with its elegant details. With a black dial, polished bezel, and universally wearable 38mm stainless steel case, the SARB033 has broad appeal, which has translated into its market value and value retention, with its €555 market value only down €26 over the last 12 months.
TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 CAW211P.FC6356
Earning its spot in the annals of watchmaking history through its link to one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Steve McQueen, and association with automotive racing, the TAG Heuer Monaco has, unsurprisingly, reigned as TAG’s best-selling watch. Sporting a square-shaped 39mm stainless steel case, a heritage-inspired blue and white dial, and an abundance of history, the ref. CAW211P.FC6356 has come to stand for everything that the Monaco means to watchmaking enthusiasts, which has driven its strong market performance of only losing 1.9% of its market value in 12 months, translating into a current market value of €4,750.
Hamilton Khaki Field Murph 38mm H70405730
Bringing an even more obvious connection to Hollywood to the table than the Monaco, the Hamilton Murph was popularized after being prominently worn in the legendary movie Interstellar. With a decidedly utilitarian aesthetic that was imbued with some elegant touches, such as its cathedral hands, legible Arabic numerals, and simple construction, the Murph was an immediate hit. However, at 42mm it was large, and so the 2019 debut of the smaller 38mm Murph ref. H70405730 meant that Hamilton had finally satiated the demand for a more wearable Murph variant, and it has clearly translated into a commercial success, with the watch commandeering some decent market performance, with the watch only down €36 in market value over the last 12 months, meaning its current value sits at about €740.
Grand Seiko Heritage Collection SBGA211
A brand built on the idea that Swiss watchmaking needed a challenger, Grand Seiko has been a proverbial thorn in watchmaking’s status quo for decades, and their impressive catalog powers their challenge. Hosting a breadth of impressive models, the brand’s best-seller is none other than the Heritage Collection’s SBGA211 “Snowflake” with a simple stainless steel construction that combines the best of the brand’s Zaratsu polishing with the best of their dial craftsmanship. Powered by Grand Seiko’s ingenious Spring Drive movement which combines the artistry of mechanical watchmaking with the precision of quartz, the SBGA211 boasts even more impressive market performance with its market value of €4,726 gaining a whopping 5.1% in the last 12 months, showing a real increase in demand.
Cartier Santos 100 XL 2656
Cartier is universally popular in the watchmaking industry for its incredibly varied historical designs, important heritage as the brand that effectively started the industry as we know it all the way back in 1904, and impressive modern catalog. Beating out stiff competition from some iconic timepieces, the Santos 100 XL ref. 2656 is the Parisian brand’s single most popular reference. With a large 38mm x 51mm profile, automatic movement, and Cartier signature white dial, the Santos 100 XL combines the Santos’ iconic design with contemporary creature comforts that have successfully driven the model’s demand, which has translated into a market value of about €4,450, which is up 2.6% over the last year.
IWC Pilot Chronograph IW377714
When you think IWC, one type of watch should come to mind immediately: the pilot’s watch. And in a shock to no one, a pilot’s watch is IWC’s best-selling model, specifically the ref. IW377714. Offered as part of the Le Petit Prince collection, which is renowned for its connection to the famous novel of the same name and bright sunburst blue dials, the IW377714 strikes all the right notes to be popular with today’s IWC collector. Large at 43mm but not too overzealous, representative of the brand’s best-known watch type, and technically impressive thanks to IWC’s craftsmanship, the IW377714 is understandably the watchmaker’s most popular watch. But its market value of €3,676, which is down €500 in 12 months, is a surprise. However, this is reflective of the broader trend that we are seeing whereby smaller watches are becoming more and more popular – which isn’t a strong suit of IWC’s at the moment.
