Watches. Rolex isn't a safe bet any more.
Pre-owned luxury watch prices are down nearly 30%. When luxury turned into an asset class, the bubble was always going to burst.
THE GIST ON WATCHES: "Passion, not speculation"
How far have watch prices fallen?
Pre-owned luxury watches are down nearly 30%. After years of surging demand the market is cooling. Dealers who stockpiled at the top are stuck with overpriced inventory, collectors have receded and even Swiss exports have declined. It isn't a total collapse, but the easy money frenzy is finished.
Why did it happen?
Luxury turned into an asset class. Watches weren't just jewellery, they became speculative investments when money was cheap. Now, with higher interest rates and less liquidity, the bubble is bursting. What's left is passion, not speculation.
What does it say about wealth?
In the boom, a Rolex felt like a safe bet. People used to say you only ever rented a Rolex: buy it, sell it a couple of years later and get your money back. Now even the wealthy are cautious. The mood has shifted from showing wealth to protecting it.
Is a luxury watch a good investment?
Your take. One tap, then see how everyone else voted.
Quick answers
How much have pre-owned luxury watches fallen?
Nearly 30%.
Why did the watch market boom?
Cheap money turned watches into speculative investments, and higher interest rates and lower liquidity have ended that.
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