Collector Guide

You’ve finally taken the plunge and decided to invest in your first luxury watch, congratulation! 

There’s a lot of factors you’ll need to consider before settling on your first purchase, such as price, style, brand, model, or even resale value, will influence which watch you add on to your watch collection.  

As experts in Rolex and Tudor, we are always being asked to make recommendations for first time purchases.

As a result, the question: “Should I invest in a Rolex or a Tudor?” comes up a lot. While this is a valid question, the answer is not so easy or clear cut. There are many things to think about before choosing to align yourself with one brand or the other. 

We do however, have a lot of data about which products are popular, and have found the Tudor 76214 Prince Day Date to be a regular favourite amongst novice watch collectors.

Here’s a brief guide to the model, it’s specs and some reasons why you might want to consider buying it as an early collection piece. 

Part of the Tudor brand’s Prince collection, and the second most popular in the resale market, the 76214’s average price is valued at somewhere between £2,600 to £3,600 depending on the marketplace and availability. 

While most people generally see it as a lower cost version of its fancier, bigger cousin, the Rolex Day Date, the time piece does pack its own individual punch.  This is a stylish watch for those looking for an everyday, professional piece with the robust trimmings typical of the Tudor.

A lot of these pieces usually come at a 36mm size - which in our humble opinion, is a great size for something sleeker and more elegant.

Compare to Oyster Perpetual 36mm, the Tudor 76214 is a bit thinner, who can resist a watch that’s well placed under a cufflink while still being waterproof and tough? 

The watch comes in a wide range of designs and colour ways for those who would like to find something unique. Our current favourite is the 2017 rare blue dial time piece. Encased in a 36mm case (see what we meant by 36mm being elegant?) with an 18k white gold bezel, this masterpiece is a perfect accessory for those fancy but professional occasions.  

Speaking in general marketplace terms, the most common Tudor Prince Day Date 76214 can be usually found on a stainless steel 62480 Tudor bracelet with 630 end links. It has automatic movement, a white dial with the day at 12 o'clock and date at 3 o'clock under a cyclops magnifier.  We could go all day singing its praises, but that will take too long and might put you off. Needless to say, we highly recommend the watch for new collectors. It is comfortable, not too heavy but with enough heft to make it memorable. The applied designs on the chronograph are easy to read, and the graphic elements make it unique without being too flashy. 

How can one talk about Tudor, without mentioning its far more famous big brother, Rolex? Realistically, you can’t. Despite all that, the brand has its own niche corner in the market, one that been producing some of the most coveted watches currently in production. From the start, Tudor time pieces were offered as watches for the ‘working man’, products with the same reliability and dependability as a Rolex, but on a lower budget. A perfect watch for the financially savvy gentlemen out there, wouldn’t you say? 

Tudor, the brand and their products. 

It's safe to say that the brand has managed the above and more, they have a strong heritage, while also having the creative freedom to create innovative and interesting timepieces – a thrilling prospects for watch collectors, both novice and experienced. This can be seen in their interesting line up of ambassadors – Tiger Woods, Lady Gaga, David Beckham, Jay Chou, and even the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team! 

courtesy of Tudor

If you’ve always wanted to start your collecting journey, but haven’t quite yet figured out where to start, we highly recommend considering Tudor timepieces. While Rolex products are some of the best in the market, their price ranges and long waiting lists can make it almost impossible to make a purchase – not everyone has the patience to wait 36 months for their new shiny toys?

Start your watch collection with some Tudor timepieces.

Tudor timepieces are a great gateway into watch collecting for beginners, you purchase Rolex quality products and experiences for only a third of the price. Not only that, but they are also a great way to figure out what type of watch styles are the most attractive to you – in terms of price, investment potential, style and other preferences. 

Here’s a quick list of our picks on some of Tudor’s popular models to look out for, with comprehensive but easily digestible insights as to why we think they’re great! 

Popular Watches 

 Tudor Prince Day Date 76214 

Originally created as both a homage and an affordable alternative to the inimitable Rolex Day Date, the Tudor Prince Day Date has since developed its own striking design and style and place in the market. Our best-selling timepieces, Tudor Prince Day Date watches and their predecessors, the Prince Oyster Dates have soared in popularity and collectability, making them ideal investment pieces. 

So, what makes these timepieces so special? Well suited for any occasion, formal or casual, the timepiece’s black, silver sunburst, and linen dials continue to be an unmarked example of functionality and appearance, hence their popularity.

Not only that they are extremely versatile timepieces with highly useful features such as date windows, day functions, and a wide range of bezel combinations to choose from. 

 79260 Chrono Panda Dial 

 Famously won by Tiger Woods at the start of his career, the Tudor 79260 is a chronograph automatic wristwatch with date function powered by Tudor 7750 automatic movement.

While borrowing from Rolex’s design cues, this range has its own distinctive look that separates it from the rest. These What’s great about these timepieces is their chunky utilitarian look that a lot of watch collectors look for – especially the 12-hour bezels that give it its standout look. 

 Hydronaut 89190.

Roughly dating to the late 90s, just before Tudor briefly paused sales in the US market, the Hydronaut I is one of the few watches that was released with multiple dial and bezel combinations and offered rubber straps and bracelets – for those that like a unique watch experience. Currently unaffected by the fluctuations of the watch market, these timepieces deliver the best value for money. 

Well, that’s it for today folks! If you’re curious about our other Tudor offerings, you can check them out here

Luxury, quality, and class are some of the words that come to mind when we mention Rolex watches. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the company was founded by 2 brothers-in-law, Alfred Davis and Hans Wilsdorf in London (Yes, they started in London) , England in 1905. 

Rolex is a highly innovative organisation that changed how we view watches as product; between being the first to gain a chronometer certification for a wristwatch, developing the first waterproof watches, and many other feats, it’s not difficult to see why it’s so respected. 

With the brand’s portfolio of reliable workmanship and exquisite designs, it’s not a surprise that they’re known and loved by many high-profile individuals across the world – a veritable status symbol. If you don’t believe us, the roster of clients such as Warren Buffett, Barack Obama, Sofia Vergara and Tiger Woods should work to convince you. 

Fun Fact: Rolex is owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a charitable trust. This means that the company must give away a considerable amount of all the money they earn as donations to goodwill initiatives. It’s suspected that the rest of the money they reinvest into developing their products and looking after their people – one of the reasons their timepieces are arguably the best in the market. 

Why do people invest in Rolex timepieces? 

Given their steep prices, many often wonder why someone would want to own Rolex timepieces in the first place. Are they worth their dear price tags or are they just for show? Well, here’s your chance to learn a little more about Rolex timepieces as investments. 

As mentioned earlier, Rolex is a leading brand in the world of luxury watches.  According to Forbes it is one of the world’s most valuable brands. They have a substantial collection of watches both in circulation and discontinued. For now, it is extremely popular for its diving range, specifically the Submariner.  

Back to Rolex timepieces, when considering their value, it is important to first consider that they’re not only beautiful but functional.

For one, this piece of Swiss engineering has been proven to be a good investment as it will last for multiple generations. Not only that, but market demand also currently exceeds new product supply, leading to a strong secondary market for pre-owned watches. According to Bob’s Watches, Rolex has been outperforming gold, houses, stocks and even diamonds over the last 10 years. Even entry level models are now priced higher than their original retail price. 

Why do some people choose to invest in Rolex instead of gold or diamonds? 

Investing in luxury time pieces like Rolex can help offset the risks posed by inflation. Luxury watches can be a great choice if you want to protect your investments from inflation. This is due to factors such as demand stability, resale value, and liquidity.  

While there are no future guarantees, the last decade has shown that Rolex outperforms both gold and diamonds when it comes to percentage increase and returns. Rolex time pieces have been found to have better appreciation values, are easy to buy and sell, and have less red tape compared to traditional investment routes. This trend is predicted to continue over the next few years, which is why some investors have started diversifying their portfolio to include luxury timepieces. 

Watch of the Week: Rolex Submariner Date 116610LN 

Originally developed as a sturdy diver’s watch, the Rolex Submariner Date 116610LN is an iconic sports model that was first introduced in 1953. The original model of the Rolex Submariner possessed a corrosion resistant stainless-steel bracelet, a waterproof Oyster case, and a diving depth of 100 metres.

The modern variation of the Oyster waterproof casing can now withstand depths of up to 300 metres to meet new diving demands. Equipped with scratch resistant cerachrome bezel and platinum graduations since 2008, the watch remains strong even under extreme situations. It’s Chromalight display guarantees to 8 hours of optimum visibility. While its reliability, usability, and quality does make it a function driven timepiece, it is also timeless and fashionable. A feat not every watchmaker has been able to achieve. 

The Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date in Oystersteel with a Cerachrom bezel insert in black ceramic and a black dial with large luminescent hour markers. It features a unidirectional rotatable bezel and solid-link Oyster bracelet made from Oystersteel. 

Oystersteel for its steel watch cases. Specially developed by the brand, Oystersteel belongs to the 904L steel family, alloys most commonly used in high-technology and in the aerospace and chemical industries, where maximum resistance to corrosion is essential. Oystersteel is extremely resistant, offers an exceptional finish once polished and maintains its beauty even in the harshest environments.

The latest generation Submariner and Submariner Date remain faithful to the original model launched in 1953. In watchmaking, the Submariner represented a historic turning point; it set the standard for divers’ watches.

We have a 2014 full-set Rolex Submariner watch available, the watch can be purchased from our website by click the link.

Hydronaut ref. 85190 Here we have Tudor’s homage to its bigger brother, the Rolex Sub. Don’t be mistaken, this is by no means a poor second choice to its predecessor, this is an extremely capable and desirable watch in its own right, and many watch connoisseurs recognized the value of this watch a long time ago.

This particular model comes with the sought after, and rare blue dial. It’s housed in a 36mm case and features the unique triplock crown, a further nod to its pedigree. The crystal sits flush with the case, ensuring that it fit comfortably under your shirt when worn. The bezel action is as you’d expect – flawless and fluid when used.

Accuracy is guaranteed with the solid tried and tested ETA 2824 movement. The bracelet is extremely comfortable and the beveled inner edges of the links ensure that it never irritate or nips your skin when worn.

All in all, this is a superb watch being offered in exceptional condition throughout, and is ready to handle any situation. Equally at home when worn with jeans or in more formal settings, the Tudor Hydronaut blue dial is a stunning piece and would be a welcome addition to any collection.

This desirable watch is now available to purchase on our website - Mayfair Watches.