The Rolex price range is incredibly vast; however the actual fair market value of a pre owned watch isn't just about its age. In fact, a vintage Rolex can often fetch a significantly higher price than a second-hand watch from the current generation. So, what are all the factors that can determine a pre-owned Rolex price when evaluating its fair market value?

Condition

The overall condition of a watch can make or break its value. By assessing the aesthetics and functionality of a used Rolex, a knowledgeable dealer can properly price the watch at its true fair market value. In most instances, the better the condition of a watch, the higher its fair market value will be. However, sometimes when dealing with rare vintage references, certain signs of age such as tropical dials, ghost bezels, and patina can actually increase the value of the watch.

Original Features and Authenticity

There's a difference between an entirely circa-correct Rolex and an authentic Rolex, and they can both play greatly into the overall Rolex price range for a specific pre-owned model. An entirely circa-correct Rolex means that the watch boasts components that are all correct for the time period in which it was produced - a good sign that it likely still has all of its original factory parts (although there is no way to definitively tell that something wasn't replaced with an identical component from the exact same era at some point during its previous life).

Typically, prices on the vintage Rolex market are much stronger for watches that are completely circa-correct, even if they show signs of wear and age. An authentic Rolex is a watch that is completely genuine - meaning that every single component on it is made by Rolex, with no aftermarket or custom additions whatsoever. However, a Rolex can be 100% authentic without being circa-correct.

Typically when parts need to be replaced, Rolex replaces them with the newest compatible versions for that watch. These replacement components are entirely genuine, and are often superior from a purely functional standpoint; however for certain components on highly-collectable vintage models, these later-era replacement parts can sometimes detract significantly from the value of the timepiece.

Box and Papers

This isn't always a huge factor, as a lot of Rolex watches sold on the pre-owned market come without the original box or papers. However, for certain vintage Rolex models, the inclusion of their original box and paperwork can significantly increase their value for collections. Many times, these items were lost or otherwise separated from their accompanying watches over the years, and so finding a vintage Rolex that still has its original box and papers is becoming an increasingly rare occurrence.

Model and Reference Numbers

Some Rolex watches are more popular or collectable than others and that's just a fact. For example, most of the time a vintage Submariner is going to fetch a higher price than a vintage Datejust, simply because more Datejust watches were sold over the years, and (generally speaking) most people took better care of them.

You also have to consider the reference number of the watch itself, as there can be large price differences between them that can really dictate resale value. For example, a ref. 5512 and a ref. 5513 Submariner may look almost identical, but there is often a significant difference in price between these two models, even when they are from a similar year of production.

Provenance and Rarity

The model and reference number both significantly play into the overall rarity of a Rolex, and consequently influence its pricing. However, sometimes these factors hardly come into play at all. For example, you may own a rather common and inauspicious Rolex model, but if it previously belonged to a celebrity or other noteworthy individual, that gives the watch a serious provenance and can significantly increase its resale value.

Similarly, rare or unusual traits can also significantly increase a Rolex price far beyond what would normally be the fair market value for similar examples of the same reference. Additionally, you may have a Rolex from a not-particularly-special reference, but if it has a rare dial or some other unusual feature or even a factory defect, that also has the potential to make it rare and quite a bit more valuable to collectors.

Market Value

While all of these things play into determining the value of a Rolex, the secondary market also drives the prices of Rolex watches - just like a stock market. Bob's Watches uses this same open market system to help us both buy and sell watches at the most fair prices anywhere online. We publish both the buy and sell prices for every Rolex model, so that both buyers and sellers can verify that they are getting the best possible deal.

However, because the demand for Rolex watches far exceeds the supply at a retail level, multi-year waiting lists for many of the brand's top models exist at virtually all retailers around the globe. Consequently, this strong market demand can drive the fair market values for certain Rolex watches well above their original retail prices. For some ultra-desirable models like the stainless steel Rolex Daytona, if you are lucky enough to find one at retail, you can turn around and sell it for almost twice what you paid for it!

Used Rolex Prices Over Time: What Bob's Watches Transaction Data Shows

Anyone can compare Rolex retail prices. What is more useful for understanding the pre-owned market is seeing what buyers have actually paid over time.

The charts in this guide are based on completed Rolex transactions at Bob's Watches from 2020 through 2026 year-to-date. Rather than comparing pre-owned prices with MSRP, each chart tracks the annual median completed sale price for the references shown. Using the median reduces the effect of unusually high or low individual transactions and gives a clearer picture of how pricing has moved across the secondary market.

2026 data is year-to-date through August 18, 2026. Annual reference points with insufficient transaction history should be omitted from the chart rather than treated as representative.

Across many Rolex collections, the data shows a recognizable pattern: prices rose sharply into 2021 and 2022, corrected through 2023 and 2024, and then began to separate. By 2026, some references have returned to or exceeded their earlier highs, while others remain well below their 2022 peak.

Rolex Submariner Date Prices Over Time

Bob's Watches transaction data shows that the Submariner Date market did not move as one. Most references surged into 2022, but the recovery since the correction has been much stronger for some generations and configurations than others.

The 16610LN is one of the clearest examples of long-term strength. Its annual median sale price rose from about $8,000 in 2020 to $11,400 in 2022, fell back to roughly $10,400 in 2024, and reached about $11,600 in 2026 YTD. That puts it roughly 45% above its 2020 level and at the highest annual median in this data set.

The green-bezel 16610LV "Kermit" followed a different path. Its median climbed from about $15,000 in 2020 to $19,000 in 2022, corrected sharply to about $14,200 in 2024, and has recovered to roughly $15,800 in 2026. It remains about 17% below its 2022 peak.

Among the ceramic generation, the 116610LN rose from roughly $10,700 in 2020 to $14,000 in 2022 before easing to about $12,000 in 2025. The 2026 median has moved back to approximately $13,000, leaving it only about 7% below the 2022 high.

The 116610LV "Hulk" experienced a much larger cycle. Its median jumped from about $15,500 in 2020 to $25,000 in 2022, then declined to roughly $20,200 in 2025. In 2026 it has recovered to about $22,000. Even after the correction, that is still approximately 42% above 2020, although roughly 12% below the 2022 peak.

The current-generation black 126610LN has been comparatively stable. Its median was about $15,000 in 2020, peaked around $17,000 in 2022, and sits near $15,800 in 2026. The green 126610LV, however, has given back considerably more of its early premium, moving from about $19,700 in 2020 and $21,600 in 2022 to roughly $16,400 in 2026.

Rolex Submariner No-Date Prices

The no-date Submariner references in Bob's transaction history show a stronger recovery toward prior highs than many other Rolex sports models.

The 14060M rose from a median of about $7,900 in 2020 to $11,000 in 2022. After settling around $10,000 in 2023 and 2024, it returned to approximately $11,000 in 2026, effectively matching its previous high and standing about 39% above 2020.

The 114060 followed a similar cycle, climbing from roughly $9,600 in 2020 to $13,000 in 2022, falling to about $11,300 in 2024, and recovering to approximately $12,600 in 2026. It is now only about 3% below its 2022 median.

The current 124060 has been more stable. Its median moved from about $14,000 in 2020 to $15,000 in 2022, dropped below $13,000 in 2024, and has since recovered to roughly $14,600. That leaves it close to its 2022 high.

Rolex GMT-Master II Prices

The GMT-Master II data shows one of the clearest examples of the market splitting by reference. Several older models remain below their 2022 highs, while the current Pepsi has moved to a new high in Bob's transaction data.

The discontinued black-bezel 116710LN rose from about $10,500 in 2020 to $16,000 in 2022, corrected to roughly $13,600 in 2024, and has recovered to about $15,000 in 2026. That is approximately 43% above 2020 and only 6% below the 2022 peak.

The 116710BLNR "Batman" peaked around $19,000 in 2022, compared with roughly $14,800 in 2020. Its median has since settled around $16,000, leaving it materially above 2020 but still about 16% below the 2022 high.

The 126710BLRO "Pepsi" is the standout. Its median rose from roughly $17,900 in 2020 to $24,000 in 2022, dipped to about $20,000 in 2023, then climbed to approximately $25,300 in 2026 YTD. That is the highest annual median in the series and roughly 41% above 2020.

The 126710BLNR is also close to a full recovery. After rising from about $15,900 in 2020 to $20,900 in 2022, it fell to roughly $18,000 in 2024 and has since recovered to about $20,000, only around 4% below its 2022 peak.

For the newer 126710GRNR, the available history begins later. Its median was about $21,000 in 2024 and 2025 and has risen to roughly $22,900 in 2026.

Rolex Daytona Prices

Few Rolex models illustrate the 2021–2022 market surge as clearly as the Daytona. Bob's transaction data also shows that the three steel generations are now following different paths.

The 116520 rose from a median of about $17,300 in 2020 to $27,000 in 2022. It then fell to roughly $21,000 in 2024 before recovering modestly to about $22,800 in 2026. It remains approximately 16% below its 2022 high, but still about 32% above 2020.

The ceramic 116500 saw an even larger cycle. Its median increased from roughly $23,000 in 2020 to nearly $40,000 in 2022, then corrected to below $29,000 in 2024 and 2025. The 2026 median has recovered to about $31,000, but remains roughly 22% below the 2022 peak.

The newer 126500 has moved in the opposite direction since appearing in meaningful volume in the data. Its median increased from approximately $33,000 in 2024 to $35,000 in 2025 and $37,400 in 2026 YTD, producing a new high for the reference in Bob's transaction history.

Rolex Explorer Prices

Explorer prices have generally been less volatile than Daytona or GMT-Master II prices, but the data still shows a distinct 2022 peak for the older references and a later normalization for the current generation.

The 114270 moved from roughly $6,000 in 2020 to $7,800 in 2022, then settled in the high-$6,000 range. Its 2026 median is about $7,000, approximately 17% above 2020 but still below the 2022 high.

The 214270 rose more sharply, from about $7,000 in 2020 to $10,900 in 2022. It fell below $8,000 in 2025 before recovering to approximately $9,300 in 2026. That leaves it about 15% below its 2022 peak but roughly 33% above 2020.

The 124270 entered the period at an elevated level, with a median near $11,000 in 2021. Its median declined through 2025 to around $8,500, then improved to approximately $9,300 in 2026. The newer 224270 has been comparatively stable since 2023, moving from roughly $10,300 to $10,000 over that period.

Rolex Explorer II Prices

The Explorer II data shows a particularly strong long-term move for the older 16570, while the two newer generations remain below their 2022 highs.

The 16570 rose from a median of about $6,600 in 2020 to $9,600 in 2022. After holding in the mid-to-high $8,000s during 2023–2025, it reached approximately $10,000 in 2026, the highest annual median in this series and roughly 51% above 2020.

The 216570 climbed from about $8,700 in 2020 to $12,600 in 2022, then corrected to roughly $10,000 in 2025. Its 2026 median has improved to about $10,700, still around 15% below its 2022 peak.

The current 226570 peaked at roughly $15,300 in 2022 after a median near $14,700 in 2021. It fell to about $12,200 in 2024 and has recovered to approximately $13,500 in 2026, leaving it about 12% below the 2022 high.

Rolex Sea-Dweller Prices

Sea-Dweller pricing has been more restrained than the Submariner market, and Bob's data shows meaningful differences between generations.

The 16600 rose from roughly $7,700 in 2020 to $10,300 in 2022. It then eased slightly before returning to approximately $10,000 in 2026, leaving it close to its prior high and about 30% above 2020.

The short-lived 116600 had a larger 2022 spike, rising from about $13,000 in 2020 to $17,200 in 2022. Its median has since fallen back to roughly $13,300 in 2026, about 23% below the peak and close to where it began the period.

The current 126600 rose from approximately $13,500 in 2020 to $16,300 in 2022, corrected to about $13,600 in 2024, and has recovered to roughly $15,000 in 2026.

Rolex Deepsea Prices

The Deepsea is one of the clearest examples of post-2022 normalization in Bob's transaction data. Most older references remain well below their market peaks.

The black 116660 rose from about $10,100 in 2020 to $13,500 in 2022, then declined to roughly $11,000 in 2026, around 18% below its peak. The 116660 D-Blue followed a similar pattern but corrected more sharply, moving from approximately $13,400 in 2020 to $16,500 in 2022 and $12,500 in 2026.

The 126660 and 126660 D-Blue also peaked in 2022 at roughly $16,600 and $19,700, respectively. Their 2026 medians are approximately $12,900 and $15,000, both more than 20% below their 2022 highs.

For the newer generation, the black 136660 declined from about $17,000 in 2023 to $14,000 in 2026. The 136660 D-Blue has been much steadier, holding close to $17,000 from 2023 through 2026.

Rolex Yacht-Master 40 Prices

Yacht-Master 40 prices rose into 2022 with the broader Rolex market, but the collection has held onto more of those gains than several other sports lines.

The 16622 increased from a median of about $7,600 in 2020 to $10,200 in 2022. It reached roughly $10,700 in 2025 and sits around $10,300 in 2026, approximately 36% above 2020.

The 116622 rose from roughly $10,500 in 2020 to $14,500 in 2022, then declined to the mid-$12,000s. Its 2026 median is about $13,000, roughly 11% below the 2022 peak.

The current 126622 moved from approximately $12,400 in 2020 to $16,000 in 2022, softened to around $14,400 in 2024 and 2025, and has recovered to about $15,500 in 2026. It is now within roughly 3% of the 2022 high.

Rolex Yacht-Master II Prices

The stainless steel Yacht-Master II 116680 followed the broader sports-watch cycle closely. Bob's transaction median rose from about $15,000 in 2020 to $21,500 in 2022, then corrected to below $18,000 in 2024. By 2026, the median has recovered to roughly $18,800.

That leaves the reference about 25% above its 2020 level, but still approximately 13% below the 2022 peak.

Rolex Milgauss Prices

The Milgauss data shows a notable divergence between the standard 116400 and the green-crystal 116400GV.

The 116400 rose from about $7,500 in 2020 to $10,800 in 2022. Since then, its median has remained close to the low-$10,000 range, sitting around $10,300 in 2026. That is approximately 36% above 2020 and only about 5% below its 2022 high.

The 116400GV has been considerably stronger. Its median climbed from roughly $7,800 in 2020 to $12,900 in 2022, moved unevenly through 2023–2025, and reached approximately $13,600 in 2026. That is the highest annual median in Bob's transaction history for this reference and about 74% above 2020.

Rolex Air-King Prices

The Air-King collection shows three very different price trajectories across its recent generations.

The older 114200 rose from a median of about $4,400 in 2020 to $6,600 in 2022. After moving sideways for several years, it reached approximately $7,200 in 2026, the highest annual median in the data and roughly 64% above 2020.

The 116900 moved from about $6,500 in 2020 to $11,000 in 2022, then corrected sharply. Its median has stabilized around the low-to-mid $8,000 range and is approximately $8,500 in 2026, about 23% below its 2022 peak.

The current 126900 entered the secondary market at an elevated level, with a median around $11,800 in 2022. It fell to about $9,200 in 2024 and has edged back to approximately $9,500 in 2026, still about 20% below the 2022 level.

Rolex Sky-Dweller Prices

The Sky-Dweller data highlights the difference between the previous-generation 32-series references and the newer 33-series models.

The steel and white-gold 326934 rose from a median of roughly $21,600 in 2020 to $27,600 in 2022. It then corrected significantly, falling below $19,000 in 2025 before recovering to about $21,000 in 2026. It remains roughly 24% below the 2022 peak.

The two-tone 326933 climbed from approximately $16,500 in 2020 to $24,000 in 2022 before settling around $19,000 from 2024 through 2026. It remains about 21% below its 2022 high.

The newer 336934 has moved higher since 2024, with medians of about $22,000 in 2024, $23,000 in 2025, and $24,000 in 2026. The 336933 has also strengthened, reaching roughly $24,700 in 2026 after medians around the low-$22,000 range in 2024 and 2025.

Rolex Day-Date Prices

Yellow-gold Day-Date pricing has generally held up well in Bob's transaction history, particularly for the 118238 and 228238.

The 118238 has been one of the strongest long-term performers in this group. Its median rose from about $17,000 in 2020 to $24,700 in 2022, stayed near the mid-$24,000 range through 2025, and reached approximately $28,000 in 2026. That is a new annual high and roughly 65% above 2020.

The 128238 also shows a higher long-term level, although annual transaction history is thinner and should be interpreted more cautiously. Its median was about $40,000 in 2022 and reached approximately $41,600 in 2025, the latest year with enough transactions for a more representative annual comparison.

The discontinued 218238 peaked sharply during the market surge. The more recent transaction medians have been close to $40,000, showing a flatter pattern than the 118238 and 228238.

The 228238 rose from roughly $32,000 in 2020 to $48,000 in 2022, corrected to about $40,700 in 2024, and has since recovered to approximately $44,500 in 2026. It remains below the 2022 high, but is still about 39% above 2020.

Rolex Datejust Prices

The stainless steel Datejust data is notable because several references have now moved above their 2022 medians rather than merely recovering toward them.

The 16200 rose from about $4,200 in 2020 to $6,500 in 2022, softened modestly in 2023 and 2024, and reached approximately $7,000 in 2026. That is a new annual high and roughly 67% above 2020.

The 116200 has followed a steadier path, moving from roughly $5,600 in 2020 to around $7,000 from 2022 through 2025, then reaching approximately $7,600 in 2026.

The current 126200 rose from about $6,700 in 2020 to $9,000 in 2022 and has continued higher, reaching approximately $10,000 in 2026. That is roughly 49% above 2020.

The 116300 Datejust II climbed from approximately $6,800 in 2020 to $10,200 in 2022, then corrected into the high-$8,000s before recovering to about $9,500 in 2026.

The 126300 Datejust 41 has been especially strong. Its median increased from roughly $7,900 in 2020 to $10,800 in 2022, held around $10,000 through the correction, and reached approximately $11,600 in 2026, the highest annual median in this series and about 47% above 2020.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Prices

Oyster Perpetual pricing shows how dramatically reference and generation can affect the shape of the market.

The discontinued 116000 rose from about $4,600 in 2020 to $7,000 in 2022, dipped in 2024, then accelerated to approximately $8,000 in 2026. That is a new annual high and roughly 74% above 2020.

The 126000 experienced one of the sharpest early spikes in the group. Its median rose from about $8,800 in 2021 to $14,000 in 2022, dropped to roughly $8,500 in 2023, and has since recovered to approximately $11,000 in 2026. It remains about 21% below the 2022 peak.

The discontinued 114300 increased from roughly $5,700 in 2020 to $9,000 in 2022 and has since held mostly in the low-to-mid $8,000 range. Its 2026 median is about $8,500, only around 6% below the 2022 high.

The 124300 followed a more pronounced boom-and-correction pattern, climbing from roughly $8,800 in 2020 to $13,600 in 2022, dropping below $10,000 in 2023 and 2024, and recovering to approximately $10,600 in 2026. It remains about 22% below the 2022 peak.

The newer 134300 has a shorter history in the data. Its annual median increased from approximately $11,400 in 2025 to $12,000 in 2026 YTD.

Source: Bob's Watches completed Rolex transaction data. Charts show annual median completed sale prices for qualifying references from 2020 through 2026 year-to-date. 2026 data is through August 18, 2026. Individual watch values vary based on condition, configuration, age, provenance, box and papers, and other factors. Annual reference points with insufficient transaction history are omitted.