Even though watches are meant to be worn and enjoyed, there has been a big rise in people wanting to buy them as investments in the last ten years or so. If you know which timepieces to invest in, the market for luxury mechanical watches gives consumers the possibility to make a respectable quantity of money. A solid return is no longer a certainty since prices for some of the most popular investment watches dropped in 2022. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus and Aquanaut are the watches that took the most damage.
That implies that they are no longer a wise investment, right? Sincerity dictates that I would hold off on purchasing one of these items for the time being, especially if you hope to see a pretty quick return. You may still think about buying and waiting to see how prices develop if time is not an issue. But for this list, we’ve chosen five timepieces that have appreciated in value and seem like smart bets for 2023. This post will concentrate on other watches; if you’re seeking a variety of Omega or Rolex models, we’ve produced two separate entries for those brands.
“Jumbo” IWC Ingenieur SL
The first timepiece on our list is the third model of Gérald Genta’s renowned sports watch the trilogy. The Patek Philippe Nautilus and the IWC Ingenieur SL “Jumbo” ref. 1832 were both released in 1976. IWC’s engineer watch, which was initially introduced in the 1950s, was brilliantly updated by Genta as the Ingenieur. The watch idea that Genta came up with was ideal for that engineer. It has a circular 40 mm case and an attached band. Genta wonderfully explored forms in the design of his trilogy, using octagonal for the Royal Oak, square for the Nautilus, and round for the Ingenieur. In essence, he created these contemporary sports watches using only logically symmetrical designs.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Patek Philippe Nautilus were both thinner than the IWC Ingenieur. The anti-magnetic structure of the casing is what protects the watch from the intense magnetic fields that engineers frequently operate in. The anti-magnetic, self-winding IWC calibre 8541ES movement, which was the ideal ally for the task at hand, was housed within the watch’s casing by IWC. More engineer’s magic can be seen on the watch’s front, which has a graph paper-inspired design and a black or grey dial. It gives the dial a wonderful texture and depth that properly conveys the Ingenieur tale. You are purchasing a special piece of watch history when you purchase an IWC Ingenieur SL “Jumbo” ref. 1832. Even while it may not be quite as well-known as the Royal Oak and the Nautilus, it comes from the same Genta lineage. The Genta Ingenieur costs between £22.640 to £28.300, depending on the model. Given its history and legacy, it stands to reason that these costs will rise more in the future.
Re-Edition Breitling Navitimer
The Breitling Navitimer 806 1959 Re-Edition is the next timepiece on our list. This amazing clock, which is a contemporary take on the vintage Navitimer 806, was well received upon introduction in 2019. The Navitimer is most often recognised as the watch with the reverse panda dial and slide rule. However, during the first ten years, the watch had a completely black face, black subdials, and just a white ring around the outside. This is the reason these watches are referred to as “All Black” versions. Breitling made the decision to reissue this vintage model from 1959 with nearly identical specifications to the original timepiece.
The watch has the same measurements as the vintage classic from 1959: a 40-mm stainless steel case 12.86 mm thick and 22-mm lug width. Additionally, Breitling’s designers made sure the watch’s bezel features 94 bezel beads, precisely like the original. The usage of the contemporary Breitling B09 movement results in the largest difference. It serves as a welcome update to the legendary Venus 178 movement that drove the original watch. 1,959 units of this excellent limited-edition reproduction were made by Breitling. Naturally, they were out of stock pretty fast. Late in 2021, the cost of one of these watches skyrocketed, and it barely decreased in price in 2022. Due to the fact that it is a wonderful limited release, I predict that the price will rise even more.
Patek Philippe Chronograph
The Patek Philippe Nautilus and Aquanaut are currently seeming to be risky purchases as their once-astronomical prices slowly return to reality. However, Patek Philippe also produces other models that are equally magnificent and well-liked by customers. The Patek Philippe ref. 5172G chronograph is a nice illustration. Those who adore Patek’s more traditional side and are fans of the brand laud the 5172G. 2019 saw the release of the 5172G, a white gold chronograph with a dark blue dial and bracelet. The company unveiled a second model earlier this year that has a white gold case as well, but with a salmon dial and a brown strap. In this essay, we’ll concentrate on the 2019 model that has been doing exceptionally well.
It is a pretty slender chronograph that is quite comfortable to wear, with a 41 mm white gold casing that is 11.45 mm thick. The watch has a sapphire crystal in the style of a box on the front of the case and a sapphire crystal case back that allows you to see the gorgeous manual Patek Philippe calibre CH 29-535 PS up close. Just as interesting as the watch’s face is its artistically created movement. The watch has a blue-varnished face with white gold attached Arabic numerals, which brings up another point. The design of the chronograph pushers, which are modelled after the renowned Patek Philippe 1463 “Tasti Tondi” from the 1950s, is a particularly appealing element. The watch has a matching blue leather strap, which together with the watch’s historical roots and contemporary aesthetic make for a stunning timepiece. Since the cost of the 5172G has climbed significantly over time, you may anticipate paying between £56.600 and £68.729 for one. I wouldn’t be shocked if that range, particularly the lower end, increasingly rose over time.
