How much would you pay for Rolex steel sports?

List price only for me. If they call me for an Air King, I wouldn’t want it even at list. But I do like their watches. Rolex makes a good product.

I'd pay about $5K for a Sub, but only because it's a Rolex. 

I don't like Mercedes hand, the cyclopes, or the mismatched date wheel, so if it wasn't Rolex, I wouldn't even consider spending my money on it.  

I would consider retail but not a penny more. And they better throw in a hat!

I know those depreciate, that's why I listed them at those price points. Those are what they are going for on chrono24. "What is the best bang for your buck watch at ____ price? (including pre-owned)"

Obviously you should buy at retail if offered, but my post is asking to disregard retail price.

Realistically, this very much so. Not worth a penny more

very honest take, I like it! It's really nice that you know exactly what you want and know when to say No to all the hype, etc.

yeah, there's no denying the quality and consistency in their watches. But since Rolex is luxury, their "high" prices are "justified" (probably the wrong word, but you get the idea...Veblen goods basically)

How much would you pay for an Air King? Idk if that's your fav model or just picking on that piece b/c it's the least popular

For the Air King, I’d pay slightly less than I would for a Timex Marlin if I actually had to keep it and wear it. It’s hideous. (Personal opinion. If you love the new Air King, you do you and more power to you.)

Not talking about the older 35mm versions. The current Milgauss meets Explorer meets the number 55 randomly and repeatedly monstrosity.

The Cellini is not popular, but I’d take one and wear it. Because it wasn’t designed by someone who was drunk and working with spare parts.

why would you buy a Daytona and not a sky-dweller?

not saying I would buy either. Just saying how much I would pay for one

I'd pay retail price for a Sky-Dweller, a GMT Master II, a Date-Just (fluted bezel, jubilee bracelet) and a Yachtmaster. Those are the only watches in the collection that appeal to me but none of them appeal to me enough to pay over retail, so I am currently absent Rolex from the collection and it appears I will be for the foreseeable future. As many have said here, they make a good product and I wouldn't mind acquiring one, but I don't love anything they make enough to make them a grail or anything. There are actually many watches by many competitors I like more than these four in their respective categories. 

Won't pay $0.01 more than MSRP. I eagerly await the coming crash in Rolex prices. 

I’d pay retail price for a Rolex, however I feel your post is more so aimed at ‘How much do you feel it’s worth?’

Unless we’re talking grand complications and precious metals, nearly all watches shouldn’t be more than a couple of grand. There I said it! 😅

Lol there is not a bottom in Rolex. The market is so rigged it’s wiser to to look elsewhere. That said I would throw my name at an AD just for giggles. 

preach!

Interesting question OP. 

Personally I don't think that the sub is worth nearly double the Omega SM 300. I'd pay £5k ( pounds) and think that's reasonable.GMT maybe £6-7 k 

Not sure about the Daytona. 

Realistically if I was offered one at retail if probably get it. To flip for something else.

I understand the Rolex brand cachet, but I don't perceive the quality difference compared to other 5k level watches from other brands. 

Been giving this some thought and I would go.

Sub $2k / GMT $3k / Daytona $3k maybe up to $4k

Disregard hype and market craziness your basically only paying for a quality sports watch with some history. So in my mind that’s slightly better than the upper Seiko Prospex line offerings.

I don't think you can remove hype and investment potential, because it is part of the reason why the Rolex designs are very conservative IMHO. They have established a successful brand, and guard the brand identity very carefully, and the design language is part of that.

They aren't bad watches, but they are not offering what I am looking for in a watch that I am actually going to wear. Sure, if I was offered one at list price I would buy it today, but that has very little to do with my interest in the watch, and I'd have a nice spot in a humidity-controlled safe just for it.

Cause the Sky-Dweller is an ugly watch 😅

I honestly wouldn’t pay more than for the respective Omega pendant. The quality of both brands is equally good, I like the average Omega design better than the average Rolex design, and their movements are both very very good. I don’t see a single reason why I would - even at retail - pay more than twice a Speedy for a Daytona, let alone the grey market prices for the Daytona.

Just not a huge fan of Rolex' designs, so I don't really care about rising prices.

All things considered without hype resale potential and just as a luxury timepiece with the current specs.  USD Below without a hat :)

date sub: 4k 

gmt: 3k 

daytona: 4k

The only thing I’ve learned by reading the comments on this post is that there are a lot of people who are never going to own a Daytona 🤣

You beat me to it, artie. I mean, I will never pay even a penny more than list for anything. There ARE alternatives, you know!

Again, I feel like the cat that ate the canary - I bought a Rolex for the actual listed price in July 2020 from an AD - about three months before the whole Rolex stainless steel boom started. Now, I'm seeing the same model I bought selling for three to five thousand dollars more than I paid for mine ... used.

It's nuts out there, just insane.

The first two and a half minutes of this video is why I never pay more than retail for a watch. Great advice (and a cool video to watch all the way through if you love watches)

Rolex Watches You've NEVER seen with James Dowling | WatchBox Talks - YouTube

very well said! although if I was going for the piece where there's more product than buyers, I'd be left with a case full of yachtmaster 2's

I'm not the biggest fan of the ceramic blocky sub/GMT/exp2 but I love the classy look of the exp1, OP, and DJ. Tis a shame those are as hot as everything else.

I gotta say retail only...
I am thinking of trying to get a new watch to celebrate my 50th in a 3 years time... and actually can't decide what to get. GMT or stick to a Chocolate Oyster 

Willing to pay retail on all current models. A little bit more for discontinued ones.

To mark your 50th, you should really consider a vintage piece. Perhaps a birth year GMT or Sub.