Been thinking about getting a 114270 lately but the price has shot up. I remember good examples with box and papers usually went for 5k plus earlier this year. Now I did a quick search and discovered that everyone is asking for 6k plus even without papers. What’s going on?

 

What is up is that all the dealers are thinking what Rolex have we not hyped beyond imagination - ah, Explorer 1? I think quite a few people are just jacking the price up and desperately hoping that the worldwide economic Armageddon will pass them by and people will think the prices are going up and bite. About three months ago, I had the option of an absolutely mint "Swiss only" 14270 (appreciate it's a different model) with box, papers and tags for £5,000. I passed because it was so perfect, I saw no sense in buying a collector's item that I wanted to have as a regular wearer where I would only depreciate the value. I'm happy to sit on the waitlist or chance coming across the 214270 on my travels with a guarantee and my name on the papers. A lot of those watches are sitting there, if you look over several weeks and months.

 

I thought 36mm explorer has always had a reasonably high demand. Why would dealers start hyping that all of a sudden?

 

Greed

 

Not just explorer but I think all Rolex models even the OP39mm. In some places is $7k ridiculous.

 

I think just increased demand my AD said, with Covid-related slowdowns in delivery, all their regulars have been buying out their pre-owned inventory as fast as they can restock.

They claimed that they're even having trouble keeping speedmasters in stock, but they probably just said that because I was trying one on...

 

I’ve noticed the same trend. And now Hodinkee is fueling it with their “everything you need to know about the 14270” article. That will bring a wave of people into the market for a 14270 or 114270.

 

Damn it Hodinkee!

 

Adrian over at Bark & Jack just had a video on this as well; he also noted a shortage of available examples in the U.K.

Who knows? Who cares? Rolex hysteria makes no sense to me from either an aesthetic or market perspective. I was considering an Explorer or Oyster Perpetual last year, but got over that quickly once I visited a few ADs and dealt with the salespeople and laughable stock. The whole restricted quantity thing is really off-putting. My money is going elsewhere.

 

I’ve been on a list for a 214270 For quite some time and really wanted to try the 36mm as well but no one had it in stock. Sure would like to try both to see which fits better.

 

Jeez, yeah really. I bought a 114270 last year for what I thought was pretty expensive but wow. The Rolex hysteria continues...

I think the popularity of the 114270 is going up because it's kinda the ultimate stainless sports Rolex that is relatively accessible. They biggest advantage it has is the fact that it's so discrete - few know you're wearing a Rolex.

 

Just read the 14270 hodinker article. Damn the explorer 36mm will be hot cakes as people are hunting for a full set especially tritium version.

 

There’s no stock available in the U.K. on Chrono24...

 

Do you guys feel this is just a temporary price spike or the high price is staying for good?

 

You could ask that about GMT's and Subs too, the answer is nobody really knows unfortunately. If watch prices aren't coming down right now whilst the pandemic and economic issues are ensuing, then what is it going to take?

 

https://www.hqmilton.com/timepieces/5ok77e3k/1999-rolex-explorer-14270-swiss-only-dial-A3620

$5,550. Not too insane? imo the 114270 is worth more than the 14270 simply because of the vastly improved movement.

 

I'm not sure the upgraded caliber in the 114270 was "vastly improved," my understanding is there were definitely some improvements but not a qualitative leap over the caliber found in the 14270.

I think the 14270s with tritium dials and drilled lugs are more "valuable" (i.e. trade for more) than the 114270s with the upgraded movement because potential buyers of either the 14270 or 114270 are going for the vintage feel. That is why they prefer the 36mm sizing versus the 39mm in the 214270. So if you want the "neo-vintage" feel and aesthetic, you would want tritium plots that age and develop patina and drilled lugs. But if you don't care about tritium versus luminova, then it makes sense to get the 114270 over the 14270 because it's the same watch, but with an upgraded movement.

The HQ Milton example isn't appealing to me personally because it is the older movement but still has luminova - the worst of both worlds.

 

I'm not sure you can say the 3130 is a 'vast' improvement over the 3000 can you? Apart from a full bridge, larger balance wheel and breguet overcoil it's pretty much the same and not something the majority of people will even know or notice. It might be a slightly more simple design but the c3000 is still cosc spec.

I timed my 14270 cal 3000 over 7 days last week.... not too bad for an old shoddy 21 year old movement

 

I just don’t get Rolex pricing at this point. Given where everything else is trading at it is not a surprise that references that were left behind a bit are moving up.