We’ve shown you a lot of stats this year. How watches in a certain sub-genre, such as skeleton watches, are doing, which dial colours are worth investing in, which versions of a specific model are the clear winners. But the question hanging over it all is a big one: which are actually the best performing investment watches in 2023? So, for our last issue of the year, we’re taking a look back at the five timepieces that over the past 12 months have not only held their own, but crested to the top in a year of serious highs and lows. And the results might just surprise you.
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Perpetual Calendar Ref. 43175/000R-B343
At just over 35K for a perpetual calendar, the Patrimony Perpetual Calendar was great value. Evidently collectors cottoned on to that fact as it’s gone up nearly 70% in the past 12 months! That translates to another 25K on top, which in a year where plenty of models have been left in the red, is almost miraculous.
Retail Price: €82,500 (Approx. £69,700)
Date
Opening Price (£)
Closing Price (£)
Price Change (£)
Price Change (%)
12 Months (December 2022 – December 2023)
£37,885
£59,881
+ £21,996
+ 58.06%
Breguet Marine Chronograph Ref. 5527BR/12/5WV
When it comes to Breguet, my mind tends to go in two directions. Either their extremely classical haute horology watches following in the traditions of Abraham-Louis Breguet or their cool military pilot’s watches. However, one of the top performers of the year comes from their Marine collection, specifically the Breguet Marine Chronograph 5527BR/12/5WV in rose gold with a silver tone dial. It features a wave pattern dial below a trio of subdials and, of course, the signature Breguet hands. Significantly, the biggest increase in value has come in the latter portion of the year with the month of October doing particularly well.
Retail Price: €38,200 (Approx. £32,700)
Date
Opening Price (£)
Closing Price (£)
Price Change (£)
Price Change (%)
12 Months (December 2022 – December 2023)
£19,166
£29,973
+ £10,807
+ 56.39%
Tag Heuer Carrera Ref. CAR5A5U.FC6377
More proof that high complications are in high demand, TAG Heuer’s originally affordable take on the gravity defying racing watch has done more-than-solid work this year, gaining a little over £7,000 in value. It turns out it really is the year of the Carrera.
Retail Price: €27,150 (Approx. £23,200)
Date
Opening Price (£)
Closing Price (£)
Price Change (£)
Price Change (%)
12 Months (December 2022 – December 2023)
£11,770
£18,113
+ £6,343
+ 53.89%
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Ref. 15450BA.OO.1256BA.01
Royal Oak is a given, especially one that’s already worth a solid weight of gold. This regal rendition of the original Genta design isn’t as valuable as it was earlier in the year, but if you nabbed this back in March when it was coasting around £33,000, you’d be laughing.
Retail Price: €44,200 (Approx. £37,800)
Date
Opening Price (£)
Closing Price (£)
Price Change (£)
Price Change (%)
12 Months (December 2022 – December 2023)
£35,328
£52,165
+ £16,837
+ 47.66%
Glashütte Original Sixties Stainless Steel Ref. 1-39-52-04-02-04
A good performance doesn’t always mean a watch has to be exclusive to high-net-worth individuals and the Glashütte Original Sixties Stainless Steel proves that. Across the year it has close to a 50% increase taking it up to £6,300 with a sharp rise since June. The Sixties is inspired by the cool retro vibes of that decade and is particularly funky when produced in bright, vibrant colours. Although this edition runs counter to that as it’s the plain black version which has more of a minimalist aesthetic.
Retail Price: €6,500 (Approx. £5,500)
Date
Opening Price (£)
Closing Price (£)
Price Change (£)
Price Change (%)
12 Months (December 2022 – December 2023)
£4,443
£6,334
+ £1,891
+ 42.56%
*Statistics accurate at time of writing article using WatchAnalytics.
Oracle Time