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The Rolex Submariner is among the best tool watches in the world and is a fantastic luxury watch for anyone who spends time in the water, be it scuba diving, swimming, or surfing. The Submariner is always a great option if you are looking for a good luxury waterproof watch. However, these watches are expensive, which leads many to wonder which Rolex Submariner watch is the most affordable.
The cheapest Rolex Submariner is the stainless steel model with reference number 124060, which costs around $9000. There are Submariners available pre-owned for less, as some models can sell for around $8500. It is always better to buy a new Rolex than a pre-owned model for $500 less.
Rolex produces some of the more affordable luxury watches on the market, but these timepieces are still very expensive by most people’s standards. With that in mind, there are some Submariner watches available that fall into the lower price range from Rolex. Let’s identify the least expensive new Submariner and learn how to get a Submariner for the best price possible.
Which Rolex Submariner Is The Cheapest?
The Rolex Submariner is among the more less expensive watches in the Rolex range, but it is still a luxury watch made with high-end materials and made to the meticulous standards that all Rolex watches are kept to. This means that while the Submariner is affordable compared to other Rolex models, it is still expensive.
The cheapest Rolex Submariner is the 124060 Stainless-Steel Rolex Submariner. However, there are less expensive watches available on the pre-owned market, and it is possible to pay less for this type of watch than buying it brand new.
Buying a new Submariner is a good option because it comes with a warranty, and the watch is sure to be in perfect condition and does not need a service, but it can be very expensive.
With that in mind, discussing the price of the least expensive Submariner models on the new and pre-owned markets is essential. This is the only way to answer this question definitively.
The Cheapest New Rolex Submariner
Buying a new Rolex is the most expensive option, but it comes with the surety of a new watch, as you know that a new watch is in perfect condition and has no issues.
The cheapest new Rolex Submariner is the 124060 Rolex range. These Submariners start at around $9000 and are the least expensive new Submariners range by a large margin.
These watches also appreciate on the pre-owned market, which means that they are likely to be worth more than the MSRP if you take good care of them.
Other Rolex models cost less, but if you are specifically looking for a Submariner, no model has a cheaper price, except for pre-owned rolex watches timepieces.
The Cheapest Pre-Owned Rolex Submariner
The best way to find a Rolex Submariner at the lowest price possible is to look at the pre-owned market. These watches can cost significantly less than the new models, depending on the condition of the watch, the materials the watch is made from, and the age of the watch.
With that said, the cheapest Submariner model we could find is a 16800 Submariner model for around $7200. This is the lowest that a useable Submariner could ever cost, as this watch is only in fair condition, has no original papers, and has no history of service.
A good pre-owned Submariner usually costs around $8500, so it is better to buy a new timepiece, as this is close to the price of a new Submariner.
However, if you are simply looking for the cheapest mariner, the best place to look is the pre-used market, as the prices are significantly lower than any new Submariner.
Where To Find The Cheapest Rolex Submariner?
If a new Rolex Submariner is simply not an option for you, it is important to know where to look to find the least expensive models possible.
We have established that the second-hand market is the best place to look for a Submariner at the lowest price, but this market is vast, and there are many Rolex knockoffs out there. How do you know where to find an official Rolex Submariner at the best price without buying a replica or a fake model?
The best place to buy the cheapest Rolex Submariner is from a trusted pre-owned retailer with a good industry reputation that only deals with original timepieces.
Several online retailers buy and sell second-hand luxury watches, and some sites hold auctions for these watches, which can be an excellent way to get a good deal on a Submariner.
Some jewelers also deal in pre-owned timepieces, and they can verify that the watch is authentic before selling it, which is always a good thing.
The retailer you use to buy your submarine must be able to verify the watch’s authenticity, and it is always best to find a pre-owned watch with authenticity papers as well.
The second-hand market is full of replicas, but if you can find a reputable retailer, you are sure to find a good, authentic, well-cared pre-owned Submariner at an excellent price and far less expensive than a new model.
Never buy a pre-owned watch from an unknown source, never buy a look from a person you do not know, and always take the watch to an official Rolex retailer for authentication if possible.
Is It Worthwhile Buying The Cheapest Submariner?
The cheapest Rolex Submariners on the market are pre-owned, but they are still significantly more expensive than many other tool watches. Some Submariner models even appreciate after being sold, which means that the cheapest new Submariner may not be the cheapest pre-owned Submariner, and the price of a pre-owned Submariner is usually close to that of a new model.
This leads many prospective watch buyers and collectors to wonder if it is worthwhile baying the cheapest Submariner or spending a little more on a Submariner.
The cheapest new Submariner from Rolex is a reasonable price for the watch’s value. The timepiece usually gains value after sale if it is kept in good condition, which means it can also be a small investment.
However, a pre-owned watch will not appreciate unless it is a particular sought-after model, has all of its paperwork, and is well-kept.
The Submariner, even the cheapest option, is an excellent watch. This is the king of tool watches, and even the cheapest watch in the range is made with the best materials, is wetproof to a depth of 300m, and is made to an exceptionally high standard of quality and craftsmanship.
Even the cheapest Submariner will last a lifetime if serviced well, and it is a watch that can even be handed to the next generation.
This means that buying the cheapest Submariner is worthwhile, provided you buy the watch new.
A new Submariner will appreciate in value, it will always work well, it will last a very long time, and it has the same features and capabilities as the most expensive Submariner. It is only made from slightly less expensive materials.
In fact, the cheapest Submariner is made from stainless steel, while the most expensive Submariner is made from yellow gold. This means that the cheapest watch in the range will likely outlive the most expensive and will not tarnish or scratch as easily.
It is worthwhile buying the cheapest Submariner in the range, so long as you buy the watch brand new and keep it in good condition ad well-serviced.
How Much Do Rolex Submariners Usually Cost?
The Rolex submariner is an icon in the horology world and has become one of the most revered watches in history. This is why it is usually so challenging to find an affordable Submariner model.
When discussing the cheapest Submariner, a price of $9000 seems steep, but in context with the rest of the Submariner range, it is easy to see that this price is very low for a Submariner.
Rolex submariners usually cost $10,000 – $15,000, and the most expensive model in the range costs nearly $45,000. This should put the price of the cheapest Submariner in perspective and demonstrate that it is the cheapest model in the range.
$9000 is a lot for a watch, but not a lot for a brand-new Rolex Submariner, especially in comparison to the rest of the range.
Pre-owned submariners are just as expensive as the new models, especially the first models produced after Rolex makes design changes and models made with precious metals. Submariner models that are special editions, early editions, or made to commemorate an event are also very valuable.
Most Submariner watches sell for $8000 – $18,000, but it is easy to spend much more on some models. Submariners usually appreciate after they are sold, which means that a new Submariner is often less expensive than a pre-owned version of the same model, depending on the condition of the watch.
All in all, paying sub-$9000 for a Submariner is an amazing price, and paring around $9000 for a brand new model is excellent compared to the rest of the range.
The unfortunate reality is that any Submariner that is cheaper than this is probably not worth purchasing, as there is likely to be an issue with the watch, or it is likely to be in poor condition overall.
Why Rolex Submariner is So Expensive?
Rolex Submariners are expensive for tool watches, even though they are luxury timepieces. If you are discovering the price of Rolex Submariner models for the first time while reading this, you may wonder why these watches are so expensive.
There are several reasons why Rolex Submariner models cost as much as they do. The first and most obvious reason these watches are so expensive is that they are made by Rolex.
Rolex is among the biggest names in the world of luxury watches, and this brand is associated with the highest quality and reliability. This reputation is a significant contributor to the price of a Submariner.
The Submariner is also a heritage watch with a significant legacy. This was the first fully waterproof watch to reach a depth of 100m and continues to be among the best waterproof watches ever made.
The Submariner also contains proprietary technology, such as the Oyster case, which is the case mechanism that keeps the watch waterproof.
Submariners, like all Rolex timepieces, are exceptionally well-made. These watches are held to one of the highest standards in watchmaking and are made to last longer than their owners. If you take care of a Submariner, it will live longer than you.
All of these reasons contribute to the price of the Submariner. The materials that the watch is made from also influence the price, as the more expensive materials used in the watch, the more expensive it is.
Submariners are so expensive because they are so well made, have an excellent reputation, famous history, and legacy, and are made by one of the best watchmakers in the world.
Are The Cheapest Submariner Watches Good?
When exploring the world of Rolex Submariner watches to find the cheapest model, it is worth asking if the cheapest Submariner is a good watch or if it is better to spend the money on a different watch with similar capabilities and features.
Among the best features of the Submariner is that even the cheapest models are made to the same standards as all Rolex watches. This means that a cheap Submariner is still an excellent watch made to last a lifetime and will never fail unless you break it.
The cheapest Submariner on the market is still a $9000 watch, which means that it is still made to a very high standard and is incredibly reliable.
The Submariner is expensive, but it is among the most durable and reliable luxury watches ever made. The Submariner is an excellent watch; if you have your heart set on one, you will never be disappointed by it.
Conclusion
The cheapest Submariner is the stainless steel Submariner with the reference number 124060. These are excellent watches that will last a lifetime, but they are significantly cheaper than the rest of the Rolex Submariner range.
It is possible to get a cheaper Submariner on the pre-owned market, but there is no guarantee that these watches are legitimate Rolex timepieces, and there is no way to guarantee their condition or service history.
References
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