Do Seiko Watches Hold Their Value?

Seiko is one of the most well-known watch manufacturers in the world. They provide high-quality timepieces at reasonable prices. But how long do Seiko watches retain their value?

Do Seiko Watches Hold Their Value?

Seiko watches are not known for their long-term value retention. Most Seiko timepieces are sold too frequently to be resold at the same or a higher price. There are, however, certain exceptions. Models that have been discontinued aren’t manufacturerd any longer, but some of the most popular ones may appreciate in value over time.

In this post, I’ll go through what makes Seiko timepieces (and watches in general) last so long and whether Grand Seiko watches hold as well.

Why Do Seiko Watches Rarely Hold Their Value?

Because Seiko timepieces are produced in such large amounts that there is no scarcity, they rarely retain their value. The majority of Seiko timepieces do not have any distinctive characteristics or exotic materials. Some models with distinct features, on the other hand, may even appreciate in value over time.

What Makes Watches Hold Their Value?

Consider the following variables when evaluating the worth of a Seiko timepiece. These criteria apply to all timepieces.

The following are some of the reasons why a watch’s value can fluctuate:

• There is a high amount of demand for the watch in comparison to its availability.
• The watch’s design is designed for a specific goal.
• A well-known personality was previously wearing this timepiece.
• It has unique characteristics.
• The watch is from a well-known manufacturer.

The Watch Has a High Demand Relative to Its Supply.

Rarity does not increase the value of a watch on its own. There’s no need to pay so much for a model with just five pieces if few people want it.

However, if there are only five copies of a particular model and there is a large demand for it, the value will surge dramatically. A valuable timepiece is both uncommon and highly sought after.

The supply is usually good for most Seiko models. Seiko is a well-known brand in the watch business, and any store that sells watches will have Seiko timepieces on hand. Buying a new watch in-store makes more sense than buying the same watch secondhand because of the high amount available.

The Watch’s Design Is for a Specific Purpose

If your timepiece is a jack-of-all-trades, you won’t get a high price for it on the secondhand market. But if it’s from a certain “genre” (such as dive watches, military timepieces, and so on), that’s another story.

The Seiko SKX007 was a legendary diver’s watch in 1965. It has luminous hour and minute hands (to tell time in low light conditions), as well as an ISO rating of 6425 (for water resistance up to 200 meters).

You can still buy SKX007s today, although they’re becoming increasingly difficult to come by. If you want an original Japanese SKX007, expect to pay at least $800.

The Watch Previously Belonged to a Celebrity

Whether you enjoy or despise celebrity endorsements, the fact is that they’re similar to King Midas: anything they touch becomes golden (or as valuable as gold). Luxury watches are not an exception.

Celebrities such as Bill Gates, George Clooney, and Elon Musk have been spotted wearing high-end brands like Rolex, Omega, and Patek Philippe. Steve Job’s Seiko Quartz 6431-6030 and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Seiko H558-5000 are exceptions. So, if your Seiko belonged to someone larger than life, it might be worth a pretty penny.The Watch Has Unique CharacteristicsWhen it comes to timepieces, one size does not fit all. Watches come in all shapes and sizes, with different dials, materials, and straps.

The Watch Has One-of-a-Kind Features

If your watch has a feature that is unique to its model or appears once every blue moon, it may be worth a lot of money.

Let’s suppose that Model X has a white face, as is typical. However, one in every seven pieces of Model X has a blue face. In that scenario, the blue-faced versions of Model X are more valuable than their white counterparts.

The one-of-a-kind characteristics don’t have to be useful. The feature should improve the watch’s value as long as it distinguishes the model and is not a modification done by an individual who happens to be a passionate watch modder.

 

 

The Watch Is From a High-Value Brand

Some brands are worth more than others. Unless your Seiko watch was previously owned by Steve Jobs or Arnold Schwarzenegger, you won’t be able to sell it for the same amount as an Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, or other high-end Swiss timepieces.

At some point, people’s wallets reach their limits. Consider it a comparison to automobiles; a decked-out Volvo might be worth more than the regular model, but is it really feasible for someone to pay Rolls Royce prices for what is still a Volvo?

“But hang on,” you ask. “Doesn’t Seiko offer a more expensive version of its Grand Seiko called the Grand Seiko Luxury? Is it true that a Grand Seiko can retain its value better than a regular Seiko?” That’s what we’re going to discuss in the following section.

Grand Seiko is a watch brand that is produced by the same company as Seiko. Is it true, then, that Grand Seiko watches retain their value better than Seiko timepieces?

Grand Seiko watches can retain their value if they are limited editions or come from a well-known discontinued series. Otherwise, they will depreciate by 20% as soon as you buy them. You may not lower the price of a Grand Seiko watch a luxury watch brand on the secondhand market below 40%.

Even when purchasing a Grand Seiko watch from an Authorized Dealer, you have some leeway. The higher your discount is, the more value your Grand Seiko will retain.

Aside from Seiko timepieces that belonged to celebrities, which Seiko timepieces are still worth selling if you find a buyer? In the following section, I’ll mention a few of them.

Which Seiko Watches Hold Their Value?

Certain timepieces, for example, may still retain their value on sites like eBay and Watch Patrol. I mean you can sell them for something that’s at least equivalent to or greater than the purchase price of their original purchase. They offer amazing quality watches for affordable prices.

The Seiko SKX007 and the SARB017 are two models that maintain their value. The discontinued but still popular affordable watches SKX007 is an automatic diver’s watch from Seiko. Meanwhile, some collectors appreciate the emerald green face of the SARB017 because of its uniqueness.

Although this value can be improved by adding a box and some papers, the majority of Seikos do not retain their value. Unless your Seiko meets any of the criteria I mentioned previously, don’t expect to make a significant profit from it.