The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hey,

I was just wondering if the color of the dial makes a big difference in the resale value of a watch? If so, what colors tend to be worth more, which colors tend to be worth the less?

Thank you.

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Breitling Super Avenger Blue dial w/ Batons

Not sure that it affects value per se, but definitely affects appeal which may indirectly affect value (more people after popular colours).

Generally speaking black and white (silver in Breitling speak) are the most popular with things like yellow / coral / red being more specialist appeal.

That said, some models buck that trend - yellow Emergencies for example, and I certainly don't mean to imply that some of the bronze / blue / grey options aren't attractive.

I think you will find that black and white dial watches have more value because they will be easier to sell if you had to. This is because black and white coordinate with any color. Someone who spends thousands of dollars on a watch is going to want to wear it whenever they want, not just if it matches their clothing. Some of the other dial colors are not practical for some people. However, I think dial color popularity and appeal depends on what model you are talking about. Black and white being popular for the SA, but as mentioned, having coral being a popular option for a superocean for example.

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Chrono Superocean (Black)
Rolex Datejust II rhodium/ Arabic dial

Agreed with the other comments that black and white are the easiest to sell, predominantly because most people won't have a collection of pieces so will want something that goes with most outfits. Blue is probably the next easiest to shift.

It's only loonies like us lot with more than one watch that tend to want something a bit different........... like red eh Aleister?

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Agreed. More common colors would be easier to sell to a broader audience. That said, the 'off the beaten path' colors like yellow or orange have cult followings that always seem to do well

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I buy all my watches (120 in 3 years) on the buy and sell forums, so I think I have a good feel for the resale market. IMHO Blue is always one of the hardest to move, grey isn't easy either. Standard Black is the sure bet, always appealing and silver/white is pretty solid too. In dive watches, Orange is money, yellow is right behind orange, blue is a difficult sell and green is the basement (unless its a Rollie). Red is brutal, can't give them away.

I LOVE brown dialed watches, but find that I am an exception and they tend to hang around longer on the forums. My Bronze (really copper) Bentley was bought on eBay way below the level of other Bentleys, I think due to the colour. It's my favorite watch ever.

If I had to rank them, of course this is all very subjective and depends alot on the watch and style:

Black
Silver/White
Orange
Grey
Brown
Yellow
Blue
Green
Red

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Well I for one am not going to argue with someone who's bought and sold 120 watches in 3 years!

I have to say though I'm quite surprised about blue being such a hard sell. When you think of the Seamaster Pro I'd have thought blue would be right up there just behind black and white. (OK, so the SMP dial is actually a grey-blue, although most people assume it's blue because of the bezel, but you get my point).

Very interesting observations, Markjnk.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Hey D8, sorry, I don't want to sound like Iknow what I'm talking about, far from it Those have just been my observations over the years. There are some watches that break these rules, and your example is one of them, also a blue dialed Ploprof, iconic pieces don't fall into these categories. My observation was more directed at watches that come in several variations (or 31 like the EVO) and how certain colours move quicker than others. There will be hundreds of examples that prove me wrong

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MarkJnk, your comment about red dials is interesting. I've been tempted by the red Evo on and off for a while, but I see it's not in the new Chronolog '09. I guess they were selling so few that it was discontinued.

Nick

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Avenger Seawolf
Chrono Avenger
Aerospace
SOHC LE

Me too, I like it and considered it, but have not bought one simply for this reason. I know I like to flip watches when I get bored and the red will be a bugger to sell. There is one on eBay now from a good seller for about 4 months or more... just won't sell.

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No I'm being 100% serious when I say you clearly DO know what you're talking about here - far more than most of us I'd wager, given the number of watches you've bought and sold. I was genuinely surprised about the blue, but I'm not for one second doubting what you say.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Been away for a few days and just saw this one. Yes Driver, I know perfectly what you mean.

I had no second thoughts at all when I got my red Chronomat last year. Sure, it might be very hard to sell, but I bought it for me and not to sell after a while. And, the rest of the watch box gives enough options so I am still not bored with the red dial. However, if someone would give me an insane offer, you never know...

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Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid