Rolex, founded by Hans Wilsdorf in London in 1905 and later relocated to Geneva, is the world's most recognized luxury watch brand. The company pioneered the waterproof wristwatch (Oyster, 1926), the self-winding mechanism (Perpetual, 1931), and the date display (Datejust, 1945).
Trading near its retail price on the secondary market, this reference offers good value for buyers. The parity between retail and market pricing suggests balanced supply and demand, making it accessible without excessive premiums or lengthy dealer waitlists.
Our WVS Value Score of 76/100 places this in the upper range of luxury watches. The score reflects a solid balance between value retention, brand recognition, specification quality, and market availability.
The estimated annual cost of ownership is $1520 per year, accounting for depreciation, servicing, and insurance. While this is higher than some alternatives, it should be weighed against the wearing pleasure and prestige the watch provides daily.
Understanding the true cost of owning a luxury watch requires looking beyond the purchase price. Our cost-of-ownership model calculates the annual net expense of keeping the Rolex Submariner 126618LB on your wrist, factoring in three key components.
First, depreciation: based on historical pricing data for this reference and similar Rolex models, we estimate annual value change at 2%. This low depreciation rate means the watch holds its value exceptionally well compared to most luxury goods. Second, servicing: Rolex recommends periodic maintenance to ensure accuracy and water resistance. We amortize the estimated service cost across the recommended interval, arriving at $120 per year. Third, insurance: at approximately 1.5% of market value, annual insurance costs $600 to protect against theft, loss, or accidental damage.
Combining these factors yields a net annual cost of $1520. That's roughly $4.16 per day — comparable to a daily coffee habit.
Estimated market price trend based on aggregated public listing data. Prices reflect average asking prices for complete sets in excellent condition. Updated monthly.
Our proprietary score rates every luxury watch on a 0-100 scale across five dimensions. Scores above 85 indicate exceptional value retention and market positioning. The formula is transparent and weight-based.
When considering the Rolex Submariner 126618LB, it helps to understand how it compares to alternatives in the dive watch category. The highest-scoring alternative is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak with a Value Score of 84/100, slightly above the 126618LB's 76/100. The comparison table below provides a detailed side-by-side analysis of all key metrics.
| Watch | Market Price | Size | WR | Own/Yr | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolex Submariner 126618LB | $36,000–$44,000 | 41mm | 300m | $1520/yr | 76 |
| Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15510ST.OO.1320ST.02 | $38,000–$50,000 | 41mm | 50m | $208/yr | 82 |
| Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15510ST.OO.1320ST.01 | $45,000–$60,000 | 41mm | 50m | $225/yr | 84 |
| Vacheron Constantin Overseas 4500V/110A-B483 | $30,000–$42,000 | 41mm | 150m | $192/yr | 75 |
| Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 26470ST.OO.A027CA.01 | $30,000–$42,000 | 44mm | 100m | $2820/yr | 72 |
| Vacheron Constantin Overseas 4500V/110A-B128 | $28,000–$38,000 | 41mm | 150m | $186/yr | 73 |
Originally designed for professional underwater use, modern dive watches are equally at home on a desk as they are at depth. The rotating bezel tracks elapsed time underwater, while the high water resistance and luminous markers ensure readability in low-light conditions.
Key specifications for a dive watch include water resistance (minimum 200m for ISO 6425 certification), unidirectional rotating bezel, luminous hands and indices, screw-down crown, and robust bracelet with dive extension. Higher-end models feature helium escape valves for saturation diving.
Dive watches are the most versatile luxury watch category. They pair equally well with a suit, casual wear, or technical gear. The sport-luxury aesthetic makes them appropriate for virtually any situation, which is why models like the Submariner and Seamaster are among the best-selling luxury watches globally.
Rolex watches are notoriously difficult to purchase at retail from authorized dealers. Most popular steel sport models (Submariner, Daytona, GMT-Master) have waiting lists ranging from months to years. The secondary market offers immediate availability but typically at a premium above MSRP.
All current Rolex watches use in-house movements manufactured at their four Swiss facilities. Every movement is COSC-certified and then tested to Rolex's own Superlative Chronometer standard of -2/+2 seconds per day — twice as strict as COSC alone.
Rolex recommends servicing every 10 years. A standard service costs approximately $800-$1,000 for a basic three-hand model and $1,000-$1,400 for a chronograph. Rolex service includes a 2-year guarantee on the work performed.
Rolex has the strongest resale value of any watch brand. Steel sport models consistently trade above retail, while precious metal and Datejust/Day-Date models may trade at or slightly below retail depending on configuration.
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Every current reference ranked by Value Score. Click any model for full analysis.
| Ref | Variant | Retail | Score | Own/Yr | Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 124060 | No Date - Steel/Black | $9,100 | 89 | $105/yr | $10,500–$14,500 |
| 126610LN | Date - Steel/Black | $10,250 | 89 | $108/yr | $12,000–$16,000 |
| 126610LV | Date - Steel/Green (Starbucks) | $10,800 | 89 | $115/yr | $15,000–$20,000 |
| 126613LB | Date - Two-Tone/Blue (Bluesy) | $16,500 | 83 | $118/yr | $16,500–$21,000 |
| 126613LN | Date - Two-Tone/Black | $16,500 | 81 | $684/yr | $15,500–$19,000 |
| 126618LB | Date - Gold/Blue ◂ | $41,650 | 76 | $1520/yr | $36,000–$44,000 |
| 126618LN | Date - Gold/Black | $41,650 | 75 | $3008/yr | $35,000–$42,000 |
| 126619LB | Date - White Gold/Blue (Smurf) | $43,550 | 77 | $1625/yr | $38,000–$48,000 |
Value Score 76/100 · $1520/year to own · 98% retention