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 81/100 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 $640 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 Yacht-Master 126621 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 $80 per year. Third, insurance: at approximately 1.5% of market value, annual insurance costs $240 to protect against theft, loss, or accidental damage.
Combining these factors yields a net annual cost of $640. That's roughly $1.75 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 Yacht-Master 126621, it helps to understand how it compares to alternatives in the sport watch category. The most affordable alternative is the Cartier Santos at $6,900 — saving you approximately 57% compared to the 126621. However, the 126621 justifies its premium through a superior Value Score (81 vs 76) and stronger brand recognition and resale performance. No alternative in this comparison exceeds the 126621's Value Score of 81/100, confirming its strong position in the market. The comparison table below provides a detailed side-by-side analysis of all key metrics.
| Watch | Market Price | Size | WR | Own/Yr | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolex Yacht-Master 126621 | $14,000–$18,000 | 42mm | 100m | $640/yr | 81 |
| Cartier Santos W2SA0016 | $10,000–$13,000 | 39.8mm | 100m | $943/yr | 75 |
| Cartier Santos WSSA0029 | $6,500–$8,200 | 39.8mm | 100m | $631/yr | 76 |
| Cartier Santos WSSA0018 | $6,000–$7,800 | 39.8mm | 100m | $598/yr | 76 |
| Piaget Polo G0A46018 | $11,000–$15,000 | 42mm | 100m | $1055/yr | 65 |
| Chopard Alpine Eagle 298600-3001 | $10,000–$13,000 | 41mm | 100m | $943/yr | 66 |
Luxury sport watches bridge the gap between tool watches and haute horlogerie. Models like the Nautilus and Royal Oak created the luxury sports watch category in the 1970s, proving that a steel watch could command gold-level prices through superior design and finishing.
Sport watch buyers should consider the integrated bracelet design (a hallmark of the category), water resistance adequate for daily wear (100m+), movement robustness including anti-magnetic properties, and overall case/bracelet finishing. The best examples feature hand-finished movements despite their sporty exterior.
The luxury sport watch is arguably the most versatile category in modern watchmaking. An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak or Patek Philippe Nautilus is appropriate with everything from shorts to a suit. This versatility drives both demand and resale values.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 226659 | 42mm White Gold/Black | $31,250 | 78 | $1223/yr | $28,000–$35,000 |
| 126621 | 40mm Two-Tone Everose ◂ | $15,550 | 81 | $640/yr | $14,000–$18,000 |
Value Score 81/100 · $640/year to own · 98% retention