The benefits of owning a diamond watch are clear. They’re elegant, timeless, and makes a bold impression. But how much will one set you back, exactly? That number can vary drastically, depending on the model of the watch, the shape and size of the diamonds, and the quantity used. For example, the premium for a round-cut diamond dial on the Daytona is roughly $2k more than the standard model, and the premium for a diamond dial topped with baguette-cut gems is more than three times that amount.If you’re in the market for a Datejust 36 with a diamond-set bezel, that will set you back about $7k over the standard model. Even more extraordinary is the diamond-paved dial on the iced-out Rolex Yacht-Master 40 ref. 126655 in Everose, which commands $20k over the standard Yacht-Master price. Depending on your preference, adding a diamond Rolex to your collection can either be relatively affordable or will require a serious, top-tier investment.Another interesting fact to consider when looking for a diamond Rolex for sale is that they will almost immediately depreciate in value once they hit the secondary market, although they will almost always be worth more than a non-diamond version of the same watch. If you’re shopping for a watch on the pre-owned Rolex market, then a diamond watch is a very attractive option to consider.You might find it surprising to learn that compared to the total number of Rolex watches produced, a small number were actually factory-set with diamonds. The rest are custom/aftermarket and vary significantly from the timepieces produced entirely by Rolex.For starters, Rolex has access to the highest quality diamonds and employs some of the industry’s most skilled gem setters. An aftermarket diamond Rolex rarely comes close to the same level of quality as an original diamond-set Rolex, both in regards to the diamond itself and the quality of its setting. An original factory-set diamond Rolex is rare and will also hold its value better than one with custom-set diamonds. In fact, many aftermarket watches are actually worth much less than they were before the diamonds were added, both because the diamonds are considered by many as a non-genuine component and because they can often cause functional issues for the watch. Rolex will even go as far as to require that the custom components be replaced with their factory-intended counterparts before they will agree to service the watch.Overall, diamond watches are a smartwatch to purchase, if you know where to look. In addition to the size and clarity of diamonds, how they are cut and set into the watches plays a huge role in bringing out their natural beauty. Therefore, its important to only buy genuine factory-set diamond Rolex watches, as these will use only the highest quality diamonds and other gemstones. A genuine example on the secondary market is a pretty sound investment and can add significant value to your watch box without the initial top-tier price tag.
Talking about watches and inspiration can spawn some pretty interesting debates, and for good reason – especially in the dive watch category. Of course, early dive watches weren’t “inspired by” anything; dive watches were tools created with a very distinct purpose. That said, as the years went on and the dive watch category moved away from practical utility towards desirable daily-wearers, design inspiration soon came into play. Today we’re looking at luxury watches inspired by the ocean, and digging into the stories behind the creation of each piece and how they relate to the big blue beyond.As mentioned above, there is no reason to go into a Rolex Submariner history lesson here; however, the Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea with D-Blue dial (a variant of the original Deepsea that was first unveiled in 2008) has a very distinct connection to our world’s deepest waters.The origins of this piece come from Rolex’s involvement in (read: sponsorship of) James Cameron’s deep dive into the Mariana Trench. Though not limited in production, the piece is commemorative of the 2012 dive, and features a gradient blue to black dial that mimics the loss of light as one descends into the ocean’s depths. Additionally, the green chosen for the DEEPSEA text on its dial is matched to the color of Cameron’s Deepsea Challenger Submarine that took a prototype Rolex watch all the way down into the trench affixed to one of its robotic arms.The legacy of Jacques-Yves Cousteau is unparalleled in the world of underwater exploration, and many years ago (back in 2004 to be precise), IWC decided to become a partner of the Cousteau Society – a non-profit organization looking to continue the initiatives set out by Jacques-Yves several decades prior. From the onset of the partnership, IWC has included special limited-edition Aquatimer models in their collections, with a portion of the proceeds of each watch headed towards the organization.Of their bigger undertakings, Cousteau’s famed research vessel (named ‘Calypso’) was raised from the sea floor after sinking on account of an incident in Singapore in 1996. Progress on Calypso has been slow-going, and a fire on the ship while docked in Turkey two years ago has slowed things further. Naturally, there are rumors swirling that a redesign of the IWC Aquatimer line across the board will appear in conjunction with the vessel’s unveiling.
