Is there a Rolex shortage?
Jessica Wood
Updated on January 17, 2026
Rolex scarcity has long been a challenge for authorized retailers who have had to create waiting lists or try and steer customers to other makes and models. Now the biggest Rolex dealer in the UK says some other luxury watch brands are also starting to feel supply issues amid a surge in demand.
Why is there a shortage of Rolex?
Ganjei emphasizes the pandemic's effect on Rolex availability: "The supercharged Rolex market of the past few years was the result of something of a perfect storm of factors. Covid forced manufacturers to halt production for a time which led to supply issues and a general shortage of new watches."Are Rolex watches becoming more available?
New Rolexes are hard to come by, and secondhand models — if you can find them — are commanding extreme prices, The New York Times reports. Rob Corder, editor of WatchPro, told the news outlet that demand is “absolutely off the scale.”Are Rolex still hard to get?
Why are Rolexes So Hard to Find? Rolex watches are a hot commodity because of their scarcity. The lack of supply is emphasized by supply chain shortages seen across many industries due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Why can't you buy a Rolex?
Rolex has decided to decrease the production output for the bulk of their products in recent years, making much of the sporting watches almost difficult to purchase brand new from Rolex retailers. There will be a set of requirements that you must meet if you purchase a new Rolex from an approved dealer.Rolex Shortage - Why Is It So Hard To Buy A Rolex?
How long is Rolex waiting list?
They will put you on a 2-4 year waitlist, (sometimes longer,) due to their lack of inventory. During that 2-4 year waitlist, Rolex will have more than one price increase, and by the time the watch is finally available to you, you will be paying the current market price...Is it worth buying a Rolex right now?
Rolex watches can potentially be a good investment. Most watches are seen as a bad investment as they quickly lose value through years of use. Rolex watches, on the other hand, are known to hold or even increase their value over time. However, it really depends on the model of your watch and market demand.What are customers really buying Rolex?
Aficionados buy Rolex for its extremely high quality. They may be less interested in extremely fine, complicated craftsmanship in favor of having the best all-around watch for daily wear. Other Rolex customers don't know much about watches, only that Rolex is the best.Are Rolex prices dropping?
An index that tracks the prices of Rolex watches fell 5% in May after a booming year of increases. Watch sellers were asking for overly "optimistic" prices in February, WatchCharts founder Charles Tian said. Even with the decline, luxury watches have still performed better than stocks or crypto in 2022.What is the most difficult Rolex to buy?
In writing moments, the Rolex models that are the hardest to get are the Daytona 116500, 126710BLNR, 126710BLRO, 116610LN, 114060, 126711CHNR, 116610LN, 116610LV. So there are still other sports models from Rolex that are relatively easy to get a hold of.Are Rolex prices going up 2022?
Rolex increased the prices of their watches by over 4.2% at the start of 2022. This suggests a price hike is very likely in the future. If you would like to cash in on fancy timepieces, this article is for you. This case study will tell you what makes Rolexes a good investment.Which Rolex watches will be discontinued 2022?
Discontinued Rolexes in 2022:Oyster Perpetual 124300 (41mm, turquoise, coral red or yellow dial), 126000 (36mm, coral red or yellow dial), 277200 (31mm, coral red or yellow dial) Deepsea 126660 (replaced by 136660) Air King 116900 (replaced by 126900) Day-Date 40 platinum 228206 (replaced by 228236)
Will Rolex prices keep going up?
“If demand gets ahead of supply, prices are just going to go up and up.” “The demand is absolutely off the scale,” Mr. Corder added. “I knew dealers who were saying three years ago that they had never seen demand for Rolex like this, but every year the market gets hotter and hotter.”How often does Rolex restock?
There are two times of the year when Rolex shipments to retailers are limited. This is in time for Christmas in December and in the middle of summer. During Christmas, Rolex normally sends a shipment at the end of November or the beginning of December.Why are Rolex so expensive right now?
The reason why Rolex watches are expensive is because of the quality and value of their product. Both Rolex quality and value has created an environment where demand far exceeds supply and their watches are now considered investments, often selling for 2 to 3 times used than new at MSRP. “Expensive” is a relative term.Whats the cheapest Rolex you can buy?
What Is The Cheapest Rolex. The cheapest Rolex is the 36mm Oyster Perpetual which costs $5,800 MSRP. The Oyster Perpetual is a no date stainless steel sports model that is considered the most affordable or entry level men's Rolex.Will the Rolex GREY market crash?
No they grey market wont go away. There will always be a market for pre-owned watches and the grey market can be very helpful to moving supply across the globe.Why are watch prices falling?
Watch market price drop summarizedIncreased Covid-19 Restrictions and lockdowns in China (Asia is a huge market for luxury watch sales, including the secondhand market) Rising inflation. Increased interest rates and planned future interest rates.