Yes, Blue Dial Rolexes are Still In
But why is the hype still there?
If you haven’t noticed by now, I have an affinity for colored dial sub-38mm Rolexes ranging from Oyster Perpetuals, Oyster Precisions, to Datejusts — but there’s one color that I’m always after. You guessed it. Blue.
I have everyone and their mother inquiring about a blue dial Rolex and for good reason. Not only are they beautiful, but they are getting harder to find by the day as both collectors and non collectors alike are aware of what they have and are keeping inventory to themselves.
Of course, this applies to many vintage Rolex models, but there really is a shortage of colored models in general on the market. The difficult thing about sourcing a vintage blue dial Rolex from the 60s-80s as opposed to other colors is the deterioration on the dial. Other colors like black and grey typically age better over time. The problem with blue dials is that their color starts to chip away — often, blue dials are chipped and peeling making it even more valuable when a blue dial comes up in perfect shape.
It's funny to see that only 15 years ago, the price of a blue dial Datejust was the same price as any color, even silver, assuming all other factors were the same. Many collectors in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s hardly differentiated between color or even condition of the dial back then, as expectations from buyers were different than today.
The typical Rolex Datejust buyer couldn’t care less if their dial on their watch was blue and silver. As long as it said “Rolex” on the dial, they were happy. Decades ago, the option to swap your dials in authorized dealerships was a thing. If someone didn’t like their dial color, they can just swap it. It was all the same back then.
As years go by, tastes, priorities, and collecting philosophies change. Factors that contribute to the demand of blue dials or — any color for that matter (cough, green) — is the amount of players in the watch world. There are more buyers, sellers, dealers, and collectors than ever before. It’s inevitable that collectors will scoop up great condition pieces and keep them tucked away.
With fewer in circulation and the demand for color only going up, the premiums for blue Rolexes are here to stay. A good point to mention is that the color premium on an Oyster Perpetual, Datejust, or Oyster Precision isn’t that much, relative to other premiums in pieces like Submariners and Daytonas.
Image courtesy Time and Tide
Miniscule nuances in a Sub or Daytona can cost thousands as opposed to a whole different dial color is just a $500-1000 interval in the $3000-6000 range. I think it's worth it to pay the premium, even at the highs of the vintage watch market because the demand for any blue, grey, black, ghost dial Rolex keeps going up. Yes, it's a bold thing to say and some people might disagree with me — but this is the hottest the watch market has ever been.
Although both vintage and modern watches fall into the same “grey market” market, pricing and market analysis between vintage and modern is different. We’re at all time highs for both vintage and modern, BUT the difference is there is still room for growth in many vintage watches, especially in coveted variants of desirable watches.
On the other hand, modern pieces will eventually soften (maybe), which means pricing will remain the same or slowly climb back down. There is so much potential with vintage Rolex especially under the $5000 mark in terms of monetary appreciation, dollar for dollar value, and looks!
I went on a tangent, but back to blue dials. It’s interesting to point out that even modern watch buyers are differentiating and opting for a blue dial in their watch, regardless of the brand. 2019-2020 was the year of blue.
Everyone wanted (still wants) a blue dial Royal Oak, Nautilus, and even a Datejust. Blue is now mainstream. The watch industry paid attention and catered as every brand has a signature blue dial watch. 2021 was definitely the year of the green dial, which actually grew on to me. Is the blue color overrated? I don’t think so.
Personally, a blue dial in a watch is playful enough, but also conservative at the same time. It’s hard to find that combination of fun color that can be worn all the time. Versatility is important and I believe that blue, regardless of the hype, is the easiest color to wear.
Daniel Matatov is, of course, “Danny” of Danny’s Vintage Watches. If you have a pitch for us, reach out through our Contact form or send it to @iamjoshcameron on Instagram.
