Watches and cars share several characteristics – they are functional, they can be status symbols, they can turn heads, and they depreciate.

Yep.  I said it.  They depreciate.  Sorry to be Debbie (Denny?) Downer.

AAA recently released a study indicating that “after three years, most [cars] have 60% of their original value.“  Yikes.

Let’s say that you buy a brand new car for $20,000.  After three years, the car will be worth $12,000.  So you just paid $8,000 to drive that car.  That doesn’t include insurance, gas, toll, or fuzzy dice.  Is it worth is?  Unless you’re Warren Buffet or Mark Zuckerberg, probably not.

What’s wrong with a pre-owned car?  Not much, if you ask us.  The basic technology in cars doesn’t change THAT quickly.  And the quality of the ride and the interior won’t deteriorate THAT much.

The argument for buying pre-owned is even stronger for watches.  How much do you think watch technology has changed over the past 100 years?  And after a $200-$600 service, a three year old watch will look and run as good as new. Would you rather have a brand new Cartier Roadster for $6900?  Or a three year old Cartier Roadster for $4500 (or less)?

We think the answer is obvious…especially for watches.  Let someone else take the hit on depreciation!!!

Click here to read the entire AAA study on the cost of car ownership.

Portman is reportedly working with Mille to design her own Limited Edition watch for the brand. All proceeds from the Portman/Mille collaboration‘s watch sales will go to supporting the international charity Free The Children. Award-winning actress, Harvard graduate, humanitarian, fashion muse… and now, watch designer? Natalie Portman- you really are the eRelyx Dream Girl.

(photos c/o natalieportman.com & PR photos)

Check out Noelle’s website here.

From this day forward, we’re huge fans of Noelle!

Check out photos of Noelle and her Ballon Bleu below.

Photos by PR Photos.

We will be selling this watch, so if you are a serious buyer, please contact us at contact@erelyx.com.  We are certainly willing to work with the buyer so that they are 100% comfortable with the purchase.

Here’s what we know about this particular watch:

Ref: 6238

Serial Number: 97X,XXX – with a serial number in the 900,000s, that would put production circa 1958.

Not too many of these watches have changed hands – first, it’s a very rare piece.  Second, not too many people like to let it out of their mitts once they have it!  We did see one very similar listing from a Sotheby’s important watch auction from 2007.  Like the one that we have it was from circa 1958.  The model that sold through Sotheby’s had a stainless steel Jubilee bracelet (our model has an aftermarket strap with the original Rolex buckle).  It sold for a final hammer price of $48,000!!  Click here to see the Sotheby’s listing.

Please see a few additional photos of the actual watch that we have available (along with a screen shot of the Sotheby’s auction listing). Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

This watch is rare and highly collectible!!!

If you are interested in making an offer, please send us an email at contact@erelyx.com.  Serious offers considered.

In the meantime, we are going to reach out to Rolex to see if they will give the watch their “blessing.” We are hoping that they will provide an appraisal or service the watch so that it has supporting documentation. Stay tuned!

Check out a similar model that sold at auction for $48,000 several years ago: Sotheby’s Important Watch Auction

Originally listed at $2890 we’re dropping the price on this Cartier Tank Francaise down to $2600. This watch has a brand new list price of $5500 (Cartier just increased their watch prices, again, on May 1!). That’s nearly $3000 you’ll save when you shop through eRelyx!

We realize that one size does not fit all moms- so for the “Modern Mamas” out there, we’re also offering a special deal on our brand new Tag Heuer Formula 1 in Stainless Steel & Black Ceramic with Diamonds (because what woman doesn’t love a little sparkle?). This watch retails for $3100 and is originally listed on eRelyx for $1990. But just for a week, in honor of Mom- we’re dropping the price to $1790! That’s a total $1,300 off retail price!

But hurry, because Mother’s Day is just over a week away (Sunday May 13th) and our week-long deals will expire at Midnight (11:59 PM ET) on Friday May 11.

PS – that’s his fiancee, Courtney Robertson.

Photos by PR Photos.

The Rolex Daytona is one of the most iconic watches around.  Do you prefer the white or black dial? Vote in our poll below..and then check out the results.

However, we’ve noticed lately that sites like Gilt, Beyond the Rack and Rue La La have been hosting curated sales of one-of-a-kind vintage & pre-owned luxury goods. From Chanel & Louis Vuitton handbags to couture fashions from boutiques like What Goes Around Comes Around to, of course, watches from the more notable brands like Cartier & Rolex… So how does the flash sale model measure up when it comes to the pre-owned luxury watch market?

Well, you guessed it, the answer is- not well. Yesterday, our beloved Rue La La launched an exclusive Cartier & Rolex pre-owned watch sale. In terms of breadth of inventory- the sale was certainly impressive. We panned pages and pages of Tanks, Roadsters, and Datejusts- all appearing to be in impeccable condition…

But what wasn’t impressive was the pricing. $6000 for a Pre-Owned Stainless Steel Rolex Submariner? Seemed a bit outrageous- especially when you considered there was no indication of box or papers with the watch and the Final Sale / No Returns policy in small print.

Theirs:

What would that same stainless steel Rolex Submariner watch, pre-owned, in like new condition, go for on eRelyx? Well, we currently have one listed here for $5390. And that includes original box and a 3-day window for returns.

Ours:

We’re certainly not trying to hate on RueLaLa (we are huge fans) and we adore them for their amazing prices on apparel and accessories from our fave contemporary designers- but we do think its worth shopping around for a better deal when it comes to making that pre-owned luxury watch purchase online.

While there a several takeaways from the survey results, one in particular stands out – REPUTATION IS KEY.

It’s not particularly surprising, but it certainly re-iterates what we have said all along: Buy the retailer/seller first and the watch second.

Below are the results from a few of the questions.

N=107. Most survey participants are members of watch forums and/or are luxury watch enthusiasts on Facebook.