As the global retail market opens up, demand for the most popular watches — Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet – appears to be more concentrated than ever, with secondary market prices still well above recommended retail prices. 
There has been a flight to the sort of investment-grade timepieces so prized by flippers, David Hurley, executive president for The Watches of Switzerland Group in the United States said.
“During Covid, people seem to be buying twice as many watches that they own and appreciate in value, he told specialist watch companies. “Rolex continues to be a top performer along with AP, and Patek.”
Mr. Hurley said the launch of the new watch had been crucial throughout the lock industry.
“I would say that the pace of new replica watches introductions this year – which seems to show no signs of slowing down – is also driving a large number of consumer interest,” he suggests.
Sales remain robust for these key three brands despite a limited number of new watches being launched. Patek Philippe has released just four watches this year on functional objects, Audemars Piguet has focused on is CODE 11.59 instead of the far more popular Royal Oak in the first half of the year, and Rolex will not reveal any new watches until the first week of September.