Gold prices rose 26% in 2024, marking their biggest annual rise in 14 years. Swiss luxury watch prices rose by up to 8% for this reason, doubling last year’s increase.
The Gold prices soared 26% in 2024hitting a series of records along the way, supported by optimism about rate cuts. In that context, Rolex S.A.one of the leading Swiss luxury brands in the watch market, had to raise the prices of some of its most popular models by up to 8%.
The Geneva-based company, controlled by a Swiss foundation named after its co-founder Hans Wilsdorfbegan 2025 by raising prices up to 8% in some models made of precious metals.
According to the Rolex website in France, a Yellow gold day-date with 40-millimeter black dial costs from January 1st 44,200 euros -some US$45,809– while last year it cost 41,000 euros. He GMT-Master II yellow gold ascended from 41,300 euros to 44,600 euros this year.
Luxury watches skyrocketed: the main reasons
Rolex usually raises prices once a yearevery January 1st. Increases may be indicative of demand for premium luxury products, the cost of materials and labor, as well as inflation. Although, the 2025 increases were double those of last year, when prices of some models rose by around 4% in the United Kingdom.
It should be noted that the rise in gold in 2024 was 26%, thus marking its largest annual increase in 14 years.
Watch prices in each country can also be considered an indicator of a nation’s economic strength. The world’s leading luxury watch brand produces more than a million watches a year, with sales of more than 10 billion Swiss francs ($11 billion), according to analyst estimates.
However, the variation in prices of models made of steel was less aggressive in 2025: a Cosmograph Daytona It rose from 15,500 to 16,000 euros. A Submariner diving watch without a date increased 1.6% to 9,500 euros.
While the latest rises may be related to the value of gold, the exchange rate was also a factor in the past. Rolex raised prices twice in the UK and Europe in 2022 as the Swiss franc soared against the pound and euro.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
