A luxury watch can be a deeply personal purchase. However, its story doesn't end after it leaves the shop, especially when it comes to retaining its value in the market. In 2026, Vacheron Constantin has pulled ahead in luxury watch values on the secondary market, beating Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Rolex over the past year. According to the Chrono24 Q3 2026 Quarterly Dial, published October 20, Vacheron Constantin watch prices rose 17.7% over 12 months, narrowly ahead of Patek Philippe's 17.0%. Audemars Piguet gained 2.0% in the third quarter, but Rolex slipped 0.2%. These figures track pre-owned market performance, not the retail price of every watch a brand sells. The Chrono24 ChronoPulse Index, shows that after years of correction, the secondary market is rising again, and two of Geneva’s oldest names are setting the pace. Check out how each watchmaker performed and what the latest numbers suggest about the luxury watch market.
Vacheron Constantin led the index over three, six and twelve months. Its prices rose 6.7% in the third quarter and 8.2% over six months. In September it closed at 1,670 points, a 52-week high and 67.0% above the index’s January 2019 starting point.
Patek Philippe is only a small step back. It rose 3.0% in the third quarter and 5.8% over six months, and it finished at its own 52-week high of 2,086 points. Chrono24 says three steel Patek Philippe Nautilus models were among the best performers of the year, but it doesn’t say which ones.
Audemars Piguet, the third name in the 'Holy Trinity' of watchmaking, gained 2.0% in the quarter. Its prices are also higher over three, six and twelve months. Jaeger-LeCoultre ranks fourth, up 11.0% over the year. Much of that comes from the Reverso. Square cases are back in fashion, and four of the ten best-performing watches of the past year have one.
Rolex slipped 0.2% in the quarter, which sounds worse than it is. The brand gained 2.2% over six months and is still 6.0% higher than a year ago. After a strong start to the year, this looks like a pause, not a retreat.
The Chrono24 ChronoPulse Index follows 13 brands and more than 140 models. It rose 0.7% in the third quarter to 1,471 points, its fourth gain in a row, and it is up 7.5% over the year. Hublot was the only tracked brand lower over twelve months, though Chrono24 didn’t share the figure. There are no numbers for Richard Mille, Blancpain or F.P. Journe.