Cartier and Rolex are both luxury watch powerhouses that play a large influence on the watch industry. But because they’re so well-known, popular, and high-quality, their timepieces come at a high price. But which brand is more expensive: Cartier or Rolex? After I’ve done my own research, I found which brand out of the two is more expensive.
Rolex is more expensive than Cartier. The starting price for a Rolex watch is $5,700 while the starting price for a Cartier watch is $2,740. Also, the average price for a Rolex is $12,780 while the average price for a Cartier timepiece is $5,449.
After I’ve done research into both Cartier and Rolex, I found that Cartier is substantially more affordable than Rolex. I am fond of both of these watch brands and I believe they are two of the best watch brands in the world. Read on to view the full article where I breakdown why Rolex is more expensive than Cartier!
Is Rolex More Expensive Than Cartier?
I have been fond of Cartier and Rolex for years because of how well-crafted and popular their timepieces are. But I’ve always wondered, at the end of the day, which brand is more expensive between the two.
At the end of the day, Rolex is more expensive than Cartier. The entry-level price for Rolex timepieces is almost double the entry-level price of a Cartier timepiece and the overall average price of Rolex’s is over double the average price of Cartier.
You may be asking yourself, “why is Rolex more expensive than Cartier anyways?” After I’ve looked into it more, I have found several reasons why Rolex watches are more expensive than Cartier watches:
- More popularity
- Higher demand
- Higher quality movements
- Higher end materials
One of the main reasons why Rolex is more expensive than Cartier is because they are simply more popular than Cartier. Rolex is significantly more popular than Cartier and they are the most recognizable watch brand in the world, which makes them highly demanded and respected, and has increased the prices of their timepieces.
On top of that, Rolex is (generally) known for using higher quality materials to produce their timepieces compared to Cartier. Nowadays, watch enthusiasts across the world agree the Cartier’s steel and other materials are not on-par as Rolex, Omega, and other top tier watch brands, which plays a role in Cartier’s lower price point.
Lastly, Rolex has higher quality movements than Cartier. Rolex makes their automatic calibers and movements completely in-house, which are known to be some of the best in the watch industry and really shows their dedication to making the best watches possible. While Cartier also produces their own in-house movements for some of their watches, they also rely on outside movement manufacturers.
If you’re enjoying this comparison between Cartier and Rolex and if you ever wanted to compare the price of other watch brands, I have just the resource for you. In another article, I wrote a long and in-depth comparison between 15 different luxury watch brands. Click here to see the full article.
Rolex vs. Cartier: Starting Prices
One way to gauge just how more expensive Rolex is from Cartier is by comparing both of their starting prices for their entry-level timepieces. The starting price for a Rolex timepiece is almost twice the starting price of a Cartier watch: the starting price for a new Rolex costs $5,700 while the starting price for a Cartier watch is $2,740.
The absolute cheapest Rolex that you can get from the world-renowned brand is the Oyster Perpetual, which is by far Rolex’s most simplistic and minimal watch with no complications. While many other Rolex models are equipped with complications such as a calendar date or a day-date function, the base model of the Oyster Perpetual does nothing but show the time in a stylish way, which is why it’s the cheapest Rolex.
On the other hand, the cheapest watch that you can get from Cartier is their “Tank”, which is one of Cartier’s most iconic rectangular-shaped wristwatches. Similar to the Oyster Perpetual Rolex, the Cartier Tank does not have any complications, and their cheapest model is equipped with a quartz movement.
As you can see, Rolex has a substantially higher entry-level price point compared to Cartier. What makes their price more expensive is the automatic movement inside the Oyster Perpetual compared to the quartz movement inside the base model of the Cartier Tank, as well as the materials made to create Rolex’s compared to Cartier.
Rolex vs. Cartier: Average Prices
The best way to show how much more expensive Rolex is compared to Cartier is by looking at both of the brand’s average price points for a watch. The average price for a Rolex is $12,780 while the average price for a Cartier is $5,449: the average cost for a Rolex is over double the price of a Cartier.
You may be wondering, “Where did you get these numbers from?” In another blog post, I calculated and compared the average price of 15 different luxury watch brands including Rolex and Cartier, which is where I pulled these exact prices.
Anyways, the average price of a Rolex is $12,780. What really drives the average price up for Rolex timepieces is their higher end timepieces like the Daytona, GMT-Master, Yacht-Master II, and other rarer watch models with prices up and over $20,000.
For Cartier, their average price is $5,449. What brings up the average price in their timepieces are rare and unique watch models like the Tortue, Baignoire, and Rotonde De Cartier.
Rolex vs. Cartier: Which Is More Worth It At Its Price?
When it comes down to comparing Rolex and Cartier to see which brand is more worth it, you can’t really go wrong with either in my personal opinion. Both brands offer exquisite watches that not only look amazing but are masterfully crafted that make them last for years and even decades.
However, I do give the edge to Rolex because of how much impact they have on the watch industry and also because of their overall better materials and movements compared to Cartier.
If you’re someone who is on a much stricter budget, then Cartier is the obvious choice when it comes to these two brands since it’s significantly more affordable. Cartier watches are known for being extremely reliable, but simultaneously look gorgeous and stylish. Cartier watches have an iconic and classic look that is timeless, and I would be more than happy to own a Cartier Tank or Ballon Bleu in my personal collection in the future.
Nonetheless, if you’re someone who can purchase a Rolex timepiece that fits within your budget, then by all means I could not recommend getting a Rolex enough. They are one of the most recognizable watch brands in the world, and every single one of their watch’s impeccable craftsmanship stand the test of time.
Conclusion
While Cartier and Rolex timepieces cost thousands of dollars, Rolex is the more expensive brand because of their higher popularity, higher demand, and higher quality movements and materials.
The price of a Rolex is about double the price of a Cartier watch. If you are someone who is looking for the more affordable option between the two, Cartier is the best way to go. But if you’re someone who is looking to get the best of the best, then Rolex is the best option out of the two.