Wow, love em or hate em I don't know of any WIS worth their salt that doesn't at least acknowledge Rolex's near 100-year history of wrist watch innovation; first waterproof case, first dial date complication, modern self-winding rotor design, parachrom spring, etc.]

FYI pretty perlage and cote de Geneve is decoration, not innovation.

You say the bottom has really, really fallen for pre-owned Rolex [though the fact is that prices have begun to rebounded over the last couple of months] then say you are thinking about buying a BP? That is one big logical disconnect.

Now, BP make a great watch [even post-Swatch Group acquisition], great history, etc. but they are the Kia’s of the watch world in terms of resale value - drive one off the lot and it's worth less than half what you just paid for it, even taking into consideration the 30% off MSRP discounts BP dealers have to give to move them in the first place.

There is currently a mint SS BP Air Command [$18,000 MSRP] going for $5,000 from a reputable seller and on the forums they are selling Fifty-Fathoms for beer money. I have even heard of BP EOTs now being given away as door prizes.

As with fine art - the only way to buy a watch [except for any PP chrono which is more or less guaranteed to quadruple in value over 5-10 years].