Buying a second hand Rolex

Supercell

I was looking at buying a new car in a few months when it dawned on me that there's nothing wrong with my current one, and a new car would just loose thousands in a couple of years in value.

However I have a genuine Tudor watch and have to admit, it gives me great pleasure wearing it.
I'd love to get a genuine Rolex for the same reason, it wont loose value like a car would and will give me great pleasure to wear.
I'm vary wary of buying from ebay for something like this.
Does anyone have recommendations for buying online or maybe in the UK or the EU mainland that I could see and try on before buying? I'm assuming that like everything else, I'll be ripped off here in Ireland (am I wrong?)

Benazir Bhutto

well , maybe the best place to try is the auction market.
at auction you should theoreticaly get the watch for the real market price.
But the thing to be wary of is , the situation where you are bidding solely against a vendor's reserve.
the auction price shuld be a lot cheaper than "shop" prices, but you can buy with confidence from a watch dealer where you should know a bit about your business if your going to auction !

Are you looking for an "old" Rolex ?

Esel

There's a jeweller on Dawson St. near the Mansion House who sells high-class secondhand watches. Can't remember the name offhand, but you can't miss it. Worth a look anyway.

Supercell

I'm not looking for an "old" Rolex specifically,but if a nice old one comes along at the right price i'd go for it.

My main concern is that its genuine - replicas may look the same but they sure as hell devalue a lot faster and won't give me the same feeling inside.

Wibbs

First off, I would advise staying clear of Irish dealers of any hue. They are to a man(or woman) extremely overpriced. Brand wise Rolex hold their value well over time. Do research and look at what are the models that consistently keep that value. Ones with military backgrounds are particularly hot. There are good sites online that I have dealt with personally. Here's one; http://finertimes.com/asp/watches/query.asp?Title=New+Today&SubTitle=+%2D+Rolex&Where=(Man_Code='100')&TypeCode=0&ManCode=100

They would be in or just under market value for the most part. For the money involved I would look at marques other than Roles for exclusivity. Rolex, while good are not the best and have a taint of the obvious and the nouveau to them. Breitling are similar especially their recent models.

foxshooter243

Longfield wrote: »

I was looking at buying a new car in a few months when it dawned on me that there's nothing wrong with my current one, and a new car would just loose thousands in a couple of years in value.

However I have a genuine Tudor watch and have to admit, it gives me great pleasure wearing it.
I'd love to get a genuine Rolex for the same reason, it wont loose value like a car would and will give me great pleasure to wear.
I'm vary wary of buying from ebay for something like this.
Does anyone have recommendations for buying online or maybe in the UK or the EU mainland that I could see and try on before buying? I'm assuming that like everything else, I'll be ripped off here in Ireland (am I wrong?)

lose not loose...please

Lady x

I have a two-tone steel and gold Rolex which has doubled in value since I got it about 13 years ago. Unfortunately, I've smashed the crystal a couple of times by dropping it which was very expensive to repair.

Hagar

Foxshooter243 infracted for trolling.

knowall

there are several places on line that specialise in second hand rolex watches.However I should point out that a jeweller who had one himself told me that if I wanted accuracy,I should by a cheap digital watch.As far as I know all rolex models with one exception are automatic,I actually have a replica myself which was purchased in Boston for a few dollars.You can have it F.O.C.

Wibbs

Yea but the OP is looking for an investment and with a very few exceptions(early omega and rolex quartz and very early gshocks) digital quartz is utterly worthless as an investment. The most expensive quartz movement costs less than 30 dollars. They average a fiver. So anyone paying silly money for fashion watches like Tags etc that are quartz, may as well rip up money or buy a replica. The replica may have a better movement. The exception to this would be the newer seiko self winding quartz watches which are very well engineered and a step forward in timekeeping.

Accuracy wise, yes a cheap digital will be more accurate but a chronometer spec mechanical watch is well accurate enough and will last longer. A good movement will last centuries and can be repaired. I have a Longines trench watch(v early wristwatch) from 1915 and it's accurate to a second or so a day. It'll still be that way long after I've pegged it.

Supercell

Thanks Wibbs, you've hit the nail on the head. A second or so a day really isnt here nore there tbh.
I want something that makes me happy to wear it. Also should the worst happen I could sell and get at worst 50% of what I spent on it and if I do my research, closer to 100%.
Thanks for the links and advice so far, I'm going to have to do a bit of research into this before I invest.

Esel

knowall wrote: »

..I actually have a replica myself which was purchased in Boston for a few dollars.You can have it F.O.C.

If you want rid of it, I'm here!

knowall

mail me for details ,what is your postal address.ring me on <snip> . This is a replica rolex diving watch as new and working.

Ps I expect the cost of postage

Liam

knowall

I bought an Omega Speedmaster in 1970 at a cost of £70.I was prompted to buy this watch as it was the official watch worn on the moon landing in 1969.I never had a days satisfaction from this watch as it was a terrible timekeeper,and it stopped on several occasions.After sending it back to switzerland on three occasions without any noticable improvement,I sold it off at £30.Not the best investment.

Dr Strange

knowall wrote: »

mail me for details ,what is your postal address.ring me on <snip>.This is a replica rolex diving watch as new and working.

Ps I expect the cost of postage

Liam

Please don't post personald etails on the thread. Also, if you have something to offer please make sure to place an ad on www.adverts.ie first before posting it here. Once you have an ad there we can link to it here.

Thanks.

Wibbs

knowall wrote: »

I bought an Omega Speedmaster in 1970 at a cost of £70.I was prompted to buy this watch as it was the official watch worn on the moon landing in 1969.I never had a days satisfaction from this watch as it was a terrible timekeeper,and it stopped on several occasions.After sending it back to switzerland on three occasions without any noticable improvement,I sold it off at £30.Not the best investment.

Watches can be like cars. You can just get a bad one. Had a speedmaster myself. Same vintage and movement and it's accuracy was very impressive. Never had a moments grief with it. I sold mine too and got around the price I paid. A mate of mine had an IWC. Kind of basic one, no complications or any of that. Time and date. That was it and it gave him untold grief. Bloody expensive watch it was too.

ashm1981

My father collects watches he has a Rolex, Jaeger, Breitling amongst others and the cheapest place to buy is in Dubai they have no tax and you can save up to €2000 depending on model. I would not reccomend buying here they are completely overpriced and the internet is very dodgy!

becah

My dad got my mum a beautiful vintage rolex this year as an aniversary gift, I would normally associate Rolex's as being very "blingy" watches, but I have to say I fell in love with this watch, it is so well made and elegant. He picked up in London,at the Vintage Watch Company, here's the address 27 Burlington Arcade, Mayfair, London, W1J 0PS, and the number: 020 7499 2032.
He said that the staff were very helpful and knowledgeable, and I think he got a bit of a discount too!

Another place where he has gotten nice watches is Mercers Jewelers in Enniskillen, it's on the high street. Not too sure if they do Rolex's, but he has purchased some lovely Omega's etc there in the past, I think they also sell some 2nd hand ones. Again, friendly staff and he always gets a good discount.

growler

Was toying with the idea of buying an antique rolex myself, there is a very good shop for this sort of thing in london,
http://www.burlington-arcade.co.uk/shop.php?id=32

they have rolexs from most years and it gives you a good idea of the retail prices, although anything in the burlington arcade area is going to be in the top end of the "money no problem" market, but its nice to be able to try them on.

wotisthere

Take a holiday to southern spain/portugal and get to gibralta .All the top brands at least a third of the price off what they cost over here.The canaries too. I have got my last two tags in gibralta over the last ten years. Cohens are the name of the shops over there .google them and see.

Degsy

Anybody know where i'd get a decent breitlung copy?