Going to try to pick up a Rolex in NY: any tips?

Monty Burnz

I'll be in New York in a few weeks and I'm strongly considering picking up a Rolex of some description while there. I'm wondering if you guys have any clues for me on two areas:

1. Which model to buy?

I'm leaning towards a no-date Submariner. Unfortunately I know almost nothing about the Rolex model history, or what prices to pay, so any tips on what model to pick up are gratefully received. I'd also consider an Explorer I, or possibly a GMT at a push. My main concern is not to get my pants pulled down over price/authenticity (not that I'd be sold a fake, but perhaps that I'd be sold a genuine watch with a new dial that will murder its resale value).

So to summarise point 1, which Rolex (particularly which ND Sub) should I be looking for, and what should I be paying?

2. The practicalities of buying?

So I buy the thing and I don't fancy paying local tax: do I have to buy out of state, or can I buy within the state and have it sent to my hotel?

Also, where should I be shopping? I can't see the g/f tolerating more than one afternoon of our holiday chasing watches, so I need to get it right first time.

Any other practical issues to worry about? Oh yeah - budget: I'd be looking to spend about 3000 euro, give or take a thousand. Around 4000 dollars, I guess.

All tips, advice, criticisms and general abuse welcome.

Bullseye1

First thing I'd do is consult with Marcus1971. I know he is in the US at present but not sure if he is in NYC.

I assume at your price point your looking for a good preowned one? There is a famous watch store in the high 50's (street), which sells preowned watches. Cannot remember the name. I'll see if I can find you that name.

Bullseye1

Also check out this thread on your very question.
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f23/visit-nyc-june-where-get-preowned-rolex-150491.html

Bullseye1

Plaza Watch Exchange on 57th. You can haggle.

Monty Burnz

Bullseye1 wrote: »

Also check out this thread on your very question.
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f23/visit-nyc-june-where-get-preowned-rolex-150491.html

Great stuff, I'll have a gander at that thread. Keep the advice coming!

Bullseye1

BTW I cannot stand over Plaza Watch just read they have a great selection of pre owned Rolex. I was in there years ago. Small enough place but thousands of watches. I guess the best advice I can give you is educate yourself on Rolex and models and any tale tail counterfeits.

I know Marcus feels the none date version has a good chance of gaining in value going forward and are getting harder to find. Planning on picking up a nice one myself next year (wife buying for my birthday). I've been keeping an eye on watchuseek private sales forum and generally prices are ranging from $4700-$5500 depending on year and model. Those prices included Deep Sea Dwellers. And they came with boxes, warranty cards and full paper work

Bullseye1

Here is a recent picture I took of both for scale.

marcus1971

Monty Burnz wrote: »

I'll be in New York in a few weeks and I'm strongly considering picking up a Rolex of some description while there. I'm wondering if you guys have any clues for me on two areas:

1. Which model to buy?

I'm leaning towards a no-date Submariner. Unfortunately I know almost nothing about the Rolex model history, or what prices to pay, so any tips on what model to pick up are gratefully received. I'd also consider an Explorer I, or possibly a GMT at a push. My main concern is not to get my pants pulled down over price/authenticity (not that I'd be sold a fake, but perhaps that I'd be sold a genuine watch with a new dial that will murder its resale value).

So to summarise point 1, which Rolex (particularly which ND Sub) should I be looking for, and what should I be paying?

2. The practicalities of buying?

So I buy the thing and I don't fancy paying local tax: do I have to buy out of state, or can I buy within the state and have it sent to my hotel?

Also, where should I be shopping? I can't see the g/f tolerating more than one afternoon of our holiday chasing watches, so I need to get it right first time.

Any other practical issues to worry about? Oh yeah - budget: I'd be looking to spend about 3000 euro, give or take a thousand. Around 4000 dollars, I guess.

All tips, advice, criticisms and general abuse welcome.

1: If it were me I would be looking at the no-date 14060 .... but I'm not you, if this is something you want to wear every day buy what you like, some people hate the cyclops others love it, some people want to buy something that will go up in value, others couldn't care less once its bought, buy what you like, none of them will go down in value BUT the no-date is likely to set you back as much as a used date version, so you are not going to save anything buying one over the other now, on the other hand the no-date is on the up pricewise and a combination of having been discontinued and also the rarer of the two models will probably go up by more in relation to the date version.
The Explorer 1 has always kept its value very well throughout the years but the model in your price range is the older and smaller version, but has a large dial relative to the case and wears bigger than the dimensions would suggest (The Sub on the other hand wears smaller than you would think given its small dial....it looks much smaller than Seamaster for example)
The GMT is another of the classic Rolex, thinner than the Sub, wears much lighter on the wrist, but with the lighter head and the weight of the bracelet is perfectly balanced and a very comfortable watch to wear
(this is the watch that most suits the jubilee bracelet, but watch out for stretch on the older bracelets)
, also another investment quality Rolex.


Try to find a second hand seller in Ireland before you leave and try each of them on, but make sure that each one will be the model you will expect to buy for your budget.... e.g. The Explorers have a few different case sizes over the years from 34mm to 36mm to 39mm to 40mm to 42mm, the 39mm is probbly the model you will be looking at so it would be senseless to go into Weirs and try on 42mm.

2. You are going to have to pay sales tax in anything you buy in New York that is not delivered out of state, so the only way to avoid paying sales Tax is to buy from out of state ... Pennsylvania is in the tri state area and probably your best bet for buying there and having it Fed-Ex'ed to your hotel, TNS Diamonds in Philly have a reputation for carrying well vetted stock, the store itself is in a dump of a place, but they have been selling on eBay for a long time and have good feedback as well as reasonable prices for a retail jewellers...BUT I would rather suck it up and pay the sales tax on something that I can hold in my hand and examine in person, too many things can go wrong in between you paying for it and you getting it delivered and you have a very short window to sort out any potential problems.
I've only ever passed through NY and wouldn't have a notion where to buy one there, but once you find the "jewelry district" you should be well able to find one and you HAVE to haggle the price....If you do buy one bring it straight to an AD and have it authenticated just to be 100%sure its legit if you aren't up to snuff on how good the fakes really are and like I said you have a small window to correct any problems.

You might pay somewhere in the region of $500 over the eBay prices for similar watches but in all honesty thats only 330ish Euro, I would rather pay it and be satisfied that I didn't get stung and nothing can go wrong once its paid for and on my arm......
......ohhh and be sure that if you get it with box and papers that you either post them home or let your gf bring them through customs on her own, she can tell the customs man that she bought the box at a market as a gift, cause if you get stopped going through with the box and papers to a matching Rolex, Michael Noonan is going to sour your deal with a bit of VAT and Duty.

Homer

Excellent advice as always from Marcus. With reference to sizes and trying out whats likely to suit your wrist.. I recently picked up a Submariner ND and if you are in Dublin I'd be happy to meet up and let you try it for size if that helps narrow the selection process for you.

Monty Burnz

Homer, I really appreciate the offer, that's very kind of you. Unfortunately I'm living outside Ireland at the moment, so I can't take you up on it.

But yeah, a Sub ND or the Seadweller (the old version) are top of my list at the moment. I really like the simple dial on the ND, and of course I've too many watches to be bothered with setting the date on them when I wear one.

Deep Thought

Check out this guy...he is a good bloke and good rep

This is his advice on buying a Rolex

http://www.clockmaker.com.au/rolex/rolex_buying_tips.html

DT