So, with all that said, if you would prefer to have a brand new watch, then the only
way to go is through a Rolex store. If, however, you do not need a new
one, you can make a great deal on a used one. For all of the foregoing
reasons (and many I do not know) Rolex watches hold their value. They hold
their value far and away better than any other watch on the market with only
a couple of brands even coming close. Not only do they hold their value,
but because of the second hand market they are almost as liquid as cash.
Get in a pinch and you can almost always unload your Rolex for cold hard cash.
You may not make a profit, but you will never take a bath either. Unlike cars, well made watches run for generations. It is not uncommon to see 60 year old Rolexes keeping great time and looking fabulous. If the watches are well cared for, they will almost literally last forever. Most watchmakers are happy to work on a Rolex and can keep them running great for decades and decades. So buying one that is a few years old - or 30 years old, for that matter - is a small portion of the watch's life. Since you cannot wear any watch without picking up small scratches, then it's only a matter of time before the watch gets scratches. If you can live with the fact that someone else may have been wearing the watch when it was first inevitably scratched, then buying the watch second hand makes a lot of sense. And remember, the fact is that most scratches can be easily buffed out without any trouble. Most jewelers will do it for you for nothing. So once you have decided that you want to buy a used Rolex, the question is where? I would submit that the best place to do it is over the internet. Let's face it, you have more selection online than you will have at any brick and mortar store. Most internet sellers operate under significantly less overhead than their brick and mortar counterparts, too. Thus, you have a wider selection at better prices. The only problem with the internet is that there is the possibility of fraud. That possibility can be reduced to almost non-existant if you use good common sense. This, of course, is a cliche, but like most cliches it got to be one because of its inherent truth: IF IT SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS! That cannot be overstated! I do not know anyone who is willing to sell a $2000 watch for $500. Be very careful about any seller who says that he or she "doesn't know whether the watch is genuine." Certainly any reasonable person who might have a valuable watch would go to the relatively small inconvenience of running it by their local watch dealer to see what it might be worth. Authenticating a Rolex is a very easy thing for someone who knows what he is doing. You should only deal with sellers who are willing to discuss a potential deal in person (if feasible) or by telephone. Any seller who is reluctant to discuss a watch with you should cause you to wonder about his or her intentions. I know of absolutely no reputable seller who would not be glad to discuss his or her watch with you. We all want to sell our watches. We are happy to answer any questions that you might have about a watch. Most of us realize that a Rolex watch represents a lot of money to most of us. If you use your good common sense and deal with a seller who has a documented track record (eBay feedback or references from others who have bought high dollar watches), you cannot go wrong. No reputable seller will risk his or her reputation for a few thousand dollars. |