5 Step Guide to Buying Pre owned Rolex Watches

Buying a Rolex is a one of the best decisions you could make in the watch world because most certified pre owned Rolex watches increase in value over time.

 

This means that when you buy a fully tested, warrantied Rolex certified pre owned watch from Oakleigh Watches, you will be buying an appreciating asset. All you need to do is take care of it and enjoy it for a few years and it will literally repay you.

 

Below are 5 key things to consider when buying a pre owned Rolex.

 

1. Investment, Pleasure or Both?

If you’re buying purely for investment, then you don’t need to worry about the style of watch. Rather, you need to focus on whether a model is desirable now and whether it is likely to be so for the foreseeable future. So, my top three tips …

 

• Always go for a watch with the widest appeal and the most limited supply.
• If it’s purely for investment purposes, buy the very best example you can find. After all you don’t have to worry about damaging it if it’s only going to sit in your safe.
• Make sure you buy a Full Set – box, papers, service records and accessories.
If buying for pleasure and or both pleasure and investment – keep reading.

 

2. Style

There are literally hundreds of Rolex watches to choose from. The most popular and the ones that appear most in our collections tend to be sports references of which there are several. However, the dressier Day Date and Datejust models are also very popular, and they regularly feature in our collection too.

 

Rolex Submariner and GMT Master

As far as the sports references are concerned, the two most popular ones are:

 

• The Rolex Submariner – This comes in Submariner and Submariner Date versions. They were both largely unchanged from 1969 until 2010/2012 when the current ceramic bezel styling was introduced. This was the first and only major change ever to affect the model. The Stainless-Steel Submariner watches have quite understated styling.

 

• The Rolex GMT Master – depending upon age, this is available in both GMT Master and GMT Master II versions. The GMT Master was the original, and when they were available simultaneously, was the cheaper of the two versions. These days prices are much more affected by condition, originality, and completeness than they are by which movement is in the watch. Again, depending on age, the steel versions are available with black, black and red (Coke), blue and red (Pepsi), blue and black (Batman), and green and black (Sprite) versions. Because of the coloured bezel, they tend to stand out more than some of the other Rolex sports watches.

 

Rolex Day Date and Datejust
• The Rolex Day Date or ‘Rolex President’ has been a mainstay of the brand since the 1950’s and has traditionally been presented to every US President around the time of their inauguration. Incidentally, ‘President’ is also the name of the bracelet which is only ever used on this model. The Rolex Day Date is only available in precious metals; yellow gold, white gold, or platinum, and consequently has always been one of the more highly priced Rolex models. Traditionally a 36mm watch – although strangely it wears much bigger – the Rolex Day Date is now also available in 41 mm.

 

• The Rolex Datejust has been an important part of Rolex history since the 1960’s. This is the classic dress Rolex seen on so many wrists and is available in stainless steel or stainless steel and gold versions. The key differentiating feature on the different Rolex Datejust models is the bezel. Over the years they have been available in machined steel, smooth steel, and fluted white gold. It’s important to know which you are looking at because the difference affects the price quite significantly. The other main difference between the versions is the bracelet which is available in either an Oyster or Jubilee. The Oyster bringing a more purposeful look while the Jubilee is more decorative and dressier. Also, traditionally a 36mm watch the Rolex Datejust is now also available in 41 mm.

 

3. Size

Does matter when it comes to watches?

 

It all comes down to confidence and perspective.

 

Just because you’re small in stature, doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t carry off a larger timepiece. In fact, it’s very much the fashion for women to wear oversized men’s watches.

 

For a man, it’s all about confidence. If you feel comfortable going big and will wear a 43mm + proudly, then it will look good. If you’re going to be self-conscious, then pick something classic like a Rolex Oyster Perpetual.

 

Most Rolex sports models ever made are 40 mm but recently a few have crept up to 41 mm and 42 mm versions.

 

As we mentioned before, the Rolex Day Date and Rolex Datejust are traditionally 36 mm, but the modern ones are 41 mm – if you’re looking for something smaller, older could be better for you.

 

4. Vintage or Modern

The choice between a vintage or modern watch is partly one of personal taste and partly one of robustness. We mentioned above about the fact that vintage watches tend to be smaller with the Rolex Day Date and Datejust models growing 5 mm over the years. So, if you like a slightly smaller vintage look, then something older might be for you.

 

On the other hand, if you want to wear your Rolex every day, then you should probably go for a newer one as the movements from the 1960’s is more fragile and expensive to repair than later versions.

 

Bracelets have also changed over the years and newer ones are more hard wearing and comfortable so may be more suited to regular as opposed to occasional wear. Original bracelets for vintage Rolex can also be very valuable, often running into thousands of pounds, so that combined with their relatively fragile nature doesn’t make for a daily wearer.

 

Servicing costs for a vintage watch can be higher and parts hard to come by – two important considerations when choosing between modern and vintage pre owned Rolex watches.

 

5. Fashion or Function

What do you want your pre owned Rolex for? Assuming of course you’re not heading to the Mariana Trench, is it simply to tell the time or do you need it to dive in?

 

If you do want a sports watch for diving say, the Rolex Submariner models are the best place to start.

 

If you’re simply looking for a fantastic watch made to the highest of standards, then you can have some fun choosing.