Authentication of Rolex watch in Birmingham

[m-abz-t]

Hi All, my first post

I was considering buying a Rolex watch over the internet / preowned.. even if it is saving a few hundred pounds.

I have had a few sellers willing to meet up in Birmingham (where I live) to get the watch and paper work checked to see if it is authentic. I realise the best way is sending it to Rolex themselves to get it checked and authenticated.

But can anyone recommend any place in Birmingham / Jewellery Quarter that will actually check the watch / paper work for me? I have called around different Jewellers in jewellery Quarter and also official Rolex retailers in town but no one will do it!

I'm starting to give up buying preowned Rolex watches... I also realise there are recommended sellers on these forums but was wondering how to get the watches checked.

Thanks

[padi56]

Originally Posted by m-abz-t

Hi All, my first post

I was considering buying a Rolex watch over the internet / preowned.. even if it is saving a few hundred pounds.

I have had a few sellers willing to meet up in Birmingham (where I live) to get the watch and paper work checked to see if it is authentic. I realise the best way is sending it to Rolex themselves to get it checked and authenticated.

But can anyone recommend any place in Birmingham / Jewellery Quarter that will actually check the watch / paper work for me? I have called around different Jewellers in jewellery Quarter and also official Rolex retailers in town but no one will do it!

I'm starting to give up buying preowned Rolex watches... I also realise there are recommended sellers on these forums but was wondering how to get the watches checked.

Thanks

First always buy the seller and not the watch,and the so called paper-work don't always prove its a genuine watch.As today these so called papers or plastic cards are far easier to fake than the actual watch.So if not buying from a reliable source the only real way to tell if genuine is get the back off to check the movement .

[JayLexo]

Why don't you just buy one from a trustworthy dealer who specialises in pre owned watches, there are plenty all over the UK.

[beer]

Originally Posted by JayLexo

Why don't you just buy one from a trustworthy dealer who specialises in pre owned watches, there are plenty all over the UK.

buying from private sellers is often cheaper as stores have to pay costs and a small amount of VAT even on 2nd hand Rolexes

but I agree if not confident enough to know a fake for yourself it is worth the extra 15% or so to buy from a trusted store

[Johny]

welcome to the forum.

[m-abz-t]

Thanks for the replies guys.. Jay I have only recently been into Rolex .. .well been a year now. I didn't realise how difficult it was to get a good deal on a pre owned authentic Rolex. I have come across 'Watch Finder'
Padi56 your right I've seen plenty fake paperwork around on eBay etc.

I was just trying to get myself a good deal....which is difficult to do unless you know a trustworthy seller... from my research so far.

[m-abz-t]

Thanks Johny!

[Yuri.Popov]

Welcome!!

[iazrollie]

Sounds like you should buy from an AD. It's the most risk-adverse path for you.

[Mick P]

Originally Posted by m-abz-t

Hi All, my first post

I was considering buying a Rolex watch over the internet / preowned.. even if it is saving a few hundred pounds.

I have had a few sellers willing to meet up in Birmingham (where I live) to get the watch and paper work checked to see if it is authentic. I realise the best way is sending it to Rolex themselves to get it checked and authenticated.

But can anyone recommend any place in Birmingham / Jewellery Quarter that will actually check the watch / paper work for me? I have called around different Jewellers in jewellery Quarter and also official Rolex retailers in town but no one will do it!

I'm starting to give up buying preowned Rolex watches... I also realise there are recommended sellers on these forums but was wondering how to get the watches checked.

Thanks

Buy from the guy at his own house and do a google search on him. All you need to know is that he is the legit occupier of the house.

Make sure you got an auditable exchange of emails and pay by cheque or BT.

Then rapidly get it checked out by a local AD.

Padi is right abought paperwork, it is just one step from rubbish. These documents can be printed very easily due to moving technology.

Regards

Mick

[Globule]

I would strongly recommend buying from an AD as your foirst Rolex purchase. Go and handle and try on as many models as you can. This way you gain experience of the brand which will help you plenty in the years to come when you may well feel confident enough to buy on the grey market.

[Minimalist]

I recently did a part exchange with money on top for my datejust II from watchfinder. You can haggle a little on the prices with them, so there is some movement. They aren't all that bad and if I ever need to I will do business with them again.

So like everyone says I think your best bet is to buy from somewhere like watchfinder. It's not worth the hassle and stress buying from some random individual who you will be second guessing the whole time!

[Duzza]

I wouldn't trust an AD to authenticate anyway. I was in my local AD a few weeks ago and someone came in and asked if the watch they just bought was genuine. The sales assistant just looked it over and said yes it looked fine. Not much of an authentication IMO.

[kevinwang1219]

i was in the same boat as you. I was thinking of going on chrono24 and buying a pre-owned but it is just not worth it. Buy it from AD or someone reputable from TRF

[tricky]

Look at new prices on chrono24 and go armed with that information to an AD. Places will drop 15-20% off retail without any real negotiation. Just look at Europe for the best comparison - in reality it isn't worth getting one from the U.S. Or Asia.

Rolex could be a relationship for the rest of your life, don't risk it on the first date!!!

[m-abz-t]

Thanks guys for the replies, some great advise. I will consider 'Watch Finder' or if I have saved enough defo AD.
I am visiting Dubai soon with family (started convo in another forum) and will check the prices there aswell, only place I would probably go is Siddiqi & Sons the official rolex retailers.

[jiupro11]

Hi,
Have you tried Meeks on Warstone Lane, they have been carrying out watch repairs in Birmingham forever, maybe longer?
Also, you've got Watches of Switzerland on New Street, Brum.
Good luck

[m-abz-t]

Jiupro11 I contacted Meeks, they said they don't do it anymore and can not recommend anyone, I called around afew other jewellers near Meeks.
I also called Watches of Switzerland, they said they can have a quick look but they will have to send it off to Rolex themselves to check.

[Minimalist]

I recently got back from Dubai less than a month ago. I only had a quick look at some of the watches and the prices were not all that different...but since I was looking to buy I didn't 'haggle' the prices which as mentioned in your other thread is an expectation for discount.

Having said that, don't forget that if you get caught at customs on the way back in to the UK you could be liable to pay duties on the watch which would ultimately probably cost you more.....if anyone else wants to chime in on this since I've never bought anything abroad before.

My advice really is to buy from an AD here and if you're not ready to do that I'd suggest save until you are. It will save you a lot of headache.

[NigeG]

Have you tried Fellows the Auction House in Birmingham? They have a watch expert working for them who checks out the lots that they sell in a monthly auction.

Might be worth giving them a call. They might charge for the service but it's going to help sort the wheat from from the chaff

[m-abz-t]

Nigel, I haven't tried Fellows, it has crossed my mind but I assumed if I wasn't selling my watch at their auctions then they probably wouldn't check it. I will try giving them a call. I don't mind paying for their service... depending on cost.

[Mr DateJust]

What model are you looking at buying? Depending on this then you could go and get a new one from and AD and still have room to haggle. Won't be as cheap as pre owned but no doubts then. If it's a sub then probably not much room to negotiate but something like a datejust or a yacht master then you never know.

[m-abz-t]

I'm looking to buy a submariner.. not the newer models but 16610. Just trying to find the best deal on it... Il probably decide after my visit from Dubai.

[RolexAuthority]

Go to watches of Switzerland on new street get a deal there or verification or go bull ring goldsmiths have Rolex there too but don't risk thousands

[OliverD]

The only AD's in Birmingham are WOS, Goldsmiths and Rudell's in Harborne I think have you tried all of those? Rudell's have quoted me £75 for verification before, which is quite a lot of money but they are fairly knowledgable. My experience with WOS hasn't been great, I went in recently and the sales person kept insisting that the oyster perpetual doesn't come in 39mm - when I said no it's new it was announced at Baselworld he said 'Oh, I know what you're thinking of, you mean the Datejust 2!' At which point I lost patience and left.

There's lots of grey dealers in the jewellery quarter but they're nearly all jewellery shops that also sell second hand watches - don't think any of them have watchmakers or can service a watch so I wouldn't put too much faith in their judgment anyway.

The one that might be worth trying is Roy Hancocks. He's one of the only independent watchmakers in Birmingham.

http://www.royhancocks.co.uk/

Hope they can help.

[sirduncs]

I bought 'gray' with my 16610 LV (16610 is a great first Rolex watch!) but I did a lot of research first, before then going into a reputable Rolex specialist and spending some time sussing out their stock and the watch before I pulled the trigger on it. I did it face to face at their premises and couldn't be happier with how it all went.

For my second, I went down the AD route as the 42mm Explorer II Polars were scarce at the time in my area.

Another option if you go new is to consider Gassan Diamonds at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, their prices can be discounted from the VAT locally by them, plus the Euro to Pound rate is pretty good right now, so the two combined makes them a good AD outlet to purchase from in the Eurozone for us Brits.

Duncs

[m-abz-t]

I've contacted watches of Switzerland in the past, they just said to me they will have to send it to Rolex to check. I will contact Roy Hancock's see what they say.
I visited Goldsmiths ... not a great experience. Poor customer service!

[dera]

On modern cards, swipe the magnetic stripe - that authenticates the card. Match to the watch -> job done.