Want to buy my first Rolex to restore (Noobie)

[Looony]

Hello All

This is my first post here to go easy :)

I want to buy an old Rolex from eBay that I can slowly restore in time - buying replacement parts from eBay etc. so eventually I have a mint Rolex

As this will be my first time restoring an watch I don't want to spend more than £200 and then more for the parts that I find on eBay.

Can someone point me in the right direction?

[R1@160@alltimes]

You better make sure you know what you are doing before you start restoring a vintage Rolex.

Welcome to TRF btw

[Nicko]

Originally Posted by Looony

Hello All

This is my first post here to go easy :)

I want to buy an old Rolex from eBay that I can slowly restore in time - buying replacement parts from eBay etc. so eventually I have a mint Rolex

As this will be my first time restoring an watch I don't want to spend more than £200 and then more for the parts that I find on eBay.

Can someone point me in the right direction?

Why?

[Evergreen]

I would recommend starting with an older Datejust. Ebay often has Cases, dials with handsets, and jubilee/oyster bracelets for reasonable prices. It seems people love to part these watches out. Lots of dial options for them as well.

Finding parts for other or newer models is very difficult IMO. Sounds like a fun project.

[Nicko]

Actually a Rolex is more expensive buying the parts (if you can find them). If this is simply becuase you want a project then sound fun but if it's a monetary issue then you might be better buying the entire watch.

[NMS75]

Have you previous experience of restoring mechanical watches?

M

[Tools]

I don't think that your budget will get you into a good Rolex and it's restoration...........

[Nicko]

Well, I am getting a bit tired of all this. From swinging watches in trees to "I disassembled my Rolex and can't put it back together and now this. Another waste of time. There has got to be a better way of separating the wheat from the chaff. It appears more and more lately and frankly, I'm not sure about the rest but I'm getting a bit fed up with it. You give a serious answer and get led down a path of deception, you call a spade a spade and get castigated by the self-righteous. Incredible.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Tools

I don't think that your budget will get you into a good Rolex and it's restoration...........

Have to agree Larry just save a bit more cash and buy a good vintage OP, OP date, or DJ and forget about the restoration.

[f-du-27]

You can change a plastic crystal, the tube and the crown easily.

Those parts will cost a bit more than £200 by Cousin's (UK).

You'll also need some tools for the case back, the tube and also a small press.

Good luck.

[Singslinger]

I have to admit that although odd, it's a nice idea.

I had a friend who did this once, she patched together parts from 2 or 3 different ladies' Datejusts and created a model that was never made by Rolex. It looked great, Rolex agreed to service it because the parts were all original but best of all, it was one of a kind! The catch? It was an expensive undertaking...

Good luck!

[Puffy]

200 quid won't get you far mate.. maybe you get the case and start from there, but it'll be horrendously expensive.. and as you have no experience you're likely to bugger it up (i know i'd do that)

[Speed]

You tried Steve ;-)

[psv]

This is a maddening idea. Unless you know what you are doing, both in terms of mechanically putting this piece together AND being able to verify that parts are genuine, this is a rather bad enterprise.

On top of that you are building a Franken-watch, even if the parts are genuine, since you are cobbling together a watch that effectively never produced and released by Rolex. The value of such a watch is much less, ergo it will be tempting for someone (I'm not saying you per se) to release into the general market without full disclosure.

Unless you know exactly what you are doing (which is pretty clear that the opposite is the case given your post) I'd say you are better off buying a used one with known history, however you need to grow you budget with about 5-10x.

[Lion]

Looony, welcome to the Forum and good luck with your endeavors.....as stated I do not think a budget of 200 pounds will get you very far!!!

[donq]

Most manufacturers have a huge mark up on parts. They can charge what they like and you basically have to pay it, as they have you over a barrel.

Building a Rolex from parts would probably be more expensive than buying a new one.

I worked at a Triumph Motorcycle dealership and tried to calculate what building a new Bonneville from new factory parts would cost. I stopped adding up at around 25,000$ dollars. This for a bike that retailed for 7,999$! Plus you'd have to put it together...

Save your money and get a good used model from a reliable dealer.