Should I buy this for my birthday (9/14)?

[DrLindaPhD]

I was going to give up looking after the watch I came across last week was such a disaster but I listened to you guys and decided just to wait for "it to come to me" and then I stumbled upon this one and it is amazing to me - it is pink gold 18k bubble back and from the 1950s and comes with a 2 year warranty.

I can get it for $3250. They said it is easily worth $8500. Should I?

[yakmeister]

Beautiful piece. I have no idea on it's value. Is the band original? None of my references show a band remotely like it.

[nick c]

If you like it buy it and happy birthday soon

[mjclark32]

I have no idea about the piece, but if it's easily worth $8500 why are they selling it for less?? There's my first red flag

[DrLindaPhD]

The band says ROLEX - I LOVE IT SO MUCH - I never gave myself a gift for completing in my Phd in 2008. Both of my parents were seriously ill and my daughter was also struggling with a health issue. I graduated and took care of everyone and never gave myself a gift so I'm thinking I want this for me for a lot of reasons. Here is a pic of the buckle back.

[DrLindaPhD]

Originally Posted by mjclark32

I have no idea about the piece, but if it's easily worth $8500 why are they selling it for less?? There's my first red flag

It says "appraised value $8500 but selling it for $4200 and I offered $3500. I have a watch that I am also selling that has a very very high appraised value of $5500 but I am selling it for $1200 because i know the market on extremely vintage Rolex watches and I know that my watch will never gets that type of value.

I really love this pink Rolex and they said they would accept my offer but I have 24 hours to change my mind. I don't think I will.

[conrail]

The last thing you want is a seller telling you a watch is "easily" worth almost 3x more than what they are charging you for it. Makes their price seem like a steal, which it rarely is. And "appraised" values are always WAY higher than FMV. If you love it and think the price is reasonable to you, then buy it. To me that seems like a very high price for such a watch.

[goog53]

Looks nice although I am clueless on women's vintage Rolexes. Be sure to examine that bracelet. It is hard to tell but is it significantly stretched out?

[imono]

Looks like a beauty.
I am nuts for things like that.
If it 18K Pink Gold I think it is worth it.

The bracelet is not stretched out. Made this way.

[Kiwinz]

Same here, don't know much about them, but sure looks really nice.

I reckon it's the old story at times, I buy sometimes watches not because of their value or flawless, it's simply because I love the watch itself and by the end of the day You gonna feel happy with it as You wear it.

[sailmed]

Originally Posted by Kiwinz

Same here, don't know much about them, but sure looks really nice.

I reckon it's the old story at times, I buy sometimes watches not because of their value or flawless, it's simply because I love the watch itself and by the end of the day You gonna feel happy with it as You wear it.

Agree wholeheartedly
There is more than one way to value the watch...the obvious one being resale value eg: market price. Another is less reliant on what others will pay and more upon what you are willing to pay.

Assuming that you can afford the expenditure, will doing so bring you more joy and pleasure than if you spent those funds elsewhere? If so, then this is your watch.
It is very pretty and I can understand your attraction to it.

[imono]

Saw an oldie Lucien Picard Rose Gold and it is nice.
She loves it.

[vintagewaferthin]

Looks great Linda! I say go for it.

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by DrLindaPhD

I was going to give up looking after the watch I came across last week was such a disaster but I listened to you guys and decided just to wait for "it to come to me" and then I stumbled upon this one and it is amazing to me - it is pink gold 18k bubble back and from the 1950s and comes with a 2 year warranty.

I can get it for $3250. They said it is easily worth $8500. Should I?

I don't know what that type of watch should really bring, but I am guessing 3250 is on the high side.

The main question is if it is EASILY worth 8500, why are they only askin 3250? That alone is enough to make me proceed with caution. I would do some research. There are a lot of great watches out there, and if you like this sort of thing, you have leverage when buying, as they just don't move as quickly.

My .02 anyway.........

[Andy B]

Please do not buy that watch. It has a poorly refinished dial which, when paying that sort of money, is not good enough in my opinion. I can understand you want to buy yourself something special to mark your achievement but Iget the feeling that you are just giving in too impulse with this one. A special watch to mark a special deserves to be bought after a period of consideration. Make sure you take the time to find the watch that is absolutely right for you, at the right price from the right seller. That will require a little patience it will be worth it just to find a watch that you will keep for the rest of your life.

[Frosty]

If you are going to look at it on your wrist and smile, then get it.

[DrLindaPhD]

Originally Posted by Andy B

Please do not buy that watch. It has a poorly refinished dial which, when paying that sort of money, is not good enough in my opinion. I can understand you want to buy yourself something special to mark your achievement but Iget the feeling that you are just giving in too impulse with this one. A special watch to mark a special deserves to be bought after a period of consideration. Make sure you take the time to find the watch that is absolutely right for you, at the right price from the right seller. That will require a little patience it will be worth it just to find a watch that you will keep for the rest of your life.

Dear Dream Crusher (just kidding) - why are you saying it has a poorly refinished dial? I called them and they said it is the original dial but they could be wrong. Here is a close up. I can't tell because I cannot enlarge it. I have 14 days to return it and I am going to bring it to the local Rolex repairman (he's been servicing Rolex watches for 30 years) and see what he says.

[brkanand]

Looks good. Buy and celebrate your B'day.

[mdw3]

Original or refinished dials are not really of much concern on vintage ladies' watches, particularly old bubblebacks such as this. The value is more based on the metal used and the condition overall. The band is correct, and seems pretty decent. I have had several of these in yellow in the past year, one in 9K that was literally like-new, unworn from the 1940s. The other was 14K and had an older refinished dial, and a nice expandable Oyster band like this one. I sold each of them in the $2,000-2,500 range. I would say this one being pink, and 18K, would be higher valued. The price at $3,000-3,500 is not a dealer price, to be sure, but it is a fair retail price.

Michael

[DrLindaPhD]

Thanks Michael. They are a watch dealer out of Florida. I personally do not like a fluted bezel. I just don't like it. To find a bezel like this one, pink gold, all 18K, in great condition and with a warranty for under $3500 is a great find for me. I also love the expandable bracelet. I have not seen this with a Rolex women's watch, as of yet.

[vintagewaferthin]

So, are you going to buy it Linda? I think you should, it's a really pretty find.

[smith one]

Dear Dr. Linda, that is a COOl watch indeed. I say treat yourself. This one
has spoken to you.

Best,

smith one

[dalip]

The dealer is making a decent profit on it. It's not easily worth $8500. That's a sales pitch and not one I'd appreciate or respect.

If the price is right for you and you love the watch then why not. Seems they are asking what is fair in this context.

[mdw3]

Originally Posted by DrLindaPhD

Thanks Michael. They are a watch dealer out of Florida. I personally do not like a fluted bezel. I just don't like it. To find a bezel like this one, pink gold, all 18K, in great condition and with a warranty for under $3500 is a great find for me. I also love the expandable bracelet. I have not seen this with a Rolex women's watch, as of yet.

I think pretty much all of the women's bubbleback watches I have owned over the years have been similarly-featured to this one. That is, engine-turned bezel, expandable Oyster band, subsidiary seconds hand. As I said, I think the price is a fair retail price, given the features and condition of this particular example. By the way, this watch dates from the 1940s, not the 1950s as previously reported above.

Michael

[harry in montreal]

Its nice Linda. you have very strong negotiating power when you select a ladies model watch like this. i recommend you make an offer on it - a low one and go from there. you have to consider that you could get a nice pink dialed recent Air King for 2500. many would consider this a better buy because of its durability and accuracy. however, i am antique guy and i just think you have excellent taste. tell seller that you could get a comparable air king pink dial, and watch his price sink like a rock. this is what i recommend you do. at the very least explain that the endlinks are incorrect on the watch and would be scarce to source in pink gold. 600 custom part right there. in sum, great watch, i would not discourage, validate the dial issue, bargain hard.

[DrLindaPhD]

I negotiated the dealer down from $4500 (he said "our price is $4500 but it should be $8500 for insurance purposes") and I offered $2900 but he would not take it. Then I thought about it and I realized that it was solid 18k pink gold and I knew it would go fast. He said he was taking a bunch of watches to Vegas next week for a big watch show and would be bringing that one if I didn't take it and he said I have 14 days to get it checked out and return it for a full refund so I bought it.

I was wearing my favorite every day Rolex (isn't that funny - an every day Rolex like it's a pair of favorite jeans) and this man spotted it and offered me double what I paid but I don't want to sell it. I do have one of my other ones listed for sale now and will be putting another one up for sale next week.

I checked out this Model number and it is actually in my Rolex book and says it is from 1950. It's an automatic - my first ! ! !

If it doesn't work out, I will send it back. I just hope I can get over the guilt of spending the money.

[Alcan]

Linda, that watch isn't worth anywhere near what they're asking for it. Maybe $2,250 on a good day. Keep looking.

I bought this one for Nancy a couple of years ago. She said she wanted a vintage telephone dial Rolex, and it took me close to 2 years to find the right one. I located a few rough examples, but ended up buying one from a seller in New Zealand.

1937 ladies 9ct Rolex, "telephone" dial, original expansion bracelet, 100% original in museum condition. About $2K. They're out there, just be patient and keep looking.

[ToyCollector]

Interesting piece Linda. The advice above is solid. I say negotiate down if you can convey that you can walk from it. Certainly something you won't find someone else wearing in the wild anytime soon. Congrats on earning yourself a gift...even if this one doesn't work out.

[DrLindaPhD]

Here are a few more pictures of my birthday present which I should be receiving on Tuesday or Wednesday (just shy of the 14th) and I hope and pray that I love it as much in person. I forgot to ask how wide it is but I'm thinking about 28mm.

[DrLindaPhD]

Originally Posted by Alcan

Linda, that watch isn't worth anywhere near what they're asking for it. Maybe $2,250 on a good day. Keep looking.

I bought this one for Nancy a couple of years ago. She said she wanted a vintage telephone dial Rolex, and it took me close to 2 years to find the right one. I located a few rough examples, but ended up buying one from a seller in New Zealand.

1937 ladies 9ct Rolex, "telephone" dial, original expansion bracelet, 100% original in museum condition. About $2K. They're out there, just be patient and keep looking.

That's a beauty. I have not been able to find an 18k pink gold without the fluted bezel or day/date. I wanted a simple one like this, bubbleback, all pink gold and the guy called me because he knew I was looking for one. He just listed it today. I have a 14 day money back return policy so if I don't love it and if my watch guy thinks I overpaid then I will send it back. I gave up thinking I'd find anything before my birthday and then this one came along !