Looks like i got conned when i bought my gold rolex submariner

[RIPLEYXL9]

Any advice much appreciated.
In 2002 I bought a 16618 Rolex 18ct Solid Gold Blue Dialled Submariner.

Basically the Euro price had changed in our favour so the German price of the 16618 was a little cheaper. My wife happened to be going to Germany so we found the watch in stock there and I specifically asked the retailer if he was an official Rolex Agent, which he said he was and I'm pretty sure I checked with Rolex Germany.
I also said I definitely wanted a brand new watch direct from Rolex, and one that had not a] been sold and returned by a customer, or b] not been sitting around in a shop for ages, like the ones you see at Duty free Airports.

I was very particular about this; as at the time our local Rolex agent openly advertised that you can buy a Rolex and if you don't like it can return it and swap it for another one within 3 days. SO being super fussy me I though well what id someone dropped it say an our luxury deep velvent carpet I doubt if it would mark it but the kinteic energy of a gold Submariner hitting the deck wouldn't be very good for the movement. So I want an absolutley squeeky perfect model.

I negotiated everything with a chap who was the owner of the store.
My wife went there and picked it up. She said it looked utterly pristine no fingermarks etc. When she got back I would concour with her - it was perfect. The only thing I might have picked up on was the green cardboard outer box the watch came in, maybe the pointed edges might have looked the tiniest bit worn - no worn is too strong a word. But definitely not tatty. The Wooden box was utterly pristine too. So as my wife had kindly gone to pick it up, I said nothing.

After I had the watch a week I realised that the strap was on the last peg hole and although perfect for me - as we go to the Caribean every year; I though what if my wrist swell a bit I have no expansion slot left. So decided to get another link. I ordered this from the German dealer and it was delivered. Obviously I wasn't going to mess with it so took it to Rolex London and they kindly fitted it FOC, and also said it was the wrong link but they had changed it FOC. I asked them whilst they had the strap off to check my serial number was correct and that the watch was brand new, never registered to another owner and genuine. All was fine! and they offerred to put it on the Rolex database in case it was ever stolen.
Time went by......
As I have another watch for daily use, it basically sits in the safe apart from the bi-monthly outing to keep things moving for say an evening out. So I decided to sell it. As it add up on our insurance policy.

Not knowing the price I rang around getting values that ranged pretty wildly; when one lady from a sort of 'fringe' dealer asked for the serial number. I was reluctant to give this to her - for fear of scamming cloning or whatever crap they get up to nowadays. In the end we compromised on just the 1st alphabetic initial - apparrently that decodes the date!
To cut the story down, she says that means its not a 2002 watch but a 1991 one! Er 11 years older! Frankyl I thought she was talking nonsense until I checked a few website via Google all saying 1991!

Today I checked with Rolex London who say it could be made between 1991 and 1993 and because the number is very high [within that range] its most likely a 1993 model.

When I said to the lady in Rolex London, well when I brought it in and you changed the bracelet [which she could confirm] and asked your technition to check it was brand new and not registered to any other previous owner why the hell didn't he say, by the way it was mage in 1991/3! She replied well a lot of people buy preowned models and if they say they bought it new we don't like to correct them in an open office as it might make them embarressed! NO ....... comment!

And that I should check that this dealer is an official rolex agent, with Cologne and speak to the dealer. Sadly by now they had shut.
I rang back the london dealer, who said if it was a 2002 model then the price would be £8,500 but if it was 1991 then it would be £7,500! But I had another dealer who offerred £10,000 for it based on a 2002 birth year. What will this news do to his price, maybe it would put him off being the highest bidder completely.
Proportiaonately it would make it £1,250 less.

So what do you think I should ask Rolex to do?
Being me I probably had confirmation he was a Rolex dealer in writing or by email but hell I have changed computers 4 times since then and moved companies. There is also a dam good chance I wrote asking for him to confirm it was brand new straight from Rolex; but did I keep that paper once I'd got the watch and it looked perfect and especially after Rolex London had seen it!
Probably I just distilled down the paperwork to keep the iinvoice for the watch, all certificates, mini brochures and the extra link invoice and then trashed the rest.

Well I feel totally conned - if at the time they had told ne it was 11 years old themost I would have paid was 1/2 price - and to be honest I was doing so well then I would probably have turned it down.

Any views help appreciated
Has this happened to anyone else.

SO advice to anone buying a Rolex, get the current years number from Roex put in writing to the dealer you only want this years model, then take it to Rolex London the day you get it and get them to cerifiy its what you are buying