Looking for advice on first Rolex purchase

[jwoelfel79]

I have been looking around the forum for awhile but I am finally getting around to posting.

Let me start off by stating I am 24 and recently got my first full time job as a Control Systems Engineer in Houston and within the next few months I will be in the market for my first Rolex. I have a few questions and I am also looking for any advice current Rolex owners are willing to share.

What I am looking for is a 16610 with an R serial. I am looking for the 1987/1988 model as I would love for my first watch to share my age. I like the utility of the 16610 especially with the pictures on the board of ones with NATO bands and would also like to be able to have that option when wearing one.

My first boss, a gentleman who I worked for during my summers in highschool, worked on the farm with a 16803 always on his wrist which sparked my love affair with Submariners and it has been my goal to own one ever since.

I am a novice when it comes to purchasing a pre-owned watch and was wonderng what I should be on the look for as far as price, condition, etc. Anything you can share to better help me understand what I need to look for and what I should ask for such a watch is greatly appreciated.