Questions on buying older models

[JJack]

Hi! This is my first post on this site, but I have been a member on several other watch forums for a while before joining recently here. I buy and resell watches and I recently came up with a goal: start off with a couple cheap watches and flip them up until I have enough money to buy a Rolex. I know it is an ambitious goal, but I have done things equally as hard before and I love the challenge.

It doesn't matter what model or year Rolex, only that is a ROLEX. The point of this is to go from near nothing to a Rolex, I understand that buying a vintage entry level Rolex there is better deals to be had on other watches. I think it would be a great converation starter.

So, I found on eBay some old Bubblebacks, Oysterdates, and Oyster Perpetuals all generally selling in the $1,200 to $1,500 range. There is also some on Craigslist and local estate sales around that price. I fully understand that price is very, very low for the watch, but the point of this goal is to get any Rolex, not something super new or fancy.

So the question is, are those sub $2,000 Rolexes on eBay worth it? I would post links but I don't want to break forum rules. Should I expect fake watches at that price? Do these watches have tendencies to break down constantly after 20+ years or so?

I know a decent bit about watches, but I don't know much about Rolexes. Please remember I am doing this mainly to say I did it, this is not an investment. I have to learn a lot on the way :)