The Dangers of Buying Used: Rolex watches with ETA movements Inside?

[SubMarine]

I had a friend who opened his watch for the first time and discovered an ETA movement inside his submariner. Since many of us purchase used or vintage watches, I was wondering how frequently this happens. Needless to say, RSC London refused to service his watch.

Has this unfortunate circumstance ever happened to you?

[JerimiahLee]

The rule goes: Buyer the seller first, the watch second.

Sorry to hear about your friend, but this could happen with a "new" watch as well.

Regardless of year or model, make sure to do reference checks on the seller. If it seems too good to be true or don't feel good about the deal, just walk away.

[blue lion]

Both of my watches were used. I had both appraised and then serviced at my local service center, partly to ensure the inside components were legit.

[bluestifford]

That's shit
I'd be so annoyed but then I'd make sure beforehand legitimacy.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk.

[*Erik]

Did your friend manage to get his money back? It hasn't happened to me before but it is always on the back of my mind when considering a good deal on a private sale. For my first Rolex I followed the below advice:

http://www.clockmaker.com.au/rolex/r...ying_tips.html

[Hairdude1]

As stated "Buy the Seller not the watch"

[brandrea]

That's so unfortunate
I hope he has some sort of recourse with the seller ...

[Tools]

Did this watch actually start life as a Rolex, or was it a fake that started life with an ETA movement ??

[buke45]

Originally Posted by *Erik

Did your friend manage to get his money back? It hasn't happened to me before but it is always on the back of my mind when considering a good deal on a private sale. For my first Rolex I followed the below advice:

http://www.clockmaker.com.au/rolex/r...ying_tips.html

Thanks for the Link!!!

[tkerrmd]

Sorry to hear that, any pics of the watch? It was a fake?

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Tools

Did this watch actually start life as a Rolex, or was it a fake that started life with an ETA movement ??

Good question.

[SubMarine]

Originally Posted by Tools

Did this watch actually start life as a Rolex, or was it a fake that started life with an ETA movement ??

It started life as a real Rolex - the case is 100% real. The movement is 100% ETA. I guess someone swapped out the real movement and put in a dud.

[Lgear080]

I want to see pictures. What you're suggesting is actually quite difficult.
The eta movement requires extensive modification to function properly.
Post some pics with the case open please. In addition, it's quite easy to
Tell the movement isn't correct without opening the case. You've got to
Have some experience though.

So...let's see :)

[Majin Buu]

Errrr... Do you know how long it took him to find out it was a fake??

MB

[Kingair]

S**** happens

Fid you ever checked what is gping on in Vintage Rolex world . . .

To be honest . . . more than scarry !

[Chewbacca]

too bad for your friend but while this may be the case (no pun intended), seems like an awful lot of trouble for a small windfall after the "real" case is sourced etc...

i'm going on Larry's bandwidth with this one.

[Sublover2166]

I would imagine if one already owns a genuine Rolex and knows how the different functions of the winding crown feels, they would suspect something a miss. Also I would imagine that placing a different movement in a genuine Rolex case would require skilled modifications right? What purpose would this really serve anyway? Sell the Rolex movement for big cash on Ebay?

[rmurphy]

Originally Posted by Lgear080

I want to see pictures. What you're suggesting is actually quite difficult.
The eta movement requires extensive modification to function properly.
Post some pics with the case open please. In addition, it's quite easy to
Tell the movement isn't correct without opening the case. You've got to
Have some experience though.

So...let's see :)

I second that idea .... Interesting for sure


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jake B]

You can tell right away...ETA set by turning the crown the opposite direction, and the datewheel font is different. Winding action feels quite different also. ETA and Rolex movements are not direct swaps...You cannot just switch out movements. Sounds like your buddy bought a fake watch...period.

[crowncollection]

Not common in a real case, fairly common on older tudor cases.

[Rashid.bk]

Sorry for your friend but me thinks said watch was a fakey to begin with. Buy the seller. This is why I'd rather pay more for security than scrape around for the lowest deal on the streets.

I'm not a rich man, nor wealthy for that matter which is why I own every watch that Ken owns living vicariously through his photos......but either you can afford the watch or you can't. Gotta pay to play, that's why it's a Rolex.

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by Jake B

You can tell right away...ETA set by turning the crown the opposite direction, and the datewheel font is different. Winding action feels quite different also. ETA and Rolex movements are not direct swaps...You cannot just switch out movements. Sounds like your buddy bought a fake watch...period.

x2.

[high5]

not often at all. eta has rattle noise when you shake it. i also dont believe you can fit a eta movement in a rolex case without at least some modification.

[travisb]

Sorry to hear.
I would have opened it prior to purchasing. Way too many fakes out there.

[Loevhagen]

Originally Posted by crowncollection

Not common in a real case, fairly common on older tudor cases.

Huh? Tudor used ETA-movements in the case when the left the factor. Tudor with ETA is the way it should be - if I am not mistaken.

[aaamax]

Originally Posted by Lgear080

I want to see pictures. What you're suggesting is actually quite difficult.
The eta movement requires extensive modification to function properly.
Post some pics with the case open please. In addition, it's quite easy to
Tell the movement isn't correct without opening the case. You've got to
Have some experience though.

So...let's see :)

This is what I thought!!!

[Suicide King]

I always buy used,and go to the nearest Rolex AD or trusty watchmaker for authentication.
This is the first time I heard someone bought Rolex with ETA movement .How could he buy a Rolex that hasn't been checked out by expert,especially if it does not have papers ?

[mike]

Originally Posted by SubMarine

It started life as a real Rolex - the case is 100% real. The movement is 100% ETA. I guess someone swapped out the real movement and put in a dud.

It's a something that been done for years. The real movement is then sold for more money.

As stated BUY THE SELLER.

[theken]

Originally Posted by SubMarine

I had a friend who opened his watch for the first time and discovered an ETA movement inside his submariner. Since many of us purchase used or vintage watches, I was wondering how frequently this happens. Needless to say, RSC London refused to service his watch.

Has this unfortunate circumstance ever happened to you?

Douglas, you refer to this friend in past tense so it sounds like the OP is no longer your friend.
The complexity of changing a Rolex movement to an ETA movement has already been commented on by others in this thread.
Over the past 5-6 years I have bought many new and used Rolexes without ever feeling the need to inspect the movement.
The reputation of the seller as well as marketplace where I choose to shop eliminates for me the possibility that I will discover that the watch will not be 100% genuine and correct.
I will never understand why an inexperienced buyer will purchase a Rolex from a seller without an extensive history of positive transaction feedback.
Can you tell us where your friend bought his Sub and the reference number? If it is an older model, the reference number is engraved between the lugs. Also, did the seller supply any of the original papers.