Buying preowned help/opinion needed

[Rsvrider]

Thinking of buying a daily beater. Doing my research and buying the seller first etc. Thinking of a ExpII or GMT either From series N or more recent production. The question is: should I budget for a service? Should this be standard practice when buying used? Even if it comes from a trusted source with papers, boxes etc. looking great? A couple that I'm considering are +4 sec a day or so. Should I just regulate and pressure test and let it be? Or budget ahead and be ready to service? Thanks for the help.
PS one is a fat lady from 81, a N GMT and. F ExpII.
"The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday"

[MoBe]

Unless you see documention of Rolex service with the watch I think you would be wise to allow for a service in your budget.If you want to take a seller`s word for it that a watch has had a recent and thorough service you are taking a risk, many buyers here on this forum have reported that used watches recently purchased as serviced were in fact in very poor condition.Unless you know and trust the seller go by the documentation not the "story".

[joe100]

If the watch comes from a trusted source and a service has been preformed then there should be some paperwork. If not then get a pressure test at the very least.

I pressure test once a year and usually service when buying used for the peace of mind.

Let your conscience be your guide

[Rsvrider]

Thanks MoBe and joe100, clearly that's the way to go and my "gut" feeling was that I should anyway. Just didn't want to believe I should. Given the fact I am back on the hunt again, rather find one has has paperwork..... Given the fact that the ones I found are at the top of what asking price should be and adding an extra $800 for service/parts puts them close to what I should pay for one under warranty etc.
Thanks!
"The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday"

[Lion]

I'm in agreement if you are buying a preowned watch you will need to get it serviced. Ask the seller to provide all paperwork so you have an idea when it was last serviced if he can provide such paperwork. But I do not think you can factor the cost of a service in on negotiating the selling price of the watch. You can try to do this but don't be surprised if the seller does not agree with your counter offer!!!

[azguy]

"N" is 20 years old, anything back into the 90's should be budgeted for service as I see very watches that come with "real" documented service proof.

Just my 2 cents,; maybe look at an Omega SMP as a daily beater you can get blue or black dial and save yourself a ton of money

[dddrees]

Agree, always budget for one when buying used, never know for sure or not unless there is paperwork to accompany the watch. Then I would feel much better if the service was done at least by a watchmaker with a Rolex parts account.

[Gmtjacob]

My question is what if you buy your Rolex from a high end jewelry store, they have a watch repair man in house , and it came with a year warranty... But she is running fast! It's about a 30 sec to a min faster a month.. Nothing major it's a 8.4 gmt master 16750 plexi. I love it don't get me wrong! LOVE it. This was my second Rolex, the first Rolex was purchased new and no issues with it.. But like so many I loved the older Pepsi gmt, so I had to buy used.
I'm extremely happy with the gmt but should I still ship her of for service? Should I wait till my year warranty is up with jewelry store(not official Rolex vendor) ? There's no service papers on the watch so I consider it never to be serviced by Rolex. Like above quotes I only believe the paper work. What do you guys think I should do?

[azguy]

Originally Posted by Gmtjacob

My question is what if you buy your Rolex from a high end jewelry store, they have a watch repair man in house , and it came with a year warranty... But she is running fast! It's about a 30 sec to a min faster a month.. Nothing major it's a 8.4 gmt master 16750 plexi. I love it don't get me wrong! LOVE it. This was my second Rolex, the first Rolex was purchased new and no issues with it.. But like so many I loved the older Pepsi gmt, so I had to buy used.
I'm extremely happy with the gmt but should I still ship her of for service? Should I wait till my year warranty is up with jewelry store(not official Rolex vendor) ? There's no service papers on the watch so I consider it never to be serviced by Rolex. Like above quotes I only believe the paper work. What do you guys think I should do?

Either RSC it or find a local watchmaker that known what he is doing

[mrbill2mrbill2]

Originally Posted by Gmtjacob

My question is what if you buy your Rolex from a high end jewelry store, they have a watch repair man in house , and it came with a year warranty... But she is running fast! It's about a 30 sec to a min faster a month.. Nothing major it's a 8.4 gmt master 16750 plexi. I love it don't get me wrong! LOVE it. This was my second Rolex, the first Rolex was purchased new and no issues with it.. But like so many I loved the older Pepsi gmt, so I had to buy used.
I'm extremely happy with the gmt but should I still ship her of for service? Should I wait till my year warranty is up with jewelry store(not official Rolex vendor) ? There's no service papers on the watch so I consider it never to be serviced by Rolex. Like above quotes I only believe the paper work. What do you guys think I should do?

A minute a month. That's only +2 seconds per day. Well within COSC -4 to +6.

[Rsvrider]

Originally Posted by Gmtjacob

My question is what if you buy your Rolex from a high end jewelry store, they have a watch repair man in house , and it came with a year warranty... But she is running fast! It's about a 30 sec to a min faster a month.. Nothing major it's a 8.4 gmt master 16750 plexi. I love it don't get me wrong! LOVE it. This was my second Rolex, the first Rolex was purchased new and no issues with it.. But like so many I loved the older Pepsi gmt, so I had to buy used.
I'm extremely happy with the gmt but should I still ship her of for service? Should I wait till my year warranty is up with jewelry store(not official Rolex vendor) ? There's no service papers on the watch so I consider it never to be serviced by Rolex. Like above quotes I only believe the paper work. What do you guys think I should do?

Try this first, if you take off the watch overnight and regularly place it facing up try doing the opposite, face it down (on a nice soft cloth mind you!) and check if it now loses time. You can then alternate or decide then to get it regulated and pressure tested. Big overhaul not needed IMO with a watch you know that works. Regardless it's still well within COSC. Btw check with the store, maybe the warranty covers to have it regulated.
"The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday"

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by mrbill2mrbill2

A minute a month. That's only +2 seconds per day. Well within COSC -4 to +6.

X2

That's extremly accurate for a mechanical watch.

[hsfrank]

Originally Posted by Lion

I'm in agreement if you are buying a preowned watch you will need to get it serviced. Ask the seller to provide all paperwork so you have an idea when it was last serviced if he can provide such paperwork. But I do not think you can factor the cost of a service in on negotiating the selling price of the watch. You can try to do this but don't be surprised if the seller does not agree with your counter offer!!!

I would always figure a service cost into my negotiation unless it has been Rolex serviced within 2 years. If you can not buy it for at least less than the cost of new - service I would never buy it preowned. IMHO

[Brenngun]

Without paperwork showing full movement service and wet pressure test by qualified professional watchmaker or RSC then absolutely plan on a full service.