New vs. Pre-Owned Sub? Help a 1st-time Buyer

[flcusat]

Originally Posted by Rags

Go with one of the trusted sellers here on TRF, you won't regret it...

I probably will, I'm just asking all these questions to evaluate all the choices. Thanks for the advice.

[flcusat]

Originally Posted by gwalker

Guess the OP made 1 post and left.

He just did it yesterday, give him some time. LOL

[buke45]

Pre loved is the way to go!!

[flcusat]

Pre loved is the way to go!!

Why is that?

[caryyee]

If it's going to be your first and only Rolex that you're ever intending to buy, go to an AD, find the model that you want. Then do research here on TRF to see what a TRF trusted seller is asking for a BINB watch. Go back to the AD and armed with that infomation, see how close the AD can get to matching that price. If it's close enough, buy it from the AD if you are seeking piece of mind with zero worries. If the AD doesn't get close enough to the target price, come back to TRF, ask lots of questions of the seller etc, and once you are happy that all your concerns or queries are answered to your satisfaction, proceed with the transaction :-)

[gwalker]

Originally Posted by flcusat

By the way it is possible to get a deal from a big AD like Mayors or they are pretty firm in their prices?

Been a little while since I purchased from Mayors but I got a great discount from them when I got my DSSD. I got it in Aug or Sept 08 and even though it was the first DSSD they had I got over $1k off and no tax. My mom also purchased a new TT DJ jubilee bracelet for her 22 year old DJ at the same time and got a GREAT discount on that. My mom and stepfather had purchased quite a few from Mayors in the past so it's not like we walked in off the street.

Originally Posted by caryyee

If it's going to be your first and only Rolex that you're ever intending to buy, go to an AD, find the model that you want. Then do research here on TRF to see what a TRF trusted seller is asking for a BINB watch. Go back to the AD and armed with that infomation, see how close the AD can get to matching that price. If it's close enough, buy it from the AD if you are seeking piece of mind with zero worries. If the AD doesn't get close enough to the target price, come back to TRF, ask lots of questions of the seller etc, and once you are happy that all your concerns or queries are answered to your satisfaction, proceed with the transaction :-)

X1000000. There are tons of great deals on here and I have talked to quite a few of the TRF trusted sellers and if they have what I want at that moment I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them. They are class acts. That said I've found if you spend the time to visit ADs, be upfront, pay with cash you can get deals as good (if not even a tad better) than what's in the classifieds. I have relationships with 3 ADs at the moment and I have been taken care of better than I could've hoped for. Bottom line first Rolex the AD experience IS special and I think many on here would be surprised what a relationship with an AD can offer. I was more than happy when I created my latest relationship and expect great things in the future.

[Runnin' Rebel]

Service record if over 5-6 years old

[flcusat]

Originally Posted by caryyee

If it's going to be your first and only Rolex that you're ever intending to buy, go to an AD, find the model that you want. Then do research here on TRF to see what a TRF trusted seller is asking for a BINB watch. Go back to the AD and armed with that infomation, see how close the AD can get to matching that price. If it's close enough, buy it from the AD if you are seeking piece of mind with zero worries. If the AD doesn't get close enough to the target price, come back to TRF, ask lots of questions of the seller etc, and once you are happy that all your concerns or queries are answered to your satisfaction, proceed with the transaction :-)

Thanks for the tip. This is not my first Rolex, I got my first Rolex, a GMT Coke twenty years ago, unfortunately that watch was stolen from a burglary at my house in 1999, soon after that my wife got me a GMT Pepsi as a gift for Christmas, which I sold about a year ago when we were going through a hardship situation. This watch should stay with me quite a few years, since I am a very conservative person but I'm not a collector either.

[flcusat]

Originally Posted by gwalker

X1000000. There are tons of great deals on here and I have talked to quite a few of the TRF trusted sellers and if they have what I want at that moment I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them. They are class acts. That said I've found if you spend the time to visit ADs, be upfront, pay with cash you can get deals as good (if not even a tad better) than what's in the classifieds. I have relationships with 3 ADs at the moment and I have been taken care of better than I could've hoped for. Bottom line first Rolex the AD experience IS special and I think many on here would be surprised what a relationship with an AD can offer. I was more than happy when I created my latest relationship and expect great things in the future.

Thank you very much for this info, I will visit Mayors this week and see if I can get a good deal with them.

[flcusat]

I'm going to be traveling to Europe in the next couple of weeks, does anyone knows if prices in Europe are comparable to the prices here? I'm in the electronic business and I know for a fact that a piece of equipment manufactured here, most of the time cost 20% more in Europe, but I don't know if the same applies the other way around?

[unclesallie]

Originally Posted by mig50

First time Rolex buyer looking for some advice on purchasing a new watch vs. a pre-owned one - any input would be greatly appreciated.

I have narrowed my search to a modern, stainless steel submariner. It looks like I should be able to get a pre-owned version sold in the last 10yrs with papers, etc. in the $5-6k range vs. the new one at $8k. My initial thought is that $8k is a bit steep, but if it is THE only way to 100% guarantee authenticity, I would bite the bullet.

As of now, just looking to have a watch for life, not looking to be wheeling and dealing for upgrades in the future (though that may change as the more I find out about watches, the more interesting it gets).

Key Questions:

1. What would you do?

2. If going pre-owned, where you would go to buy it and how would you guarantee authenticity?

3. How important is it to have the original certificate? All else equal, what should the monetary difference be for a watch that has the papers vs. one that does not?

4. Do the improvements made in the newer subs (ceramic bezel, clasp, anything else?) justify the increase in retail? I believe they are going for $2k more today than they were just a few years ago....

Thanks in advance for the advice.

1. Stop asking questions like this one.
2. Buy the seller not the watch.
3. Not. +$500.00 for papers
4. Who knows?

Consider starting with vintage watches, like a red sub (hopefully with date)...because after you come full circle, it's where you will likely end up here anyway(or with a mix).

SLOW DOWN. Do a bit of study, read the online library here at TRF....
you will be amazed at how much you can learn by studying. What's the rush?
Watch fever?? A progressive, and invariably fatal disease...but resist, resist........

And good luck~!

[mig50]

Thanks everyone for the input - though clearly no consensus on new vs pre-owned, the discussion has provided loads of good advice and certainly given me a lot to think about.

Over the weekend, several of the local ADs got in new subs (there were none in the half dozed shops I called/went to over the last two weeks). After seeing it in person, I am leaning toward the older model. I do like the changes to the clasp/bracelet and though I prefer the aluminum bezel aesthetically, I don't mind the change if ceramic is that much more durable. My hang up on the new sub is that the dial just looks too busy with the larger hour markers. Not a gamechanger in of itself, but combined with the $2-3k price difference it's pushing me toward a pre-owned 16610.

Thanks again to all who posted or PM'd me.

Will let you know how it turns out....or (more likely) will be back before that with more questions as I go through the process.

[azguy]

Originally Posted by mig50

Over the weekend, several of the local ADs got in new subs (there were none in the half dozed shops I called/went to over the last two weeks). After seeing it in person, I am leaning toward the older model. I do like the changes to the clasp/bracelet and though I prefer the aluminum bezel aesthetically, I don't mind the change if ceramic is that much more durable. My hang up on the new sub is that the dial just looks too busy with the larger hour markers. Not a gamechanger in of itself, but combined with the $2-3k price difference it's pushing me toward a pre-owned 16610.

I think the 16610 is a smart choice, very classic watch, and you can source a very nice LNIB from one of the trusted sellers here and save some serious coin, sales tax, etc...

Good luck