Would you buy this watch...???

[Damavand]

Howdy all,

This local AD (Real McCoy..Checked them on Rolex web site) has a pre owned TT,Blue face Submariner, Model No : 16613 Serial No. W281XXX, Pretty good shape, No Scratches, No Dings, Bracelet is pretty tight...just like new....Asking price is $5500. It looks like was not worn much. I did not see the "Certificate" and dealer was too busy to answer in details but mentioned would give the sales recipts and provide one year guarantee.

What do you Rolex Gurues think..???? Can you tell approx. What year the watch was made ??
Based on description, Is the price right and what if they didn't have the original owner's certificate....would you still buy it with AD official sales papers and gurantee..??? or should I insist for the original certificate if I decided to buy..???

Thanks for any info or input...
Damavandd

[Gaijin]

A bit high on the price in my humble opinion for a Rolex that old.

[tonelar]

Mine is about the same age and cost me about $1K less... of course I wasnt buying it from an AD...

The certificate is only worth it if you plan on selling it later on... otherwise, their word should be solid as they're offering a 1 year warranty with the TT Blu. If it's important to you hold out for a cert, but you shoujdln't let that get in the way of you buying a watch you really want. Besides the new ones have that god ugly ROLEXROLEXROLEX which frankly I think looks cheap.

The only consideration I'd give to an older model purchase was illumination. It might not glow in the dark as well as a Superluminova model (were they were still Ti dials in the early 90's?)... I might be completely wrong on when they went away from Tritium dials.

Originally Posted by KansaiVet

A bit high on the price in my humble opinion for a Rolex that old.

Old? Thas barely old enough to drive?

[Damavand]

Hi All,

Thanks for the reply but how old is the watch you think..???

As far as the Cert goes...shouldn't it be with the watch even with the first owner's name on it..???

I don't know much about preowned watches.my first Rolex was Brand new so, I need your Help/ Opinion....

" were they were still Ti dials in the early 90's? Sorry But I don't understand the question..

Thanks again.

Damavandd

[tonelar]

1994

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=8478

And "should" is hopeful... only 3 of the 6 watches I've bought 2nd hand came with original certs... If you're buying it to flip it, forget it and get me this dealer's info, please.

Cheers

[Gaijin]

W serial numbers are 1994/95.


12 or 13 year old Rolex.


http://www.qualitytyme.net/pages/numbers.html

[Damavand]

Hey Tonelar,

Thanks again for the info...So, you think it is a buy..??

I Think, I am going to buy this for keeps Friday morning...(not into flipping..)

Damavandd

[tonelar]

Originally Posted by Damavandd

" were they were still Ti dials in the early 90's? Sorry But I don't understand the question..

Damavandd

Before the current Luminova dials, the Rolex dials used Tritium to give them their glow...

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by Damavandd

Hey Tonelar,

Thanks again for the info...So, you think it is a buy..??

I Think, I am going to buy this for keeps Friday morning...(not into flipping..)

Damavandd

You can just about get a new slightly worn Z for that price.

I say no go on that watch at that price.

[Damavand]

Thanks again for all the info guys...I am learning.....TI...Lumins...

I will negotiate the price...Let's see how far they will go down..

Damavandd

[Damavand]

Originally Posted by tonelar

Before the current Luminova dials, the Rolex dials used Tritium to give them their glow...

Tonelar,

On The Ti coated watches.... does it say Ti on the watch face..???

Just curious how to tell the diff..

Damavandd

[Cyberpipm2000]

I would not pay that much for a 94 bluesy, a few hundred more and you can buy one brand spanken new!

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by Damavandd

Thanks again for all the info guys...I am learning.....TI...Lumins...

I will negotiate the price...Let's see how far they will go down..

Damavandd

If it hasn't been serviced in the last 5 years or so you'll need to factor in about $500 for an overhaul on top of the purchase price. Now it's getting expensive.

[unclesallie]

bad deal! it's an old watch, and WAY over priced! don't do it!watch is worth maybe $4000? they bought it on trade for about $3500, i'll bet. they want to make $2K on you? i would walk away, and look for a newer watch, which you can get at that price...
best, dan

[SSD]

Ti, unless I'm mistaken, is actually titanium. H3 is tritium, which was in the lume mix and excited the illuminating elements in the "lume" and caused the glow. It replaced the radioactive radium dials, discontinued in the 50's. Its glow was constant, even when obscured by brighter light, and did not need an additional light source to "charge" it. Tritium lume was discontinued in 1998, pretty much industry wide unfortunately, because is it slightly radioactive. It has a half-life of ~12 years, which means now very little if any illumination remains, whereas the Superluminova will keep working as long as it gets "recharged" by a light source.

Tritium dials can be identified on Rolex because they are printed "T<25" (less than 25 millicuries) or "T Swiss T" near 6 o'clock.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Welcome to TRF!

I'd pass on the TT Sub at that price. The price is too high, and as stated you would also need to have it serviced.

On top of that, the Tritium dial would probably not glow anymore since Tritium has a halflife of 12,5 years.

Better save for a BNIB TT Sub with a SuperLuminova dial. If you get it from an AD you get the certificate, too, of course, AND piece of mind. Furthermore if something is wrong with it you can have it serviced under guarantee the first 2 years and you would only need to have it serviced every 5 years. On top of that you should be able to get a nice discount (at least 15 %) on a TT Blue Sub from an AD.

[Damavand]

Thanks all for the input.
I will be passing on this watch...

Damavandd

[SSD]

With a little due dilligence, IMO you'll have the Sub for you! And you'll never regret the effort. Indeed, the research and legwork is a little on the fun side, because you're going after something good!

[Earl Camembert]

Originally Posted by tonelar

Mine is about the same age and cost me about $1K less... of course I wasnt buying it from an AD...

The certificate is only worth it if you plan on selling it later on...

For $150 USD Rolex USA will give one papers that tells one everything about the watch.

[Damavand]

With a little due dilligence, IMO you'll have the Sub for you! And you'll never regret the effort. Indeed, the research and legwork is a little on the fun side, because you're going after something good!

Agreed...
What would you do for starter..??where would you reccomend..?? Local shops or ebay..??

Damavandd