Buying first "nice" watch, steel Datejust

[Archduke]

If you buy the watch and send it to Rolex for service, you will get Rolex service papers back, plus the reassurance that your watch had been checked against their database, and the scratches etc. should get taken care of. Your purchase price needs to factor in the cost of the service though.

We read many stories here about watches being damaged by jewellers. If I were the seller I might not be that enthusiastic about a small local jeweller taking the back off my Rolex, potentially scratching it, etc.

If you are new to Rolex a private sale might not be the best route to ownership.