NEED Help purchased a new SUB

[jtrader]

Hi everyone,

I haven't posted anything for a while. Been pretty busy. Anyway's my local Ben Bridge dealer called me to let me know they were having their annual used swiss watch sale.The guy called yesterday since he knew I was looking to posiblly buy a used Sub No date. So I went in as soon as I could so that I could get first dibs. The Sub is in good shape, I'm pretty sure it's a 14060..3000 movment..circa1989-1999..1000feet. It doesn't have the COSC on the face Which makes it a bit rare. It's had an overhaul. There's a few small blemishes on the braclet and case, as well as a scratch on the left side of the bezel. So the only thing it may need is a new bezel and maybe a new crystal. The watch was being sold for $3,500. It comes with a one year in house waranty from BB. Which is a pretty good deal for a rolex sports watch. The only thing is for some reason when you buy a used watch from Ben Bridge at one of these events u don't get the box's and papers that would normally come with a watch like that. But since Ben Bridge is a rolex dealer they guarantee the used watches to be authentic. I decided to put a deposit down on the watch and it's mine as long as I want it.

But I also went over to another Jewler who's more of a Grey Dealer. They buy used Rolex's, and Rehaul em. I found a 2005 Sub dweller that's in excellent condition with the boxes and pappers for $4,450.00 with a one year waranty. I've done buisness with them before and they also guarantee their products as well.

So on my way home I realized that If I keep the Sub No Date from BB with out the box and papers. I'll prob wind up pouring another $250 to $500 on this watch sometime in the future (new bezel, crystal, minor over haul on the case and bracelet). Which I'm not sure is actually a good deal in the end.

My main question for those of you who know better than me. Is this a good deal since it's a more saught after timepiece but may need a little work. Especially if I decide to sell it in the future. Or should I get my money back and get the used sea dweller that's a little more expensive and common, but doesn't need any work and also comes with the box's and papers.

[CPCC]

Seadweller all the way, a steal between the two

[onkyo]

The 14060m is overpriced esp if w/o b/p and not LNIB condition. The seadweller is a better deal here.

[jtrader]

Yea that's kind of what I was thinking to. I was lured buy the No date semi vintage piece, but after thinking I started to realize that maybe it's not such a good idea.

[hflee55]

Go for the sea dwealler. Seems to be the better deal in this case.

[gone-rolex-mad]

Sea-dweller any day of the week!

[Erix]

I agree with the crowd...seadweller seems to be the better deal here.
From reading earlier threads I'd say BB is quite overprised...

[Singslinger]

No question - go for the Sea-Dweller.

[jtrader]

Yea leaning towards the SD

[BZA]

deffo SD

[kcmo]

The Sub is definitely overpriced IMO

[Beecher]

yup, SD on this deal.

[GerardoG]

Agree with everyone else here.

[WatchTimes]

SD!! It was my first Rolex sports watch (DJ was my first Rolex)
I LOVE my SD but I must admit I find my DSSD getting much more
wrist time.

Either way, if I was you Id go SD all the way!!!

[Tools]

I don't think it is that cut and dried...

And I think that you're getting side tracked what "papers" might be..

The Sub has been serviced, (BB service is a contracted, legitimate, Rolex accepted overhaul) but the outside patina has been preserved. It comes with an invoice from an AD (papers) and a warranty from an AD (papers).. outside actual RSC papers, they don't get much better than that.

The SD is from a non-AD who gives a "guarantee" whatever that means.. but you don't know what they have used if they did overhaul it at all....and I doubt that on an "05 model they did more than polish the case.

The price break is a thousand dollars apart........as it should be..

I see the deals as much more equal....
...........Get the one you want..

[jtrader]

Originally Posted by Tools

I don't think it is that cut and dried...

And I think that you're getting side tracked what "papers" might be..

The Sub has been serviced, (BB service is a contracted, legitimate, Rolex accepted overhaul) but the outside patina has been preserved. It comes with an invoice from an AD (papers) and a warranty from an AD (papers).. outside actual RSC papers, they don't get much better than that.

The SD is from a non-AD who gives a "guarantee" whatever that means.. but you don't know what they have used if they did overhaul it at all....and I doubt that on an "05 model they did more than polish the case.

The price break is a thousand dollars apart........as it should be..

I see the deals as much more equal....
...........Get the one you want..

You def make a good point. I guess the reciept and over haul tags that would come with would be considered papers. The only thing left out is the box. I really like the watch and it looks great on the wrist. I've been back and forth all night trying to decide what to do. I half to make a decision today since it's a show peice. They would def want to put it back in the case and get it sold if I'm not going to buy it. The main thing that's ben bugging me is the fact that I would need to do some services to the watch. At least an extra $250 of work, plus they said it would take 6-8 weeks to get the watch back from Rolex HQ. So in the end I would spend at least $4,000 total. As far as the Gray Dealer, there a pretty reputable company and have been around for a long time. But you're right you never know these days and you can't always be to carefull.

[sea-dweller]

SD, hands down.

[Crazy Cajun]

Go with the Sea Dweller.

[Perdu]

Why don't you just buy the one you like best? A bit of an obvious comment but I wouldn't worry about which one is less common, etc. If the ND has a acrylic crystal that's kinda cool. Also, is it Tritium or Luminova? If it has a modern crystal and Luminova I'd go for the SD, personally. If it's Tritium and acrylic I'd go for the Sub. Just my 2 cents.

[jtrader]

So I went back in today to BB. Turns out they had even more product that had come in for their used swiss watch show. Looked around and they had a Sea Dweller like the one at the used dealer that I was talking about. Took a good look at it and would say it's at about 90%. They wanted $4,700 for the watch, without a box and papers. Now I understand that when your dealing with BB it's supposed to be guranteed since there an authorized dealer. At least that's what they kept telling me. So I decided I would get the watch and had him hold it for me since I needed to go and get money from my Bank to pay for the watch. After taxes the watch came to $5150.00 . But Once I left the store and was walking to the parking lot I started to get this feeling that this deal as well was just to over priced!

I felt like I needed to go back to the used dealer and have a closer look at the sea dweller they had. When I went in their they droped the price down a hundred dollars to $4,350.00 for the SD. I took a closer look at the box and it had everything all the way down to the original hologram tag and serial tag. Plus the watch was in better condition than the watch from BB. All in all it just felt right so I went with that instead. I realize there a "gray/used" dealer but they have an in house watch maker that's rolex certified, plus I bought a seamaster from them a few months back and it's been a flawless watch. My only main concern with buying a used Rolex in this situation, is just all the horror story's that i've heard about people being ripped off.

I will say that I was somewhat amazed at the feed back that I was geting from the sales people at each store about the other stores. In the end it was almost overwhelming cus I would go into BB and they would talk neg about the other used dealers and then I would go into the used dealers and they would talk negativelly about BB and how there way over priced and shouldn't be in the buisness of selling used watches cus they don't know how to price them right. And I realize that it's that time of year, the market's bad and they need to sell as much product as possible. But what seemed to be the most confusing about Ben Bridge and their "used refurb rolexes" was there was no serial number on the tags of these watches. In fact the sales peole at BB could not tell me the date of the sub's that I was looking at. But he kept telling me "we know these watches there guranteed and they've all had an overhaul". But if that's really the god honest truth (and don't get me worng, I'm not calling the sales people at BB liars) and they've all had a complete check from RSC, wouldn't RSC send back the watch with at least a tag that has a serial number on it? So that you can at least know the age of the watch?

So anyways at the end of the day I just went with my gut feeling and bought the SD from the used dealer. I feel that I got a much better deal at a much better price. Once I bring it home I'll just take it in to my local AD and have them take a look at it to make sure it's the real deal. Other than that I look forward to getting some wrist time with My new SD, and I'll post some pictures when ever I get the chance.

[akhamdani]

Congratulations Jon .I would also do the same.

[jtrader]

thanks

[JimSnyder]

You got a great watch Jon. Now hurry up with the pics

[gone-rolex-mad]

Well done mate, a good choice. Enjoy

[jtrader]

Going to Cancun Mexico on Saturday for Christams. Planning on picking up the watch sometime after I get back.

One of the things I meant to mention abouth this delear. They have a christmas special and anyone who purchases a watch or jewelry up to Janurary 5th gets the oportunity to get there money back. The add is if it rains 1/3 of an inch on January 13th 2009 from 12:00 pm to 6:00 p.m. and u purchased a watch or ring during the time of December to Januray 5th 09. You get to keep what ever your bought and get a full refund on your purchase! And on top of that I live in the Seattle Area! So i'm gonna be keeping my fingers crossed on this one!!!!!

Would love nothing more than a free Rolex !!!!!

[kudosguy]

You made the right decision - congratulations on your SD!

[Welshwatchman]

Just remember that it's the ND Subs WITH the COSC lettering that are rare.

[jtrader]

Really? I thought that the COSC was a newer thing that rolex does. Anyways I guess it doesn't really matter now. Since I decided to go with the SD.

I know the Sub ND they had just said Submariner and 1000/ft on the dial. The luminova or dot's as you will were kind of an off white color. I compared the ND to a brand new one and you could def see there was a difference in the years. I just don't know the exact date of the watch since for some weird reason they don't have the serial on the tag's of these used peices. I'm still trying to figure out why RSC would not send these used peices back Rehauled with no serial number to boot!