1st time buyer...

[red.earth]

Hi All

I've just has the most dreadful 12 months of my life, but I've made it out the other side in one piece and to mark this moment I have decided to buy myself my first Rolex.

I've settled on a white faced Explorer II (the most stunning watch I've ever seen) and have been investigating the price. During my investigation, and if I'm wrong I'm happy to be corrected, I discovered that ADs get the watches at wholesale prices, add approx' 70% and then sell them on to customers. So, the ExpII currently retails for £3,770 but I understand that ADs pay just £2,200 or thereabouts.

Now, I don't mean to bash ADs as I presume that Rolex tells them what they are allowed to sell the watches for and if they get caught selling them for any less, they breach their contract. However, I think it's pretty criminal that Rolex enforces this. How can £1,500 profit on the sale of 1 watch costing less than £4,000 be justifiable, even if the sale took 8 hours?

I have discovered other sources of what appear to be genuine ExpIIs for up to almost £800 less that the RRP, but where does that leave me in terms of the Rolex guarantee? Could Rolex determine, via the serial number, that it was not purchased via an AD and refuse to honour the guarantee?

I have read on these forums of a few sellers which come highly recommended but is my concern about the guarantee valid? And I suppose the obvious one is how I could possibly know that what I was getting was not 100% genuine?

I am sure these are questions which many have considered and have been satisfied before but I would be immensely grateful for any comments which would help. This will be a one off purchase for me.

Final question - to have the back engraved, does it need to be removed and then replaced, pressure tested etc or can it be done with just the strap removed?

I welcome an education.

Thanks very much all.

Adam

[Route 66]

Welcome to TRF Adam.

I'll leave the answers to your questions to the more knowledgeable members here.

[Art 1]

Welcome, good choice.

[D O C]

Adam

Those are all valid questions. The short answer is yes the guarantee is good and yes you are getting an authentic Rolex watch if you buy through of the the trusted TRF sellers. Why don't you PM one of the trusted sellers and they can tell you themselves?

I don't know if I would have the back engraved. What if you want to flip it, or upgrade at a future date.

[TRW]

Welcome to TRF Adam

[Submarino]

Welcome!

I would recommend to buy from an AD or one of the sellers at the forum. If you buy from a gray dealer (non-authorized dealer) you could have warranty problems in the future.

With regards to engraving the caseback of the watch, I would recommend not to do it as it will bring the resale value of the watch down if you ever neec to sell it. Now, if you really want to engrave it then make sure the caseback is removed before the work is done as excessive vibration from the engraving tool might harm the movement.

[DRMOVIE1]

I would recomend you speak to DAVIDSW and you willl find much much better prices.

[rxonmymind]

What's your piece of mind worth? Just don't do what my wife & I went through. GO THROUGH TRF!
As I will. Welcome to TRF!

[red.earth]

Thanks for the warm welcome and all of your comments :)

I don't envisage ever selling the watch and given that Rolexes are so well engineered, I shouldn't ever need to replace it, right?

If I'm to buy from a trusted seller from the Forums, I'd prefer one in the UK, so recommendations welcome.

Thank you...

[ally]

Hi Red

As has been said already there shouldnt be a problem with the warranty as I have read in the UK the warranty is with the watch (I think the US is diffrent).

I bought my 1st Rolex from an AD, but am now waiting for my next one to arrive from a respected dealer on here!!

Good luck and welcome by the way!!