Authenticate this Rolex Air King

[Emilie]

I'm new to this forum and this is my first thread, so i'm unsure if i put the thread in the right "category" :-)

I recently decided that i want to purchase a Rolex watch and i've decided to go for the Air King model. But i wanted to buy a used watch so i could save a bit of money. I came across this watch today and if its a genuine Rolex watch i want to buy it, but as i'm not an expert, i'd like to hear from you guys if you can authenticate it. I've written to the seller and i'll try to have it authenticated at a shop before i buy it. But i just want to see if its even worth bidding for all help appreciated

- Emilie

[padi56]

Well the picture looks fine but always buy the seller and not a picture do your research on seller before parting with your cash

[77T]

Welcome to TRF
As Peter said, the outside pictures are fair - but what is on the inside also matters.
That's why you "buy the seller" before you buy the watch.

Will they give 100% refund if problems are found upon inspection? It may need repairs or service inside that could add a lot of cost above and beyond your purchase price.

Also, the case appears to have been polished so much that the lugholes almost meet the edge of each lug.

[Emilie]

Hi! Thank you for you response :-) i forgot to tell that he had the watch serviced in 2011 and he sent me the picture of the papers. I live in copenhagen, and the shop he had it serviced in is a reputable rolex retailer. He's selling it for 2784 $ but i'm going to try to have him lower it to 2644$


I did a bit of research and I believe he's a collector, he's selling two other vintage rolexes and he's been validated by the website with his credit card information and address.

[FLY-DOG]

From the outside it looks legit but it does look like 1 or maybe 2 links might have been removed from the bracelet to fit a smaller wrist. Ask the seller if it comes with all the links. I believe it should be a 7835 / 19MM bracelet with 557 end pieces and 12 links in the bracelet. If you decide to sell later it's nice to have all the links so a person with large wrists won't pass it up due to the expense of having to replace missing bracelet links.

[Emilie]

Thank you for all your responses! :-)

I did a "background check" on him, he's selling two other vintage rolexes and is also looking for a gold datejust himself. I forgot to mention that he had the watch serviced in 2011 and he got it done at a reputable rolex retailer in Denmark ( where i live). He sent me a picture of the papers. But does the watch look very used? He's selling it for 2784$ but i'll try and get him to lower it to 2684$ :-)

[mjclark32]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well the picture looks fine but always buy the seller and not a picture do your research on seller before parting with your cash

[FLY-DOG]

Originally Posted by 77T

Welcome to TRF
As Peter said, the outside pictures are fair - but what is on the inside also matters.
That's why you "buy the seller" before you buy the watch.

Will they give 100% refund if problems are found upon inspection? It may need repairs or service inside that could add a lot of cost above and beyond your purchase price.

Also, the case appears to have been polished so much that the lugholes almost meet the edge of each lug.

Easy now, I have an Air-King that's only been polished lightly once by a trusted watchmaker on this forum and the lug holes on that model Air-King are pretty close to the ends of the lugs even on a virgin watch so I disagree that it's because of over polishing.

[Emilie]

And what do you guys think of buying watches preowned? I'm quite young, still a teenager, and i have the money to buy it now, i know that if i wait to buy one, i'll first get the opportunity to buy one when i'm finished studying and have a decent job. I've completely fallen in love with the air king model and really want to buy one now, which is why i'd have to buy it preowned.

[rocco1109]

ca 1982


Untitled by rocco110963, on Flickr

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Emilie

And what do you guys think of buying watches preowned? I'm quite young, still a teenager, and i have the money to buy it now, i know that if i wait to buy one, i'll first get the opportunity to buy one when i'm finished studying and have a decent job. I've completely fallen in love with the air king model and really want to buy one now, which is why i'd have to buy it preowned.

Nothing wrong with buying used as long as its from a reliable source.

[Emilie]

Wow! It looks great and very new! I just found out that the guy selling the watch is a reputable seller of preowned rolex watches, he has agreed to let me have the watch verified at a Rolex retailer so i can be 100% sure, he said if the watch proves to be a fake, i'll get all my money back :-) so now i just have to decide if i should buy it or not? What do you guys think, is the watch 2685$ worth?

[Sherwooddavid]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well the picture looks fine but always buy the seller and not a picture do your research on seller before parting with your cash

[FLY-DOG]

Originally Posted by Emilie

Thank you for all your responses! :-)

I did a "background check" on him, he's selling two other vintage rolexes and is also looking for a gold datejust himself. I forgot to mention that he had the watch serviced in 2011 and he got it done at a reputable rolex retailer in Denmark ( where i live). He sent me a picture of the papers. But does the watch look very used? He's selling it for 2784$ but i'll try and get him to lower it to 2684$ :-)

I would consider the price for an Air-King to go from $2,200 USD to $3,000 USD depending on condition. Condition is everything (almost) and the fact that a Rolex was recently serviced by an authorized account holder w/papers would also be important and would add to the overall value. Having to service an otherwise good looking used Air-King could cost another $600 after purchase so yes a recent service would add value in my opinion.

[petenyc]

have a jeweler remove the case back so you can inspect the movement

[datejusting]

The watch looks good. See if he has extra bracelet links. I would try to get it for $2500.

[GeoGio Greece]

....looks like mine,

[Emilie]

How many links usually come with the Air King? I'm definitely going to have the watch verified but I just need to find the right place. I know two places who do it, one of them is a validated Rolex retailer and the other a professional watchmaker who is well respected, but there is quite a price difference ; 55 $ at the watchmakers and 200 $ at the Rolex retailer both if them are of course well experienced with Rolex watches. Just need to decide :)

[FLY-DOG]

See my first post above - 12 links. You don't want to get non-Rolex links from the non-Rolex watchmaker....make sure his are genuine Rolex links. There are lots of good clean used Air-Kings available with boxes, papers and all the links in the price range your looking, don't get in a hurry and just buy the first one that comes along. If the seller doesn't have all the links, ask him to reduce the price by the amount it will cost you to replace any missing links. Taking another and closer look at one of your photos I could have been mistaken and it might have all the links, if so, I apologize.

[Darlinboy]

Seems a fair asking price, negotiate as much as you can.

[caryyee]

Also perhaps pay by credit card. That way, you would be more protected as you could then do a charge-back claim on your credit card if it proves other than 100% genuine. But it looks ok esp if he has the service papers from 2011. And besides, if I were to pass off a fake watch, I'd likely chose a higher priced model than an Air-King :)

[datejusting]

It looks like it has 12 links in bracelet.

[Wisconsinwalter]

Looks like my 5500

[crowncollection]

Looks fine


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[rocco1109]

Originally Posted by Emilie

Wow! It looks great and very new! I just found out that the guy selling the watch is a reputable seller of preowned rolex watches, he has agreed to let me have the watch verified at a Rolex retailer so i can be 100% sure, he said if the watch proves to be a fake, i'll get all my money back :-) so now i just have to decide if i should buy it or not? What do you guys think, is the watch 2685$ worth?

I paid US$1500 for mine a few months ago

[Emilie]

I got him to lower the price to 2543 and i don't need to pay for shipping :-) can't wait to see it! I spoke to him through the phone and he guaranteed me that all the parts were genuine, and that it had been kept in the rolex pouch since 2011 so no scratches.

[samsam]

looks okay!

[joe100]

Umm...to all of you who said the price is fair need to start looking at the sale section. That price is horrifying for a 5500. It's worth no more than $1800. A 14000m might go to $2500ish if it was a 2005 model...

[Jake B]

Originally Posted by joe100

Umm...to all of you who said the price is fair need to start looking at the sale section. That price is horrifying for a 5500. It's worth no more than $1800. A 14000m might go to $2500ish if it was a 2005 model...

Agreed...I just saw this post, too. I just went through shopping for an AK in the past couple of weeks. For an AK like in the OP, the price is generally between $1500 - $1800. For newer models expect to pay more, but still less than the OP. I ended up going with this apparently used, but more like NOS 14000m from around 2005 for $2190.



Of course, the watch in the OP is nice, and if the buyer's happy with the deal and confident that she's snagged herself a good, reliable watch that makes her happy, then I think though, that a much better price could have been found.

[Emilie]

I've been readig all of your responses, and i know that it might be overpriced, but in Europe or at least in Denmark you're lucky if you find a used watch for less than 3400$, most sellers want around the original price, i've been to various watchmakers selling used rolex AK's for 3833 which where made in the 90's. And i don't want to buy a watch abroad, cause i don't know the sales of goods act in other countries, so i'm probably getting less for my money in the U.S.