One of the biggest concerns when shopping for a pre-owned Rolex, whether it be a newer model or a vintage, is authenticity. Counterfeit watches are becoming more sophisticated, which makes it pretty difficult for the untrained eye to tell the difference between a real Rolex and a convincing counterfeit watch. Where you choose to purchase any luxury watch will significantly impact whether your investment is the real deal or not. In this article, we discuss the best places to buy vintage Rolex watches.
Auction Houses
Most vintage Rolex watches require some level of financial commitment. So it comes as no surprise that some collectors might be a bit apprehensive to buy a pre-owned watch online. If you prefer to examine the watch in person beforehand, then an auction house may be a great option for you. Most auction houses also offer some form of guarantee that the watch you are purchasing is genuine, giving you further peace of mind that you are spending your money in the right place.
This option is becoming increasingly popular among watch collectors, with auction houses hosting more and more watch related events. While rare vintage watches, such as Paul Newman’s personal Daytona, draw a lot of attention it’s more common to see mid to entry-level priced vintage references on sale, which is excellent news for the average vintage Rolex enthusiast. Should you choose to go this route, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, is that auctions are highly competitive, which may make it difficult to win a particularly rare reference. In fact, some bidders may let the excitement of the sale get to them and may end up paying far more than the watch is worth. Another factor to consider is the auction fee, which is an extra 10-20% on top of the winning bid.
Online
There are several avenues to consider if you wish to purchase a Rolex online. Sites such as eBay and Craigslist pose a significant risk as you are you are choosing to place any guarantee that a vintage is genuine based solely on the word of a stranger. There are several reputable online dealers to choose from, so any of the previously mentioned options are ill-advised.
Purchasing from a trusted online dealer is one of the best ways to buy vintage Rolexes online. Their entire business is built upon earning the trust of the customer by carefully guaranteeing that every watch sold is a genuine Rolex watch. Most of these dealers carefully inspect every watch and send them out to be serviced prior selling them, ensuring that every timepiece is not only a real Rolex but that they are listed at a fair, pre-owned price. Some of these dealers may even have a physical location that you can visit if you wish to purchase your watch in person. If you happen to find your grail watch through an online dealer, take your time and do your research on both the watch and seller. The extra work is well worth the effort.
