Buying a Rolex, or other expensive watch. What do I need to know?

Don’t go to a pawn shop, go to a Rolex dealer and see if the have any used / estate sale items.

Are you going for a $5500 or $55,000 Submariner ? ?

@elbanditoroso That is exactly right. I am sure that was meant to talk me out of it, but I am young, I am gay, and I make a very good living. I am not ever going to have a family, so why would I save my money? I’m here to have as much fun as I can while I am here. This week, fun means a Rolex. :)

@Tropical_Willie 5,500. I’m still young, although if you have a $5,500 one message me on the side… I want you to be my mentor.

I meant 55,000. :)

I spent a lot of time in China and Korea and did comparisons between real Rolexes and the copies. We used to be able to see a difference in the movement, the machining and the stamping. Now we can’t tell them apart. The fakes even come with Certificates of Authenticity and all the appropriate stickers. Beware.
I’d spend my money on something else. But to each his own. Enjoy.

You still need money for the future! If you are planning on spending $5k on a watch, I just hope you have at least $50k in the bank. Or, whatever number is really the price, I am just saying this should not be the majority of your savings you are spending. I’ll stereotype here…the gay community tends to be very keeping up with the Jones’ oriented. Don’t get sucked in to the point that you put yourself in an irresponsible place financially. Having money stashed for the future means if you hate your job, you can quit. If you get laid off you don’t have to panic. If you get sick, you don’t have to panic.

Now, after that lecture, what you want to be sure of is that when you spends a few grand for a Rolex, that it is a real Rolex. I recommend spending a little more if you have to, to be sure it is from a reputable dealer/Jeweler of used watches.

The weight of the watch used to make it feel different than the copies, you could just hold one and tell. But that might not be the case anymore, don’t know.

I have a Cartier, and I love it, wear it all the time. I am not trying to talk you out of an expensive watch. I just know too many people with nice watches and cars and they wind up in bad financial situations eventually. Your sentence about not thinking about the future is exactly how they talk. But, I am not assuming you are exactly like them, I hope not.

I got the perfect link for you. Vintage Rolex Market
These guys are a great resource for all things Rolex. And they have a great section set up for selling all types of Rolexes. They are also dedicated to make sure everything on the site is legit. If you are serious in finding a great Rolex watch, I would highly recommend this site.

Because when you are old, and you cannot change your own diapers, you need to able to afford to pay someone else to do it. That“s why money is better invested.

@JLeslie The weights are the same. It is easy to make them match by adding a bit of tungsten. To replace gold they have started using a lead filed tungsten sponge to perfectly match the density of gold. It is worth the effort of adding $50 worth of materials when they can get thousand of dollars for something so frivolous and easy to make.
Unless you can see one being made right out of the factory I would not trust anything.I bought anywhere. The mark up is too great a temptation to avoid.
And never, ever, buy one online. .

@LuckyGuy That’s what I figured. What a shame. It’s a shame both ways. How much money these companies charge for their watches and that they leave room for people to seek knock offs. Probably the mark up on Rolex is so ridiculous, I wonder how much they make on each watch? The watch I own costs almost double it did when I bought it. It’s ridiculous. If something happened to it I don’t think I could bring myself to spend the mney again. Not sure. My husband, his dad, and his siblings have the same watch, so there is more meaning to it than the normal sentimental gift. I probaby would not have picked that style on my own, but it is sort of the mylastname signature piece so to speak. Not that anyone would notice unless we pointed it out, which we don’t.

The knock off industry is so awful, I don’t support it at all, I would never intentionally by a knock off. I do have cheapy watches that look expensive at first glance, but they are not trying to actually be Rolexes or some other expensive brand, they have their off brand name right on the watch. I know it has a crystal not a diamond. LOL.

I’ve always had rolex watches, rolexes never lose value. You can tell the difference even with the best fakes if you know how. There’s plenty info on the internet, read some watch forums. If you can afford it, just go to a good jeweler ( not a mall jeweler) and buy a new submariner. You can get a good, genuine, watch on ebay. Be sure to check the seller’s feedback. Also, there’s lots of good watch shops on the internet, that sell quality used submariners. Good luck rolexes are the sturdiest watches ever.

TIL a quality watch is a TOTAL waste of money because of course NOBODY wishes to pass a watch on to family for generations or savors the feel of quality design and manufacture.

Status, LOL.

You just don’t get it….

From what I understand the reason some fakes look so good is because they’re essentially real Rolexes that have been smuggled out of the factory unassembled. Almost all of the parts used in the final assembly are genuine. My father had one of these that a friend gave him. I took it to a jeweler, and she said it was the best fake she’d seen during her entire 20 year career in the watch biz. She was really blown away how real it seemed.

Expert assembly is part of what makes a genuine watch genuine.

Which is why I specified “look so good” vs. ”perform so well”

Don’t pick up hitchhikers.

A friend did and lost both his wallet and his new Rolex. He now wears a $19.95 Mickey Mouse watch from Target.

So, consider the environments you will be in and what it is actually worth to you.

Oh please. My first rolex was a tudor which I got age 17. I’ve had them ever since, trade and sold them, just go get your submarinar, young man.

Regarding the above debate concerning quality watches VS. toys:

“The world needs Microsoft customers too”
-Me

Wouldn’t you rather buy 10 cool looking $5000 watches or maybe 1 nice used Porsche for your $50K?

Vintage Porsche pleez.

Hahah ok somewhere during my 36 hour shift this went out of hand.

I don’t want a $55,000 watch, I was joking at @Tropical_Willie. He asked which one I wanted, and I wanted the 5k one. Also, I break a $300 watch every 6 months. I figure if I got one this expensive I would actually insure it.

@JLeslie That is the stereotype, and it is correct. I am pretty good at that. While I dont have a lot of money in savings, at 28 I have a sizable sum in my 401k, and in a seperate IRA. Everything I have I have earned myself. My 401k is pretty far over 50k already. My IRA is getting close.

My monthly expenses are pretty cheap. I live off of less than one pay check, and bank the rest. I really do want the watch because of the quality.

It is just a really good side affect that I will make everyone jealous.

Hold on. You break a $300 watch every 6 months? How? What the heck are you doing? A $300 watch is not a cheap watch either.

Listen, if we are going to talk finances I am very glad you obviously do save for your retirement. Just think about having at least 6 month saved if you lose your job that is in regular savings, liquid. That is your rainy day fund.

I thnk you will love your Rolex when you get it. It’s nice to have a few things that are luxurious. I get that. A nice watch you can wear every day, so at least you can enjoy it often.

ps . I grew up with rolexes and vero cuoio shoes. Just get the damn watch. if you ever need to convert it, and I don’t think you will, you can. For now, enjoy a watch that can get run over, dropped from a high place, and all the showers, baths, and dive trips you want.