Authenticity of used Rolex

[jdojoby]

How do we prove authenticity when buying a used Rolex online ?

[thesharkfactor]

You buy the seller. Buy from a trusted seller online, or buy with your eyes and hands from a private sale - but only if you are confident you know what you are looking at. Don't take any risks.

[joli160]

Buy from a trusted source and don't look for a bargain as there are none

[Token74]

Originally Posted by joli160

Buy from a trusted source and don't look for a bargain as there are none

Won’t get better advice than this!


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[RHIII]

Originally Posted by joli160

Buy from a trusted source and don't look for a bargain as there are none

Another vote for this sage advice. couldn’t say any better myself.


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[danyvw]

As said before, buy the seller not the watch.

[jdojoby]

Chrono24 ?

[kieselguhr]

When people say buy the seller, they don’t mean “oh hey, this guy runs a YouTube channel so he must be legit”.

Vet the seller;

How long have they been selling watches?
How is their communication?
What have other buyers said about them?
Will you have issues getting your money back if the watch was not as advertised or a dud?

[joli160]

Originally Posted by jdojoby

Chrono24 ?

Chrono is a platform, not a shop. Hit or miss.
You still need to check out each seller yourself. Chrono calls everybody a trusted seller which renders the term meaningless.

Plenty good dealers post there and unfortunately many not so good as well.
Chrono hides behind privacy laws in not disclosing relevant info if things go sour.

In the UK I have had a good experience with Guardianoftime who also advertises on Chrono.
Watchexpress Hamburg is another solid dealer in the EU.
To both dealers I wired tens of thousands in advance and received my watch very fast and hassle free in the mail.

[nda]

It's a good question for anyone thinking of buying a valuable watch off the internet - particularly in light of a previously well regarded trader being less than honest. Secondly, fakes look increasingly authentic - I don't have huge knowledge about the small details and wouldn't know if I was being sold a dud unless it was very obvious!

In my case it's always been face to face meetings along the lines of 'buy the seller'.

It's a bit 'wild west' out there in some respects - you have be incredibly careful.

[SN13]

Originally Posted by jdojoby

How do we prove authenticity when buying a used Rolex online ?

It's impossible to PROVE authenticity when buying used online.


If you're looking online at Rolex Watches, Compare the details of the watch to those of other watches from the same era/line/model.


There are things you can do to Confirm Authenticity once you receive it.

Step 1 - Open up the caseback (OMG NOT THAT!!!) yes, that. Free-sprung balances are not cloned. So even in the superclones (Unless it's been improved by an unscrupulous watchsmith) will have ETA style balances.

Step 2 - LOUPE It. Look at all the details.

For GOLD rolexes, it's even easier. Protip, no "Inauthentic" uses gold (Some custom made cases are....) but even then, the ability to hollow out the lugs with the precision that Rolex Does it, I've never seen in a Custom Case inauthentic Rolex.

I just looked and don't have a photo of any of my interior lug "cutouts"....

Maybe someone can provide one.

Also, Caseback Markings (inside) matter.

[Bizcut1]

Originally Posted by token74

won’t get better advice than this!


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+2.

[Bizcut1]

Originally Posted by jdojoby

How do we prove authenticity when buying a used Rolex online ?

Man...I wouldn't mess around with hunting down a so-called "bargain."

I'd buy from a trusted seller right here. You can check their references and, in most cases, talk to them directly. Then, use a credit card with some protection anyway, and swallow the 3%. You're going to pay a few hundred dollars more than on Chrono 24 but you will sleep better with your authentic watch on your wrist the day after you order it.

I would also try to buy a watch with a full set - watch, box, papers.

Be careful because this place is full of stories about people who were not.

Ben

[Lifeisarolliecoaster]

Originally Posted by thesharkfactor

You buy the seller. Buy from a trusted seller online, or buy with your eyes and hands from a private sale - but only if you are confident you know what you are looking at. Don't take any risks.

OP is from the UK. Buying from a trusted seller from US you have to factor in the added costs exchange rates, taxes & duty.

[spoilsofwar01]

Originally Posted by jdojoby

How do we prove authenticity when buying a used Rolex online ?

Hello jdojoby, its a learning curve and even some of the experts get caught out some times, I tend to post pictures on TRF and ask for comments, my budget is quite modest (compared to others) so the examples I find tend to be more affordable, one piece of advice a watch maker passed onto me is go to your AD and handle as many watches as you can (in my case it was submariners 4 years ago) you get a better feel for the weight, also do your home work read up as much as you can and do ask (TRF) as many questions as you can of the experts, above all else be careful

all the very best "H"

[jdojoby]

Thanks for the comments.. I myself own several Rolex’s two of which I bought online... never gave it a second thought until this guy in Australia popped up ! From what I hear Chrono24 is better for the buyer as your money is not released until you are happy.. really there should be a Rolex online checking service.. the same as many issuers of Professional trade certificates operate.. that would be job done in 30 seconds !

[bradyb]

Buy the seller AND the watch. I've made the mistake of only "buying the seller" and got a beat up watch that wasn't what I thought it would be.

I don't think the seller was trying to deceive me - super-cool guy but a big doofus - so this was my fault as I should have asked for better images and spent more time on the watch AFTER I researched the seller.

So please DO BOTH and don't just "buy the seller".

[Yess]

Two things I've learned the hard way:

If it's too good to be true. It is.

When spending thousands... a couple hundred isn't worth saving.

There are times where risk = reward

[Speed]

Originally Posted by jdojoby

Thanks for the comments.. I myself own several Rolex’s two of which I bought online... never gave it a second thought until this guy in Australia popped up ! From what I hear Chrono24 is better for the buyer as your money is not released until you are happy.. really there should be a Rolex online checking service.. the same as many issuers of Professional trade certificates operate.. that would be job done in 30 seconds !

So if you are an experienced buyer with solid dealers you have purchased from...keep patronizing them.

[Pantheon]

Originally Posted by bradyb

Buy the seller AND the watch. I've made the mistake of only "buying the seller" and got a beat up watch that wasn't what I thought it would be.

I don't think the seller was trying to deceive me - super-cool guy but a big doofus - so this was my fault as I should have asked for better images and spent more time on the watch AFTER I researched the seller.

So please DO BOTH and don't just "buy the seller".

Great advice. Too many people here just suggest to blindly trust sellers

[mgsooner]

David SW....David SW....David SW....David SW