Buying Rolex off eBay and is it real?

[Kawirider]

Hello guys. I’m new to the forum. I purchased a diamond datejust from a friend and I am hooked. I will share photos once I am allowed. Anyway does anybody have luck buying Rolex on eBay. I have fallen in love with the TT Submariner. I am watching one on eBay, it’s supposed to be a 2008 but it doesn’t have the rehaut engraving. I’m reading mixed things about if this year should have it. Seller claims it’s a Z serial. Anybody wish to Enlighten me on this topic. Thank you.

Also if anybody is selling a TT datejust on Long Island or knows a good preowned jeweler who carries them let me know. Thanks.

[joli160]

Plenty e-bay threads in the watch out section should answer your question

[thesharkfactor]

Engraved rehaut on the Submariner came about during Z serials around 2007 onwards. Some Z serials will have it, some will not. M and V serials (which came after Z) should all have the engraved rehaut. A Z watch may have been old stock from 2007 and sold in 2008 (or later) and may not have the engraving where a watch sold sooner (newer stock) may have it...so a watch from 2008 without it is no concern.

Don't buy from ebay, why bother?: (may be fake, may be stolen, may not arrive).

You're welcome.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Kawirider

Hello guys. I’m new to the forum. I purchased a diamond datejust from a friend and I am hooked. I will share photos once I am allowed. Anyway does anybody have luck buying Rolex on eBay. I have fallen in love with the TT Submariner. I am watching one on eBay, it’s supposed to be a 2008 but it doesn’t have the rehaut engraving. I’m reading mixed things about if this year should have it. Seller claims it’s a Z serial. Anybody wish to Enlighten me on this topic. Thank you.

Also if anybody is selling a TT datejust on Long Island or knows a good preowned jeweler who carries them let me know. Thanks.

Post a link to the auction

[J!m]

Welcome to the forum.

I strongly advise against buying on eBay unless you know exactly what you are buying, the seller is established and has 100% (or at least high 90's) feedback, and they also offer a return privilege.

Otherwise, buy from an AD or LONG established brick-n-mortar shop.

I worked on Long Island for about ten (God forsaken) years and there are plenty of sellers around. And the city is a train ride away.

That said, I purchased a very nice Tudor 9411 of eBay that was the deal of the decade. Since restoring it (which was really just a couple parts and heavy cleaning) it has nearly tripled in value compared to what I paid (and NO, it's NOT for sale!)

BUT, I did (and do) a lot of research and educate myself on the particular watches I'm interested in as well as the "state of the art" in "replica" watches, which are quite convincing, especially for the modern references...

[vladamir15]

Do not go with ebay. Very high risk of fakes

[seabreeze60]

I have bought and sold on eBay. So far my luck has held up. But, I would be very cautious about purchasing a Submariner TT on eBay. You don’t provide enough details for the forum to give you a fair answer. So, go by the rule: buy the seller.


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[RLX_NY]

I'm also new and on the hunt for my first Rolex but eBay would be the last place I would go too.

Sure you can probably find a legitimate sale but why go through all the headache of it possibly being stolen, fake, or a scam when there's plenty of trusted sellers/members on here like ocrolexguy, davidsw, takuya etc for a piece of mind.

Anyways good luck on the hunt.

[Kawirider]

Wow. Excellent responses in such a short time. Thank you everybody. Also I cannot post images or links yet until 10 posts. So I will use this post to introduce myself. I am 25 years old and for the last 4 years I have loved watch keeping. I started with the basics (Movado, Tissot, Citizen, bulova). Than this year my buddy offered me his 1987 Rolex Datejust that was beat up for an insane deal. I purchased it and since it was my first and it didn’t have a box or papers, I had it serviced and polished. Since the face was an original Rolex part but wasn’t the original with the Watch, I replaced it as well. Now I absolutely love the watch. It looks like new. Owning the Rolex got me slowly wanting more. So I sold a few of my low end watches(which got me nearly nothing back) and now I want another Rolex. I figured I cannot go wrong with the TT Submariner. But I want something with boxes, papers, tags etc. That seems like a beautiful part of owning a Rolex. I can’t get myself to spend 15k on a brand new watch just yet. I’m much more concerned about finding a house within the next couple years. But I figured if I can purchase a pre owned, gold throughout and no holes Submariner for around 8k, if I ever needed to sell it in a pinch I should get most if not all my money back. Is that a realistic price for a 2004-2008 TT sub? Thanks.

[seabreeze60]

I’ll add that if the watch is OK and the bracelet is worn or loose, you could be out big bucks. An all SS 19MM new Rolex bracelet is $910.

You just don’t know what the service history or real condition of an online purchase is. I look for evidence of service records. Plan on sending to a legitimate watchmaker to verify what you purchased. I always have used watches appraised by a Rolex dealer to make sure I wasn’t burned. And... I have been burned by well known dealers.




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[Danny83]

Just look in the for sale section of the forum, less likely to get scammed

[214270Explorer]

Originally Posted by RLX_NY

I'm also new and on the hunt for my first Rolex but eBay would be the last place I would go too.

Sure you can probably find a legitimate sale but why go through all the headache of it possibly being stolen, fake, or a scam when there's plenty of trusted sellers/members on here like ocrolexguy, davidsw, takuya etc for a piece of mind.

Anyways good luck on the hunt.

X2

[Old Geezer]

Why, just why would you take the risk with so many other options. Go AD or trusted seller.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by Danny83

Just look in the for sale section of the forum, less likely to get scammed

Maybe. Maybe not.

[TimingIsEverything]

Originally Posted by Kawirider

Hello guys. I’m new to the forum. I purchased a diamond datejust from a friend and I am hooked. I will share photos once I am allowed. Anyway does anybody have luck buying Rolex on eBay. I have fallen in love with the TT Submariner. I am watching one on eBay, it’s supposed to be a 2008 but it doesn’t have the rehaut engraving. I’m reading mixed things about if this year should have it. Seller claims it’s a Z serial. Anybody wish to Enlighten me on this topic. Thank you.

Also if anybody is selling a TT datejust on Long Island or knows a good preowned jeweler who carries them let me know. Thanks.

There are sellers on eBay that certainly sell genuine Rolex watches, however, I have never seen a price competitive to that of the trusted sellers here on the forums. Be very careful when buying on eBay, not just for fakes (easy to spot to the trained eye) but for authentic Rolex watches that have terrible refinishing and/or non-authentic Rolex parts/Opened by a non Rolex authorized watchmaker. You never really know what you're getting from eBay unless it's brand new and the seller has the history and feedback to back up their reputation and listing.

[123Blueface]

There are plenty of genuine sellers on eBay but then again, there are plenty here as well and yet folks get taken by the ones that are not genuine and slip through the cracks.
So, while I personally know a few on eBay that have legitimate store fronts, I would never buy a Rolex I don’t see in person and try on my wrist. That’s just me.

[Nikrnic]

I wont say definitely not because I bought a few low priced watches from ebay and 1 Rolex Air King bnib after I talked to the seller and verified it was his ad with his actual photos. I still held my breath until it arrived. I'd say beware, very careful at least, there are a lot of scammers there. Buy the seller is a given. I reported 2 scammers myself and so have some OPs here on TRF. If you buy from ebay use a credit card and go through pay pal. Good Luck.

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[blue lion]

I have bought cars and 2 Rolex watches on eBay with no issues. Plenty of other items also. That said buy the seller as posted earlier, and also look on this forum instead. Be smart.

[Auto16610]

Originally Posted by Danny83

Just look in the for sale section of the forum, less likely to get scammed

No worries at all!!

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=632641

Just went up and saw post #14.

[Pauln]

For me, there are so many other options for used watches that there’s no reason to take a chance on eBay.

[The Libertine]

Originally Posted by Pauln

For me, there are so many other options for used watches that there’s no reason to take a chance on eBay.

Agree.

[watchwatcher]

I look to eBay for stuff like lawn care herbicide that I can't find at the store...not Rolex.

[Kawirider]

Sorry for my thread title btw...I originally posted a link to the watch but I wasn’t allowed to post it. I forgot to change the title. And I guess you guys are right. It’s a lot of money to be risking through eBay. I suppose I will just start looking locally for preowned dealers. Thank you all!

[HogwldFLTR]

Bought and sold quite a lot on eBay. Several things going for it are their guarantees and PayPal. I've had to return a couple however. Prices can be better than on here. It just makes sense if you know what you're doing and can look for good reputation sellers; the same applies here as there have been people taken as well. Try to learn what you're doing before spending money.

[frankfrazetta]

There are no good deals on eBay. It's too large a marketplace, too many people who know what they are looking at. In general the price will be fair unless it's a hot item. Much more chance of fakes or Franken watches. Your best bet is a trusted seller with a reputation to uphold. I have had two transactions with DAVIDSW, couldn't be happier.

[Kawirider]

In the past I have had an issue with a relatively low price bulova. Where the seller wouldn’t accept a return since something was wrong with it. eBay sided with me and refunded my money once I sent it back and the tracking number showed delivered. Also I know since I am still considered “new” on eBay, but eBay/PayPal holds new sellers money until a few days after the package is delivered to the buyer. I guess these are things that can help. My only issue is if someone isn’t a new seller, yet decides to scam a buyer, how does eBay collect the money back with their eBay money back guarantee? The seller could very well have just cleared the money from their account no?

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

I look to eBay for stuff like lawn care herbicide that I can't find at the store...not Rolex.

[1665fan]

Rolex off eBay are for the seasoned.....do not try as a rookie. That being said I have bought many off there and usually it leads me to calling a real brick and mortor store with 1000s of reviews and on mostly newer stuff.... those places are usually in super rich areas like Florida, ny, and Cali....

[Kawirider]

I am definitely learning a lot where i am already finding out useful info. I already backed out of a deal on a datejust that had all paperwork and boxes because the dial wasn’t matching with the year of the Watch. The seller said it was a 2002. And it looked mint but the dial was a T Swiss Made T. Which I researched and found out it was stopped being used in the late 90s. Forums are wonderful tools. �� I am still far from an expert tho. If i did happen to some day buy off of eBay I wouldn’t buy unless returns were accepted and of course I would go straight to a jeweler for verification. This is what I did with a diamond movado I purchased off eBay.

[Steerpike999]

Originally Posted by JacksonStone

Maybe. Maybe not.

wow, Thanks for the link, what a ride.
Some great tips in amongst the comments.