Why New & Not Used: Sports models only

[steel4me]

this pertains only to sports models like subs and gmt IIs and SD ofcourse because my knowledge only extends to these models.

We all know that rolex holds its value well. Wehn I was in the market for rolex, I looked at used and new prices. What I found was that used prices were atleast 70% of new ones .... obviously lets consider used as something 10yrs old ....

So when I bought my SD, the guy had a used one from 1998 for $4000 ....and another one for $3600, that was even older ..
and a new Z with all its stickers for $4800 .... doesn't take a nuclear scientist to figure out what's a better deal ...

My policy has been that when I am into the thousands, I rather have new than old. Even though the old one was completely overhauled, it is still old ... why take someone else's old stuff when a little more gives you a totally new watch whose history starts with you?

Anyone else notice how used sports model prices are pretty darn close to their new counterparts?

[sea-dweller]

Yep, they hold their value well !

Originally Posted by steel4me

this pertains only to sports models like subs and gmt IIs and SD ofcourse because my knowledge only extends to these models.

We all know that rolex holds its value well. Wehn I was in the market for rolex, I looked at used and new prices. What I found was that used prices were atleast 70% of new ones .... obviously lets consider used as something 10yrs old ....

So when I bought my SD, the guy had a used one from 1998 for $4000 ....and another one for $3600, that was even older ..
and a new Z with all its stickers for $4800 .... doesn't take a nuclear scientist to figure out what's a better deal ...

My policy has been that when I am into the thousands, I rather have new than old. Even though the old one was completely overhauled, it is still old ... why take someone else's old stuff when a little more gives you a totally new watch whose history starts with you?

Anyone else notice how used sports model prices are pretty darn close to their new counterparts?

[TempoKing]

You are lucky you wanted a Sub 16610 which in this case brand new makes terrific sense.
But unfortunately this is not true with the 168000 or 16800 or 1680

[frostie]

I could never buy a used watch cause prices between pre-owned and brand new are lets say quite close

As you said why take someone else's old stuff when a little more gives you a totally new watch whose history starts with you? That's exactly how i feel

If you can afford to spend 4k for a used watch you can afford to push yourself 800 bucks or 1k to buy a Brand new watch and the guarantee and the AD will always be there to fix your watch if anything goes wrong

[CKay]

Agreed. But, there is a huge market in Singapore for resale Rolexes.

[Wolfgang427]

I agree with the used Sport values being close. But, like in your example, some people can't afford the extra $800. it takes to buy new so they have no choice but to buy it used if they want one.

[Tools]

Let me also add in those who prefer to have an early model, such as a pre 1998 with the Tritium dial. Or somebody who wants only the 1998 model with the "Swiss" dial.

Because there are those who specifically want these features, and others, the prices on them tend to stay high..

[BigLeagueChu]

Originally Posted by frostie

If you can afford to spend 4k for a used watch you can afford to push yourself 800 bucks or 1k to buy a Brand new watch and the guarantee and the AD will always be there to fix your watch if anything goes wrong

Kinda my thinking too. I would only consider a used if it were a very very good deal from someone who was referred to me.

[redshirt1957]

They are only new until your buy them. I have bought ten non-vintage sport models the last nine months; and from using your example ($800 times 10 equals $8,000). I saved more than $800, but since some will need servicing; I will use that amount for this exercise. That does not take into account sales taxes that I did not pay from buying from individuals (around $3,500). And yes, I did get box, papers, and all the goodies; including some plastic bits, for most. Thanks Tom.

[scottjal]

The in demand ones hold value, but check out used ladies watches...

[CoopJr]

For me the difference would need to be more than $1,000 before I would buy used. Nothing beats a nice stiff clasp

[f16570]

If you can get the watch you want and save a bit then why not?
However if new is your thing then why not?
If I was buying my wife another Rollie then it would definetly be pre-owned/used, the savings a re far to much to be over looked and very difficult to tell the age.

[daveathall]

Hard one to call, personally I like brand new, but wouldnt the 10/15 year old one be harder to find and therefore appreciate whilst the BNIB depreciates at the early stages, I dont know this as a fact, just a thought.

I dont buy mine to collect and make money on them, hence the reason that I prefer to buy new.

[looking to buy]

Originally Posted by CoopJr

For me the difference would need to be more than $1,000 before I would buy used. Nothing beats a nice stiff clasp

Yep that's what I always say.

[vjb.knife]

I have no problem with used when I know where they are coming from and the condition is verifiable and good. Two examples are:

I sold my last Seadweller (an A series) to a member of another watch forum after I had it completely overhauled by Rolex NYC. I got a little over $4k and that was a good deal for us both I think. That watch looked and probably ran better than a new one at an AD. It had all the extras with it that don't come with them any more; the anchor, the wallet the long extention link and tool as well as every bit of paperwork and the Rolex one year warranty from the service center. The new model was listing at over $6K and obviously it was worth it to a lot of people judging by how many emails I got on it.

I recently bought a used Submariner from my local AD in similar condition because they have a Rolex trained and certified watchmaker working in the store who had just overhauled it and they gave me a two year warranty. For a savings of over $2K it looked very nice to me and it had the drilled bracelet lugs which I like and the new ones do not have.

I have bought three new Rolexes and three used Rolexes and been very happy each time.

[mike]

As Larry and Vince stated, sometimes there are features one wants that are not available on new pieces. I understand if there's not much of a timespan between two given watches, but sometimes.......

[Perdu]

I bought new. If I was in the market again I would buy used, recently serviced.

[SLS]

If you rotate/flip watches like many people do, it makes no sense to buy new. If you buy at the right price, you can usually wear a watch for a year or two and then sell it for close to what you paid for it. Try that with a new watch! In addition, say you buy 5 pre-owned watches and save $800 on each, that's $4000 which is enough to buy another watch. But hey, keep buying new watches, that leaves more for me to choose from.

~Scott

[springer]

Frostie, if I can buy a used sub for $4000 and a new one cost about $6200 with tax, that is about $2200 difference or 35%. I'd take the used everytime. Granted, if the difference is only $800, I'd buy new. You can usually save 1/3 the price buying used depending on year, model and other factors.

[hawg]

When it comes to the more expensive datejust line you can get an older watch for a lot less even though it looks new. I think these are good deals. It's just if you can live with an older watch..

[Dalton]

I buy used watches and restore them so that they look new if the oppurtunity comes by. I prefer vintage or used over new, and I've bought several new Rolies before.

[frostie]

Originally Posted by springer

Frostie, if I can buy a used sub for $4000 and a new one cost about $6200 with tax, that is about $2200 difference or 35%. I'd take the used everytime. Granted, if the difference is only $800, I'd buy new. You can usually save 1/3 the price buying used depending on year, model and other factors.

Actually my comparison was with greek prices and i should have used euros i know it is my mistake

Here most of the 2nd hand rolex watches are really close to the BNIB that an AD has

What you mentioned is true and i totally agree but in the part of the world that i live in things are a bit different

[Z-Sub]

both.
Of course I like to buy new for mostly SS models.
I think a good preowned two tone would be my choice again.

[Hamlet]

$800 difference only applies to a few models. I just purchased a very nice F series Exp II from a member of this group for $3400. I then took it to a local watch maker and had it authenticated & pressure tested and the case cleaned up...looks like new & I know it is real & waterproof. That service cost me exactly $100 so I now have $3,500 in the watch. A new Exp II is $5,750.....say I can get it 10% off and ship to save tax that brings the price to $5,175. I still saved $1,675. Well worth it in my opinion. I have the box, papers and all booklets. Only different is my name is not on the papers which is no big deal.

[gmh1013]

A new datejust like mine is 6400?now I think, I bought mine used for 3300 for a 05 model
and sent off to RSC in Dallas so now I have 3900 in it and SAVED 2500 plus tax, so over 3k
I will buy used every time except when its less than 1k diff.

[ratae1950]

Used suits me. After all Rolex is built to last.

[Gurmot]

I have two types of Rolex in my collection. Nearly new (bought at 20- 30% off new price) or vintage (ie interesting and unique features no longer available in current production.

I never buy "new". The exception to this would be DSSD if I could get on the list!!!

[pilfilr]

Buy new if want to keep it for the long haul... My F series coke GMT II is going to my son in about 20 years (if he appreciates a vintage). I sold a Blue Dial Full Size 1995 Tudor Sub to buy it. That Tudor was $750.00(unworn in 1996) and sold for $2200.00 (ebay) in 2005. Stick to SS for resale.... the TT and gold watches fall in value more quickly. The gold just stretches and wears more quickly. I was shopping for another GMT lately and have seen the plastic crystal GMT's go for $6000+ on ebay recently.

[jasper]

I bought my plastic crystal GMT used because you simply can't buy a new one. Got it for a very fair price as well so I'm happy.

I'm now starting the hunt for a $3K submariner. Older is cooler for those who are into that sort of thing.

One day I might buy new. I bought my Speedmaster Pro new ten years ago....it's used now.

[CPTL]

I've bought new, pre-owned from a dealer, and pre-owned from a forum member. All were good buying experiences.

All in all, I prefer used. Specifically, I prefer barely used. I got my 16610, 9 months out of the AD's case, for $4k. At the time, I probably could have gotten a new one from an AD for $4800 (MSRP was $5k).

When I shopped for my sub, I could get them in the 1-3 year-old range for right around $4k; up to 10 years old they were selling for $3300. In my mind, $800 off a 9-month old watch is a good deal, but $1700 off a 10-year old watch is not.