Deepsea clasp question

[Rolex116520]

Yesterday I went to see an early V-reg Deepsea . The watch is clean except for the usual scratches as it has been worn frequently over the last 2 years .
It does have a problem : The clasp , when you lift the center part to in order to adjust the bracelet size it is really tight as the levers are slightly bend and that makes the center part tilt towards a side . I can only imagine that the watch has been dropped whilst the clasp mechanism was open , or maybe stepped upon when open .
The seller said he had noticed it had become harder to open and close but could not give me a rational explanation for it .

The initial idea of the seller was to swap it for my F-reg SS Daytona and cash ; I'm no longer happy with that idea as I already know that I will regret that soon after . Based on the condition and the clasp issue I made him a cash offer for his Deepsea instead . An offer he declined , as he had another client interested .

This morning I woke up to a message from the seller with a counter offer .

Before I continue the negotiations I would like to know if you think this "bend" clasp mechanism is a real deal breaker . What would a new clasp cost or could Rolex repair or replace just the levers inside the clasp ?

I mean , the clasps allows you to make the adjustments and once it is closed you can hardly see it . Under close scrutiny you can maybe detect that the centre is a little out , but once the security clip in place it really doesn't show at all .... unless you know it !

I think that he would let the watch go for 4250 GBP or 5000 EURO maybe a little less eventually .

[bayerische]

That is a great price, if the watch is in great condition otherwise.

I can imagine the clasp being very expensive to replace, most likely the clasp won't be repaired, but replaced if serviced?

I guess it's up to you, scratches/damages made by myself don't bother me as much as someone else's old scratches/damages...

[Rolex116520]

Originally Posted by bayerische

That is a great price, if the watch is in great condition otherwise.....

If I buy secondhand for the first time in my life it is for the price . 5000 euro is the max I want to pay for it as another TRF member in the US can get me a "cleaner" one for that price .
The advantage of buying locally is that it will get me the watch immediately and I don't have to involve other people for the payment and bring it back to Europe for me

The watch is by no means "mint" I have the suspicion that it has been worn on a nearly daily basis .
Sure , nothing a professional polish up can't sort out .
I just want to determine if the clasp issue is really an issue on the long term .

[bayerische]

Hard to say...

But keep in mind, that with the DSSD (probably because it's such a heavy watch) I use the micro adjustment on the clasp almost daily!

The DSSD needs to be pretty tight on my wrist, and this means I have to adjust it a bit in the morning or night, depending on how my hand swells.

So having a "busted" adjuster, might not be fun, if you would have to do what I do... It's smooth as butter on my clasp, with a very high quality feel to it.

[dcash0615]

I would walk. Buy from your US source and wait for it to be shipped to you. You will be glad you did.