Need guidance on purchasing pre-owned Rolex

[BMW4JTN]

I am considering purchasing a men's pre-owned Rolex but am being overwhelmed by all the conflicting info I am reading on the Internet. Mainly that I should not buy from any seller regardless of how genuine it appears b/c I will get ripped off (I.e., fake Rolex replacement parts, etc.). Can I get some input on how to move forward? Any help is greatly appreciated. (I live in NJ).

[tdegroot]

Many will say buy from a trusted seller on this forum. That's an option. It seems relatively easy to get opinions on who to buy from on this forum. I beleive Ebay is ok too if you check feedback, ask alot of questions, use paypal and buy with return privledges. In person is ok too. Arrange in advance to meet a an AD and have the watch ckecked out on the spot. I think if you are cautious, use your head, and walk if you have any doubts about the transaction, you'll be ok. Of course always remember if it is too good to be true......

[springer]

Originally Posted by BMW4JTN

I am considering purchasing a men's pre-owned Rolex but am being overwhelmed by all the conflicting info I am reading on the Internet. Mainly that I should not buy from any seller regardless of how genuine it appears b/c I will get ripped off (I.e., fake Rolex replacement parts, etc.). Can I get some input on how to move forward? Any help is greatly appreciated. (I live in NJ).

Looks like you've been given some valuable insight all ready. With that said, I think if you do some research you'll find that this is not always the case. In fact, I've owned dozens of preowned Rolexes and have never had an issue with any purchase.

Find a reputable dealer that offers a return policy and have the watch checked by an authorized Rolex dealer after your purchase if that would give you peace-of-mind. Also, there are many reputable sellers here on TRF.

Make sure you "buy the seller" before the watch and do your homework. I would not recommend buying on ebay, especially for the novice buyers.

There are many threads here on TRF regarding the same concerns that you mentioned. Good luck in your search!

[swiss ghost]

Originally Posted by tdegroot

Many will say buy from a trusted seller on this forum. That's an option. It seems relatively easy to get opinions on who to buy from on this forum. I beleive Ebay is ok too if you check feedback, ask alot of questions, use paypal and buy with return privledges. In person is ok too. Arrange in advance to meet a an AD and have the watch ckecked out on the spot. I think if you are cautious, use your head, and walk if you have any doubts about the transaction, you'll be ok. Of course always remember if it is too good to be true......

agreed.....im pretty sure $2500 deepseas are fake

the $1000 "i need to sell fast"!!! submariners are usually fake as well

do some research on some reputable 'grey' dealer sites as well as 'trusted sellers' here and you will get a very good indication of market value on any particular model. good luck on your hunt.

[Stonedcl]

What model and year are you looking for?

[liptonnr]

You have to research, research, and do more research! There are very reputable sellers here and online, even eBay! You have to be an informed buyer and use resources like TRF to ensure you are getting a genuine product. Good luck!

[BMW4JTN]

I have been looking at the website Time and Gems. It appears to be valid. I spoke with a person today from it and asked him about the serial number, etc. He told me that every Rolex is 100% real Rolex parts except for the wristband, which is typically an after-market non-Rolex. However, if I want, they can replace it with a real Rolex band for an extra fee. Any thoughts on this website? Thanks.

[imono]

You can read about Time and Gems here.
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=210869

[freddyttt]

Originally Posted by BMW4JTN

I have been looking at the website Time and Gems. It appears to be valid. I spoke with a person today from it and asked him about the serial number, etc. He told me that every Rolex is 100% real Rolex parts except for the wristband, which is typically an after-market non-Rolex. However, if I want, they can replace it with a real Rolex band for an extra fee. Any thoughts on this website? Thanks.

Id run just on the wristband statement.... is there a reason your looking there.. why not look here? also im from Jersey and know a few places here you could check out-

[BMW4JTN]

No definite reason as to why am looking there. I am just looking at all potential dealers to find a reputable one and this site kept coming up. I also have been looking at the watches on the website www.bernardwatch.com, as I have read more positive things than other sites. Where in Nj can you recommend?

[FNFZ4]

im new here just like you so i would like to share my experience into buying another Rolex...

i have been a lurker for about maybe 2-3 years... once in a while i would read on this forum. thinking if i should buy another Rolex... I was a previous owner of an Explorer II that was given to me as a gift from my father. long story short, we had some hard times in the early 2000s with dad suffering a heart attack and a stroke, meds and hospital bills rake up. we almost lost everything from cars to properties to watches... its not cheap to keep someone alive. so i sold the Rolex...

After almost a decade, i went with TAG...owning a few...1 Kirium, 3 F1s... then i decided, i work hard and i do make a decent living. i spend money on cars so why not buy a Rolex? it holds value better than the cars that i buy. so i started the quest for the long lost watch....The Explorer II...

i started first by taking a look at the classified section. this was in Nov 2011. i took note on the sellers that sells the most watches online and what do they sell. then i went to the whose who section and checked how many feedbacks they have. I put two and two together and i came up with a list of sellers that i will buy from based on number of deals and feedbacks.. if you want the list that i make i will PM or email it to you. then i contacted the sellers and asked questions. after that its basically a waiting game. wait for the watch that you want with the price that you want or you think you can negotiate the price that you want with the seller that you want. then it happened... i found it and i bought it.

my reasoning was because i wasn't good at determining a real from a fake that id leave that to the other members of this forum. as you can see in the for sale section, sellers take detailed photographs of the watches for sale. believe me the guys here can spot a fake a mile away! and they will take note of it. the sense of camaraderie here is so great that members watch out for one another.

[p_mcgee]

Run, don't walk away.

There are a host of issues that can go wrong when you buy a pre-owned Rolex, not just counterfeit parts. Its best to arrange it so you can have an expert review the watch before you are stuck with it. Also remember to factor in the cost of a likely full service $350 to $650+ depending on where you go).

[BMW4JTN]

Am thinking I should just buy it new don't want to het stuck with a knockoff. If you wouldn't mind emailing your list to me, I'd greatly appreciate it! I'll send you a PM.

[Lion]

Welcome to the Forum...using an authorized dealer(AD) is one way to go as you know the watch is genuine. But as stated you can buy here and there are many new watches sold here as well by trusted sellers. If/when you do buy make certain that it is real and all the parts are real(new oyster bracelets for a Rolex can cost $900.00 to $1000.00USD)!!!

[dddrees]

Buy the seller.

Purchase with the option to return merchandise if found not to be as stated.

Make sure you have the watch authenicated and checked out.

[mrbill2mrbill2]

Originally Posted by BMW4JTN

I have been looking at the website Time and Gems. It appears to be valid. I spoke with a person today from it and asked him about the serial number, etc. He told me that every Rolex is 100% real Rolex parts except for the wristband, which is typically an after-market non-Rolex. However, if I want, they can replace it with a real Rolex band for an extra fee. Any thoughts on this website? Thanks.

Run Forest Run!!

[FX44]

You could go with a trusted seller on this forum. Another option is an AD online if you don't have many AD's where you live. Google Capetown Diamond

[Htab]

I have been on the forum for about 6 months and have made 4 purchases off the forum. Every transaction has been a smooth one with no problems. Check out the who's who section. Good luck.

[MoBe]

Originally Posted by BMW4JTN

I am considering purchasing a men's pre-owned Rolex but am being overwhelmed by all the conflicting info I am reading on the Internet. Mainly that I should not buy from any seller regardless of how genuine it appears b/c I will get ripped off (I.e., fake Rolex replacement parts, etc.). Can I get some input on how to move forward? Any help is greatly appreciated. (I live in NJ).

The best advice I can offer is,take your time,do your due diligence,do your homework,and trust your senses,if a deal doesn`t feel right,walk away.Learning how to buy a used Rolex is a skill that needs to be learned.

Good luck!

[ALQUAIDM]

RUN from Time and Gems, ZP Watches and/or The Watch Empire. When they say custom they mean it from the 10k gold plated bands to the various part replacements. If they say its authentic, the only thing authentic is the Rolex name.

Check out timeandgems.us to get an idea of what you are getting yourself into also check out their BBB (Better Business Bureau) reviews and complaints.

RUN!