This will be my 1st and hopefully last stupid question

[ftgokie]

I am looking to buy a vintage or an inexpensive Rolex. I work for the VA and about to get a new job within the VA so I will have to start wearing nice clothes (that makes me sound like a redneck huh..lol) I basically just sit at a desk and answer education calls all day long. But now, its time for me to move up.

I have a cpl Breitlings but I want a Rolex to wear to work. Looking to spend as little as possible right out of the gate.

I could pretty much buy whatever watch I want but the wife says I have to ease into this..lol

Any help on where I could look and what model of Rolex I should be looking for would be most appreciated.

Thanks
Shawn

[Robbyvm]

you are looking to buy a vintage or inexpensive Rolex... ?
there are no vintage inexpensive Rolexes in my opinion...

[Keeperoftime]

Inexpensive is a relative concept, so...
It would be best if you told us your budget $-wise and we will be able to point you in the right direction.

Welcome to TRF!

[springer]

You could probably find a nice DateJust for under $2,000, which would be a nice entry point Rolex.

[powerfunk]

Originally Posted by springer

You could probably find a nice DateJust for under $2,000, which would be a nice entry point Rolex.

x2! Tough to beat used Datejusts in terms of value; there are so many of them.

As was mentioned, not sure what your definition of "inexpensive" is, but if your budget is:
$1,000-$1,200: You can get an old, run-of-the-mill manual wind Rolex Precision of some sort. Doubtful you can get anything >34mm for this price range.

$1,600-$2,000: Used Air-King or Datejust

$3,500-$4,500: Get a vintage GMT or Sub!

Good hunting!

[ftgokie]

Originally Posted by Keeperoftime

Inexpensive is a relative concept, so...
It would be best if you told us your budget $-wise and we will be able to point you in the right direction.

Welcome to TRF!

I suppose I should have put that down....I say $2500-$3000

[Tudor66]

You might want to look into vintage Tudor submariners. I picked a 7928 Tudor for a good price. Though they are not technically Rolex watches....Do a search on Tudor and see if you like them...

[powerfunk]

$2,500-$3,000 is actually a bit of a "black hole" in the used Rolex market. Oddly, having a budget of $3k instead of $2k doesn't even really give you many more models to choose from. You can get a decent Datejust for $2k, but to get a good Rolex sports watch (Sub/GMT/etc.) it pretty much starts around $3.5k.

Actually, I might recommend trying to find an Explorer 1 for perhaps $3400ish.

[joe100]

Well, I vote the AirKing myself. Versatile, good looking, great history. Lots of AK and AK Dates to be had in that budget

[ftgokie]

Datejust it is....I have found 2 on here for $2000 and a couple more on another website for 1900 and 2100. Also found one on craigslist for sale locally for 1750 that I am going to call about.

Thanks for all the help it is most appreciated
Shawn

[RRGHOST1]

i would stick with TRF to buy one.

[joe100]

I agree. Ebay and Craigslist are recipes for disaster.

[dysondiver]

see above , first time and not sure about what your looking at ,,, stay here , id second the explorer 1 a simple classic

[cali kid]

Stay off the bay and buy here, save a little more to get into a nice used Sub or look at Tudor. Tudor prices have gone up on used Subs but they are so darn cool and Dan P. could steer you in the right direction!

[hatidua]

Originally Posted by dysondiver

id second the explorer 1 a simple classic

That'd be my vote as well. A 14270 (or even 114270) ought to be available within the proposed budget. The Explorer 1 is nicely understated.

[fusionstorm]

Convince the wife to let you spend a little more, and buy a vintage Sub (5512, 5513, 1680 or even 16800) in the $4.5K range. As long as you don't trash it, you can wear it for years and lose very little (you might even make some dinero) when you sell or trade up.

[ftgokie]

Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions!

Shawn

[kyle L]

Cheapest would probably be around 550-700, an old Oysterdate or something.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...vip=true&rt=nc

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...vip=true&rt=nc

Go a little more and you can start to find some old dress models and autos like an old airking or date:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...vip=true&rt=nc

Actually the cheapest would be an old Speedking or one of the smaller models:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...vip=true&rt=nc

[jerseyden]

Very rare to see the words vintage, inexpensive and Rolex in the same sentence. I wish you well.

[ftgokie]

Originally Posted by jerseyden

Very rare to see the words vintage, inexpensive and Rolex in the same sentence. I wish you well.

Yea I hear ya. I have been finding older Rolexes from $1250.00 to $1750.00. To me thats cheap for a Rolex as long as it looks halfway nice and works good. The more I look the more I am finding...just takes alot of searching to find them in that price range though I will give you that!

[slcbbrown]

Originally Posted by cali kid

Stay off the bay and buy here, save a little more to get into a nice used Sub or look at Tudor. Tudor prices have gone up on used Subs but they are so darn cool and Dan P. could steer you in the right direction!

I've bought on ebay and done fine, but you don't want to get "educated" on ebay with your one and only watch purchase. You don't have to buy here, but you should really trust your seller.

[slcbbrown]

Originally Posted by ftgokie

I suppose I should have put that down....I say $2500-$3000

You can do just fine with that budget. Certainly, you can fine piles of Datejust choices, along with AK's and maybe TOG's, for that range. I bought a mid-90's no-date Sub for less than $3,000, but that price won't be common.

Keep in mind, that service for a used Rolex can run about $500. I usually put that number into any used Rolex purchase price. Lots of times I don't service the watch for a couple years, but I have had to do it almost immediately, too.

[ftgokie]

Originally Posted by slcbbrown

You can do just fine with that budget. Certainly, you can fine piles of Datejust choices, along with AK's and maybe TOG's, for that range. I bought a mid-90's no-date Sub for less than $3,000, but that price won't be common.

Keep in mind, that service for a used Rolex can run about $500. I usually put that number into any used Rolex purchase price. Lots of times I don't service the watch for a couple years, but I have had to do it almost immediately, too.

Yea, I just sent in one of my Breitlings for a total overhaul and its gonna cost around $450.00. It was not working but when I get it back it should look and run like brand new. It will be my daily beater watch!

Shawn

[Rsvrider]

You wrote:
I could pretty much buy whatever watch I want but the wife says I have to ease into this..lol
I get the feeling that you know of a model which you really like and want. Without becoming irrational or irresponsible with your marriage, I would go for it. Why? Bc eventually you'll end up there. And if getting there means flipping watches from some you dont like or care for then you'll just lose $ in the process. Makes sense?
As for equating vintage with cheaper I cn assure you that it doesn't apply to Rolex (sport models specifically).
Either way, budget between $3500 to $4500 and contact some of the trusted sellers. I believe they will stir you in the right direction and you'll get a watch that you can trust. Btw it's my gut feeling that -even though these sellers make a living doing this- they are fair and will not take advantage if you reach out to them. Good luck and do share your choice, in the meantime enjoy what is my favorite part: the hunt!

[ftgokie]

Originally Posted by Rsvrider

You wrote:
I could pretty much buy whatever watch I want but the wife says I have to ease into this..lol
I get the feeling that you know of a model which you really like and want. Without becoming irrational or irresponsible with your marriage, I would go for it. Why? Bc eventually you'll end up there. And if getting there means flipping watches from some you dont like or care for then you'll just lose $ in the process. Makes sense?
As for equating vintage with cheaper I cn assure you that it doesn't apply to Rolex (sport models specifically).
Either way, budget between $3500 to $4500 and contact some of the trusted sellers. I believe they will stir you in the right direction and you'll get a watch that you can trust. Btw it's my gut feeling that -even though these sellers make a living doing this- they are fair and will not take advantage if you reach out to them. Good luck and do share your choice, in the meantime enjoy what is my favorite part: the hunt!

Well, if my wife read this post me and you couldnt be friends Yea, she said ease into it but everyone that knows me also knows that when I do something, I go all the way

You have some good advice! Just like everyone else does on here for the most part. I have found a couple of DateJust for approx. $1700 and I may go with somehting like that...who knows. WHen I see a watch I want, if the price is reasonable I will more than likely hit my secret stash of money and buy it....then I just have to come up with a good game plan on how I got that $5k watch

[Scary Hat]

Originally Posted by Rsvrider

You wrote:
I could pretty much buy whatever watch I want but the wife says I have to ease into this..lol
I get the feeling that you know of a model which you really like and want. Without becoming irrational or irresponsible with your marriage, I would go for it. Why? Bc eventually you'll end up there. And if getting there means flipping watches from some you dont like or care for then you'll just lose $ in the process. Makes sense?
As for equating vintage with cheaper I cn assure you that it doesn't apply to Rolex (sport models specifically).
Either way, budget between $3500 to $4500 and contact some of the trusted sellers. I believe they will stir you in the right direction and you'll get a watch that you can trust. Btw it's my gut feeling that -even though these sellers make a living doing this- they are fair and will not take advantage if you reach out to them. Good luck and do share your choice, in the meantime enjoy what is my favorite part: the hunt!

2x.

Very well put- excellent advice on all counts.

[jdc]

If you have Breitling and are used to them you need to consider the size of some of the older vintage which often are 34mm. Datejusts are 36mm, my preference for an understated model that can wear as dress or casual and would be perfect for an office would be a newish Explorer I also 36mm. If you want something bigger and sportier but cheaper look for Tudor subs 79090 (plexi/plastic glass) or 79190 - sapphire glass