Rolex deployant buckle (vintage)

[oceandweller]

I have been hunting for a vintage Rolex deployant buckle but it has been fruitless. I then decided to buy a new one. Apparently the Rolex ADs and also RSC do not sell it. RSC confirmed, they will only exchange if I had a damaged one.

I have seen one for sale in this forum and kindly advise, what do you think about it.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=293947

[Andad]

How badly do you want one?

[cruvon]

I wouldn't put that much on a buckle but if you must....you will need expert opinion on street prices!

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by directioneng

How badly do you want one?

Not that urgent, since my watch is now being serviced and will not be returned to me, till about a month's time. Possibly, I prefer a vintage example. The last resort will be a new one.

[Vincent65]

wow, that's a load of dosh for a strap buckle

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by cruvon

I wouldn't put that much on a buckle but if you must....you will need expert opinion on street prices!

Yes, I shall take my time to study the street prices and the condition of the buckles available.

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by Vincent65

wow, that's a load of dosh for a strap buckle

The vintage ones may be much cheaper, I think.

[cop414]

Yikes 4K! I know you gotta pay to play but....

[Clay]

Madness at the very least...

[bonbonson]

NO WAY! just try to wait a bit more and maybe one will come up hopefully with a much lower price than that

[MonBK]

What do you expect an 18k original Rolex deployant to be?

I don't think the seller is asking too much for it.

[Michael M.]

Originally Posted by MonBK

What do you expect an 18k original Rolex deployant to be?

I don't think the seller is asking too much for it.

I agree, I see them go for $3,500-$4,000...

[andromeda160]

I know you want a deployment buckle but the regular solid gold rolex buckles are vintage and a much cheaper alternative. I see them sell for 800-1500 all the time.

[cruvon]

How many gms of 18kt gold do these deployants have, I guess that's a good starting point to gauge it's value. I doubt the high price can be justified by the value of the gold alone, if they do sell for 4k it has to be due to collectability/branding-workmanship/rarity reasons rather than the gold value.

Current gold price per gram for 18kt gold is US$34.97 per gram.
http://goldpricenetwork.com/gram/

[andromeda160]

Originally Posted by cruvon

How many gms of 18kt gold do these deployants have, I guess that's a good starting point to gauge it's value. I doubt the high price can be justified by the value of the gold alone, if they do sell for 4k it has to be due to collectability/branding-workmanship/rarity reasons rather than the gold value.

Current gold price per gram for 18kt gold is US$34.97 per gram.
http://goldpricenetwork.com/gram/

you mean.... a piece of gold with rolexes name on it is worth more? would've never guessed.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by oceandweller

I have been hunting for a vintage Rolex deployant buckle but it has been fruitless. I then decided to buy a new one. Apparently the Rolex ADs and also RSC do not sell it. RSC confirmed, they will only exchange if I had a damaged one.

I have seen one for sale in this forum and kindly advise, what do you think about it.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=293947

That is possible the least elegant "deployant buckle" ever fitted to a high end watch. It's essentially a modified bracelet clasp!

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by andromeda160

you mean.... a piece of gold with rolexes name on it is worth more? would've never guessed.

Anything with the name of ROLEX is never cheap. Strange but enthusiasts still pay for them.

[andromeda160]

Originally Posted by oceandweller

Anything with the name of ROLEX is never cheap. Strange but enthusiasts still pay for them.

I know I was being sarcastic because the guy was talking as if they were bullion. I personally would just go with a vintage gold buckle. What kind of watch is it for? For 4k I'd get a hidden deployment

[crowncollection]

these are hard to find hence the price is about right, i would go for a normail buckle i would not spend that on a buckle, you can have another rolex watch, maybe 2 cheaper ones.

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by andromeda160

I know I was being sarcastic because the guy was talking as if they were bullion. I personally would just go with a vintage gold buckle. What kind of watch is it for? For 4k I'd get a hidden deployment

For Submariner 18k 1680. May wait for a vintage deployant rather that the one meant for Daytonas, since anything to do with Daytona does not come cheap. A vintage 18k gold buckle with the 'broken' Rolex logo is not easy to source.

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by crowncollection

these are hard to find hence the price is about right, i would go for a normail buckle i would not spend that on a buckle, you can have another rolex watch, maybe 2 cheaper ones.

I may give your good suggestion a think. Agree the asking price of that deployant buckle is about right, all because of the ROLEX logo. If without, its price will be slightly above melt-value of gold, I reckon.

[pablofields]

You might want to keep an eye out for one of these deployants that are taken off the larger Cellini models. This one was for sale for quite a while here on TRF but finally sold. These can be had for much less than the Daytona clasp. I see them on ebay from time to time, though the larger ones seem to come up less often than the ladies sizes.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...ight=deployant

[andromeda160]

Do you already have a solid gold bracelet? After looking at deployment prices probably not a bad route

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by pablofields

You might want to keep an eye out for one of these deployants that are taken off the larger Cellini models. This one was for sale for quite a while here on TRF but finally sold. These can be had for much less than the Daytona clasp. I see them on ebay from time to time, though the larger ones seem to come up less often than the ladies sizes.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...ight=deployant

That appears to be good, too. A bigger buckle will surely look better.

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by andromeda160

Do you already have a solid gold bracelet? After looking at deployment prices probably not a bad route

I do have but a Rolex watch worn with its bracelet will look too flashy and eye-catching.

[andromeda160]

Originally Posted by oceandweller

I do have but a Rolex watch worn with its bracelet will look too flashy and eye-catching.

Lol what else do you want with an 18kt sub lol they were born to be flashy

[Tools]

The deployant clasps are meant to be used over and over with strap replacements and so they are not "disposable", so you don't really see too many in the wild..

Since they are precious metal and not sold by Rolex separately, they tend to stay expensive..

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by andromeda160

Lol what else do you want with an 18kt sub lol they were born to be flashy

Agree, on its own it is flashy enough. Plus its spectacular heavy bracelet with zero stretch, it is just too much of a good thing for the eyes.

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by Tools

The deployant clasps are meant to be used over and over with strap replacements and so they are not "disposable", so you don't really see too many in the wild..

Since they are precious metal and not sold by Rolex separately, they tend to stay expensive..

Perhaps some others may be eager to sell their deployant buckles separately, Rolex can afford to say, 'no, no' and this makes hunting for a Rolex deployant buckle, even more challenging. Agree, seldom do I see one in the wild.

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by bonbonson

NO WAY! just try to wait a bit more and maybe one will come up hopefully with a much lower price than that

Time is on my side and I shall wait for a reasonably priced one to appear. There is no rush.