Rolex Sea Dweller? advice?

[SJR Superlight]

Hi all, wondering if i could ask a bit of advice...

I've recently been lucky enough to come into a bit of money, so finally i can afford somthing a little bit special...

I've had my eye on a Rolex Sea Dweller and was just wondering if anyone here has had any experience with them?
I've been reading this forum for some time and don't seem to see to much written about Rolex's. Is there any reason for this, or am i just going blind ?

I would like to ask you for your opinions on such a watch:
- are they worth the money, or are you paying over the odds for the brand?
- where is the best place to buy?
- are discounts available?
- would you recomend anything else to me in that style (i would like to spend £2k - £2.5k ish)?

thanks very much, any opinions welcome.

Simon

[digger_R]

You can do far worse than an SD, a fantastic watch I had mine for two years before stupidly selling up - and yes you really need that Helium release valve to take you down to mind bending depths

Good thing with a SD is that there will be a strong market for it come resale time (should you ever want to sell)

[fade2grey]

I bought a sea dweller a couple of years go. Lovely watch, stood up way better than I thought it would to all my abuse still makes me smile so I guess it was worth the money.

[SJR Superlight]

Cheers guys, great to hear there are other Sea Dweller fans out there!

Reassuring to hear about the resale values for them as well. Is there any particular reason why they hold there value more than other models?

Where did you get yours from? what was your experience when asking for a discount?

[SpydieNut]

it is a fine watch you won't be dissapointed!

does it have to be new?

there is one in the classified section - under 'miscellaneous'

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/294591.htm

[SJR Superlight]

if i'm honest i hadn't really thought about a used watch...

a good idea though, it looks nice, is there anything i should look out for or be aware of if buying used?

[SpydieNut]

SJR Superlight said:

if i'm honest i hadn't really thought about a used watch...

a good idea though, it looks nice, is there anything i should look out for or be aware of if buying used?

they are pretty rugged.

the one in the ad's mine. it's a daily wearer but always (and i mean *always*) under long sleeved shirts or jackets.

it's never been dropped and is as close to mint as you'll find. very very fine 'scratches' on the bracelet - they'd polish out easily and then it would look new. the crystal is 100% perfect.

i do absolutely love it - smile every time i check the time, but afraid needs must.

if you were interested and local (manchester), i'd happily meet with you so you could take a look.

finally, even if you don't end up buying mine - buy one, please - you'll love it too!

Edited to add-just looked at your profile: west sussex, sorry - probably a bit far just to have a look. if you were interested in buying, i'd drive and meet you half way - i'd much prefer a face-to-face deal (and that's selling - i sure would if i was buying )

Edited by SpydieNut on Thursday 6th December 15:21

[SJR Superlight]

Thanks SpydieNut,

it does look good i must admit, but as you say it would be quite a trek for me (and you).

this weekend i am going to take a trip to my local WoS in Brighton and have a browse, just to double check that it is the watch for me and make sure that the look fits me.

I will have a serious think on your ad and probably get back to next week sometime if i want to take it further.

Cheers

[SpydieNut]

SJR Superlight said:

Thanks SpydieNut,

it does look good i must admit, but as you say it would be quite a trek for me (and you).

this weekend i am going to take a trip to my local WoS in Brighton and have a browse, just to double check that it is the watch for me and make sure that the look fits me.

I will have a serious think on your ad and probably get back to next week sometime if i want to take it further.

Cheers

no problem

[Vipers]

SJR Superlight said:

if i'm honest i hadn't really thought about a used watch...

a good idea though, it looks nice, is there anything i should look out for or be aware of if buying used?

Yes, buy from a reputable dealer. In the offchance a watch has been reported stolen to Rolex, the first time you take in for a service, you wont get it back.

Unfortunately I know a couple who have sold theirs over the years, and then claimed the insurance back.

[SJR Superlight]

Vipers said:

Yes, buy from a reputable dealer. In the offchance a watch has been reported stolen to Rolex, the first time you take in for a service, you wont get it back.

Unfortunately I know a couple who have sold theirs over the years, and then claimed the insurance back.

Cheers for that Vipers, again somthing i hadn't thought of... i must admit the more i think on it and with only a slight difference in cost between new and used it is making more sense to go for new. i shall see.

[SpydieNut]

Vipers said:

SJR Superlight said:

if i'm honest i hadn't really thought about a used watch...

a good idea though, it looks nice, is there anything i should look out for or be aware of if buying used?

Yes, buy from a reputable dealer. In the offchance a watch has been reported stolen to Rolex, the first time you take in for a service, you wont get it back.

Unfortunately I know a couple who have sold theirs over the years, and then claimed the insurance back.

you don't have to go to a dealer to get one that's not hot.

you can be sure mine's genuine and not stolen. i've had it on my wrist every day since i bought it new (from a rolex dealer - and i have the paperwork to prove this).

you'd be more than welcome to ring rolex UK with the serial number to double check this.

[Vipers]

One more thing I would add, if you do shell out 2k+ for a SD, have it added to your house contents insurance.

Its a big lump to have stolen. We live in sad times unfortunately.

[SJR Superlight]

Well this is a nice cheery thread isn't it!

SpydieNut, don't worry i am certainly not ruling buying a used Rolex out, as you say, there are registers to prove the history of watches. I have no doubt that yours is the genuine article.

One thing that has just been raised to me in the office is that Rolex's arn't amazingly accurate? could anyone confirm; is this true or is my colleague spouting out jibberish again???

[SpydieNut]

SJR Superlight said:

Well this is a nice cheery thread isn't it!

SpydieNut, don't worry i am certainly not ruling buying a used Rolex out, as you say, there are registers to prove the history of watches. I have no doubt that yours is the genuine article.

One thing that has just been raised to me in the office is that Rolex's arn't amazingly accurate? could anyone confirm; is this true or is my colleague spouting out jibberish again???

no offence taken - just wanted to point out that not all 2nd hand rolex(es)(?) are fake/stolen.

if i was parting with 2k for a used watch (or anything else) i would also want to be sure it was 100% legitimate.

WRT accuracy - i probably reset time twice a year as it's 5-10 minutes fast after 6 months. not too bad i feel - but i do know some can be worse than this. they are usually sent back to rolex for adjustment and then are fine. i don't think any mechanical mechanism could be 100% as accurate as battery power, but i know which i'd rather wear.

hope this helps.

don't worry about asking questions - as someone (else) once said - the only dumb question is the one you don't ask.

[Seany88]

Can anyone tell me the differences between a SeaDweller and a Submariner? Other than the obvious diving depths achievable! As they are both a pretty similar design, though I like the fact that Submariner's were standard issue for the Marines in the 70s!

[Winton]

If you are looking for something slightly different, try the IWC Aquatimer 3536-001. They stopped making them a few years ago and replaced it with a more up to date model which you could also check out. The 3536 is a beautiful piece though.

http://www.rruegger.ch/iwc_gst_aquatimer.htm

They are pretty hard to get hold of now and are much rarer than the Sea Dweller - in fact, they are often known as the Thinking Man's Sea Dweller

[uktrailmonster]

SJR Superlight said:

One thing that has just been raised to me in the office is that Rolex's arn't amazingly accurate? could anyone confirm; is this true or is my colleague spouting out jibberish again???

Accuracy of mechanical watches is often misunderstood by numpties.

My advice, ask the same questions on a proper dedicated watch forum, especially before shelling out a couple of grand. A week or two lurking around www.watchuseek.com will give you a much better idea how to spend your cash. Don't rush into it, there are loads of fantastic watches in that price range. Rolex is just the tip of the iceberg.

[SJR Superlight]

that is a nice watch. nice and simple/uncluttered. i must admit, i'm still favouring the styling of the Sea Dweller though, looks a little classier in my opinion...

[SJR Superlight]

uktrailmonster said:

My advice, ask the same questions on a proper dedicated watch forum, especially before shelling out a couple of grand. A week or two lurking around www.watchuseek.com will give you a much better idea how to spend your cash. Don't rush into it, there are loads of fantastic watches in that price range. Rolex is just the tip of the iceberg.

Cheers, it certainly isn't something i was going to rush into. i am more than happy to sit back and absorb all the info i can before i spend my hard earned. i will have a browse and see what arises.

is there any other makes that you would suggest i look into around my price range?

i've had a look at some Panerai's and that's got to be next on the list for me (i've got the bug bad )but i like the classic styling also of the Sea Dweller for the first one i think...