1st Time Buyer Help

[Links181]

Hi All.

Im looking to buy my first decentish watch and dont want to stumble in to buying something without any knowledge. Seems to be a lot of knowledge here, if someone wouldnt mind dispensing some in my direction to keep me on the right track it would be much appreciated.

Im looking for a 1977 (Birth year) Rolex Air King, black or grey face and have a few questions:
- Should I be looking for one with origional box and paperwork?
- Date or no date? I like the look of both, more for future resale/value.
- Full origional parts? Do things like replaced bracelets cause issue.
- Servicing history, does this work the same as cars or is the last one the only one that matters?
- Where to buy and what to pay?

Thanks in advance.

[daveenty]

Links181 said:

Hi All.

Im looking to buy my first decentish watch and dont want to stumble in to buying something without any knowledge. Seems to be a lot of knowledge here, if someone wouldnt mind dispensing some in my direction to keep me on the right track it would be much appreciated.

Im looking for a 1977 (Birth year) Rolex Air King, black or grey face and have a few questions:

Nice watch, I like the grey one. I'll try to answer one or two of your questions, though they're from a personal point of view.

Links181 said:

- Should I be looking for one with origional box and paperwork?

Ideally yes, though you may struggle on a 30 odd year old watch.

Links181 said:

- Date or no date? I like the look of both, more for future resale/value.

This is entirely up to you. I prefer the look of the non date as I think the cyclops is too big on a smaller faced watch, though others say it's not a Rolex without one...

Links181 said:

- Full original parts? Do things like replaced bracelets cause issue.

Hands, face and crown should be original, and ideally a bracelet should be original to the watch. A genuine Rolex strap would be a bonus too.

Links181 said:

- Servicing history, does this work the same as cars or is the last one the only one that matters?

I'm only bothered about the last one really, though don't let it put you off too much, just budget for a service when you're buying.

Links181 said:

- Where to buy and what to pay?

Have a look round the evil bay for an idea of prices, though if you're buying from there be very careful. The classifieds on here and the watch forums such as WUS usually have a reasonable selection, though make sure you check out the seller thoroughly before parting with your hard earned.

Links181 said:

Thanks in advance.

Pleasure.

[AndrewWF]

Links181 said:

- Should I be looking for one with origional box and paperwork?

As mentioned above, original box and papers can be difficult to come by, but if there is a recent service document from Rolex, that would be a definite reassurance as to its authenticity

Links181 said:

- Date or no date? I like the look of both, more for future resale/value.

At this level, just go for your preference. You are very unlikely to lose out come resale time on either.

Links181 said:

- Full origional parts? Do things like replaced bracelets cause issue.

Hands often get replaced - if it was done in the last ten years or so, you should be able to tell by seeing whether or not they glow. Original tritium painted hands will probably have lost their glow by now. Whether this is good or bad is entirely down to preference.

Links181 said:

- Servicing history, does this work the same as cars or is the last one the only one that matters?

Obviously, the more paperwork the better, but if there has been a recent-ish service, Rolex will have made the watch good. They don't do things by halves when it comes to servicing!

[Ikemi]

Links181 said:

- Where to buy and what to pay?

My first port of call would be Dominic Hackett at www.hackettwatches.com ... What he doesn't know about Rolex can be written on the back of a cigarette packet, with a telegraph pole. He can also source some of the more harder to find pieces too! Many of us here have bought and sold via Dom and he is highly recommended. He is also a long standing member on Pistonheads and will probably be along in a minute

Alternatively, check out:

www.chrono24.com
www.chronollection.com
www.austinkaye.co.uk
www.watches.co.uk
www.watchfinder.co.uk

[Podie]

another thumbs up for Dom.

[daveenty]

Podie said:

another thumbs up for Dom.

Feel guilty now about not mentioning Dominic in my earlier post.

Forgot he did the earlier stuff and yes, one of mine came from him.

Sorry Dom

[Podie]

daveenty said:

Feel guilty now about not mentioning Dominic in my earlier post.

STONE HIM!

[Links181]

Cheers guys, very much appreciated.

Guess its time to start the search.

[PGN 500sl]

Podie said:

another thumbs up for Dom.

+1. Dom provided me with a 40 year old datejust. Wonderful guy to deal with.

[Hoofy]

Links181 said:

Cheers guys, very much appreciated.

Guess its time to start the search.

Take your time. The right watch will come along eventually. I looked for 3 years.