Selling my grail - to service or not prior to sale?
Discussion
I am having serious thoughts about letting my Rolex Milgauss go. I hardly ever wear it and with an impending house purchase on the horizon the funds could come in very handy. The watch is a 2008 watch. I bought it in 2012 from TZ. It was still brand new, the guy had bought it and stored it in his safe from the day of purchase. So it has had approx 2 years of very occasional wear. As such, the bracelet is showing some hairline scratches and the case has some minor swirlies. It is by no means in bad condition or even close to it, it just doesn't look brand new anymore, but wouldn't be sold as such. So, do I send the watch off for a service and polish or sell as is? Will a service & polish add any value to the watch at all.
Lastly, what do we think is a fair price for a White Dial Milgauss. Full package, all boxes etc?
Lastly, what do we think is a fair price for a White Dial Milgauss. Full package, all boxes etc?
If it's been relatively unworn prior to your acquisition, and irregularly since, then even though it's nigh on 6 years old, it's probably fine and not really in need of a service. Presumably the timekeeping is within +6 and -4 daily?
As for the few marks indicating it has been worn rather than a safe queen, I'd personally not bother and let the buyer decide if they want it looking minty fresh or worry about doing it all together when it does need to go in for a service.
Highly unlikely that you will recoup the £400 or so spent on servicing and polishing, with the only caveat being the 2 year warranty if it does – but again, the right buyer may prefer to deal with all that themselves.
As for the few marks indicating it has been worn rather than a safe queen, I'd personally not bother and let the buyer decide if they want it looking minty fresh or worry about doing it all together when it does need to go in for a service.
Highly unlikely that you will recoup the £400 or so spent on servicing and polishing, with the only caveat being the 2 year warranty if it does – but again, the right buyer may prefer to deal with all that themselves.
Edited by PJ S on Tuesday 11th February 13:36
PJ S said:
If it's been relatively unworn prior to your acquisition, and irregularly since, then even though it's nigh on 6 years old, it's probably fine and not really in need of a service. Presumably the timekeeping is with +6 and -4 daily?
As for the few marks indicating it has been worn rather than a safe queen, I'd personally not bother and let the buyer decide if they want it looking minty fresh or worry about doing it all together when it does need and go in for a service.
Highly unlikely that you will recoup the £400 or so spent on servicing and polishing, with the only caveat being the 2 year warranty if it does – but again, the right buyer may prefer to deal with all that themselves.
Your thinking is much along the same lines as mine. It's was never worn prior to my acuisition. I received it with all the stickers and plastic/film still firmly in place. I have maybe worn it for 30-40 days max in the 2 years I have owned it. As for the timekeeping, it is something that I have never checked. I have never worn it for a full day nor on consecutive days so it is something that I would never notice, unless the timekeeping was out by a lot. As for the few marks indicating it has been worn rather than a safe queen, I'd personally not bother and let the buyer decide if they want it looking minty fresh or worry about doing it all together when it does need and go in for a service.
Highly unlikely that you will recoup the £400 or so spent on servicing and polishing, with the only caveat being the 2 year warranty if it does – but again, the right buyer may prefer to deal with all that themselves.
I wouldn't bother getting it serviced and let the new buyer decide. Hopefully they wont put it in to a RSC @ £400. Given the three attempts by Rolex to service and regulate my wife's datejust I'd certainly be looking to service it elsewhere for half the price.
Price wise you're looking at £3k+. Although I did get offered a 2008 white face with full set for £2,700
Price wise you're looking at £3k+. Although I did get offered a 2008 white face with full set for £2,700
Easty-5 said:
It was a grail at the time. All realistic 'grails' are the same in my opinion. Over time opinions and circumstances change so what was once a grail may no longer be.
True. Two of my 'grails/keepers' are on the block, the Breguet Type XXI and the TAG Monza Cal.36.
Sometimes you lose the love
Oh, and don't service it.
Edited by yeti on Friday 14th February 12:38
Easty-5 said:
It was a grail at the time. All realistic 'grails' are the same in my opinion. Over time opinions and circumstances change so what was once a grail may no longer be.
I think a grail watch should be something your never likely to own .....your expectations may have changed over the years but your original "grail" was a bit low on the aspirational scale! So what's your "grail" watch now ?michael gould said:
I think a grail watch should be something your never likely to own .....your expectations may have changed over the years but your original "grail" was a bit low on the aspirational scale! So what's your "grail" watch now ?
That would drive me insane!!My grail has to be achievable but not under normal circumstances i.e, without your wife leaving you. My next 'grail' (as it were) is the Nautilus 5980 but I know I can get one and will sort it in a few months. So the next is the Bregeut Perpetual Calendar. I want an 'Equation of Time' but not in the 36mm case, hopefully they'll put it in the 39mm case at some point.
michael gould said:
Easty-5 said:
It was a grail at the time. All realistic 'grails' are the same in my opinion. Over time opinions and circumstances change so what was once a grail may no longer be.
I think a grail watch should be something your never likely to own .....your expectations may have changed over the years but your original "grail" was a bit low on the aspirational scale! So what's your "grail" watch now ?"a thing which is eagerly pursued or sought after"
The watch in question may be low on your aspirational scale but not for everyone!
I think it does need to be something you can reasonably achieve.
Fatrat said:
michael gould said:
Easty-5 said:
It was a grail at the time. All realistic 'grails' are the same in my opinion. Over time opinions and circumstances change so what was once a grail may no longer be.
I think a grail watch should be something your never likely to own .....your expectations may have changed over the years but your original "grail" was a bit low on the aspirational scale! So what's your "grail" watch now ?"a thing which is eagerly pursued or sought after"
The watch in question may be low on your aspirational scale but not for everyone!
I think it does need to be something you can reasonably achieve.
Anyway to the OP.....what's your new "grail”?
michael gould said:
Fatrat said:
michael gould said:
Easty-5 said:
It was a grail at the time. All realistic 'grails' are the same in my opinion. Over time opinions and circumstances change so what was once a grail may no longer be.
I think a grail watch should be something your never likely to own .....your expectations may have changed over the years but your original "grail" was a bit low on the aspirational scale! So what's your "grail" watch now ?"a thing which is eagerly pursued or sought after"
The watch in question may be low on your aspirational scale but not for everyone!
I think it does need to be something you can reasonably achieve.
Anyway to the OP.....what's your new "grail”?
Fatrat said:
michael gould said:
Fatrat said:
michael gould said:
Easty-5 said:
It was a grail at the time. All realistic 'grails' are the same in my opinion. Over time opinions and circumstances change so what was once a grail may no longer be.
I think a grail watch should be something your never likely to own .....your expectations may have changed over the years but your original "grail" was a bit low on the aspirational scale! So what's your "grail" watch now ?"a thing which is eagerly pursued or sought after"
The watch in question may be low on your aspirational scale but not for everyone!
I think it does need to be something you can reasonably achieve.
Anyway to the OP.....what's your new "grail”?
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