Sea Dweller buying advice

[16simon]

I tried asking this on the 'ask an-ex Rolex AD anything' thread but that thread didn't seem to go well so I'll put it here:

I'm looking at two Sea Dwellers, which would you recommend for a newbie Rolex buyer:

2021 private seller on eBay (hence will be authenticated by eBay) with original receipt
2022 dealer on Chrono24 (no authentication but I'd pay partly with credit card for S75 protection)

Both are unworn apparently - I say apparently because one has had the strap resized, and on asking the seller questions about the other it turned out that it was actually worn twice (so in reality maybe more often?). Both have box and papers

The 2022 is +£400.

What do you say Pistonheads?

[Pflanzgarten]

Presumably it all depends on your attitude to risk. Some dealers out there on C24 might be dodgy, how accurate is eBay's authentication considering they won't be opening up the watch to check?

[gregs656]

Find the dealers online presence, email them directly and do a deal.

[16simon]

Thanks both for the replies!

So contacting the dealer directly looks best as I may get a bit more off, plus I have the S75 protection. I can't find a mention of them on the watch forums, but they have solid reviews on Chrono24 / Google / Trustpilot.

[HotJambalaya]

I guess if you're looking into the dealer it should be ok, but I hate that there's no papers. Who the hell loses the papers to a rolex? (in the same year they got it!)

Guess, buy with the CC, but how long do you have to make a claim if it turns out to be dodgy? Like if its a really good fake (or stolen) you might not know for years

[B0bajobbob]

HotJambalaya said:

I guess if you're looking into the dealer it should be ok, but I hate that there's no papers. Who the hell loses the papers to a rolex? (in the same year they got it!)

Guess, buy with the CC, but how long do you have to make a claim if it turns out to be dodgy? Like if its a really good fake (or stolen) you might not know for years

He said both have box and papers.

[Muzzer79]

I wouldn't be paying £x thousand for a Rolex off a private seller on eBay.

I'd go with the dealer and do it in person, with a credit card.

[HotJambalaya]

B0bajobbob said:

He said both have box and papers.

Doh silly me, yeah then thats the one to get

[Yex GTR]

Buying off of Chrono24 would be a better option to me than FleaBay, but it is still not 100% guaranteed to be the real thing.

Given the relative newness of the watches you are looking at I'd be speaking to Dominic at Hackett Watches. He is a well known and 100% trusted supplier of all things wrist like to the PH masses for many years now. Anything he has (or can usually get with a bit of notice) will be the real item with box, papers and full provenance