S/H Rolex, does age matter?

[g40steve]

Newbie asking advice.
Are the older models as good as the newer ones?
Toying with either Sub, SD or GMT.
SD is fav as i'm not keen on cyclops, being Omega owner.
Would an auction house be a good place to start looking?
Whats a ball park figure of either above?
How much is a service on Rolex these days?
Sorry for all questions but thought here was a good place to ask

[BigAlinEmbra]

Can't answer all the q's, but if you can live without date then a no-date Sub might be of interest to you.

[andy tims]

Are the older models as good as the newer ones? - How much older?
Toying with either Sub, SD or GMT.
SD is fav as i'm not keen on cyclops, being Omega owner. Sub obviously gives date + no cyclops.
Would an auction house be a good place to start looking? Only if you're after something rare.
Whats a ball park figure of either above? What age / how rare?
How much is a service on Rolex these days? Regular movement service / polish up circa £300.

Edited by andy tims on Thursday 14th October 15:06

[nogsk]

Have a 98 no date Sub. Has never been serviced as current service time is about 13 weeks or longer as Rolex moving head office( or were, that was a while back ).
Still looks great, bracelet a little worn but OK. Loses, Gains approx 1second per day.

[aeropilot]

g40steve said:

Are the older models as good as the newer ones?

Yes.
Some might argue better....

Age shouldn't be the issue, condition is everything (plus having documentation/boxes etc.,)

g40steve said:

SD is fav as i'm not keen on cyclops, being Omega owner.

As has been said, no-date Sub is a good option, unless you don't mind the extra weight/thickness of a SD.

g40steve said:

Would an auction house be a good place to start looking?

Best to start looking at the various specialists that trade in used/nearly new etc., such as...

http://www.blowers-jewellers.co.uk/

http://www.hackettwatches.com/

http://www.watches.co.uk/

http://www.watchesofdistinction.com/

[Gazzab]

Re service prices - took my Tudor Sub Snowflake for a service and clean up etc to a watch place in Clerkenwell and have been quoted £140. There was a CID (?) guy in there this week who was getting a number of 'ex-stolen' watches looked at who told me some horror stories re 'head office servicing'. So I am sticking with an independent horologist type. Hopefully its a good decision.

[G20RG B]

Gazzab said:

Re service prices - took my Tudor Sub Snowflake for a service and clean up etc to a watch place in Clerkenwell and have been quoted £140. There was a CID (?) guy in there this week who was getting a number of 'ex-stolen' watches looked at who told me some horror stories re 'head office servicing'. So I am sticking with an independent horologist type. Hopefully its a good decision.

I do exactly the same my Rolex GMT has been serviced twice by my Local Rolex dealer full service and polish up comes in at about £160-200 and its only away for 4 days. The guy who services it is trained by Rolex and services and repairs all there trade in's.

George

[aeropilot]

Gazzab said:

There was a CID (?) guy in there this week who was getting a number of 'ex-stolen' watches looked at who told me some horror stories re 'head office servicing'. So I am sticking with an independent horologist type. Hopefully its a good decision.

I've used Rolex UK service centre for past 25 years and had excellent service each time.... watch comes back like new.

[Gazzab]

Am sure you are right aero but I guess there is always a couple of urban legends etc... My Sub (tudor) is pretty old and I dont want to give to some faceless person who could possibly replace original parts.

[g40steve]

So budget wise what am I looking at?

2-3K or above?

[dustybottoms]

g40steve said:

So budget wise what am I looking at?

2-3K or above?

It really goes back to the first reply that was posted when you started this thread...how old a Rolex are you looking for?

2-3k without being model specific will get you a nice fairly recent gloss dial Sub with box and papers. Not so easy to get an older vintage matte dial sub in that price range, it won't have papers and will more than likely be due a service. You will usually need somewhere between £3-4k for a vintage loose sub.