Who here owns a ROLEX?

[Swiss Man]

I have a friend that has a ROLEX submariner that he is wanting to sell. He bought it 5 years ago.

The trouble is he has no cert. or papers or receipt, now he is a trustworthy guy but who he got it from I don't know,
and the jeweler that said it was real; is more a clock repair not a watchmaker.

He is wanting $500.00 I am thinking about making the deal with the stipulation that I take it to a Rolex dealer and have them verified it
if it is a fake then I get my money back.

I am really hoping that it's real, that would be an incredible offer and after all these years of saying "whoever would pay that much for a watch is out of their mind" now I kinda understand espically after I visited the Rolex site and saw their operation.

www.rolex.com

Am I starting down a slippery slope like SAKs...

[american lockpicker]

Unless you know for a fact its stolen don't buy a Rolex for $500.

[I'm Still Bison]

I can barely afford to own pics of Rolexes.Does your friend know anything of it's background?

[nuphoria]

You know what they say about things that are too god to be true!

[Swiss Man]

He owns and operates a pawn shop so he gets deals all the time.

I am not saying he never has accepted stolen stuff but I truly beleive that if he did, he did it without knowing about it.

This is a guy that if I need to borrow money for vaction or a bill he will just loan it to me with no interest or colleratal.

I trust him I just don't know where it came from.

[Crouton]

Make sure it's truly mechanical, many el-cheapo fake Rolexes have quartz movements and as such don't have the smooth sweep of the second hand of a real Rolex.  

There are also some medium quality mechanical Rolex replicas out there that do a decent job of fooling most people.

In general if it's in good shape and it's only $500 it's probably not authentic.

If he is a good friend he won't mind letting you borrow it to have it authenticated at a Rolex authorized dealer.

I personally have never bought into the Rolex hype.  It's a quality watch but it's the watch that everyone buys to show off and to express a certain status.  I like what I like and I never buy anything to impress anyone else.  I'd rather have a Grand Seiko anyday.

[cgk]

I have a Rolex, I got it a few years ago in Jamaica, I paid $20 for it.   What?  Well it says Rolex so it must be real!  If this guy is a stand-up gent, then he should let you take it to get authenticated BEFORE you give him the $500.

[Anthony]

Wether or not it's real, it might attract unwanted attention.

You can do a lot with $500...

[american lockpicker]

I once bought a real 18K gold Omega constellation (non working) for $0.10 at a yard sale and sold it for $200. So if its real and you can resale it do it.

[Benner]

Don't have one, but would love one. 

[Leatherman123]

I had a Rolex about three years ago.. I sold it, and I ended up getting a Panerai.. The Panerai is a fantastic watch; one of the best IMO..

[hawkchucker]

Remember theyh are also serialized on the case and they will notify the athorities when it is serviced.

[Pacu]

Either way you will have a good story to tell the young ones.

[duckman1975]

I bought a 5 dollar GOLEX is China, does it count

[american lockpicker]

I have a timex made in Great Britain.

[Benner]

I bought a 5 dollar GOLEX is China, does it count

LOL! 

Years ago, I was given a watch that was meant to be a Tag, but it had Gav Sport written on it instead. 

[eodtech]

I have had several real ones, take the watch to a Rolex dealer for an appraisal, then you will know for sure. The counterfiet Rolex being produced today have all the "visual" marks - crown on stem, sweep second hand as well as the proper weight - a dealer knows for sure. 20 years ago you could spot them a mile away.

PS: Look for old empty Rolex boxes ( wood ones preferred) at flea markets.  I have sold a number of them on eBay for over $100!