Buying a vintage Rolex - possibly stupid questions...

[pluto_scorp]

Can anyone advise. When looking at online ad's they sometimes state original hands / dial - does that just mean they are right for the age of the watch i.e. may not be original to the watch? does the bracelet have a code stamped on it that matches one on the case? oh and why do I keep seeing people talk about the serial no. e.g. 2.44mil serial number - I don't understand the importance? there seems to be a considerable increase in price for a watch with recent service papers - more than I imagine it would cost to service a watch - any opinions? what discount should you expect to get when approaching a dealer with a store?

Any opinions would be appreciated. btw i am looking at GMT 1675's.

[jedly1]

Originally Posted by pluto_scorp

Can anyone advise. When looking at online ad's they sometimes state original hands / dial - does that just mean they are right for the age of the watch i.e. may not be original to the watch? does the bracelet have a code stamped on it that matches one on the case? oh and why do I keep seeing people talk about the serial no. e.g. 2.44mil serial number - I don't understand the importance? there seems to be a considerable increase in price for a watch with recent service papers - more than I imagine it would cost to service a watch - any opinions? what discount should you expect to get when approaching a dealer with a store?

Any opinions would be appreciated. btw i am looking at GMT 1675's.

original dial/ hands means exactly what it says, but is sometimes 'stretched' to mean original in the sense' made by rolex .i. original rolex manufacture. this you want to avoid, you want a piece with the correct original style matching dial and tritium hand for the age of the watch - this is where serial comes in as it dates the watch to its approximate year of manufacture.

the bracelet has a code to denote which style it is, which end links are fitted and often either a date / or code to denote the date.

service papers validate and authenticate the watch to a degree, with a service in the £300-550 region and often a long period to wait some are happy to pay a premium for the peace of mind they bring.


discount... how long is a piece of string, dealer attitude, good day /bad day how long stocked etc etc etc

[pluto_scorp]

Originally Posted by jedly1

original dial/ hands means exactly what it says, but is sometimes 'stretched' to mean original in the sense' made by rolex .i. original rolex manufacture. this you want to avoid, you want a piece with the correct original style matching dial and tritium hand for the age of the watch - this is where serial comes in as it dates the watch to its approximate year of manufacture.

the bracelet has a code to denote which style it is, which end links are fitted and often either a date / or code to denote the date.

service papers validate and authenticate the watch to a degree, with a service in the £300-550 region and often a long period to wait some are happy to pay a premium for the peace of mind they bring.


discount... how long is a piece of string, dealer attitude, good day /bad day how long stocked etc etc etc

Thanks jedly1 - valuable advice.

[cronin]

Recent service papers can also be an indication the watch has been well cared for which is especially important with a vintage timepiece.

[Kokyuryoku]

If there is no proof of service you should probably asume that it needs to be done.

[smoken]

how often should a vintage be serviced?

[Renoir]

Originally Posted by smoken

how often should a vintage be serviced?

I would say between 5 - 7 years, depending on how much it is worn. Just my opinion.

Kokyuryoku makes a good point, whenever I buy vintage or preowned, I have them serviced for peace of mind.

Good luck, the 1675 is a great and iconic piece!