How much value does original paperwork add to a watch

[yichuan1189]

Looking at a 16800 vintage watch with the complete set.

Original Receipt,
Original Sale's person's business card.
Original Warrenty card.
Original Box.
Original Ancher .
All serviced paperwork

I understand the watch with decent condition worth between 7-8k without any paper

[offrdmania]

Not a ton IMO, it just helps with authenticating the watch and its provenance. Maybe $500-700

[springer]

My perspective is somewhat different than Matt's response. There are many factors involved in pricing complete sets. Since this is the vintage section, my response is relegated to the vintage watches.

Some of the factors to consider in pricing a complete vintage sets are: age, model type, rarity and condition of the watch. There are certainly other factors but these are some of the basic conditions to consider.

Normally, a complete set found on one of the desirable and often collected vintage models can normally be found to be as low as 10% or more commonly 25% to 50% premium - sometimes even more.

As an example, consider a very nice GMT from the late 1960s with a Mark I dial and full tritium dial and hands. It has the correct bracelet, bezel insert and shows very nice. Let's say this watch comes without any extras and sells for $20,000. Now, throw in a complete set that is comparable to the same watch and expect to pay $25,000 or more.

As far as a premium for a Submariner 16800 set goes, more information would be needed to properly evaluate the premium. Start with whether it is matte or glossy model and proceed from there. Without more information and photos of the set, a proper evaluation would not be possible.

[Dan S]

First things first. Let’s see the condition of the watch.

[springer]

Originally Posted by yichuan1189

Looking at a 16800 vintage watch with the complete set.

Original Receipt,
Original Sale's person's business card.
Original Warrenty card.
Original Box.
Original Ancher .
All serviced paperwork

I understand the watch with decent condition worth between 7-8k without any paper

Based on what you listed, that is not a complete set. Please refer to my other response.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by yichuan1189

Looking at a 16800 vintage watch with the complete set.

. . .

I understand the watch with decent condition worth between 7-8k without any paper

16800's are fairly common. Early matte dials are more desirable from a collector perspective, and from there condition then everything else.

One cannot simply say "It has lots of paperwork, therefore worth xx more". A mint matte dial without paper could easily be worth more than an average surround dial with papers.

To me, if you are a collector, choose what you are collecting and get as close to what you want as you can afford, but you shouldn't wear true collector watches much or that value will suffer over time.

If you are an enthusiast and like to wear your stuff, get the best deal on the best condition watch and don't put too much emphasis on peripherals.

[offrdmania]

I was basing my reply off of a model 16800. If it was a much more rare model, then the price would be considerably different

[illiguy]

For certain models, it is vital. For example, a Ref 16610LV with green bezel. Would not want this watch without paperwork.

Condition remains paramount

[joli160]

For a 5 digit it would be a must have for me

[tcold]

Have had the Rolex 16800 all day every day for over 30 years. Rolex 16800 cost $1,325 in 1983. Now they are going for $7-8k. I would say it's worth every penny.

[0nly5iv3Digits]

I won’t buy any rolex that doesn’t come as a full set.

Nothing worse than taking your watch in to Rolex for an overhaul only to find out that it’s been seized due to having been reported stolen…

It’s less to do with authentication, more to provide piece of mind that the piece isn’t (likely) stolen.

[swish77]

Perhaps not as frequent as "What is considered vintage?" this question about B&P seems to be more and more popular nowadays ....

Yes, boxes, papers and correct accessories are important to many collectors. Yes, they add value, in some cases, a lot, but there's no exact science on a percentage of added value. (The condition of the watch is still paramount). The good news is if B&P are not important to you, look for a naked watch and save some money.

Personally, I love all the bits and pieces that originally came with a vintage Rolex, the same way I love having all the original paperwork and manuals with a vintage/classic Porsche or a vintage Gibson. The collector world values stuff like that.

[TuRo]

Rightly or wrongly between 15-40% depending on model, year, value, rarity.

[BNA/LION]

$500 is probably the average.

[HarryLime]

Totally disagree that it "authenticates" the watch. We've all see the stamps and presses, stacks and stacks of blank period correct papers being sold. Authenticate the watch based on the watch itself.

[fizz]

I subscribe to this point of view:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsV5jqUubP4

[jamesbondOO7]

Originally Posted by HarryLime

Totally disagree that it "authenticates" the watch. We've all see the stamps and presses, stacks and stacks of blank period correct papers being sold. Authenticate the watch based on the watch itself.

Yes

[Qinhan]

Originally Posted by 0nly5iv3Digits

I won’t buy any rolex that doesn’t come as a full set.

Nothing worse than taking your watch in to Rolex for an overhaul only to find out that it’s been seized due to having been reported stolen…

It’s less to do with authentication, more to provide piece of mind that the piece isn’t (likely) stolen.

Rolex are seizing watches they believe are stolen?

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by 0nly5iv3Digits

It’s less to do with authentication, more to provide piece of mind that the piece isn’t (likely) stolen.

Hang on. Are you saying that Rolexes without papers are likely stolen?

[0nly5iv3Digits]

Originally Posted by Qinhan

Rolex are seizing watches they believe are stolen?

Yes. If a watch comes in to an RSC that has been listed as “stolen”, the watch will be seized.

The mere thought of this alone used to keep me up at night.

Only full set pieces for me now. You never know when you’ll need to send an older piece into RSC for a proprietary part/s

[Dan S]

If you are afraid to buy a vintage watch without papers for fear that it is stolen, you would qualify as EXTREMELY risk averse.

[Gaijin]

Where I live? A lot!

People are real real sticklers for a complete set. You might be slightly forgiven for missing a booklet. But no papers or matching tags will be a straight no go or a strong way to lowball you.

They also are rarely seen being sold in a Grey if they don’t have papers and tags. Unless they are very vintage. Even then it reduces the price significantly.

[Tools]

Folks who try to put a number value are mistaken, it just doesn't work that way.

A used watch is an entire package, especially to a collector. If the watch is an excellent to mint example, then paper and provenance can be very valuable and bring up its rarity-value.

If the watch is trash, all the paper in the world isn't going to make it a good collector investment, it is little more than lipstick.

When you are looking at a promising watch you take in the condition, then everything else.