The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX


Go Back   Rolex Forums - Rolex Watch Forum > Rolex & Tudor Watch Topics > Vintage Rolex Discussion

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 7 October 2014, 03:05 PM   #1
Comacho
"TRF" Member
 
Comacho's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: texas
Watch: Submariner 168000
Posts: 265
My First Rolex... acquired in the DEAL OF THE CENTURY!

Ok so this is the cliff notes version of how I acquired a watch I've coveted for 20 years and story I just have to share...I never dreamed of falling into a deal like this.

So I get a call from a good friend Friday night about 8 o'clock. After we exchange pleasantries he says to me "hey, how much do you know about Rolex's? I reply "well ironically, more than you're average person on the street". As it turns out he knows an old man ( as described to me) that has been selling off all kinds of stuff he doesn't need. Guns mostly but he has a "watch". I say go on... As he tries to describe the watch I can't believe what I'm hearing. I interrupt "if the next words out of your mouth are Submariner..." he says THAT'S IT! Ive been trying to remember and I kept thinking Sub-Auqa. I say on my way...

So at 9 o'clock in the evening I head out cash in hand. No clue of the asking price, whether or not its real, beat to hell, or a Genuine Folex purchased from a shady guy in a trench coat.

We finally hook up with the "old man" of no more that 60 yrs. old <-- (sounding younger and younger all the time, but I digress). He opens a rusty old truck, and takes out a canvas bag, He opens the canvas bag and takes out an outer box, he opens the outer box and takes out a watch box, he opens the watch box and takes out a watch...

then he proceeds to hand me me the box, warranty card, booklets, extra links, and the original receipt all for my inspection. It all matches up and his name (who my friend has know him by for a couple years I think) is on all the paperwork, Holy crap! it's a 16800 from about 1986 or so. I use my best poker face to not FREAK THE F**K OUT! I ask him calmly "so how much are you looking to get for it"?


















$900.00 dollars later I'm a happy happy man.

Comacho
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 20141006_232019.jpg (112.9 KB, 1169 views)
File Type: jpg 20141006_232948.jpg (169.5 KB, 1163 views)
File Type: jpg 20141006_233407.jpg (105.8 KB, 1161 views)
File Type: jpg 20141006_231959.jpg (118.1 KB, 1164 views)
Comacho is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 03:10 PM   #2
Frogdog
"TRF" Member
 
Frogdog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Kentucky
Watch: u talknbout Willis
Posts: 688
Congrats! I would say you did well! 👍
Frogdog is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 04:16 PM   #3
shay2nak
"TRF" Member
 
shay2nak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Calipornia
Watch: 116610LN & 311.006
Posts: 586
wow, congrats.


too good to be true?
shay2nak is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 04:34 PM   #4
Rogdogg
"TRF" Member
 
Rogdogg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Bangkok
Posts: 6,117
Now you should send it out for a full service. If it comes back all well and good then you got yourself one great deal.
Rogdogg is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 04:58 PM   #5
Passionata
"TRF" Member
 
Passionata's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: N/A
Watch: the girls
Posts: 7,095
Great deal ,congrats!
__________________
Best
George

"Also remember that feet don't get fat and a watch will always speak volumes." Robert Johnston
---------------------
*new*https://youtu.be/EljAF-uddhE *new *

http://youtu.be/ZmpLoO1Q8eQ
IG @passionata1
Passionata is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 05:03 PM   #6
dysondiver
"TRF" Member
 
dysondiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Real Name: tom
Location: northern ireland
Watch: my fins
Posts: 10,063
welcome to the forum ,, great start by the sounds of things.
dysondiver is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 05:11 PM   #7
padi56
"TRF" Life Patron
 
padi56's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Real Name: Peter
Location: Llanfairpwllgwyng
Watch: ing you.
Posts: 52,116
Yes a good deal for you but a sad deal for the old guy who did not know the value of his watch.
__________________

ICom Pro3

All posts are my own opinion and my opinion only.

"The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you actually own the time, Place no faith in time, for the clock may soon be still for ever."
Good Judgement comes from experience,experience comes from Bad Judgement,.Buy quality, cry once; buy cheap, cry again and again.

www.mc0yad.club

Second in command CEO and left handed watch winder
padi56 is online now  
Old 7 October 2014, 05:13 PM   #8
MonBK
Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Kingstown
Posts: 58,281
What model was the "rusty old truck"?
MonBK is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 05:32 PM   #9
Old Expat Beast
TRF Moderator & 2024 Patron
 
Old Expat Beast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Adam
Location: Hong Kong
Watch: SEIKO
Posts: 28,262
No offence, but I'd tone it down if I'd just straight-faced an old guy out of a few grand.
Old Expat Beast is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 06:12 PM   #10
Scoobs
"TRF" Member
 
Scoobs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Real Name: David
Location: Sydney
Watch: Daytona & Sub C
Posts: 206
I am not sure I could take advantage of someone like that, but that's just me. To each their own....
Scoobs is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 06:49 PM   #11
Vincent65
"TRF" Member
 
Vincent65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 14,293
good for you
Vincent65 is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 06:54 PM   #12
Andad
2024 Pledge Member
 
Andad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Real Name: Eddie
Location: Australia
Watch: A few.
Posts: 36,692
Unusual first post.

It's easy for a seller to value any item in this day and age.

You got a good deal I think.
__________________
E

Andad is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 07:04 PM   #13
crowncollection
"TRF" Member
 
crowncollection's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Real Name: David
Location: australia
Posts: 20,152
Great stuff well done congrats
__________________
watches many
crowncollection is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 07:28 PM   #14
nickb732
"TRF" Member
 
nickb732's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Real Name: Nicholas
Location: UK
Posts: 2,630
Awesome! Congrats. $900, what a bargain!
__________________


Nick
nickb732 is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 07:40 PM   #15
Jason71
"TRF" Member
 
Jason71's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Real Name: Jason
Location: USA
Watch: Rolex/Tudor Divers
Posts: 7,973
Quote:
Originally Posted by padi56 View Post
Yes a good deal for you but a sad deal for the old guy who did not know the value of his watch.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast View Post
No offence, but I'd tone it down if I'd just straight-faced an old guy out of a few grand.


You could have at least offered him $2,500 for it. That would have given you some room for service and it would have still been well below market price. I personally don't like taking advantage of people.
__________________
Best Regards,
Jason


Just Say "NO" to Polishing
Card-Carrying Member of the Global Association of Retro-Grouch Curmudgeons
LIfe is too short to wear inexpensive watches
PLEXI IS SEXY
Jason71 is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 07:49 PM   #16
joe100
2024 Pledge Member
 
joe100's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Real Name: Joe
Location: New Mexico
Watch: Explorer
Posts: 12,752
Quote:
Originally Posted by padi56 View Post
Yes a good deal for you but a sad deal for the old guy who did not know the value of his watch.
Yeah, I have to agree.

You wouldn't have wanted that to happen to you. I'm sure you could have worked out an amazing deal regardless but $900 feels like you might have taken advantage of the situation to a high degree
__________________
It's Espresso, not Expresso. Coffee is not a train in Italy.
-TRF Member 6982-
joe100 is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 08:48 PM   #17
buenosdias
"TRF" Member
 
buenosdias's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: SeB
Location: Germany
Watch: MaD_aT_gMt
Posts: 1,219
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason71 View Post


You could have at least offered him $2,500 for it. That would have given you some room for service and it would have still been well below market price. I personally don't like taking advantage of people.
100% agree, Jason
__________________
aLL ThE BeSt, SeB

buenosdiasone on instagram
buenosdias is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 08:59 PM   #18
brandrea
2024 Pledge Member
 
brandrea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Brian (TBone)
Location: canada
Watch: es make me smile
Posts: 73,114
Welcome to TRF.
I have a GMTC for sale ........ But I'm looking to get more than $900
brandrea is online now  
Old 7 October 2014, 09:03 PM   #19
jollerbarn
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Real Name: Jesper
Location: Denmark
Watch: out for scammers!
Posts: 365
Quote:
Originally Posted by jason71 View Post


You could have at least offered him $2,500 for it. That would have given you some room for service and it would have still been well below market price. I personally don't like taking advantage of people.
+1
jollerbarn is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 09:11 PM   #20
jmiicustomz
"TRF" Member
 
jmiicustomz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Real Name: John
Location: North Carolina
Watch: 1953 pre explorer
Posts: 2,758
Since we are talking deal of the century, I will with some reluctance pay you a grand for it. You will have made a quick bill and will also find out what its like to be taken advantage of and then I can post a thread to a similar extent and get bashed too. Everyone wins!

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2
jmiicustomz is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 09:17 PM   #21
HERITAGE82
"TRF" Member
 
HERITAGE82's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: South Florida
Posts: 3,418
I think you did fantastic and would have done the same thing!.... The whole "moral" aspect of this thread is silly. Considering nobody cared or made judgements on the "garage sale find" guy who paid $40 for a Rolex.

When someone is selling something and tells me a price there is no way I am going to say "NO NO This item is worth much more let me educate you"
__________________
- Rolex Explorer - 214270
- Tudor Black Bay - 79230B
- Tudor Chronograph - 79270P
- Breitling Chronomat - 10th Anniv.
- Huguenin Freres Speedmaster Prototype
HERITAGE82 is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 09:28 PM   #22
joe100
2024 Pledge Member
 
joe100's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Real Name: Joe
Location: New Mexico
Watch: Explorer
Posts: 12,752
Quote:
Originally Posted by QCASANOVA View Post
I think you did fantastic and would have done the same thing!.... The whole "moral" aspect of this thread is silly. Considering nobody cared or made judgements on the "garage sale find" guy who paid $40 for a Rolex.

When someone is selling something and tells me a price there is no way I am going to say "NO NO This item is worth much more let me educate you"
There is a difference between taking a risk on a watch you aren't sure is even real and having to act right then and there, than to know and say nothing.
__________________
It's Espresso, not Expresso. Coffee is not a train in Italy.
-TRF Member 6982-
joe100 is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 09:38 PM   #23
joli160
2024 Pledge Member
 
joli160's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: NL
Watch: Yachtmaster
Posts: 14,279
Obviously the rusty truck owner was urgently in need for quick cash.
Paying 900 does not seem right to me, this watch would leave me with a bad taste in my mouth whenever I would use it. There is more in life than
money
__________________
Day Date 18238, Yachtmaster 16622, Deepsea 116660, Submariner 116619, SkyD 326935, DJ 178271, DJ 69158, Yachtmaster 169622, GMT 116713LN, GMT 126711.
joli160 is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 09:44 PM   #24
Im Lauf der Zeit
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,000
Quote:
Originally Posted by joli160 View Post
Paying 900 does not seem right to me, this watch would leave me with a bad taste in my mouth whenever I would use it. There is more in life than money.
Well said.
Im Lauf der Zeit is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 09:45 PM   #25
mjclark32
"TRF" Member
 
mjclark32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Real Name: MJC
Location: PHL USA
Watch: IWC, Rolex, AP
Posts: 29,232
Welcome and congrats!
__________________
mjclark32 is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 09:56 PM   #26
swish77
2024 Pledge Member
 
swish77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Real Name: Aaron
Location: CT/NYC
Watch: ing the time!
Posts: 6,772
Tough call. We all look for bargains, whether it's Ebay or a pawn shop, but on a face-to-face like this it's a little different. I'd probably have pointed out that the watch was undervalued, but easy to say after the fact. Also, I don't consider 60 to be that old any more. It's not as if he was 90 and helpless. The guy could have Googled the watch and realized within seconds what he had. It's interesting that the original owner seemingly had no clue but kept all the bits and pieces of the watch as if he was a collector or watch lover. Hmmmm .... As for the watch itself, looks very nice, but is that spotting on the dial? Case looks great, maybe unpolished?
swish77 is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 10:15 PM   #27
Robbyvm
"TRF" Member
 
Robbyvm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Belgium
Posts: 2,239
i believe that both parties are somewhat responsible for what happened

the seller is 60 years onld and lives in 2014... it is not difficult to get an estimate of the value of material items (like a Rolex for example)
--> do your homework if you don't want to get screwed

The buyer who knows he is getting an item far below market value
i do not want the preach moral but if you can live with the fact that you bought it for this price, good for you... i would have difficulty with it. A bargain is one thing, this is not a bargain anymore

and now, enjoy the watch !
Robbyvm is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 10:19 PM   #28
PoderEsBueno
"TRF" Member
 
PoderEsBueno's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Real Name: peb
Location: Istanbul
Posts: 3,145
Congrats
PoderEsBueno is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 10:23 PM   #29
V.lats97nsx
2024 Pledge Member
 
V.lats97nsx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Syracuse
Posts: 3,838
What would happen if you offered the guy 2500. If I was the seller and was selling something and someone offered me almost triple of my asking price my first instict would be " its probably worth a heck more since this guy is offering me only 3 times my asking price" then I would think maybe its worth 10 times hmmmm. Sometimes better to keep your mouth shut.
V.lats97nsx is offline  
Old 7 October 2014, 10:39 PM   #30
andromeda160
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Real Name: Greg
Location: michigan
Watch: Rolex Oyster
Posts: 4,046
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason71 View Post


You could have at least offered him $2,500 for it. That would have given you some room for service and it would have still been well below market price. I personally don't like taking advantage of people.
Says the guy who paid $1000 for a sea dweller, from a jeweler who paid $300. Don't see you concerned about the thousands the original owner of your watch was screwed out of.


You got a great deal, just because there's a market value for something, doesn't mean everyone's going to know it. This just goes to show how true the old saying "knowledge is valuable" is. A Rolex dealer won't even tell you if a Rolex is real or fake for free, so why should you give a free authentication & appraisal when you're buying one.

Plenty of people have gone to a jeweler who were sold an engagement ring for $12k saying it was appraised for $15k only to find out you can only get $3k for it after you walk out the door. And rarely do any of them say anything, because they were content with the purchase they made at the time. Just as the seller was content with the purchase price in this scenario.

The seller clearly didn't do any research and he got screwed, that's life. Who sells a car without looking at bluebook? No one, so why would someone sell an asset such as a Rolex without looking it up. He could've easily gotten quoted from a pawn shop, could've spent a few bucks on an appraisal, even googled 1980's submariner and he would've seen the approximate value. I wouldn't feel bad about getting a good deal. If you would've clued him in to anywhere near the value I guarantee he would've demanded top dollar. There's been a few watches I was going to buy, I felt the seller was asking too little, made them a better offer and was refused the watch because they were going to try and get more. Time to buy is when you see it, cash in hand, being a nice guy doesn't always pay off, especially in this industry.
andromeda160 is offline  
Closed Thread


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Takuya Watches

Bobs Watches

Asset Appeal

My Watch LLC

OCWatches

DavidSW Watches

Coronet


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.