Rolex 5508

[Roosterfish5]

Hi

I am a new member and own a few GMT (1961 1971 AND 1972)

I am considering a 5508 but the price range seems vast and I have very little knowledge of the watch or values.

Any views or advice welcome

Many thanks

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by Roosterfish5

Hi

I am a new member and own a few GMT (1961 1971 AND 1972)

I am considering a 5508 but the price range seems vast and I have very little knowledge of the watch or values.

Any views or advice welcome

Many thanks

Uhm……. Yeah, sure

[Roosterfish5]

Many thanks for your help I am overwhelmed by your reply and assistance!!

I was not expecting such in depth advice straight away.

One of the GMT just arrived from Jacek (who I presume is well regarded on here) last week and I own the other two

Perhaps this is not the place I thought it was if your typical of the replies but I suspect not..

[zapokee]

Welcome to the forum. Jacek is the man for expertise, trustworthiness and peace of mind. If I were you I'd work with him to get your 5508.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Uhm……. Yeah, sure

??

[1675-David]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Uhm……. Yeah, sure

c’mon Paul, we’re all friends over here in the vintage section

Sound advice from Zapokee, no crown no date subs are a favorite of the faker so it pays to work with a well trusted dealer if you feel the least uncertain

[lennywilkins]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Uhm……. Yeah, sure

Classy.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Uhm……. Yeah, sure

Nice welcome for the new guy

[Roosterfish5]

Why I ask about the 5508 (I was trying to keep it low key) I placed low bids on a leading international auction house auction and won both! $18K. Yes I know you should not bid unless you mean to win and no alcohol was involved but i thought both watches would go for far more!

Need to raid the pension fund and then resell! But I was surprised when I received an email from another leading international auction house asking was I interested in a red sub that was bought at auction but was offered $2000 below the final winning bid.

Is it me been to suspicious that two of the leading and biggest international auction dealers would have "snipe" bidders to drive the price up when auctioned with no reserve?

Welcome any ones thoughts?

[1665fan]

Originally Posted by Roosterfish5

Why I ask about the 5508 (I was trying to keep it low key) I placed low bids on a leading international auction house auction and won both! $18K. Yes I know you should not bid unless you mean to win and no alcohol was involved but i thought both watches would go for far more!

Need to raid the pension fund and then resell! But I was surprised when I received an email from another leading international auction house asking was I interested in a red sub that was bought at auction but was offered $2000 below the final winning bid.

Is it me been to suspicious that two of the leading and biggest to see done pics of international auction dealers would have "snipe" bidders to drive the price up when auctioned with no reserve?

Welcome any ones thoughts?

5508 for 18k????? Something is wrong for sure…. I would run away…let’s see some pics of these subs…

[Roosterfish5]

look at Sothebys 14 Dec auction LOT 16 and 28

One lot dial a bit poor to say the least

I welcome constructive criticism!!

[oysterfisher]

second one seems to be a service dial and Bracelet looks like a 7836 ( not originally for 5508) and the first one´s dial is a bit shiny, isnt it?
Furthermore I don´t think this price is way too far... If you add buyer´s premium and check recent chrono sales, you can see watches in that area...

It depends on every one itself to buy or not to buy,... If you are looking for a collectable 5508 ist good to find one all original and matching,.... The second one at sothebys isnt matching at all and significant parts like the dial and the bracelet are changed through service stuff...

[fmc000]

Service dial and hands on both with inconsistencies between the hour and minute hand, possible water ingress on one, relumed plots or stripped tritium, service insert on one.

I cannot comment on prices but these are clearly not pristine examples, hence the fact that one sold way below the low estimate and the second just above it.

[Dan S]

What's going on with this thread, it is very confusing. At first the OP seems to be asking for advice to buy a 5508. Then later it appears that he has already purchased two of them, but provides no links or photos. Then other members comment on his watches, suggesting that he had originally posted photos but then deleted them? Deceptive, and not cool IMO.

[Roosterfish5]

Dear Dan

I think it is perfectly and abundantly clear. Initially I was asking for some simple advice on 5508 and values as I was trying to exercise discretion. The first reply I will ignore completely and then other members kindly offered advice and I disclosed the fact that I placed low bids on two watches whilst bidding on a red sub. I stopped bidding on the red sub and somehow contrived to win the two 5508. Quite simple really.

Other members have offered their expert opinion on the two watches and picked up the trail and I will have to take up the matter with the auctioneers. I am sorry to have caused you concern but thank the other guys for sound advice.

As I say I was attempting to exercise discretion before I returned to the seller.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Roosterfish5

Dear Dan

I think it is perfectly and abundantly clear. Initially I was asking for some simple advice on 5508 and values as I was trying to exercise discretion. The first reply I will ignore completely and then other members kindly offered advice and I disclosed the fact that I placed low bids on two watches whilst bidding on a red sub. I stopped bidding on the red sub and somehow contrived to win the two 5508. Quite simple really.

Other members have offered their expert opinion on the two watches and picked up the trail and I will have to take up the matter with the auctioneers. I am sorry to have caused you concern but thank the other guys for sound advice.

As I say I was attempting to exercise discretion before I returned to the seller.

Discretion? I would say deception. That's not the best way to introduce yourself into a community IMO. Where are the photos that @oysterfisher and @fmc000 are looking at?

Anyway, how can you return the watches to the "seller" if you bought them in an auction? Buyers need to do their own due diligence about service parts.

[oysterfisher]

Dear Dan, i didnt got pictures .... check out the sothebys results to see them...

[Roosterfish5]

Dear Dan

Have a day off!

Read the thread. Other members kindly managed.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by oysterfisher

Dear Dan, i didnt got pictures .... check out the sothebys results to see them...

Thanks. So you're thinking these two? Auctioneer notes washed dial, relumed dial, service hands.

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auct...-small-crown-a
https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auct...n-james-bond-a

[oysterfisher]

Yes

[subx]

Unfortunately 2 very poor examples of a 5508, hence the low winning bids.

[TheVTCGuy]

Well Rooster my post was definitely wrong, I don’t even remember writing it as I received some bad family-related news last night and was not in the right state of mind. What I should have said was a picture would really help, that’s what I meant with my sarcastic remark. My vintage knowledge is limited but the rest of the guys in here are top-notch. Best of luck!

[Roosterfish5]

Hi Paul

That is fine I hope the family thing works out for you.

I was simply trying to keep the request low key before picking a fight with seller and the other guys have already confirmed what I suspected.

Take care and stay safe

I have to visit San Diego in the next six months or so I will buy you a cool beer!

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by subx

Unfortunately 2 very poor examples of a 5508, hence the low winning bids.

I guess it's obvious that you can't buy a collector-quality 5508 for $20k at a Sotheby's auction, and that was apparent from the photos and condition reports.

[Juhuatai]

? Did you even read the condition report. It’s all laid out in there. You have no recourse if you bought from Sothebys.

[Kingface66]

What I don’t understand is what you’re asking. You’ve acknowledged in your first post that 5508 price ranges vary. (They do). Then, a day later, you wound up winning two far-less-than-stellar examples (one with a washed dial and replacement hands the other with a replaced bezel insert, if I read correctly) for a total of (at least what the auction house posted as the selling price) for $45,000+. Which is no small sum! So….now is your goal to try and resell these unfortunate examples? I’m just trying to sort this out

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

What I don’t understand is what you’re asking. You’ve acknowledged in your first post that 5508 price ranges vary. (They do). Then, a day later, you wound up winning two far-less-than-stellar examples (one with a washed dial and replacement hands the other with a replaced bezel insert, if I read correctly) for a total of (at least what the auction house posted as the selling price) for $45,000+. Which is no small sum! So….now is your goal to try and resell these unfortunate examples? I’m just trying to sort this out

The OP won these auctions last month. The first post was just pretense.

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by Dan S

The OP won these auctions last month. The first post was just pretense.

Oy vey

[vintagetudor]

im lost

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by Roosterfish5

Hi

I am a new member and own a few GMT (1961 1971 AND 1972)

I am considering a 5508 but the price range seems vast and I have very little knowledge of the watch or values.

Alright. I'm going to be optimistic and believe that somebody who already owns 1961, 1971, AND 1972 GMTs - but has never posted on the forum before - isn't a troll and for some reason has limited Google skills. Hope I'm right for the sake of humanity.