Inherited Rolex Valuation: Trusted Source?

[The Tempest]

First off, first post and happy to have found this forum. Thanks for having me.

I have a pretty straight forward need and though looked through various areas of the forum, I hadn’t seen an area for valuation.

I have a gold Presidential, that was bought in Switzerland and from what I’ve been told, not exported to the US market. Tried looking it up online and just not seeing any matches.

Can one of you point me in the direction I need to find out more about this watch? Overall pedigree, value?

Thanks for any help.

[Tools]

Market and asking prices can be found all over the Internet and at the many auction sites.

Please look over the headers and stickies about valuations and other guides and restrictions for the discussion boards.

[996marty]

If a valuation is what you are looking for can’t you take it to a local jewellers?

[The Tempest]

Originally Posted by 996marty

If a valuation is what you are looking for can’t you take it to a local jewellers?

Thought of that but question the objectivity of the valuation from a possibly interested party.

[casadecamporolex]

Originally Posted by The Tempest

First off, first post and happy to have found this forum. Thanks for having me.

I have a pretty straight forward need and though looked through various areas of the forum, I hadn’t seen an area for valuation.

I have a gold Presidential, that was bought in Switzerland and from what I’ve been told, not exported to the US market. Tried looking it up online and just not seeing any matches.

Can one of you point me in the direction I need to find out more about this watch? Overall pedigree, value?

Thanks for any help.

Does it have the box and papers?
Not sure if there were Rolex watches restricted by market.
Take a picture and post


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[askdanny]

Take it to a Rolex authorized dealer and ask them to read the reference number from the case (they'll remove the bracelet).

If your "inherited" watch is fake, they'll take care of it for you.

(Sorry for the quotes, my online local ads are full of "inherited Rolex" for sale. So, an inherited Rolex that "was not exported to the US" is a double red flag for me. I hope I'm wrong.)

—Danny

[The Tempest]

Originally Posted by askdanny

Take it to a Rolex authorized dealer and ask them to read the reference number from the case (they'll remove the bracelet).

If your "inherited" watch is fake, they'll take care of it for you.

(Sorry for the quotes, my online local ads are full of "inherited Rolex" for sale. So, an inherited Rolex that "was not exported to the US" is a double red flag for me. I hope I'm wrong.)

—Danny

Definitely not a fake. My father bought it in Switzerland at an authorized Rolex shop in Zurich. Would you say an authorized dealer would provide a legit, market value for it? Or would their price likely be affected by a desire to possibly trade it in on another?

[TimeLord2]

Remove the bracelet to find the reference number for your particular watch between the lugs. Use the reference number to search for comparable watches and the price associated with it.

[brandrea]

Welcome to the forum.

I’d post a picture here to see if someone can assist with the reference. We have international members from all of the world who may be able to assist.

[The Tempest]

Looks like pics are not an option with fewer than 10 posts.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by The Tempest

Looks like pics are not an option with fewer than 10 posts.

You can post pictures … just follow the sizing guidelines, or if you’re anything like me and want to keep it simple, use the Tapatalk App. It’s sizes them for you

[The Tempest]

[The Tempest]

[The Tempest]

Looks like i need a vastly better imaging hosting option, but at least pics now show up.

[garyk]

Originally Posted by The Tempest

Looks like i need a vastly better imaging hosting option, but at least pics now show up.

The dial seems to be very different from any I’ve seen?!

[The Tempest]

[ArtNouveau]

Don’t claim to know much about vintage DayDates but that kind of makes me tgink aftermarket dial at the least.

[The Tempest]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

Don’t claim to know much about vintage DayDates but that kind of makes me tgink aftermarket dial at the least.

Nothing aftermarket about it. It was purchased at a Rolex store in Zurich. Might not have been available in the American market, but 100% factory Rolex it is, that I’m sure of.

[WatchGuy1966]

Originally Posted by The Tempest

Nothing aftermarket about it. It was purchased at a Rolex store in Zurich. Might not have been available in the American market, but 100% factory Rolex it is, that I’m sure of.

I'd be super surprised if that's a factory dial

[The Tempest]

Originally Posted by WatchGuy1966

I'd be super surprised if that's a factory dial

All I can tell you is that it was purchased new, at a Rolex store in Zurich by my father. Two watches were purchased on the same day, one for him, one for my mom. Not pre-owned, brand new.

[Portofino2023]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/14612129304...SABEgIzifD_BwE

[padi56]

Like all watches they are worth what the buyer is willing to pay and if I inherited any watch last thing on my mind would be what it was worth and never seen a dial like that one.

[The Tempest]

Found this service record for this watch. Should narrow things down a bit….

[wilsonpepper]

Agreed Joli, a lot of the value is based on the condition. The watch on e-Bay "looks" to be in significatly better condition than the OP's watch - the the OP pix quality is not good for judging that watches condition.

[Ferrari308]

While it is a Day-Date, it is strangely, not on a President bracelet.


PDG

[ronricks]

Originally Posted by Ferrari308

While it is a Day-Date, it is strangely, not on a President bracelet.


PDG

It’s on an 8385 president bracelet with correct square cutout clasp I’m betting the clasp code is an F or G for a 1982ish 18038.

[ChronoZach]

Op, looks original to me, back in the day Rolex ADs would change a dial or bezel upon request right there on the spot.. The personalized service was second to none.
The DD36 had many different dial configurations, some ADs would change them for display or to make a sale, only Rolex original dials were used.

Although, I have never seen that dial it does not mean it is an aftermarket dial. If you inherited it from your father or someone close to you. This maybe priceless to you.

I would service it and wear it and have it as something to remember them by.

I don't know where you are in Florida, there are many places you can go..or you can use any internet valuation tool there are a few. For value the condition is everything, case , bracelet and the dial.

Cheers

[The Tempest]

Originally Posted by Zach69SS

Op, looks original to me, back in the day Rolex ADs would change a dial or bezel upon request right there on the spot.. The personalized service was second to none.
The DD36 had many different dial configurations, some ADs would change them for display or to make a sale, only Rolex original dials were used.

Although, I have never seen that dial it does not mean it is an aftermarket dial. If you inherited it from your father or someone close to you. This maybe priceless to you.

I would service it and wear it and have it as something to remember them by.

I don't know where you are in Florida, there are many places you can go..or you can use any internet valuation tool there are a few. For value the condition is everything, case , bracelet and the dial.

Cheers

Thanks for the info. My dad definitely bought it as pictured from a Rolex shop in Zurich in the 80’s I believe. Definitely not the kind of guy to tinker with aftermarket stuff. The watch really isn’t my style so I don’t see myself wearing it. I’m not sure what good it will do sitting in a safe for eternity, so I had thought of trading it in towards a Daytona or Sea Dweller. I probably should send it in to have a full service and polishing of the case/bracelet.

Really had no clue what it was worth, but I’d now guess $20K-$25K possibly? No box, just service records and a spare link, so I’m sure that brings the value down to some extent.

ETA: Probably closer to $15K based on the posted listing.

[aczaja10]

OP, please update this thread with pictures of the freshly serviced watch. Make sure to take some high quality before pictures, too. I always forget the before pictures when it comes to stuff like this. I love seeing the transformation.

[Keldw]

Dial is good based on photos. Ruby “String dial” with 8 baguette cut rubies and 28 square diamonds. Quite rare 👍🏻

https://amsterdamvintagewatches.com/...guette-string/

https://loupethis.com/auctions/rolex...nd-string-dial