Be careful when buying pre-owned rolex

[JackPine]

I recently purchased a pre-owned Rolex from an AD who sells new Rolex watches as well as pre-owned watches. It was a watch I have always wanted and finally found one that was in very good condition. It was a watch that supposedly was made in the late 1980s or early 1990s. I was told repeatedly that the watch was an authentic Rolex but new Rolex parts. When I received the watch, I knew immediately it was not a real Rolex, it was a fake! These were the give-aways:
1) I looked too new, it did not look pre-owned.
2)It did not feel like a Rolex. For those of you who own a Rolex watch you know there is a certain feel they have including weight.
3) The hallmarks on the bracelet were there but when I looked at with my loops the detail was poor.
4) The numbers on the calendar dial were not crisp and were rounded.
5) The ticking noise was very faint to not at all. My other three Rolex watches as well at two Tudor watches have a obvious tick sound when you hold them close to your ear.

Fortunately, I was able to return the watch and was given a full refund. I am thankful of that. I did not think that authourized dealer in new Rolex watches could sell fake pre-owned. When I read their pre-owned watch disclaimer
it says that they try their best to verify and authenticate their pre-owned watch inventory. I think this is their "way out" so- to -speak, for not guaranteeing that the watch is real.

My advice, be very careful when pre-owned. Unfortunately, you can not take their word that its real.

Cheers

[blown5.0]

Thats scary, but thanks for the headsup there.

[moyski]

Originally Posted by JackPine

1) I looked too new, it did not look pre-owned.

2)It did not feel like a Rolex. For those of you who own a Rolex watch you know there is a certain feel they have including weight.

5) The ticking noise was very faint to not at all. My other three Rolex watches as well at two Tudor watches have a obvious tick sound when you hold them close to your ear.

1. watch could just have been polished, which may explain poor detail of the hallmarks

2. weight is not one of the means of distinguishing fakes. compared to modern Rolex, vintage Rolex actually feels cheap, specially the bracelet

5. i’m not sure how being able to hear the ticking noise proves authenticity

anyway, good to know you were able to return the watch. best lesson here is, if you’re not comfortable with your purchase, get your money back!

[cdmorenot]

I'm glad you were able to get a refund but jeez, that's scary. Does this mean the AD was taken for a ride ? If so, we're all doomed.

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[hai.tranhr]

It's a big suprice. AD sells pre-owned Rolex?

[peterpl]

If your buying a 1980s model Rolex its going to feel cheap and tinny. Thats normal for that era Rolex.

[fishingbear]

A Rolex authorized dealer would never compromise itself by selling non-authentic watches. We don’t discuss fake watches on the forum, buying Pre-Owned is a very well known buyer beware/extreme caution scenario.
Not sure what the purpose of this thread is otherwise.

[cdmorenot]

Originally Posted by hai.tranhr

It's a big suprice. AD sells pre-owned Rolex?

While uncommon, it is OKAY. They must be authorized by Rolex to do so. I don't know the full list of requirements but I have been told they're strict.

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[D O C]

I'm not trying to rip you but...if you knew immediately it was fake then why did you buy it? And thus necessitating a full refund.

[JackPine]

Originally Posted by D O C

I'm not trying to rip you but...if you knew immediately it was fake then why did you buy it? And thus necessitating a full refund.

Because I sincerely thought I was purchasing a real Rolex. The edges of the bracelt were very sharp and crisp with very fine edges. It did not looked polished but brand new. It had a cheap plastic rapper over the dial.

[Geo444]

That’s scary, I bought a watch recently CPO from a AD. Hopefully it wasn’t Tourneau.


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[ttnpb]

Did you ever confirm it was fake? I have a 16800, and it feels a million times different than a modern 6 digit. You likely just got underwhelmed and assumed fake.

[JackPine]

Originally Posted by ttnpb

Did you ever confirm it was fake? I have a 16800, and it feels a million times different than a modern 6 digit. You likely just got underwhelmed and assumed fake.

The hallmarks on the bracelet were the first give away for me ( it was a PM watch). You can tell they tried hard to make it right but the lines were crooked and detail was there but poor at best. The watch did not look polished so the details on the hallmarks were not polished away.

[JackPine]

Originally Posted by Geo444

That’s scary, I bought a watch recently CPO from a AD. Hopefully it wasn’t Tourneau.


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No, It was not from them.

[MinMay]

i thought AD can't sell used watch? Are you sure it's AD?

[JackPine]

Originally Posted by ttnpb

Did you ever confirm it was fake? I have a 16800, and it feels a million times different than a modern 6 digit. You likely just got underwhelmed and assumed fake.

No I did not. I only had seven days to return. The only way I believe is to remove the caseback and inspect the movement. I did not do that.

[JackPine]

Originally Posted by MinMay

i thought AD can't sell used watch? Are you sure it's AD?

I called and spoke with a person at the main jewelry store. She said they have an internet sales department that is located in a different town. The internet sales department even has a different name then the jewelry stores.

[jrs146]

Yikes! Good thing you got your money back!!


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[superstarmar]

I think you were too prejudice concerning the purchase.
If watch was actually purchased from authorized dealer
you really think they would take in a fake and sell it to
You ?

I agree with earlier post that it was an early model you were
not familiar with and it felt cheaper than a 6 digit modern
ceramic version. Simple as that ...

[SG56]

Originally Posted by MinMay

i thought AD can't sell used watch? Are you sure it's AD?

They can and do sell used watches.

I agree with what was said above. A 20 year old Rolex feels a lot differently. Even ones with solid end links feel a lot different.

An official Rolex retailer would not jeopardize their reputation by selling you a fake.

Maybe it also had a service bracelet. Did you take any pictures?

[N5XTC]

Originally Posted by MinMay

i thought AD can't sell used watch? Are you sure it's AD?

i bought a rolex explorer 1 MK2 from an AD recently and they sold used rolex.

[77T]

Sorry I can’t fathom the point of discussing this without good pictures.

It’s just not within the realm of credulity that an AD would risk their franchise for a watch that (according to you) was so obviously fake.




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[fishingbear]

Originally Posted by 77T

Sorry I can’t fathom the point of discussing this without good pictures.

It’s just not within the realm of credulity that an AD would risk their franchise for a watch that (according to you) was so obviously fake.

Exactly.

[ttnpb]

The thread should be titled “be careful buying vintage Rolex, they don’t really feel like modern Rolex”.

[zaydans]

I don’t doubt that OP really believes it was a fake but I’m finding it hard to believe an AD would do that. My first Rolex was a 12 year old DJ from an AD and it looked mint but didn’t “feel” as I expected so I sold it and moved on. No pictures doesn’t help either and I’d advise against naming the AD here as it wouldn’t be fair to cast aspersions without firm evidence.

[Swiss Mad!]

Originally Posted by MinMay

i thought AD can't sell used watch? Are you sure it's AD?

My AD has quite a decent 'pre owned' section - of not only Rolex but also Omega, Breitling etc.

Obviously, not everyone collects watches so they get lots of customers 'trading up' from one watch to another.

A lot of the pre-owned watches they have were originally supplied by them to the customer that traded it, so authenticity isn't an issue.



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[jvmartin]

Originally Posted by JackPine

I called and spoke with a person at the main jewelry store. She said they have an internet sales department that is located in a different town. The internet sales department even has a different name then the jewelry stores.

This sounds really strange... how did you initially find it?

[037]

Post photos. Without photos to support your assessments, this thread has no utility.

What model are we talking about here?

[Chewbacca]

[J_1964]