Few brands in the world can get the blood pumping as Rolex does. Dreamed up early in the 20th century by Hans Wilsdorf, the Rolex timepiece was the first-ever wristwatch to receive the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision.
Since then, the brand has become synonymous with luxury, elegance, and sophistication, and they are the most popular watchmaking company in the world. Here’s everything you need to know about the world-class watchmaker that is Rolex.
Read on for more about Rolex watches, their history, and what to keep in mind when buying or selling this well-loved timepiece.
A Brief History
Technically, Rolex’s history begins in 1905, when Wilsdorf set up a London company specializing in the distribution of timepieces. However, we’ll need to travel back to 1903 to get the full story of when the German businessman first moved across the pond with nothing but a dream.
A mere two years later, he would found the Wilsdorf and Davis company with Alfred Davis, his brother-in-law. Wilsdorf began having all Rolex watches manufactured at the prestigious Maison Aegler in Switzerland, which was known for its superior quality. However, Wilsdorf would not be satiated until he could have all of the parts of his watch working in perfect unison. This is a goal that he strove for, and in 1910, he became the first-ever wristwatch manufacturer to receive a Chronometric Certification.
After England implemented a 33% tax on custom imports, which had quite the impact on Rolex at the time, Wilsdorf decided to move the company to Geneva from London. This move also moved him a little closer to his company’s suppliers in Bienne, and from 1919 onward, Rolex has been a manifestation of the clarity and majesty of the Swiss Alps.
Buying and Selling Tips
When you’re dealing with Rolex timepieces, you’ll want to keep in mind a couple of crucial things when you’re scouring the market. Here are some of the basics you need to keep in mind when you are buying or selling a Rolex watch, or any watch for that matter.
Know the Reference Number
Your first order of business should be to determine the kind of pre-owned Rolex you want to buy or sell, and this can be done using the reference number. This number is the key to understanding your model and can tell you a lot about the Rolex you have or want to own.
Suppose you have the watch’s accompanying paperwork, such as the receipt, warranty card, or service records. In that case, you’ll be able to find its reference number directly on there – you won’t have to do any further looking. However, if you don’t have any of that paperwork, you will have to discover it by examining the watch itself. The reference number is usually hidden in plain sight, engraved on the 12 o’clock side of the watch case, between the lugs hidden and behind where the bracelet meets the case.
Determine the Serial Number
Now that you know what your Rolex’s reference number is, you should proceed to determine its serial number. This number is unique to each watch and, as a result, can determine the approximate date of production of your Rolex. There are, however, a few important exceptions to this.
Once again, the easiest way to find the serial number is to look at your watch’s official paperwork, including the receipt, warranty card, or service records. If you don’t have these documents, then the timepiece itself will yield all of the answers. The serial number of any Rolex is found on the opposite side of the reference number, which means you will need to remove the bracelet from the watch case once again.
This time, the difference is that you’ll see the serial number engraved on the 6 o’clock side of the watch case.
Do Some Market Value Research
Once you’ve armed yourself with your Rolex’s reference and serial number, you can start doing some light research. A quick Google search of your model’s reference number will tell you a lot about that watch’s current market value, and you’ll probably see other pre-owned Rolex timepieces for sale at the same time.
This can give you a reasonable estimate of how much your watch is currently worth, but it’s important to remember that this is just an estimate. There are dozens of factors that ultimately determine how much a person or a business will offer to pay for your watch.
Gold Buyers Near Me Largest Selection of Watches
Here at Gold Buyers Near Me, we believe in turning your unwanted precious metals and jewelry into cash. Not only have we been dealing in luxury watch brands like Rolex, Cartier, and Patek Philippe, but we trade in jewelry as well, whether it’s new or old.
At our store, we make use of a unique system that makes it as easy as possible for you to convert your previously-enjoyed valuables into cold hard cash. We are the only business in the industry that offers 1.5x cash back for in-store credit, which you can use to purchase other items in our store.
We’ll help you make your old treasures new again in a few easy steps. You can wear your old watch with pride once we have assisted you on your journey.
New and Used Rolex Watches
Whether you’re looking to sell your old Rolex or are in the market for a pre-used timepiece, we have you covered with our simple process.
For sellers, the process is super simple. All you need to do is send us your items and once we’ve done a quick – yet thorough – appraisal, we’ll send you an offer. You can choose to accept this offer either as a payment made in cash or an in-store credit, which you can use to purchase any of the other items that we offer.
It’s never been easier than this, and we’re here to make your luxury shopping experience as seamless and pleasant as possible. So, you know exactly who to call for the best new and used Rolex watches.