Brand New or Second Hand? Rolex Edition

Brand New or Second Hand? Rolex Edition


Here at Cuttings The Jewellers, we all know how desirable and expensive Rolex watches are. In fact, in 2017, Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona sold for $17.8 million (approximately £13 million) Luckily, this eye-watering figure is not the going rate for other models. 

If you are keen to purchase a Rolex watch, many may ask the question: “Should I buy a second hand or a brand new one?”. 

If you are in this dilemma, then we are here to help you! We will be breaking down each selling-point of the two, helping you determine whether a new or second hand is ideal for you.Cuttings The Jewellers Brand New or Second Hand Rolex Edition November 2020 Blog Thumbnail.jpg

New Rolex watches

The first owner - Now, I think many of us can agree on how satisfying it is to open something completely brand new. In fact, unboxing videos are extremely popular on YouTube. So, when you open that stunning new green Rolex box with your shiny new watch inside, the thought of knowing you are its first owner is a great feeling.  

New technology - The newer the watch, the more the up to date the technology it will have. If you are seeking a true sports watch that can handle anything you throw at it, then a vintage Rolex may not be ideal for you. An old Submariner or GMT Master can be serviced to be completely waterproof, however, 40-year-old parts would not hold up as well as a modern design.

5-year warranty - From the date of purchase, Rolex offers a 5-year warranty on all brand new watches. This comes in handy if a problem occurs, not costing you a penny if there is a genuine manufacturers default. 

After the 5-year warranty ends, you may still be better off when it comes to repairs and overhauls. All depending on the manufacturer, the rate of repair may be lower for newer models. Vintage pieces are more likely to cost more. Rolex suggests that you service your watch every 10 years, depending on the age and model. This is to increase the longevity of your timepiece, same as you would with a car.

Second-hand Rolex watches

Price - Majority of the time, you will find yourself paying a lower price for a second-hand model. If someone was to purchase a brand new watch, only to have changed their mind and wish to sell, the first year there will be a dip in value and an immediate depreciation in the market value of the watch. This is similar to when you purchase a new car and drive it off the dealership forecourt, the vehicle will immediately depreciate in value.

However, it is known that over time, Rolex watches will start to increase in value again, with the medium to long term often considered a good investment. 

Availability - Rolex have made it much harder to gain access to new models through cutting down their production numbers on several models. Purchasing a brand new model from an Authorised Rolex Dealer requires many conditions that need to be met. Should you need to sell the watch in that period you need to ensure that all paperwork assists the watch. 

But, a big reason why new Rolex models are hard to get hold of is that there is a waiting list on many of their timepieces, nearly all of the sports models, some as long as 3 years or more!

With a second-hand model, you would not face this issue. Here at Cuttings, we own a fine selection of pre-owned Rolex models such as ‘Datejust’ and  ‘Sea Dweller’, so please visit our watch selection page to view our Rolex availability. 

Models - You’ll find that when you look to purchase a brand new Rolex, you may only find a select few models due to the limited number they have in production. However, you will find plentiful second-hand Rolex watches in a wide variety of styles. If you are looking for something slightly more vintage, then you may want to look for a classic Submariner model. 

Here at Cuttings, we purchase pre-owned Rolex models, so we see a wide range of fantastic models, from modern to vintage. So if you are curious about purchasing second-hand models then please view our range here, or get in contact with us

In summary, although purchasing a brand new Rolex provides you with a great feeling of being the first owner - along with having all of the fantastic mod cons and warranty - it is far easier to purchase a pre-owned model that may be cheaper and, be a better investment in the long run!

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