Rolex Watches

What you need to know about Rolex watches

Why choose a Rolex watch?

Rolexes hold value better than almost any other watch brand. Expensive to buy, but you might be able to sell it for what you bought it for or more years later, if you look after it.

The Rolex standards for design and manufacture are extraordinarily high. That means you can happily rely on consistency across models and high accuracy of timekeeping.

Though there are many wonderful luxury watch brands out there, many of the best sold right here at Luxe Watches (we could never choose our favourite), Rolex is iconic like none of the others. It is almost synonymous with the idea of a luxury watch.

When you wear a Rolex watch, you know that you’re wearing a unique piece of history.

 

Which Rolex to buy?

The range of models can be confusing. Because a Rolex is a big investment, you want to feel confident in your decision.

To begin with, we would say that any Rolex can be the right choice, if it is the one that makes you excited to own it. To help narrow it down further, consider the following:

• The most popular Rolex watch collections are the Rolex Daytona and the Rolex Submariner.
• Typically, the Rolex watches that can be bought at the lower price are the Explorer models, making them a good gateway watch.
• If you’re looking for the sort of iconic Rolex you’ve seen in the movies, you might be looking for the more expensive Datejust watches.

With an unrivalled standard of craftsmanship, you are unlikely to be disappointed whichever Rolex you choose.

Pre-owned Rolex price guide

Pre-owned watches come in various ages, models, conditions, and levels of popularity, which makes it hard to give brief rules of thumb.

However, based on previous sales at Luxe, we can share the following data that you may wish to use as a guideline.

	Average	High	Low
Explorer	£6,783.50	£10,495.00	£3,095.00
Datejust	£6,186.66	£10,995.00	£2,021.00
Air-King	£5,486.00	£10,995.00	£2,595.00
Daytona	£23,615.25	£140,000.00	£6,995.00
Milgauss	£6,709.17	£9,995.00	£4,295.00
Submariner	£10,732.37	£40,995.00	£3,395.00
GMT-Master	£18,786.15	£149,995.00	£5,395.00
Sea-Dweller	£11,746.75	£19,995.00	£5,000.00
Yacht Master	£16,976.98	£89,995.00	£3,295.00
Lady Datejust	£9,253.00	£29,995.00	£2,995.00
Pearl Master	£43,578.33	£86,995.00	£22,495.00
Sky Dweller	£23,434.14	£50,995.00	£13,495.00
Day-Date	£27,678.53	£71,995.00	£7,295.00

 

Rolex as an investment?

We have investigated the historic investment yields of luxury watches compared to other items. Watches have outperformed many other investment types including the stock market, and when you break it down by brand, Rolex is comfortably in the top 3 for investment returns in recent years.

 

Buying Rolex pre-owned – What should you know?

Rolex’s watches have a history of going up in value. Therefore, the second-hand market for this product is well established, and has been for decades. There are best practices that we follow at Luxe so that we never disappoint a customer. However, there are also a few things it is helpful for you to know as a buyer of a pre-owned Rolex.

New Rolexes come with “paperwork” (or just “papers”), including a guarantee historically printed on paper but today in the form of a plastic card. When buying pre-owned, check to see if the guarantee is included. You cannot get the guarantee replaced, even if you contact Rolex directly. Whenever possible, we sell our pre-owned Rolexes with the paperwork. If the paperwork is missing, we state so in the product description, and this is reflected in the price.

As well as the guarantee, a pre-owned Rolex might come with one or more of the following: a box, manual and/or receipt. Though not essential, collectors may like to have these, so if they are important to you, please check the product description (or ask us) before you buy.

Finally, be confident that you are buying from a reputable dealer. As with any luxury product, some sellers will attempt to scam unsuspecting buyers with stolen or counterfeit goods. If you have any questions or concerns about your purchase, we’re very happy to talk them through with you. Luxe Watches has been in business since 2011 and has a reputation for excellent service in this industry.

 

Buying via Luxe Watches

Buying from Luxe watches means buying from luxury watch professionals with decades of combined experience.

We aim to sell watches with their original box and paperwork where possible. If either is not available, this is stated in the product description and reflected in the price.

We send watches via secure delivery to be received within seven days of payment.

If you expect your watch to need strap length adjustment to fit your wrist, send us a message and we will make the adjustments.

We have a reputation for excellent customer service and are very happy to talk through any questions or issues you have. Just give us a call or visit us in our store in Epping, just outside of London.

Have any other questions? Check our FAQ here.

 

Selling a Rolex

To start with, you will want an estimate of what your watch is worth. You will need your reference number for this, which you can find on your guarantee card/certificate or on the watch case. For more about finding your reference number, read our blog. At Luxe, we can give you an estimated valuation online.

Remember that you can sell your Rolex for more if you have the original papers and box.

Next, your watch will need to be appraised to assess its condition. You can send it to us in the post or visit our store in person. A final valuation will be given, and an offer will be made for your watch. If you decide to go ahead with the sale, will send you the payment via bank transfer to be received in 3-5 days.

Choose a reputable luxury watch expert to sell to, check their reviews online, and talk to them in person so that you can feel comfortable that the sale will go through smoothly and professionally.

Sell your Rolex with Luxe today.

 

Caring for a Rolex

The first thing to do when you receive your Rolex watch is to wind it and set the date and time if needed. You use the crown to do this, which is the knob on the 3 o’clock position of the case.

For a watch that is being used daily, the Rolex Perpetual rotor will keep the watch ticking just from the energy gained from the swinging of your arms. Some people choose to wind their watch daily or weekly, but this is usually unnecessary. You will only need to wind it again if you leave it watch unworn for a few days.

The typical Rolex Oyster case is hardy and can be used while playing sports without suffering adverse effects.

Keep your Rolex free of dirt by wiping it clean when needed, and give it the occasional wash with soap and water (with the winding crown screwed down).

Like all watches, a Rolex can suffer some wear and tear. For that reason, we recommend that you get a full service every five years, and be repaired if the watch ever suffers damage. Find out more about Rolex watch servicing, repairs and refurbishment. Luxe can get your Rolex back to top working order.

 

About Rolex Complications

Rolex is a watchmaker that does the essentials to an exceptional standard, so their name is sometimes left out when discussing the masters of complicated watches such as Patek Philippe and Vacheron. However, this is somewhat unfair.

On the scale of horological complexity, Rolex models range from elegant simplicity to cutting edge. Some of the most popular Rolex models are indeed laser focused. The Submariner and the Datejust feature only a date window, for example.

However, on the other end of the scale there are the GMT-Master, and the Daytona watches, which can include complications such as an annual calendar, chronograph, a long power reserve, and even a countdown regatta timer. These models will satisfy any lover of intricate timekeeping features.

 

Rolex history

Rolex was founded in London in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis under the name Wilsdorf and Davis. Shortly after the company relocated to Geneva in 1919 and trademarked their iconic Rolex logo in 1925.

With a desire to perform better than its competitors, Rolex is considered one of the most elite and precise watch brands in the world. In 1910, one of their watches became the first ever to receive the Swiss Certificate of Precision. Then, in 1914 Rolex was awarded a class ‘A’ precision certificate from Kew Observatory, an award that was previously reserved only for marine chronometers.

Few other watchmakers have developed pieces with such timeless appeal. Rolex watches are coveted the world over and the brand’s timepieces have always embodied the virtues of quality, elegance and endurance since Rolex was first established at the turn of the 20th century.

 

More information

8 things you didn’t know about Rolex

All about Rolex production – and how to get your hands on one

How to find the perfect Rolex watch size