Buying your first Rolex is a moment to savour, a reward for achieving a certain milestone or finding success in business. Whatever your reasons, it’s likely to be an experience you’ll never forget — so you need to ensure it’s for all the right reasons.
Understanding exactly how to buy your first Rolex is an important factor in making your experience a positive one. With so much to consider, such as where to buy it from, whether you can afford it, and which model you should go for, you need to speak to a specialist who will point you in the right direction.
Why Buy Your First Rolex
Owning a Rolex watch is often a symbol of personal or commercial success. The brand has a stellar reputation for quality and a long, illustrious history. As a result, it is one of the most sought-after and revered manufacturers of luxury timepieces in the world.
Buying a watch, however, is much more personal than wanting to have a status symbol on your wrist. Timepieces are often an extension of your personality or something which complements your tastes. Some people even decide to purchase a watch as an heirloom to pass down to future generations, or as an investment piece — which several Rolexes are good for.
Being sure about your motivations is key to understanding how to buy your first Rolex, as it will likely influence which model you purchase and where you get it from. If you’re ever unsure, it’s a good idea to speak to someone who knows the luxury watch market inside-out and can help you find out what really matters to you.
Where to Buy Your First Rolex
There are a number of options when buying your first Rolex. You could either opt for an authorised Rolex dealer, a second-hand watch specialist, or auction sites such as eBay. The latter is something we would advise you to avoid at all costs, as you have little or no way to properly scrutinise the vendor. Because of this, the chance of bidding on and receiving a fake item is significantly increased.
Authorised Rolex dealers, meanwhile, have a tendency to only sell to clients with a purchase history. This means they are unlikely to deal with you if you’re just looking to buy your first one.
As a result, you’re really left with second-hand watch dealers as your best option. It’s still important to do your research into these businesses to ensure you’re working with someone you can trust to provide you with the highest level of service, look into their terms and conditions, and be confident in their ability to rectify the situation if something goes wrong.
How Much Should You Pay When Buying Your First Rolex?
The price of a Rolex can vary depending on the model, the individual timepiece, and where you purchase it from. Supply and demand is crucial here, as watches which are highly sought after yet scarce in availability will usually command a hefty price tag.
Buying your first Rolex second-hand is often the cheapest way to get hold of your desired timepiece, although again this depends on its rarity and how many are in circulation. In addition, a reputable dealer will always work to ensure you get the best possible price — so you can be completely confident in your purchase.
How Do You Buy a Rolex?
If you’re wondering how to buy your first Rolex, there are several things you need to consider. Should you go for a brand new or second hand timepiece? Which model best suits your tastes? Do you know how to spot fakes?
Thankfully, these aren’t questions you need to face alone. Speaking to a specialist second hand luxury watch retailer can make the process of buying your first Rolex as straightforward as possible.
Here are our thoughts on the most common issues:
New, Vintage, or Preowned?
Purchasing a new, vintage, or second hand Rolex all come with their plus points and drawbacks. A brand new timepiece with all its papers intact, for example, will give you total peace of mind that you’re getting exactly what you’re paying for. The downside is that this will be extremely expensive and likely out of the price range for someone thinking about buying their first Rolex.
Vintage models are growing steadily in popularity and with a brand as old as Rolex, there is a treasure trove of opportunities waiting for you. The older the watch is, however, the harder it will be to repair. You may even run the risk of being duped by “Frankenwatches”, which are timepieces put together from a collection of spare parts to try and mimic the real thing. The rise in interest for vintage watches has also caused the prices to increase which could put some models out of your reach.
Preowned models represent the best option when buying your first Rolex. Although you do need to be sure you’re working with a reputable dealer, choosing a second hand timepiece ensures you will be charged a competitive price and can be confident your watch will be genuine.
Decide on Your Model
Owning a watch is incredibly personal. After all, it’s something you are likely to wear for years to come. You therefore need to think about your taste and style, and how these can be adequately represented in your choice of timepiece.
Important points to consider include how large you want the watch to be, what materials you would like it to be made from, and whether you’re more partial to a metal or leather strap. You should also think about the bezel and dial. If you’re in the position where you’re wondering how to buy your first Rolex, you’ll probably want to stay clear of flashy colours or bold details.
How to Avoid Fakes
When it comes to brands as popular as Rolex, it’s highly likely you’ll come across your fair share of fakes. While working with a reputable second hand watch dealer is one of the best ways to ensure you’re getting the real deal, there are several ways in which you can spot counterfeit models. Examples of these include checking the weight, and examining the back.
Can You Afford it?
As well as wondering how to buy your first Rolex, you should also be thinking whether you can afford to do so. Be clear on your budget and don’t overstep it, no matter how tempting it might be.
That being said, there are several ways in which you can make your dream timepiece more affordable. You could first of all look at the cheaper models on the market and still find yourself spoilt for choice.
If you have a watch you no longer wear and are thinking about trading up to a Rolex, you could take advantage of part exchange schemes which enable you to get money from your old timepiece to put towards a new one. A third alternative is to look at finance options to split the cost of your Rolex into more manageable chunks.
Deciding if it’s Right for You
The final thing to consider when buying your first Rolex is whether the watch you’ve chosen is suitable for your needs. The best way to be sure of this is to visit a physical store and try it on for yourself. You can also benefit from the expertise of the staff working there.
If you’re not able to go in person, a reputable dealer will enable you to obtain a refund provided you return the product in its original condition within a certain timeframe.
How Blowers Helps with Buying Your First Rolex
If you’re unsure about how to buy your first Rolex, it’s essential you speak to a specialist who can guide you through the entire process. With over 50 years of experience in the luxury watch industry, Blowers Jewellers is perfectly placed to help.
We understand the market inside and out, and have cultivated a strong reputation for our knowledge and high level of service. We understand that buying your first Rolex is an incredibly important time, which is why we will get to know your tastes and style before recommending what we believe is the best option for you.
As a reputable second hand luxury watch dealer, we always offer competitive prices and only stock timepieces in excellent condition. Everything we provide has been meticulously checked by our experts before putting it on sale, so you can be totally confident you’re receiving the best.
For more information about how we can help you choose the right Rolex, or any other brand for that matter, contact our team today.