There are some luxury brands that sell themselves when it comes to prestige, demand, and market presence. Rolex is one of them – with both watch collectors and investment buyers across the world recognizing not just the financial value of an authentic Rolex but also the fact that owning one means holding a piece of the brand’s extensive history.
If you have a Rolex watch that you are hoping to sell, undoubtedly the most important thing you need is the correct authentication and a professional buyer who will quote and offer a fair price for your timepiece. The cost of a Rolex has little to do with what it was originally purchased for, and everything to do with the status of the individual model, its materials, the number of similar pieces on the market at the time of sale, and of course its quality and condition.
With that in mind, here is some advice from professional Rolex buyers and sellers, on how to maximize the sale of your timepiece.
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Keep hold of the original paperwork and packaging
By far the most popular Rolex timepieces, and those which were easiest to sell for a high price, are the ones that are presented in a brand-new state. That is, they come in their original box and packaging, have all the original paperwork to accompany them, and are in excellent condition.
While it is possible to sell a Rolex without the original paperwork, you will need to be prepared for more rigorous authentication checks.
Identify the right place to sell
If you know much about the Rolex or luxury market as a whole, then we probably don’t need to tell you that you can’t simply sell an authentic Rolex on the standard market. The high value of the brand and each timepiece means that sales should be made through professional auction houses and boutique sellers – tapping into their expertise in terms of valuation, authentication, marketing, and of course their pool of captive buyers.
These sellers are primed to buy Rolex watches from all different collections, from the professional series including the Submariner and Daytona models, to the everyday designs that bridge the functional purpose with timeless style and design flair.
Sell at the right time
An authentic Rolex watch will always do well on the second-hand or preloved market, owing to the high demand and the limited nature of every release, which ensures that the demand is never met by new release watches.
Having said that, it’s always important to watch the market and see what is selling, when, and for how much. Releasing a Rolex that you have, when there aren’t any similar models available, means the demand will be higher and you are likely to get a better price.
What can impact the value of a Rolex that you want to sell?
Now you’ve got a better idea of what you need to do in order to sell your Rolex, let’s take a look at some of the factors that can affect value and how much you get from a reputable reseller or buyer.
The model of the Rolex you want to sell is the leading factor in affecting value. This is because some models are more coveted than others owing to the function and capability of the different pieces, as well as how many individual pieces were made as part of the model release. The rarer a piece is, and the smaller the original release, the more in-demand and the higher in value the individual pieces are.
Age is another factor that can affect value – though the way that this works varies depending on the model. Some collections and watches are worth less if they are older, whereas some of the vintage professional watches like the older Submariner’s are worth higher amounts due to the status and historical impact of their original release.
Material is another factor that plays a major role in value, purely because some materials are more luxurious and worth more than others – with the same true of added gemstones and intricate details.
And finally, making sure you have the original box and paperwork is key – as all of this adds to the overall resale value of your piece.
Sell your Rolex
Selling an authentic Rolex isn’t difficult – what can be challenging, however, is making sure that you get a fair amount for it.
That’s why, when it comes to selling, it’s important to make sure that you take your timepiece to a reputable buyer and reseller.
