Rolex. Best way to buy one. . .
 

Have a 10 year old DateJust and stopped by a shop to look around. Tried on a new gold/stainless GMT2...very nice weight and feel...looks good too. I travel back and forth between Atlanta and So. Cal, so it would be nice to not have to reset every time (rationalizing a bit). Anyway, list price was about 10.1k. Said he'd give about $3.3k for mine in trade and could move a little bit on the new one.

How much margin is in these things? I saw a reputable shop in Baltimore advertising it for $8.5k on the net. Would it be realistic to expect him to match/beat that price? Thoughts? Is there a good source for Rolex that won't take you to the cleaners? Would be apprehensive to buy over the web, but can arrange to transact in person on my travels.

Thanks.

For sale: Rolex Rolex GMT2 Ceramic 116710 (3595 GBP), London, United Kingdom - JamesList

If I just saved you a few thousand, you can just send me your DateJust as a finders fee! ;)

I would buy used. I bought a nice GMT from The Watchseller a few years back, sold it on timezone.com for what I paid a few years later. Wish I still had it. My submariner is the blue/gold version and too flashy for every day wear after changing jobs. It might make my Board nervous if their non profit CFO was wearing a Rolex so it sits and comes out a few times a year.

Used. Call Wingates.

thewatchery.com or http://www.jomashop.com/rolex.html

bought a couple of watches there with a substantial discount and both have been certified authentic by the local dealers (who were not too happy...)

There are some very reputable re-sellers and great deals @ The Rolex Forums (TRF), and a few select sellers on eBay believe it or not. For search purposes, that (newer) model GMT you are looking at is the GMT II "Ceramic" or GMT IIc. The stainless one is the 116710 or 116710LN and the two-tone is the 116713 or 116713LN.

Keep in mind that model (in both stainless & two-tone) has polished center links, and they will get scratched up easily with daily use/wear. If you don't need the GMT complication you might also look at the new stainless Ceramic Submariner. It doesn't have the polished bracelet/links, will hold it's value better, and is less "blingy". ;)

One should try and find Lance Thomas in LA. Used to have a watch shop in W LA just off of Bundy &? He decided to close the place after 3 robbery attempts and one attempted assination in a year and a half. In those altercations he put 5 people in the ground. He has or did have just about the best watch prices around

Now THAT sounds like exactly the sort of place I want to visit with $5-10K cash in hand!

With 5 large you could have a crazy time there! Heck with $500 you could have a crazy time there!!!

If you want a new one, PM me with your contact information. I might be able to help.

JR

I would like to have a Daytona someday. I considered buying one back when I was sitting on some cash, but I restrained myself. Thanks for the tips on places to look for deals.

Thanks for all the ideas guys. Prefer a ceramic version (post 2005) as it will probably be the last watch I ever buy. Of course I probably said that when I bought my DJ. Java...sent you a PM.

Thanks again.

I have a couple GMT masters and both a gold and stainless Daytona. Its really difficult to decide which one to wear but in the end the Daytona spends most of its time on my wrist.

Both of them are very nice.