First off, you’re gonna stumble across a coupla options. You got your dedicated vintage Rolex dealers, like the blokes mentioned who’ll happily take your hard-earned for a “rare vintage Rolex GMT 1675 Blue Red Pepsi Bezel Insert 1959-1966 Red Back Mk1Rare Vintage Rolex GMT 1675 mk 1” – sounds fancy, right? And then you got places like Chrono24, where you’ll find everything from “Rolex Submariner Vintage” to watches that… well, might *claim* to be Rolex Submariners. Let’s just say, buyer beware, mate.
Now, personally, I reckon Chrono24’s got its ups and downs. It’s like a giant online garage sale, with some legit treasures buried amongst the junk. You gotta do your homework, though. And I mean *really* do your homework. Photos can be deceiving, descriptions can be… optimistic. Think about it, are you really gonna know the difference between a Mk1 and a Mk2 bezel insert? I sure as hell don’t.
And then there’s the whole “private seller” thing. The ad talks about being “one of 4,000 successful private sellers,” which, honestly, sounds a bit suss to me. Like, are those sellers who sold a genuine Rolex? Or just sellers who managed to flog *something*? Food for thought, eh?
Look, buying a vintage Rolex is a bit like trying to pick the winning horse at the races. You can study the form guide (research the watch), talk to the experts (get it appraised), and still end up with a nag that can barely run. But if you’re willing to take the punt, and you know what you’re doing (or at least pretend to!), then you might just find yourself a real beauty.
Oh, and another thing – don’t forget about HNCO. They’re apparently keen to buy your *old* Rolex, so if you’ve got one gathering dust in a drawer, might be worth sending them some pics. Could fund your next vintage hunt! Or, you know, a decent holiday.
