Show us your watch Collection.

[midlandsgrimpeur]

My fear if considering buying a Rolex watch, especially a pre-owned one would obviously be is it genuine and are all its parts genuine. A goldsmith, watch repairer friend of mine says he won't touch Rolex's unless it's for such as a bracelet adjustment or a bracelet repair. He told me that for every 10 Rolex's out there, 9 will be fakes! He also said that the watch might be genuine, but it might've had none Rolex parts fitted if its been repaired, with some repairers stealing the Rolex parts and replacing them with none Rolex parts.🙄

It is a concern. A reputable dealer who really knows their stuff should be able to tell if a watch/parts is correct. However, with so many 'dealers' cropping up over the last 5 years looking to make a quick buck from the Rolex boom, many are clueless and would be unlikely to spot incorrect parts.

Another issue is 'frankenstein' watches, genuine parts but fitted to the wrong watch e.g. a genuine dial or bezel that is newer being fitted to an older watch and sold as 100% original. Much harder to spot and affects the value a lot.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I don't know. Partly because I don't know what it's worth to you.

At least for a gold watch, you can work out the scrap value of the case and go from there - the bulk of the value will be in the case. Though right now, gold prices are through the roof, so IMHO it's really not a time to buy unless you're happy to pay over the odds.

Yes, I know folk who buy gold, and folk who sell gold. All in bracelet, earrings, rings, chain etc form, not bullion of course. 😉 The buyers of such gold items are still buying gold at £45 a gram scrap price, saying it'll never go back to £25 or so a gram, so grab it before it goes up even further! Why?! Maybe it will go up further, but who'll buy it off them if it does?! The sellers are coining it in with such gullible folk. One seller tried to sell me a 30 gram, 18 carat gold the other week for £2,700 at £90 a gram. I declined his offer. I don't wear gold chains as no one can see them and I'm not desperate to sell any gold, so why buy gold at inflated prices I thought. If the price doesn't come down significantly my gold item buying days will be over. I could sell all my gold items, bought when 9 carat was as low as £19 a gram, 18 carat at £38 a gram and make a tidy profit, but I like and wear most items, so why sell it just to stick the money into my bank account.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I don't know. Partly because I don't know what it's worth to you.

At least for a gold watch, you can work out the scrap value of the case and go from there - the bulk of the value will be in the case. Though right now, gold prices are through the roof, so IMHO it's really not a time to buy unless you're happy to pay over the odds.

Did you see what looks like scratches? If the crystal is scratched then surely it can't be a sapphire crystal.🤔

 

[Reynard]

Did you see what looks like scratches? If the crystal is scratched then surely it can't be a sapphire crystal.🤔

A watch of that age will have an acrylic crystal, not a sapphire one.

Scratches on acrylic crystals (unless they're deep) are easily remedied; a dollop of toothpaste on a cotton bud (it's a mild abrasive) and some gentle rubbing in a circular pattern, and then (if you have it) a little silver polish, and last, a buff with some kitchen paper. I'm speaking from experience here, as most of my watches are of that era.

 

[Reynard]

Yes, I know folk who buy gold, and folk who sell gold. All in bracelet, earrings, rings, chain etc form, not bullion of course. 😉 The buyers of such gold items are still buying gold at £45 a gram scrap price, saying it'll never go back to £25 or so a gram, so grab it before it goes up even further! Why?! Maybe it will go up further, but who'll buy it off them if it does?! The sellers are coining it in with such gullible folk. One seller tried to sell me a 30 gram, 18 carat gold the other week for £2,700 at £90 a gram. I declined his offer. I don't wear gold chains as no one can see them and I'm not desperate to sell any gold, so why buy gold at inflated prices I thought. If the price doesn't come down significantly my gold item buying days will be over. I could sell all my gold items, bought when 9 carat was as low as £19 a gram, 18 carat at £38 a gram and make a tidy profit, but I like and wear most items, so why sell it just to stick the money into my bank account.

Gold (and silver) are seen as secure assets right now, because the dollar and US treasury bonds, which usually underpin global investment and finances, are seen unreliable thanks to Donald Trump tanking the US economy with his tariffs. Foreign investors are quietly divesting themselves of dollars and bonds, which is going to bite the US in the butt sooner rather than later.

Once Trump leaves office and sanity prevails, then the price will come down. But in short / medium term, expect to pay over the odds for precious metals.

This is history repeating itself - every time there is a financial crisis of some kind, the price of gold tends to spike. That said, the price is already starting to come down slightly from its peak.