Think of it like this, when you walk into a sweet shop, you can only fill you bag with the sweets available on that day. You never know, one week from the next what will be available. There may be more white chocolate mice one week and then only the long jelly snakes. But what if, just for a moment you could walk into that same shop and find almost all the varieties of sweet ever made, ready to be eaten there and then. Well, in many ways this is what buying pre-owned watches from Xupes is like. Often, we are restricted by new releases in-store – and even then, retailers typically don’t have the hottest models. You need to have built a spending history and watches are typically reserved for a small group of the highest-spending clients. We don’t think that’s fair. Which is why when you buy pre-owned, you find all sorts of interesting watches from the past – some you may have missed and some that may not have spoken to you back then. And you know what the best part is, no waitlist, no queues, and a guarantee that these are watches you will likely not see anywhere else – all the while with the full assurance they are authentic and functioning. We are privileged here at Xupes to have our own fully functioning service centre (with accreditation from a number of the largest brands in the world like Cartier, Omega and Longines) which allows us to provide a thorough, in-house assessment of every watch that comes in. Bottom line – pre-owned is just more fun! So, I can hear you now, what should I know about buying pre-owned before jumping in? Well, here are five watches currently for sale, and the key aspect of each when buying pre-owned.
First up, a watch that combines history and versatility like no other, the Datejust. A model that seamlessly crosses over from dressy to sporty, it’s been a staple in Rolex’s catalogue since 1945. The ref. 126201 we see here has a 36mm bi-metal case construction and striking “Wimbledon” dial. Not your average Datejust. Try and buy box and papers where possible, these tend to make up a good percentage (10-25%) of the sale price and since we have seen prices climb rapidly for new and vintage models, particularly Rolex, it is always nice to have the full set for safe keeping and investment. It is worth noting that it is rare to find box and papers with older models – so don’t lose any sleep over it. This model comes with Rolex box, booklet, cardholder and swing tags.
Next, always buy what you love – forget the hype, go for what makes your heartbeat that little bit faster! Social media has been a wonderful addition to our lives for so many reasons – but one thing it does tend to do is create a vortex around certain things – often watches. So, take that info in, but always ask yourself if you are buying for yourself or others. After all, you are the one who is going to be wearing it. This model is a full on, no holes barred Day-Date in yellow gold with diamond bezel and markers – not everyone’s cup of tea. But if its yours – own it!
Ensure the dial, hands and bezel are all original. Here on this now iconic “Batman” model GMT, you can see the hands and markers all match in colour – none have been changed or swapped. You will also see the bezel is a perfect match both aesthetically and stamped. Collectors tend to avoid non original parts.
Avoid over polished cases. In the past, often when watches went back to Rolex, part of the process would be to polish the case. This, over time removes metal from your watch and tend to soften its sharpness – again, always look for a lightly polished case or unpolished. This Datejust is a wonderful example of what to aim for.
Try it on. While we are extremely proud of our photography here at Xupes, nothing beats actually trying a watch on. From experience, the sizing measurements only tells half the story – a watch may have a particular shape or material that ends up working perfectly on you. This GMT is an icon of the watch and design world. At 40mm it tends to work for most wrist sizes, but its case is different from newer models and being slightly older, you will also find it wears differently.
