To service & Polish before sale, yes or no?

[EmilA]

I'm thinking about selling a Rolex. Owned it for 8 years now but need to free some funds up. With how little I wear it, it makes sense to sell this instead of something else.
This is not a for sale ad but a question if it's worth servicing & polishing the watch before sale.

I know that I will lose some material from the polish, but the watch has been worn well and it does have markings, dings etc on it. It holds time fine so I have never sent it off for a service.

In my mind, the price would reflect it's condition, and the cost of the service/polish would not be clawed back from the sale, plus some buyers may not want it polished therefore I could have a smaller pool of buyers.
Grey market price is in the £15k region. Thoughts please?

[Super Sonic]

No.

[Regbuser]

Thread is meaningless without a picture..

[Nicetobenice]

Might be worth getting some offers in before deciding.

A lot of people will be reluctant to buy privately and a dealer will offer a good chunk lower than the advertised prices.

[FarmyardPants]

Super Sonic said:

No.

Agree on the servicing. If it keeps good time and has good power reserve, I would not service it.

As for polishing, that is a tougher call. Obviously depends on the cost vs increased sale value, which only you can really judge - maybe get some quotes?

[bazza.]

Polish always helps I find if done correctly

This watch was battered when as can be seen from the bezel when I got it,
I did a full service including a new rotor axle and polish, now it looks pretty good all the edges are sharp

[the-norseman]

Service will definetly help the sale, are you think of sending it to RSC is the question? a recent RSC service card especially at that price point is worth it.

[bristolbaron]

As long as you have papers I wouldn’t service.
Let the buyer decide what they want to do with it and who they want to use - plus you don’t have to wait for it to be done!

[EmilA]

Trying to not include the face of the watch so this isn't taken as a for sale post and result in it being deleted. But gives you an idea of it's condition. If I serviced it, it would be done via Pragnells the supplying AD, and I'd request it goes to RSC rather than their inhouse centre.



Received some quotes back from trade without pictures, now pictures have been sent to see what they come back with.

Edited by EmilA on Friday 10th July 12:21

[bristolbaron]

EmilA said:

Trying to not include the face of the watch so this isn't taken as a for sale post and result in it being deleted. But gives you an idea of it's condition. If I serviced it, it would be done via Pragnells the supplying AD, and I'd request it goes to RSC rather than their inhouse centre.



Received some quotes back from trade without pictures, now pictures have been sent to see what they come back with.

Edited by EmilA on Friday 10th July 12:21

You’re also now into the difference between trading it and a private sale. If you’re trading it you definitely don’t want to go down the servicing route! Spoken to Dom H?

[944 Man]

I’d suggest an indie service and leave it at that. It is cheap, it sets them up and satisfies your concerns and it leaves them free to go down the rabbit hole if they wish.

Rolex service is poor value unless absolutely necessary (then still very expensive), and any polishing is a two edged sword.

[fflump]

If it keeps good time and you have original paperwork a service is a waste of money- you can provide data from a cheap phone app on mechanical watch performance. If a date function also confirm in the ad that it clicks over at midnight. As far as scratches etc are concerned, use cape cod cloths on the shiny bits and eBay finishing pads for the brushed areas. Very easy to get minor imperfections out.

[EmilA]

Sold the watch earlier this morning so thought I'd close this thread off with an image of the watch. It was a 2017 LVC. I got a fair price for it in the end, not far off what the selling prices are for watches from the same year in similar condition.

Thanks for the feedback in the group and to the people who messaged me with some advise too.