This is a fairly long story, so you have been warned. Well, I've been searching eBay for a Rolex for YEARS, since I was probably about 16 or so (turning 22 tomorrow!). My late night searching has finally paid off.
About a week or so ago, at about 3 in the morning, I stumbled across an ad titled "SILVER BOLO AND MATCHING RING AND WATCH BAND". I wondered why that showed up in the search results, and then I remembered that I also search title and descriptions when looking for Rolex stuff. Well, I click on the ad. It starts off stating that "You are bidding on a silver bolo, ring, and watch band. Not sure of silver content, as it is not marked, Rolex included, but broken. Rolex wants $400 to open it! Selling as is"
So at the time, it was starting at $250, with a reserve. I send him a message asking more about the watch included. He wouldn't give me much information on it at first, but we sent a few messages back and forth and he loosened up a little. He told me he bought it new in 1967 and has been all over the world with him, and he said it has earned, in his eyes, it's rest. He told me he spent $375 on it new, and has always owned it. He didn't know what model it was, was just able to tell me it had the date feature, which made me assume it was a date, datejust, or day date.
He then tells me when that if it doesn't meet the reserve, he will send it to me for $50! I insisted on giving him more than that for it, as it's worth a lot more, but insisted.
So the final minutes of the auction, I'm sitting at my desk, PRAYING it won't meet the reserve. Hoping I'm the only one who has any clue what was in this lot! It had four bids on it, still sitting at $250. The first bidder was trying to see what the reserve was. Well, the final second, it reaches $306 and some change.
Yahoo! It didn't meet the reserve! I called up just about everybody I knew because I couldn't hold back my excitement. So, I send the seller a message after the auction stating I'm still interested in it and have money ready whenever he wants it.
He then tries to talk me out of it, which I honestly appreciate. He tells me there's "rust" on the dial, and it isn't running. I thanked him for his honesty, but I still wanted it regardless.
He then insisted on GIVING it to me, which there was no way I could do that! I ended up giving him $80 for it and asked him if he ever found the box and paperwork for it, please let me know as I would also pay for that because it's nice to have. He said he has an idea where it might be, with the original band! Fantastic!
So he shipped it out on Monday, and it got here today! I have basically been sitting in front of my door this entire time waiting for it to come! My fiance, bless her sole, knows how bad I've always wanted a gen Rolex and knew how expensive they are, so she understood.
So, I cracked her open today, low and behold, a SMALL speck of rust was attached to the balance wheel and part of the movement, preventing it from spinning. After removing that, it starting running right away! It will be going to the RSC shortly, but wanted to show the rough pictures first and wanted your opinion on cleaning/polishing the case.
So in the meantime, here are some pictures of it on a rep band. If anyone one here has a Rolex band that would fit this, gen or rep, can you please PM me?
Also, I do have the original case back. I was just trying out a display case back to see if I would like it or not.
Overall, not bad for $80, right?
About a week or so ago, at about 3 in the morning, I stumbled across an ad titled "SILVER BOLO AND MATCHING RING AND WATCH BAND". I wondered why that showed up in the search results, and then I remembered that I also search title and descriptions when looking for Rolex stuff. Well, I click on the ad. It starts off stating that "You are bidding on a silver bolo, ring, and watch band. Not sure of silver content, as it is not marked, Rolex included, but broken. Rolex wants $400 to open it! Selling as is"
So at the time, it was starting at $250, with a reserve. I send him a message asking more about the watch included. He wouldn't give me much information on it at first, but we sent a few messages back and forth and he loosened up a little. He told me he bought it new in 1967 and has been all over the world with him, and he said it has earned, in his eyes, it's rest. He told me he spent $375 on it new, and has always owned it. He didn't know what model it was, was just able to tell me it had the date feature, which made me assume it was a date, datejust, or day date.
He then tells me when that if it doesn't meet the reserve, he will send it to me for $50! I insisted on giving him more than that for it, as it's worth a lot more, but insisted.
So the final minutes of the auction, I'm sitting at my desk, PRAYING it won't meet the reserve. Hoping I'm the only one who has any clue what was in this lot! It had four bids on it, still sitting at $250. The first bidder was trying to see what the reserve was. Well, the final second, it reaches $306 and some change.
Yahoo! It didn't meet the reserve! I called up just about everybody I knew because I couldn't hold back my excitement. So, I send the seller a message after the auction stating I'm still interested in it and have money ready whenever he wants it.
He then tries to talk me out of it, which I honestly appreciate. He tells me there's "rust" on the dial, and it isn't running. I thanked him for his honesty, but I still wanted it regardless.
He then insisted on GIVING it to me, which there was no way I could do that! I ended up giving him $80 for it and asked him if he ever found the box and paperwork for it, please let me know as I would also pay for that because it's nice to have. He said he has an idea where it might be, with the original band! Fantastic!
So he shipped it out on Monday, and it got here today! I have basically been sitting in front of my door this entire time waiting for it to come! My fiance, bless her sole, knows how bad I've always wanted a gen Rolex and knew how expensive they are, so she understood.
So, I cracked her open today, low and behold, a SMALL speck of rust was attached to the balance wheel and part of the movement, preventing it from spinning. After removing that, it starting running right away! It will be going to the RSC shortly, but wanted to show the rough pictures first and wanted your opinion on cleaning/polishing the case.
So in the meantime, here are some pictures of it on a rep band. If anyone one here has a Rolex band that would fit this, gen or rep, can you please PM me?
Also, I do have the original case back. I was just trying out a display case back to see if I would like it or not.
Overall, not bad for $80, right?
