My Hunt for a Used Submariner
Okay, so I got this idea in my head, right? I wanted a Rolex Submariner. Not just any Submariner, though. A new one? Nah, the price tag is just nuts these days, and honestly, I kind of like the vibe of something that’s already got a bit of history. So, I decided, a used Rolex Submariner it is.
First thing I did was dive deep into the internet. Spent hours, maybe days, just looking around. You know, checking out forums, seeing what people were saying, trying to get a feel for prices. It’s a jungle out there, loads of different models, different years, conditions all over the place. Some looked great, others looked like they’d been through a war.
Then I started the actual search. I looked at the big online watch sites, you know the ones. Scrolled through endless listings. Also checked out some local dealers, places I knew had pre-owned stuff. Even peeked into a couple of higher-end pawn shops, just in case. You never know, right?
- Scanned online marketplaces daily.
- Visited three different local jewelers known for used watches.
- Checked two pawn shops (mostly junk, but worth a look).
- Made a list of potential candidates.
Found a couple that looked promising. One online, looked clean in the pictures. Another one was at a dealer downtown. Decided I had to see them in person. Pictures can lie, you know?
So, I went to the dealer first. They pulled out the Sub. Looked okay. I asked to handle it. Felt the weight. Turned the bezel – gotta hear that click, right? Looked closely at the dial, the hands, the case. Checked for big scratches or dings. Asked about papers, box, all that stuff. They had some of it. Then I looked at the bracelet – saw a bit of stretch. Normal for an older piece, but something to note.
The online one was trickier. Seller seemed okay, lots of good feedback. We chatted back and forth. Asked for more pictures, specific angles. Video even. Still felt a bit risky, buying something like this without touching it first. It was a bit cheaper, though. Always tempting.
Making the Call
Sat on it for a day or two. Weighed the options. The dealer’s watch felt safer. I could see it, touch it, talk to a real person. The price was higher, yeah, but maybe worth the peace of mind. The online one… cheaper, but that slight doubt lingered.
Went back to the dealer. Looked at the watch again. Decided, yeah, this is the one. Felt right. Talked price a little bit. Didn’t get a huge discount, they knew what they had, but managed to knock a tiny bit off. Every little helps, right?
Pulled the trigger. Did the paperwork, handed over the card. Felt kinda weird spending that much, but also exciting. Walked out with the watch on my wrist. Felt solid. Heavy in a good way.
Been wearing it ever since. Keeps good time. Looks great. Yeah, it’s got a few tiny marks here and there if you look super close, but that’s part of the charm for me. It’s my used Submariner now. The whole process took a while, lots of looking, lots of thinking. But yeah, pretty happy with how it turned out. It was definitely an experience.
