Pawn Shop Rolex
My local pawn shop manager knows I’m a watch guy and let me know yesterday they had this Rolex Datejust coming off pawn today. I went over this morning and looked it over and ended up bringing it home.
It’s a little beat up and the Jubilee bracelet has a significant amount of stretch and two damaged center links. Despite that, it had all of the links and a nice clasp. The crystal was a scratchy mess and the case has a few marks but nothing terrible.
I would say the watch has been sitting for a long time because when I put it on my timegrapher at the pawn shop it was initially running 10 seconds fast but the longer it ran the better it got. After running for a few hours, it’s now running about 4 seconds fast. It will be interesting to see how it does after running for a few days.
I cleaned it up and hit the crystal with some Polywatch and a lot of elbow grease and I think it came out pretty good. I threw it on a Nato and I have to say I’m genuinely stoked how it looks. In the future, I’ll be sending the bracelet to Rolliworks for a rebuild and based on what the Timegrapher looks like I may have it serviced right away.
BTW, the first picture is at the pawn shop and the third one is after I got done with it. Thanks for looking!
Just drill the d@mn lugs!
Amazing transformation. Great find.
Nice find!
Wow 🤩 thats some good polywatch work!! Enjoy!!
Congratulations great find 👏
How'd you do on price? Did he know what he had?
So awesome, love it!
How'd you do on price? Did he know what he had?
I tried to factor in all of the possible costs and the current cash flow issues in most pawn shops. I made an aggresive offer and ended up buying it for less than a third of the Chrono24 average price for the last 30 days for that model. If I spend my worst case $$$, I should be fine even if the market continues to slow. That said, I didn’t buy it to resale. I intend on it being a regular in my rotation.
I tried to factor in all of the possible costs and the current cash flow issues in most pawn shops. I made an aggresive offer and ended up buying it for less than a third of the Chrono24 average price for the last 30 days for that model. If I spend my worst case $$$, I should be fine even if the market continues to slow. That said, I didn’t buy it to resale. I intend on it being a regular in my rotation.
Sounds ideal, everybody wins. Well done.
This is exactly what I wish would happen for me. Good work, that looks beautiful
This is exactly what I wish would happen for me. Good work, that looks beautiful
Really just a right place, right time thing. Doesn’t hurt to network a little, I had first shot at this one because I chat up the manager whenever I’m in his shop. Those same chats also gave me the knowledge they were in a bit of a cash flow crunch. I’ve also bought a few other pieces from him but mostly lower priced stuff.
Fantastic find. A thing of the past reborn for sure 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Very nice🔥
Nice.
Looking tuff!
Beautiful job cleaning it up
SCORE!
Well done on the cleanup too!
It looks very nice after the cleanup. It will look even better when you get the bracelet rehabbed.
Congratulations Robert looks like a great new addition! Looks really good on the nato
Looking good I think that’s a great find
A little less than a third of current retail for the same model in nice condition.
I love that bezel as well. Like that more than the standard flute style.
That strap works so well. You’ve inspired me to go pawnshop browsing.
Nice, it’s looking pretty darn good already. Nice find. Drilled lugs?
Nice, it’s looking pretty darn good already. Nice find. Drilled lugs?
Oh, yeah!😎
Nice work! Well done.
Wow!! Great work!
Not usually a dj fan but that looks great on a nato. Congrats!
Great looking watch, nice strap choice too. Looks like an up market NATO strap which highlights the watch in a good way (not too flashy but classy). 👍PS. Great clean up job too.
Wow!! Awesome find and great work on the restoration!🔥🔥
Looks fantastic. Well done! ❤️🔥
Great job restoring the glass. And great example, it looks tough and elegant.
Congratulations!