Whether you’ve inherited a Rolex from a family member, received one as a gift, or bought one for yourself years ago and simply no longer want it, selling it for some cold hard cash is much better than letting it collect dust in the back of your drawer or jewelry box.
The good news is that Rolex hold their value better than most timepieces — so you likely have a good investment you can cash in. This watch industry study found that Rolex followed just Patek Philippe when it comes to value retention.
But how can you tell if your Rolex is real or fake? How much is your watch worth? And how should you go about selling your watch so that you know you won’t be ripped off or taken advantage of?
Below we answer these and other common questions that people have about selling Rolexes:
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Sell your Rolex watch? What you should know first
Before you sell your Rolex, be sure to review the FAQs below so that you will be able to make a more informed decision as you search for a buyer.
How to tell if a Rolex is real or fake
By far, Rolexes are the most popular luxury watch, and they also tend to hold their value very well. While the company makes about 700,000 new Rolex watches every year, there are also many phony ones. Here is how you can tell whether your Rolex is real, vs fake:
- A real Rolex will be silent, and does not make a ‘ticking’ sound.
- The second hand on a real Rolex will move smoothly, while a fake will stutter.
- A real Rolex is made of real metals, and weighs significantly more than a phony.
- Fake Rolexes have winders on their sides that are basic, while the real deal has finely and artistically engraved winders.
- An authentic Rolex has a special “cyclops lens” over the date, which magnifies that number. Fake Rolexes do not have this feature, typically.
How to find your Rolex reference number and serial number
In order to ensure you’re getting the best possible deal when selling your Rolex, you’ll need as much information about the watch as possible.
Two important pieces of information that can help you appraise your watch are the reference number and the serial number, both of which are engraved directly on the watch case. These numbers tell you, and any potential buyers, a lot of information about your watch, including the model, bezel style, and metal that the watch is made out of.
The reference number is engraved on the 12 o’clock side of the case, between the lugs that connect the case to the bracelet. The serial number is likewise engraved on the 6 o’clock side of the case.
To find these numbers, you or a jeweler will need to remove the bracelet. To do this, all you need to do is insert a pin into the tiny hole on each side of the bracelet, and it should come loose.
How much is my Rolex worth?
If you have a Rolex to sell, you may find you made an excellent investment, as these watches hold their value more than other timepieces, studies find.
To find the resale value of your Rolex or another timepiece you want to sell, the best way is to get an authentication by a certified watch expert. This professional can remove the back of your Rolex, inspect the serial numbers to determine the age and model, and examine the movements to establish the watch’s repair history. This professional will also help you understand how much your Rolex is worth with and without papers — whether you have a Rolex watch for men, or a Rolex watch for women.
Learn more about jewelry appraisals
How do I find out what my Rolex watch is worth?
The value of your Rolex will depend on a number of different factors, including:
- Model and rarity of your watch
- Age of your watch
- Condition of your watch
- Whether you had your watch’s bracelet shortened, and whether or not you have the removed links
- Metal (gold, platinum, stainless steel) your watch is made out of
- Whether or not your watch is adorned with any gems like diamonds
- Whether or not you have all of your Rolex’s papers and original box
With all of this in mind, it can be a challenge for the average person to determine the value of their watch. Sure, you can look at the prices that other similar Rolexes have sold for. And yes, some websites offer calculators that will give you an estimate on your watch based on the information you provide. But the only way to really determine the value of your Rolex is to have it appraised by a trusted jeweler or watch buyer.
For example, Worthy.com is an online platform that helps users list and sell high-end, luxury jewelry (like Rolexes) directly to professional jewelry buyers. Before they accept any piece for listing, they appraise the piece for authenticity and to help you determine the value of the item.
Where to find a Rolex buyer to sell your watch
Where can I sell a Rolex watch online?
If you want to sell your Rolex online, the good news is that you should be able to find a number of online watch buyers simply by searching for “sell Rolex online” in Google. That being said, you’ll most likely get the most money for your watch by selling your watch to (or through) an online buyer that specializes in luxury jewelry, such as Worthy.com.
Through Worthy, you can have your Rolex watch appraised and then listed for sale. Once listed, Worthy’s clientele of professional jewelry buyers can bid on your watch in order to buy it. The fact that Worthy is an auction platform increases the chances that you’ll get top dollar for your Rolex, especially compared to other buyers like online pawn shops or metal buyers.
Where can I sell my Rolex near me?
Chances are, your local jeweler is not a watch expert, and not the best person to help price your vintage or antique Rolex’s value — much less sell for the highest price. Luxury watches, including Rolexes, are highly specialized items that can only be accurately evaluated by experts like those at Worthy.com, as well as those found at auction houses.
Find a Rolex buyer near you:
Rolex buyer reviews:
This is our shortlist of the best places to sell your Rolex watch, based on the buyer's reputation with third-party reviewers,
Best Rolex buyer: Worthy.com
Our top choice for selling your Rolex watch online is Worthy.com, an online jewelry auction site that specializes in luxury jewelry and watches. In the past, Worthy has facilitated the sale of many popular Rolex models including Explorer, GMT Master, Oyster, Oyster Perpetual, Air-King, Cellini, Submariner pieces.
We love Worthy for a few key reasons:
- B+ rating with the BBB
- Free authentication of your Rolex as a part of the process
- 100% free FexEx door-to-door shipping with tracking number
- Insured both during shipping and while it is stored at their facility for the auction, up to $100,000
- Most items listed for auction on Worthy sell within 10 days
- Payment within 24 hours of auction close
- Worthy makes more money when you make more money, so they’re incentivized to help you sell your Rolex for as much money as possible.
Read more about Worthy in this review.
How to sell a Rolex using Worthy.com
Selling your Rolex through Worthy works like this:
- Visit Worthy.com and enter some details about your watch
- If your Rolex meets their criteria
- Once Worthy receives your watch, it will be cleaned and photographed by professional photographers for use in the auction.
- Your Rolex is authenticated by Worthy’s partners at CentralWatch. CentralWatch will describe the quality of your watch for use during auction. Worthy and CentralWatch will also recommend a reserve price for your watch, which you can accept or ignore.
- Worthy then lists your Rolex for auction. This is when you will set the reserve price (the lowest amount you’re willing to sell for) of your watch.
- Once the auction is live, Worthy’s clientele of professional jewelry buyers bid on your Rolex.
- When the auction closes, if your reserve price is met, you’ll receive payment within 24 hours (by PayPal) or by check.
Rolex buyer: CashforGoldUSA.com
CashforGoldUSA is an online company that buys gold and other precious metals (like silver, platinum, and diamonds). The company also buys Rolexes. We prefer Worthy because the unique auction model helps to drive up the final sale price of your Rolex, but while it’s not our number one choice, we still like CashforGoldUSA because:
- CashforGoldUSA has an A+ rating with the BBB
- 100% free shipping via FedEx
- Insured up to $100,000
- Get paid within 24 hours
- If you don’t accept their offer, your watch will be returned to you completely free of charge
- If you send in your watch within 10 days of receiving the mailer, you’ll receive a 10% bonus on top of your appraisal price
Learn more about how CashforGoldUSA works in our CashforGoldUSA review.
How to sell a Rolex to CashforGoldUSA.com
To sell your Rolex through CashforGoldUSA, all you need to do is:
- Visit CashforGoldUSA.com
- Fill out a form asking you a few basic questions about your watch, including whether or not you have the original papers.
- After you fill out the form, you’ll receive a prepaid and insured FedEx envelope within a few days, which you’ll use to send your watches to CashforGoldUSA.
- Within 24 hours of your watch being received, you’ll receive an appraisal on the value of the watch. If you choose to accept the offer, you’ll be paid within 24 hours. If you reject the offer, your Rolex will be returned to you completely free of charge
Rolex buyer: WPDiamonds.com
WPDiamonds is an online jewelry buyer that specializes in buying—you guessed it—diamonds. The company also buys Rolexes, which it then resells for a profit.
WPDiamonds isn’t our top choice, but we do still like them for a few key reasons, including:
- A+ rating with the BBB
- Free shipping for your watch
- Free evaluation for your Rolex as a part of selling the watch to WPDiamonds
- You can also sell other luxury goods including jewelry and handbags to myGemma, formerly WP Diamonds
- They pay relatively quickly, within 10 days
Learn more about how WPDiamonds works in our myGemma review.
Sell your Rolex to WPDiamonds
To sell your Rolex to WPDiamonds, all you need to do is:
- Visit WPDiamonds.com.
- Fill out a form with details about your watch.
- You’ll receive an initial valuation for your item by phone or email.
- If you agree to send in your item for a full appraisal, WPDiamonds will send you a prepaid and insured mailer. Send in your Rolex.
- WPDiamonds will evaluate your Rolex and contact you with an official offer.
- If you accept, you’ll receive payment by check, money wire, or through PayPal. If you reject the offer, they’ll return your watch, no risk.
Other Rolex buyers
Some other Rolex buyers you might find online include:
- Bob’s Watches
- Circa
- Crown & Caliber
- Diamond Banc
- Luxury Bazaar
- The Watchbox
- Tourneau
- Watch Payer
You might also list your Rolex on a consignment website, like TheRealReal, or at a local pawnshop, if you need the money really fast.
Where and how to get a loan on jewelry in 2023
How to sell to a Rolex with papers
If you have the original authentication papers and watch box that came with your watch, it can not only make it easier for you to sell your watch, but might even help you fetch a higher price. By some estimates, a Rolex with all of its papers and box can sell for as much as 10% or 20% more than a watch without its papers.
Recently sold Rolexes
Here are some examples of recent Rolex watch sales at Worthy:
Rolex 118238 Day Date K264407 sold at auction $10,175.
Rolex 1680 Submariner 5405484 sold at auction for $5,087.
Rolex Yatch-Master 16622 K722068 sold at auction for $4,185.
Rolex GMT Master 16710 K389230 sold at auction for $4,536.
Rolex Daytona 116520 439JX559 sold at auction for $7,965.
How to sell a Rolex without papers
If you have a Rolex but don’t have the papers or original box, that doesn’t mean that you still can’t sell your watch. But it does increase the importance of having your watch appraised and authenticated. Without authentication, you’re unlikely to find a buyer who is willing to take the risk of buying a fake Rolex.
Finding your watch’s reference number and serial number (on the watch case, beneath the bracelet) will also help you appraise your watch and list it for sale.
Bottom line: What’s the best place to sell my Rolex?
Our number one choice for selling your Rolex is through Worthy.com. The company’s unique auction model and network of professional jewelry buyers ensures that you’ll get as much money as possible for your watch.
To find the resale value of your Rolex or another timepiece you want to sell, the best way is to get an authentication by a certified watch expert. This professional can remove the back of your Rolex, inspect the serial numbers to determine the age and model, and examine the movements to establish the watch’s repair history.
You can look at the prices that other similar Rolexes have sold for. And yes, some websites offer calculators that will give you an estimate on your watch based on the information you provide. But the only way to really determine the value of your Rolex is to have it appraised by a trusted jeweler or watch buyer.
Through Worthy, you can have your Rolex watch appraised and then listed for sale. Once listed, Worthy’s clientele of professional jewelry buyers can bid on your watch in order to buy it. The fact that Worthy is an auction platform increases the chances that you’ll get top dollar for your Rolex, especially compared to other buyers like online pawn shops or metal buyers.
Our number one choice for selling your Rolex is through Worthy.com. The company’s unique auction model and network of professional jewelry buyers ensure that you’ll get as much money as possible for your watch.
This reads like a thinly disguised ad for Worthy.