Of all the watches made by Rolex, the Sea Dweller and the Submariner are two of the most sought after. Both are divers' watchers, with the main difference between the two lying in functionality — the Sea Dweller model can withstand greater depths than the Submariner.
Model Differences
Designed to withstand depths up to 4000 feet, the Sea Dweller is the watch of choice for professional divers. It's slightly lighter cousin, the Submariner, can comfortably dive to a depth of 1000 feet. The extra water resistance and precautions against decompression in the Sea Dweller make it also a slightly bigger watch. The Sea Dweller, for instance, has a sapphire crystal that's 4mm thicker than the Submariner, and a gas escape valve opposite the winding crown which allows any build up of helium particles during decompression to safely escape from the watch. The Submariner has a magnifying bubble over the date. Apart from the date, neither watch model features additional complications.
Vintage Sea Dwellers and Submariners are very highly sought after watches, meaning their resale value is high. Expect to pay prices in the thousands of pounds or even the tens of thousands for vintage watches of either brand if they're in good condition and have their original papers.
Trust the Experts
If you're in the market to sell a Rolex Submariner watch, then because they're valued highly you're unlikely to want to go it alone. Expert advice from a respected and trusted watch buyers service in the UK will give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing your watch is achieving the best possible market price. In any competitive market, it's easy for the unwary to be taken in by unscrupulous dealers or other buyers. Make sure you contact only those who have the experience and knowledge to accurately value your vintage watch. Ideally, you want those who are insured against loss or damage to your watch during the valuation process. Whilst it's highly unlikely that anything amiss will happen, when you're dealing with items of high value it's always better to be safe than sorry.
Getting the Best Resale Price
Getting the best price for someone who wants to sell a Rolex Sea Dweller watch, for example, depends on the watch model itself, the year of its manufacture, its condition and whether you have the associated paperwork. An original box doesn't hurt either. The more provenance you can provide that authenticates your watch and proves its history, the higher the price it will fetch amongst collectors and other aficionados. If you don't have these things, all is not lost. Your Submariner or Sea Dweller still has a good value simply because of what it is. If you're looking to sell either kind of vintage Rolex watch, either now or in the future, take good care of your investment and you'll get a good price.
