Do you live in the northern suburbs?

 

Yes, I do

 

What does the watch come with? Box, paper, service paper, receipt?

If you want the watch to be authenticated by Rolex, personally I'd go to their service center rather than an AD.
Though you may want to give several AD a call and see of they have an 'authentication' service. But I wouldn't just go into the store and ask their salespeople, a competent/reliable watchmaker would be a better option.

 

Thank you as I forgot to mention this. It just comes with the box, no papers / card or service history. Hence my wanting it to be authenticated before purchase. I was planning on calling a few ADs in the morning. Am I wrong in thinking the rolex service centers won't just authenticated? It was my understanding that they took it for a week or so and then came back to you with recommendations for service and whatnot (obviously confirming if its real or not). I'm not sure the seller is going to oblige all of that.

 

Try Burdeen's in Buffalo Grove or CD Peacock in Old Orchard. They both have on-site watchmakers. You can also go to a watchmaker like Russ at RK Watch Services in Northbrook. He's serviced some of my watches and is very knowledgeable.

 

I've been to both cd peacock and burdeeens previously so I was going to contact them in the morning for sure. I know burdeens carries pre owned rolex I just didn't know they had a watchmaker on site, that helps. Thank you for the recommendation of rk watch services. I will check them out as well.

 

Charge, depends on their mood that day.

 

Maybe an AD you have a relationship with will do it for free. Or you could always go to a grey market dealer and ask what they would give you for the watch and they would have to inspect it - if they come back with a number then its probably authentic

 

I think your best bet is to call around to ADs and Rolex watchmakers in the area, explain the situation, and see if they would be willing to do it for free and/or a small fee.

I've always authenticated post purchase so not exactly what you are looking for, but I just took it to a very well-regarded watchmaker who did it for free.

And yea, like you mentioned, I've heard of people send it to RSC claiming some "issue" but in reality they were trying to get it authenticated. I got this accomplished indirectly when I sent it a vintage Datejust I genuinely wanted serviced. RSC refused to do the service for another reason, but they authenticated every part of the watch (case and bracelet and clasp). Because they refused service, they sent it back to me and waived the charge. But I think normally if you have them look it over, write up a quote, but refuse service, it's like $100 with the return shipping included. Which seems reasonable for peace of mind, but turnaround time would be an issue. It took about 4 weeks for me to get the initial quote back from RSC after they received my watch.

 

I think your best bet is to call around to ADs and Rolex watchmakers in the area, explain the situation, and see if they would be willing to do it for free and/or a small fee.

I've always authenticated post purchase so not exactly what you are looking for, but I just took it to a very well-regarded watchmaker who did it for free.

And yea, like you mentioned, I've heard of people send it to RSC claiming some "issue" but in reality they were trying to get it authenticated. I got this accomplished indirectly when I sent it a vintage Datejust I genuinely wanted serviced. RSC refused to do the service for another reason, but they authenticated every part of the watch (case and bracelet and clasp). Because they refused service, they sent it back to me and waived the charge. But I think normally if you have them look it over, write up a quote, but refuse service, it's like $100 with the return shipping included. Which seems reasonable for peace of mind, but turnaround time would be an issue. It took about 4 weeks for me to get the initial quote back from RSC after they received my watch.

Thank you for the reply

 

Protip:

My best advice is you to go to an appraiser that will open case back. Pay for 2 things at once. Authentication and appraisal for insurance at the same time.

Some ADs will check authenticity but recently unlikely. Reps on sales floor are not experts. There are too many models and the fakes can be too good. Fakes today are better than used Rolexes from 90s or earlier. Makes you wonder why real is charging so much...