Buying5 min read
Buying a pre-owned Rolex in Dubai: what to check
Some of the Rolex models people ask for most, such as the steel Daytona, are still hard to get new from a retailer, so many buyers look to pre-owned dealers. Buying this way is straightforward when you know what to check, and this guide walks through it in the order we would do it.
The checks apply to any dealer you buy from. Where we describe how a deal works, it is how we work at Montreal Watches.
By the Montreal Watches teamUpdated 18 October 2026
Start with the exact reference
Choose the model first, then the reference, because the reference tells you the generation, the size, the metal and the movement. A Submariner, a Datejust or a Daytona each come in several generations that look alike from across a table and differ in the details that set the price.
Our model pages list every reference we hold, and our guides to the Daytona and the Datejust go through the generations of those two.
Match the watch to its papers
The papers should describe the watch in front of you. Check that the reference on the warranty card is the reference on the watch, and read the date: it should show when the watch was first sold, which gives you a guide to its age.
Papers that do not match the watch, or a seller who cannot explain the difference, are a reason to walk away.
Look closely at the case and the bracelet
Wear shows first on the sides of the case, the edges of the lugs and the clasp. Sharp, even edges usually mean a case that has been polished little or not at all; soft, rounded edges often mean metal has been taken off, by wear or by polishing. Neither is a reason to refuse a watch, but it should show in the price.
Check the bracelet for stretch. With the clasp closed, links that sag or a bracelet that rattles have worn at the pins (a Jubilee has some play by design). If you are buying at a distance, ask for photos of the clasp and the sides of the case.
Dial, hands and bezel
The dial should be evenly printed, with sharp text and markers, and the luminous material on the hands and markers should be the same shade. A replaced dial, hands or bezel is not unusual on an older watch, but the seller should tell you and the price should reflect it. If the watch has a rotating bezel, as a Submariner or a GMT-Master II does, turn it: it should move with a clear click and line up with the markers.
Movement and service history
A mechanical watch needs servicing from time to time, and its water resistance depends on seals that age. Ask when the watch was last serviced and by whom, and ask for a video that shows the seconds hand sweeping, the date changing when you set it forward, and the crown and any pushers working.
If the watch has not been serviced for years, expect to service it, and allow for that in the price.
Set and condition
The box, the papers and the condition all move the price. A full set in unworn condition sits at the top; a watch on its own with honest wear sits lower. Our guide to box, papers and condition explains how we describe each.
Read the price
Compare like with like: the same reference, in the same condition, with the same set. A price far below the others for the same watch is a warning, not a bargain, so ask what is different.
At Montreal Watches each price is in AED with the dollar equivalent beside it, and it is quoted exclusive of duties; import duty in the destination country is the buyer's.
Payment, paperwork and delivery
You can pay in cash, by bank transfer or in crypto, whichever suits the deal. Keep a written record of the deal that names the watch, its reference and its serial number. If you pay by bank transfer or in crypto, confirm the account or wallet details in person or by phone before you send anything, because a crypto payment cannot be reversed.
If you are not in Dubai, delivery is insured and arranged once the deposit clears, to every GCC country and worldwide.
See it before you pay
Come to our shop in the Gold Souk, Al Daghaya, in Deira, and look at the watch in your hand. If you are abroad, we send photos and video of the exact piece, serial number included. You are welcome to have the watch checked by a third party before you pay. Our guide to telling a genuine watch from a copy covers what to look for.
Questions we are asked
Are the pre-owned Rolex watches at Montreal Watches genuine?
Every piece is inspected before it goes in the safe and is guaranteed genuine. Montreal Watches is an independent dealer, not an authorised Rolex retailer, and you are welcome to have a watch checked by a third party before you pay.
Do you sell to the public, or only to the trade?
Both, and the price is the same either way. Most of our business is dealer to dealer, but anyone can message us or walk in.
Can I pay in cryptocurrency?
Yes. We accept cash, bank transfer or crypto, whichever suits the deal.
Do you deliver outside the UAE?
Yes. Insured delivery all over Dubai and the UAE, to every GCC country and worldwide, once the deposit clears. Import duty in the destination country is the buyer's.
What if the Rolex I want is not in stock?
Tell us the reference, the size and the budget you have in mind, and we will look for one. Send the details on WhatsApp.
What to do next
Tell us the reference, the size and the budget you have in mind and we will tell you what is in the safe and what we can find.
Ask us on WhatsAppMore guides
How to tell if a luxury watch is genuine
What you can check yourself in a few minutes, what only a watchmaker can check, the red flags in a deal, and why the seller matters more than any single test.
Box, papers and condition: how to read a watch listing
What unworn, excellent and used mean, what a full set is, and how the box, the papers and the condition of a watch change its price, explained by a Dubai dealer.
How to sell a luxury watch in Dubai
What to gather, how a dealer values your Rolex, Patek Philippe or Audemars Piguet, what moves the price and how you get paid when you sell a watch in Dubai.