# Watch dealers? Value of late-'70s vintage Rolex non-date Submariner? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 18, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-dealers-value-of-late-70s-vintage-rolex-non-date-submariner/918432 "2020-08-18T20:34:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-dealers-value-of-late-70s-vintage-rolex-non-date-submariner/918432/1 "2020-08-18T20:34:28Z")
It’s about time I start paring down the possessions. I like the Rolex GMT Master II I bought new in 2001. I also like the late-'70s (?) vintage non-date Submariner (5513?) I got used. Of the two, I wear the GMT more often. Maybe I should sell the Sub? I year or so ago, I asked a coin- and jewelry dealer what the Sub I was wearing was worth. He said about $4,500. Checking the Sold listings on eBay (only briefly, as I’m at work) I see watches that look like mine that sold for $8,000 to $10,000. My watch has the curved crystal. It was overhauled a decade or so ago, and received a new dial (which is still very bright when you turn the lights off). Not scratched or abused. Without seeing it, are there any Dope dealers watching? I mean Watch-dealer Dopers who can give me a ballpark figure? ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2020, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-dealers-value-of-late-70s-vintage-rolex-non-date-submariner/918432/2 "2020-08-18T21:48:18Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > It was overhauled a decade or so ago, and received a new dial (which is still very bright when you turn the lights off). Was that performed at the factory, with associated paperwork, and do you have the original dial? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2020, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-dealers-value-of-late-70s-vintage-rolex-non-date-submariner/918432/3 "2020-08-18T21:51:22Z")
I took it to Ben Bridge, who sent it to Rolex. No idea if I still have the paperwork. I might. Come to think of it, I might have a box and the appropriate anchor. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2020, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-dealers-value-of-late-70s-vintage-rolex-non-date-submariner/918432/4 "2020-08-18T22:13:30Z")
I used to own a Rolex Submariner (non-date) with the curved crystal that was purchased new around 1988. Not sure about yours, but my understanding is that the curved crystals were actually plastic. I know this because it scratched very easily, and I had to frequently take it into the dealer to have the scratches buffed out. I eventually got tired of this, so in 1991 I traded it in and replaced it with a Rolex Submariner Date. The crystal on this one was much harder and flat. It never got any scratches in it, which I liked very much…until I struck it on a tool the wrong way and cracked the crystal. 🙄 This was back in 2006. I’ve been meaning to get it repaired since then. As I recall, the Submariner Date cost considerably more than the non-date. In the early ‘90s, the Submariner Date in stainless steel sold new from an authorized dealer for about $2,500, while the non-date in stainless steel with the curved plastic crystal sold for $700-800. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2020, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-dealers-value-of-late-70s-vintage-rolex-non-date-submariner/918432/5 "2020-08-19T03:13:42Z")
All I know is what I’ve seen on Antiques Roadshow, and they always say that most of the value is in the original parts. Replacement parts lower the value considerably.