Sell your Rolex.

The Rolex Models We Buy Most Often

We look at the full modern Oyster Perpetual line and many discontinued references. Most people who sell Rolex pieces to us bring one of the sports or dress models below, in steel, two-tone Rolesor or solid gold.

• Submariner: the dive watch introduced in 1953, with or without date. We also buy outgoing references such as the 116610LV with its green dial and bezel. See our page on how to sell a Rolex Submariner.
• Cosmograph Daytona: the chronograph Rolex launched in 1963, from steel ceramic-bezel references like the 116500LN and 126500LN to Everose and yellow gold. Read more on how to sell a Rolex Daytona.
• GMT-Master II: two time zones and a two-colour bezel, including the 116710BLNR and 126710BLNR with blue and black bezels, and the 126711CHNR with its brown and black bezel.
• Datejust: the date-window classic first shown in 1945, in sizes from 31mm to 41mm, with fluted or smooth bezels and Oyster or Jubilee bracelets. Because so many were bought as a first Rolex, it is one of the watches we see most often from owners who are trading up.
• Day-Date: made only in gold or platinum, with the day spelled out in full at 12 o'clock, usually on the President bracelet.
• Sky-Dweller: introduced in 2012, with an annual calendar, a second time zone and the rotating Ring Command bezel.

We also buy the Explorer and Explorer II, Sea-Dweller, Yacht-Master and Oyster Perpetual. If your model is not listed, send it anyway; when you sell Rolex models outside the usual sports range, the valuation process is exactly the same.

What Affects the Offer When You Sell Rolex Watches

No two pre-owned Rolex watches are quite the same, even with identical reference numbers. Our offer reflects current demand for that specific reference, then the details of your particular watch. These are the points we look at most closely.

Case condition and polishing

Modern Rolex cases have crisp lines: sharp lug edges, polished chamfers, and a clear border where brushed and polished surfaces meet. Everyday desk marks are expected and are not a problem. Heavy or repeated polishing is different, because it rounds those edges and removes metal that cannot be put back. If you are about to sell Rolex watches with visible wear, resist the urge to have them refinished first: an honest, unpolished case with light wear often appeals more to the next owner than one that has been buffed to a shine.

Box, papers and the Rolex warranty card

The warranty card, or the paper certificate on older watches, links the serial number to the reference and shows when and where the watch was first sold. Together with the inner and outer box, booklets, hang tags and spare links, it makes a complete set, and a complete set is valued higher. Missing paperwork does not stop you selling; plenty of people sell Rolex watches bought decades ago with no card at all. Bring whatever you have. Our box and papers guide explains each item.

Service history and original parts

A receipt or service card from a Rolex service centre shows when the movement was last overhauled and what was done. When you sell Rolex watches with a documented history, the next owner can see how they have been looked after. Originality matters as much as recent servicing: the dial, hands, bezel insert and bracelet should be correct for the reference. If parts were swapped during a past service and you were given the originals back, bring those too, because they help tell the full story of the watch.

Discontinued references

When Rolex replaces a model, the outgoing reference can develop its own following. The green-dial 116610LV Submariner was succeeded in 2020 by the 126610LV, which has a black dial with a green bezel, and the ceramic Daytona 116500LN gave way to the 126500LN in 2023. Owners who sell Rolex references just after they are discontinued often expect a premium. Discontinued does not automatically mean more desirable, though; demand for that exact reference and dial decides it, and we will tell you plainly where yours sits.

Gem-setting: factory versus aftermarket

Rolex sets diamonds and precious stones in its own workshops on many Day-Date, Datejust and Daytona references. Aftermarket diamond dials, bezels or fully iced cases are a different matter. They narrow the pool of buyers, and non-original parts can complicate any future service with the brand. If you plan to sell Rolex pieces with added diamonds, we can still value them, and we will always explain how added stones affect the offer before you decide anything.

Reading Your Rolex Reference Number

The reference number tells us the model, the bezel and the metal before we have even seen the watch. It is printed on the warranty card and engraved on the case between the lugs at 12 o'clock. Having the reference to hand is the single most useful thing when you sell Rolex online, because it lets us value from photos. Letters after the number describe the bezel: LN for black, LV for green, BLNR for blue and black, and CHNR for brown and black.

On six-digit references, the last digit usually indicates the metal. A final 0 means Oystersteel, 1 is Everose Rolesor, 3 is yellow Rolesor and 4 is white Rolesor; 5 is Everose gold, 6 is platinum, 8 is yellow gold and 9 is white gold. That is why a 228235 Day-Date and a 228239 Day-Date are valued differently. Our guide to Rolex reference numbers goes into more detail.

Where to Sell Rolex: Your Options Compared

There are four common ways to sell Rolex watches in the UK: privately, through an auction house, on consignment with a dealer, or directly to a dealer who buys for stock. Each suits a different seller, and the trade-offs are worth knowing before you choose.

• Private sale: you set the asking price, but you also handle the listing, the questions and the viewings, along with the risk of meeting strangers or receiving a fraudulent payment.
• Auction: suited to rare and historically important pieces, but you wait for a sale date, the result is uncertain, and seller's fees come out of the hammer price.
• Consignment: a dealer displays your watch and pays you after it sells, which can take weeks or months, usually minus a commission.
• Direct sale to a dealer: one agreed price, paid once the watch is authenticated, with no waiting for a buyer to appear.

At Kings & Queens we only work the last way. We buy outright for our own stock; we don't take watches on consignment or act as a broker for someone else. For most people who want to sell Rolex quickly and privately, it is the simplest route, and you can still compare our offer with other options before deciding.

How to Sell Rolex to Kings & Queens, Step by Step

Here is exactly what happens when you sell Rolex watches to us, from the first message to payment.

1. Send photos and details. WhatsApp clear pictures of the dial, both sides of the case, the clasp and any papers, plus the reference number and what is included.
2. Receive a free initial valuation. We reply with an indication based on your photos. There is no charge and no obligation to go ahead.
3. Book a visit or send it insured. Bring the watch to a private appointment in Hatton Garden, or if you can't visit, send it to us fully insured.
4. In-person authentication. Our specialists examine the watch and its paperwork and confirm the condition you described.
5. Agree the price and get paid. Once the price is agreed and the watch is authenticated, we pay you by secure bank transfer, with no fees or commission deducted.

Because we sell Rolex watches as well as buy them, we know what our own clients are asking for, which helps us give you a clear answer.

Preparing to Sell Rolex Watches

A little preparation makes the valuation quicker and more accurate. None of it costs anything, and it saves a second round of questions.

• Do not polish the case or bracelet, and avoid a jeweller's quick refinish. Leave that decision to the next owner.
• Find the box, warranty card or certificate, booklets, receipts and any spare bracelet links.
• Gather service paperwork from a Rolex service centre or an independent watchmaker.
• Note the date on the warranty card and where the watch was originally bought.
• Photograph the watch in daylight, without flash, including the clasp and the side of the case.
• Do not open the case back or remove the bracelet to look for numbers; we record those during authentication.

If the watch has stopped or needs work, tell us; you can still sell Rolex watches that need a service. Our sister business, Alpha Group, handles servicing and repairs in the same building, so a watch that needs attention is not a problem for us.

Part Exchange Your Rolex for Another Watch

Not everyone wants to sell Rolex outright; some owners would rather have a different watch. With our part exchange service, the value of your Rolex is offset against the watch you are buying in a single transaction. Someone moving from a Datejust to a Sky-Dweller, for example, agrees one figure for both watches and settles the balance. If your watch is worth more than the one you choose, we pay you the difference.

Sell Rolex in Person at Our Hatton Garden Showroom

Hatton Garden has been London's jewellery quarter for well over a century, and it remains the centre of the UK diamond trade. Our showroom is at 9 St. Cross Street, London EC1N 8UB, a short walk from Farringdon and Chancery Lane stations. Every visit is by appointment, so the room is private and you are not discussing your watch in front of other customers.

We are open Monday to Friday from 10:30am to 5:30pm and on Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:30pm, and closed on Sunday. To sell Rolex watches in person, book a time through our contact page and bring the watch with everything that came with it. For current models and specifications, the official Rolex website is the best reference.

Sell Rolex FAQs

Can I sell Rolex watches without the box and papers?

Yes. We buy watches without their box and papers, and we authenticate every watch in person regardless. A complete set is valued higher, so bring anything you still have, even a single booklet or receipt.

Do you buy vintage Rolex?

Yes. When people sell Rolex watches from earlier decades, originality is the main question: whether the dial, hands, bezel and bracelet are correct for the reference and period. Send photos first and we will tell you what we need to see in person.

Should I service my Rolex before I sell it?

Usually not. Most people who sell Rolex watches are better off leaving that to the buyer. A service adds cost and sometimes includes polishing, which may not suit the next owner. We take the watch's condition into account in our offer, and a service can be arranged later.

How quickly will I be paid?

Payment is made by secure bank transfer once we have agreed a price and authenticated the watch in person. There are no hidden fees or commission; the agreed price is what you receive.

Can I post my Rolex instead of visiting?

Yes. If you can't visit, you can send the watch fully insured. Agree an initial valuation with us first so we know it is coming and what to expect.

Are you an authorised Rolex dealer?

No. Kings & Queens is an independent dealer. We are not an authorised dealer and are not part of the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned programme. We buy pre-owned Rolex watches directly from private owners for our own stock.

Do I need an appointment to sell Rolex in Hatton Garden?

Yes. All visits are by appointment, which keeps the meeting private and means a specialist is ready for you. Call 0330 043 7777 or message us on WhatsApp to arrange a time that suits you.

What should I bring when I sell Rolex in person?

Bring the watch with its box, warranty card or certificate, booklets, receipts, service paperwork and any spare links. A complete set is valued higher, and spare links in particular are easy to forget in a drawer.

Can I get a valuation without committing to sell?

Yes. Every valuation is free and carries no obligation. You might want one to plan a part exchange, or simply to understand what your watch is worth today.

Models we are buying now

Kings & Queens Watches is an independent dealer and is not affiliated with Rolex.

Weighing up your options first? Our guide to the best place to sell a Rolex compares dealers, part-exchange, consignment, auction and private sale.