Looking to sell Rolex Submariner watches in London? The Submariner is the watch we are asked for most often, which means we are buying them continuously. Date, no-date, black bezel, Kermit or Hulk – we are interested in all of them.
We buy outright for our own stock, so there is no commission, no listing period and no waiting for a buyer to appear.
How to sell Rolex Submariner watches with us
- Tell us about the watch. Let us know the reference, roughly when it was bought, and whether the card, boxes and spare links are with it. Pictures are useful but optional; a handful on WhatsApp gets you a quick initial valuation.
- We make an offer. Your Submariner is priced on what that reference and bezel colour are fetching right now, not a printed list.
- Bring it in or send it insured. Come to Hatton Garden by appointment, or if you are further afield, send it to us free and fully insured.
- Paid within 24 hours. As soon as the watch is authenticated in person and you say yes to the offer, the money goes to you that day by secure bank transfer.
Get a valuation for your Rolex Submariner
What affects what your Submariner is worth
Most of what decides the figure when you sell Rolex Submariner watches is visible on the card and in a handful of photos. These are the points we look at first.
Reference and generation. The current 41mm 126610LN and 124060 sit above the earlier 40mm 116610 and 114060, and the green-bezel references carry their own premium.
Green sells. The 126610LV (often called the Starbucks) and the earlier 116610LV Hulk consistently trade above the black-bezel equivalents. If you have one, it is worth more than you may think.
Case condition. Light bracelet marks are expected and easily improved. An over-polished case with softened lug edges is the thing that genuinely reduces value, and it cannot be reversed.
Box, papers and stickers. A full set achieves more. Unworn examples with original stickers intact sit in a different bracket again.
Bracelet stretch. Older Oyster bracelets with folded links loosen noticeably over the years, while modern solid-link bracelets hold their shape far better. Either way, we check the play between the links, and a tired bracelet is factored in rather than treated as a deal-breaker.
Original bezel insert and dial. Aluminium inserts on older Submariners fade with sun and salt water, and many were swapped for new ones during a service. Original parts with honest ageing are generally preferred to bright replacements, so keep any parts you were given back.
Know your Submariner reference
The Submariner was introduced in 1953 and has been refined ever since, so a quick look at the reference tells us a great deal before we see the watch. Your reference is on the warranty card, and the table below covers the models we see most often from people who sell Rolex Submariner pieces to us.
| Reference | Period | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| 5513 and 1680 | 1960s to 1980s | Vintage no-date and early date models with aluminium bezels |
| 16610 | Late 1980s to 2010 | Date model with an aluminium bezel and sapphire crystal |
| 16610LV | 2003 to 2010 | Green aluminium bezel, the original “Kermit” |
| 116610LN and 114060 | 2010 to 2020 | 40mm case with a black Cerachrom bezel; date and no-date |
| 116610LV | 2010 to 2020 | Green dial and green ceramic bezel, known as the “Hulk” |
| 126610LN, 126610LV and 124060 | 2020 onwards | Current 41mm generation with a ceramic bezel |
If you want to sell Rolex Submariner watches in steel and gold, such as the 126613LB, they are bought and priced separately from the steel models. For the current catalogue, Rolex's own website lists every Submariner in production, which is a useful reference if you are unsure which version you own.
Condition checks: bezel, crown and bracelet
A Submariner is built to be worn, and we do not expect a diver's watch to look as though it has stayed in the box. What we check, when you sell Rolex Submariner watches to us, is whether the wear is honest. The unidirectional bezel should click round crisply in one direction only, the crown should screw down cleanly, and the crystal should be free of chips at the edge.
On the case, the important thing is the shape of the lugs and the line between brushed and polished surfaces. A professional polish years ago is common and acceptable; repeated heavy polishing that leaves the lugs thin and rounded is what lowers the value. If you are unsure, send us a side-on photograph of the case and we will tell you what we see.
Ceramic-era models from the 116610 onwards have the Glidelock extension in the clasp. Check that it slides and locks properly before you sell Rolex Submariner watches, because a worn clasp is a common reason for a small deduction. On older Submariners, a rattly clasp and a stretched bracelet often go together.
Box, papers and service records
Paperwork proves a watch's history, and on the most popular Rolex in the world that history is part of what the next buyer pays for. When you sell Rolex Submariner watches with the card, both boxes and the spare links, there is less for us to verify and more we can offer.
- The Rolex warranty card or the older paper certificate
- Green outer box, inner box, booklets and the anchor or hang tags
- Spare bracelet links, which are easy to forget about
- Service invoices and any original parts returned by the service centre
- Your purchase receipt, if it is still around
No papers? No problem. You can still sell Rolex Submariner watches to us without them; we will authenticate yours in person and explain the difference in figures openly. Our guide to box and papers explains what each item adds.
Getting ready to sell Rolex Submariner watches
A little preparation helps us give you a firm figure faster.
- Resist the urge to polish it or have the bracelet refinished.
- Rinse off salt or chlorine with fresh water only if the crown is fully screwed down, then dry it.
- Take daylight photos of the dial, bezel, both sides of the case and the clasp.
- Look out the warranty card and find the reference and purchase date.
- Put the boxes, spare links and service papers together in one bag.
- Mention any replaced parts, such as a bezel insert, dial or hands.
Selling a vintage Submariner
Older references such as the 5513 and 1680 are a different conversation from a modern ceramic watch. Here originality is everything: the dial, hands, bezel insert and even the crown change how the watch is valued. A faded insert, or aged luminous material that matches across the dial and hands, is often more desirable than a crisp replacement fitted during a service.
If you plan to sell Rolex Submariner watches from the 1960s, 1970s or 1980s, please do not have them restored first. Bring any old service papers, the original bracelet even if it is worn, and anything that came with the watch when it was bought. We will go through it with you piece by piece and explain which details matter and why.
Sell Rolex Submariner watches at our Hatton Garden showroom
You will find us at 9 St. Cross Street, Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8UB. Farringdon and Chancery Lane stations are both a short walk away. We see people by appointment only, which keeps the visit private and gives us time to go through your watch properly. Weekday appointments run from 10:30am to 5:30pm, Saturdays from 12:00pm to 4:30pm, and we are closed on Sundays.
When you arrive we look at the watch together, confirm the serial number and case markings, open the conversation about condition, and give you our offer. If you would like to see what is in stock while you are here, our pre-owned Rolex Submariner page shows what we currently have.
What happens when you sell Rolex Submariner watches in person
An appointment usually starts with a conversation about the watch: when it was bought, how it has been worn and whether it has been serviced. We then examine it closely, checking the serial number, case markings, movement and bracelet, and we look over the box and papers you have brought with you.
Once we are satisfied the watch is authentic, we give you our offer and explain how we reached it. If you accept, payment is made by secure bank transfer that day, with nothing deducted. If you would rather think it over, you are free to take the watch home; there is no pressure either way.
Sell Rolex Submariner watches by insured post
Not everyone can get to central London, and you do not need to. You can send the watch fully insured, and we will talk you through packing and posting it before you do. When it arrives we authenticate it, confirm the figure, and pay by secure bank transfer. It is simple to sell Rolex Submariner watches this way, especially if you agree an initial figure from photographs first.
Swap rather than sell: part exchange
Some people who sell Rolex Submariner watches are really trading up. If you are moving from a 16610 to a ceramic model or from a Submariner to a GMT-Master II, part exchange keeps everything to one transaction. We offset the value of your Submariner against the watch you are buying. Should your watch be worth more than the one you pick, we pay you the difference. You can read more about how part exchange works.
Why sell Rolex Submariner watches to us
We are not a broker and we do not take watches on consignment. We buy your Submariner ourselves, so the figure we agree is the figure that reaches your bank account, with no fees or commission taken off. You are not waiting weeks for someone else to decide, and you deal with an independent Hatton Garden specialist who prices the Submariner on its merits rather than discounting for uncertainty.
Want a figure before you decide? Message a few photos to +44 (0)7888 888835 on WhatsApp or ring us on 0330 043 7777. The valuation is free and there is no obligation to sell Rolex Submariner watches to us afterwards.
Common questions
I wear mine daily. Is it still worth selling?
Absolutely. A Submariner that has been worn and looked after is a completely normal thing for us to buy. Honest wear is expected on a tool watch and we price for it.
How long does the whole process take?
If you come to the showroom, you are paid within 24 hours once the watch is checked and you accept our offer. If you are sending it in, you ship it free and fully insured, and we pay within 24 hours of agreeing a price.
Do you buy watches that need a service?
Yes. Our sister business Alpha Group, in the same building, handles servicing and repairs, so a watch needing attention is not a problem. We account for the cost openly rather than using it to knock the price down.
Can I sell Rolex Submariner watches that have a replacement bezel insert?
Yes. Replacement inserts are common on older Submariners, especially after a Rolex service. Tell us if you know it has been changed, and bring the original if you still have it, because it can improve the offer.
Do you buy two-tone and gold Submariners?
We do. Steel and gold models such as the 126613LB, and full gold references, are priced on their own merits rather than against the steel watches. Send the reference and photos and we will come back with a figure.
Can I sell Rolex Submariner watches that are on a non-Rolex strap?
Yes, although the original Oyster bracelet matters. If the watch is now on a rubber strap or an aftermarket bracelet, bring the original if you still have it. If it has been lost, tell us at the start so we can factor it into the figure honestly.
Is a WhatsApp valuation a firm offer?
It is a realistic initial figure based on what you have shown us. The firm offer follows once we have the watch in hand and have authenticated it, which protects you as well as us.
Want to sell Rolex Submariner watches this week? Request a valuation | Other watches we buy | Speak to our team
Kings & Queens Watches is an independent dealer and is not affiliated with Rolex.
