Testimonial - John Holbrook, II | rolexreferencepage.com
Those of you who are familiar with my Rolex articles on www.rolexreferencepage.com are probably aware that my
favorite watch to wear in my collection is my two-tone, blue dial Submariner model 16613. The iridescent blue dial combined with the two-tone look is just fabulous. I've had an F Series 16613 for several years, and recently someone of my acquaintance admired the watch so much that they made me an offer to buy it from me that I couldn't refuse. This put me in the situation of having to replace the watch. I had actually been thinking of getting one of the last production models of the 16613 (which Rolex replaced just this year with the ceramic bezel 116613 Submariner) which has the new "RolexRolexRolex" engraving on the rehaut (or what some call the inner bezel).
I've purchased several brand new Rolex watches, but in this situation, it really made more sense for me to purchase a 16613 pre-owned (or "pre-loved" as some watch enthusiasts say). The thrill of purchasing one brand new from an authorized dealer is nice, but so too is saving nearly half off the retail purchase price.
Time & Gems has been a supporter of my work for quite some time now, so I reached out to them to see if they had a late model pre-owned 16613 with the engraved inner bezel. They checked their stock and informed me they had a late Z series 16613 in immaculate condition -watch only, for $5,500.00. No box, no papers, but almost half the current $9300.00 (plus tax) retail price of a 16613. This suited my needs perfectly - I've already got a closet full of empty Rolex boxes which simply take up space and serve no purpose. And since a Rolex warranty doesn't transfer to a 2nd owner, having the warranty card with the way is of no real value either. I just need a watch in like-new condition to wear and enjoy.
The very next day, my Z series 16613 arrived and I could not have been more impressed. Time & Gems were true to their word, and provided me a 16613 that appeared to be quite nearly in new condition - just take a look at these photos:
I put the watch on my Orbita Timing Machine to test the accuracy of the watch - it was running at a nice, steady +3 seconds per day. That's outstanding - COSC chronometer standards call for a watch to run anywhere between -4 to +6 seconds per day. So +3 seconds is about perfect in my book, given that I MUCH prefer a watch that runs fast vs. one that runs slow.
Needless to say, I could not have been more impressed with my purchase from Time & Gems. I highly recommend you consider Time & Gems for your next Rolex purchase as their prices are extremely competitive, and they stand behind their products with 1 year warranties and movement service. Thanks Time & Gems!
John B. Holbrook, II
Owner, THE ROLEX REFERENCE PAGE
www.rolexreferencepage.com
