Is a Broken Rolex Worth Anything? Can you fix a Broken Rolex?

Is a Broken Rolex Worth Anything? Or Can you fix a Broken Rolex?

Has your Rolex watch been in an accident and is now destroyed? Have you received an heirloom that has been in a drawer for many decades and is broken?

Can you sell a broken Rolex and is it even worth anything? Or better yet, can you fix a broken Rolex, and is it even worth it? These are all questions that we’ll answer and look closer at in this article.

The short answer is yes, a Rolex watch is always worth something, regardless if it’s broken or not. But for obvious reasons, a broken Rolex will be worth less than one that is in a functioning condition. How much a broken Rolex watch is worth depends on a number of different factors, including the condition it is in, how broken it is, and which model it is.

Is a broken Rolex worth anything?

Yes, absolutely! A broken Rolex is always worth something, regardless of its condition and how broken it is. “Broken” is also a matter of definition. If the watch is in overall condition but just doesn’t work, it can relatively easily be serviced and repaired to start functioning properly again, thus being valued as a properly functioning Rolex. But if the watch is much more destroyed,  for example, has been dropped, has plenty of dents, and has become misshaped, then it may be difficult to repair. If a Rolex is heavily destroyed, it may not be worth repairing as the cost of repair will be higher than the value of the watch once repaired. In this case, the watch will be sold for parts. 

Since Rolex watches are expensive, so are the cost of replacement parts. Moreover, Rolex is very strict about replacement parts in order to prevent counterfeiting and as such, the cost of Rolex parts on the secondhand market is quite high. As a result, even if your Rolex watch is completely destroyed, you can sell the watch for its parts and get quite a good amount, depending on the model and the condition.

Broken beyond repair

If a Rolex is broken beyond repair, it is still worth something, predominantly for its parts, as mentioned above. How much a Rolex that is broken beyond repair is worth depends on numerous factors, most importantly which model you have and its condition. If each and every single part is heavily destroyed and damaged, you will get less for your watch than if some of the parts are in good condition, for example, the bracelet or certain movement parts.

In most cases, there is no such thing as “broken beyond repair” when it comes to Rolex servicing. For example, if the case has become completely destroyed, Rolex will be able to replace the case during a service. And if the dial is completely damaged, they will be able to replace the dial with a new one. But the issue is that when it comes to these big, key parts, they can set you back a considerable amount. Sometimes the total cost of the repair can far exceed the cost of a new Rolex or the market value for one.

For example, the cost of a new case for a Datejust 36 reference 116234 from Rolex is around 2000 USD (not including the white gold fluted bezel). And with this in mind, it may not be worth exchanging the case from a monetary standpoint. Meaning, the cost of the repair will be higher than the amount you increase the watch’s value by having it repaired. But this is something you need to consider on a case-by-case basis depending on how damaged the watch is, and which parts have to be replaced.

If the movement is broken

If you have a Rolex watch and the movement is broken, it’s usually a relatively easy fix. This is likely caused by something in the movement that has broken and needs repair. In most cases, you’ll just have to pay for a service and the parts that need to be exchanged. If your watch is in overall good condition and is not broken in any way, the best way is to simply have the movement repaired. This will bring your Rolex back to life and allow you to sell it as a properly functioning watch, thus allowing you to get more for it when you sell it.

Note that movement services may be expensive if the movement is heavily damaged and lots of different parts need to be exchanged, for example, if the watch has leaked water and has rusted heavily. If you take it to a watchmaker, they will inspect the condition of the movement and provide you with a cost estimate. You will then be able to confirm or turn down the cost estimate. When you receive the cost estimate for the service, you’ll be able to get a better understanding of whether it is worth proceeding with the service or just selling it as-is. But in most cases, when it only relates to damages to the movement, it’s usually worth repairing it than selling it as it is. This is because your watch will otherwise be regarded as a “scrap watch” by some people, which gives a completely different valuation than if it is properly functioning.

If the watch is in overall good condition but it’s just the movement that needs to be repaired, you can get quite a good amount by selling your watch as-is. But remember that the person who buys it needs to factor in the cost of repair, so you will naturally get less for it than if it is in working order.

Only service your watch with original parts

Depending on the condition of your watch, certain parts will likely need to be replaced, whether inside the movement or visible parts. Regardless, it is important that you only use original, authentic parts for the reparation of your watch. Authorized Rolex service centers will only use new authentic parts for the reparation of watches and this is important for the value of the watch. A watch that has both original and inauthentic parts are considered “Franken” watches and this is something that will negatively affect the value of the watch considerably. Moreover, Rolex service centers will in most cases not service watches with fake parts so this may also cause issues further on.

It’s worth mentioning that if you send your Rolex to a Rolex service center, they will keep all the parts that get replaced. Therefore, if you want to keep the parts that are replaced, you need to turn to a third-party watchmaker, of course with the required skill and know-how, who only use original parts for the repair. Rolex keeps the original parts to prevent them from ending up on the secondhand market and potentially being used to make Franken watches.

Rare and collectible Rolex watches may be worth a lot – even when broken

Some Rolex watches are rarer and more sought-after than others. And when it comes to rare and sought-after vintage Rolex watches, the original parts for them tend to be expensive as well. This is because it is not possible to source original parts directly from Rolex. For example, if a vintage Rolex watch needs to replace the dial, it will be replaced with a modern dial that doesn’t have the same characteristics as an original one. And as you may know, it is extremely important for collectors that everything is original when it comes to collectible items.

With this said, some parts can be extremely valuable. If you have a broken Rolex and some of the parts are damaged but some are still intact, you may be able to sell it for parts and still get quite a lot for them. This is why the type of watch you have plays an important role in 1. whether it is worth repairing, and 2. how much you will be able to get when selling your broken Rolex.

Moreover, if your watch contains parts that are made in gold or feature gemstones, it may be worth more to sell the watch for parts than to have it repaired. Repairing a watch made in precious metal tends to cost a considerable amount of money, in particular when you need to replace parts made in precious metal. For example, the 18k gold case for the 16618 Submariner costs about 14.000 USD, just for the case. Therefore, it may be more worth selling the watch parts rather than repairing them. In this case, you also have the gold content which carries some value.

Our advice is to have the watch valued as-is when broken and then take it to a Rolex service center for an estimate on the repair cost, as long as it is not beyond repair. You will then be able to compare the cost of repair versus how much you increase the value of the watch when repairing it – and if it is worth doing it.

Watch case with lots of dents

If your Rolex is damaged to the point where the case has a lot of dents, you (fortunately) don’t always have to exchange the whole case which, as demonstrated, is rather expensive. With the evolvement of technology and tools, many watchmakers are now able to weld the case and restore it to its original condition by adding metal to it rather than polishing it heavily. If a watch has serious dents and damages, it will not be possible to polish away these dents so welding is a great solution for this.

If it’s the case that is damaged, you can research third-party, professional watchmakers who specialize in welding cases and restoring them to their original condition. There are also experts in bracelet restorations. This way, you won’t have to replace the parts. Instead, you restore them to their original condition. Whether or not this is possible, however, depends on how damaged your watch is.

How much is a broken Rolex worth? Conclusion

To conclude, how much a broken Rolex watch is worth depends on a number of different factors, namely:

• How damaged it is
• Which model it is
• Whether or not the watch can be repaired

All of these factors will ultimately decide whether or not it is worth repairing the watch, or if you’ll get more by simply selling the watch as-is or by selling the parts. In some cases, the cost of repair may be higher than the value increase of the watch after repair. It’s best to get a cost estimate for the repair before you proceed and then decide whether or not it is actually worth repairing it. But still, the answer to the question is yes, a broken Rolex watch is worth something, usually at least a thousand dollars, but may be as much as tens of thousands of dollars depending on the factors above.