How to Buy a Rolex Submariner in Chicagoland
You want a Submariner. Good news: Chicago and its suburbs have seven official Rolex retailers and a deep bench of pre-owned dealers. Here's how it actually works.
Route 1: New, from an Official Rolex Retailer
| Area | Retailer | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | Razny Jewelers | 109 E Oak St, Chicago |
| Magnificent Mile | Rolex Boutique by Bucherer | 701 N Michigan Ave, Chicago |
| North Shore | Razny Jewelers | 1700 Green Bay Rd, Highland Park |
| Northwest | Persin & Robbin Jewelers | 783 W Lake Cook Rd, Deer Park |
| West | C.D. Peacock (The Mansion) | 298 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook |
| West | James & Sons | 110 S Washington St, Naperville |
| Southwest | James & Sons | 14205 S LaGrange Rd, Orland Park |
Every new Rolex bought from an official retailer comes with a five-year international guarantee, and the retailer fills out and dates the warranty card at purchase.
The honest part: steel Submariners are among the most requested watches Rolex makes. You will usually not walk in and walk out with one. What to expect:
- Register your interest. Tell the sales associate exactly which reference you want.
- Be a real customer. Purchase history matters to allocation. Buying something that is available is the common path.
- Stay in touch, politely. A periodic check-in beats a daily one.
- Use the geography. Each store has its own allocation, and the suburban stores often see less foot traffic than downtown.
Route 2: Pre-owned
If you don't want to wait, pre-owned is the move. You get immediate availability and access to discontinued and vintage references.
- Rolex Certified Pre-Owned. Razny (Oak Street and Highland Park), C.D. Peacock and both James & Sons stores sell second-hand Rolex certified and guaranteed by Rolex itself.
- Burdeen's Jewelry, Buffalo Grove. One of the largest pre-owned watch departments in Illinois; buys, sells and trades.
- Jewelers Row (Wabash between Washington and Monroe). Long-running independents like Howard Frum Jewelers (5 S Wabash) and New York Jewelers (11 N Wabash).
- Wabash Jewelers, 980 N Michigan Ave. Estate and pre-owned dealer with regular Rolex stock.
Which Submariner?
Rolex currently makes two core references:
| Reference | What it is |
|---|---|
| 124060 | Submariner, no date. The purist's pick. |
| 126610 | Submariner Date, with the date window and Cyclops lens. |
The Date is also offered in two-tone Rolesor and full gold. On the pre-owned market you'll also see earlier references, including the green-bezel models collectors nicknamed "Kermit" and "Hulk."
Pre-owned checklist
- Box and papers. Not required, but they help value and provenance.
- Service history. Ask when it was last serviced and by whom.
- Dealer warranty. Get the terms in writing.
- Serial and reference. Make sure the paperwork matches the watch.
- Bracelet stretch and bezel action. Easy to check in person.
- Trade-ins. Several dealers here buy watches or offer trade credit; ask.
Then go get a sandwich
You just bought (or waitlisted for) a Submariner. Celebrate accordingly. More on that soon.