Should I trust the AD to change a black Explorer II to white?

[vubui]

Hello all! This is my first post, I've just started looking at these forums as I'm planning on buying an Explorer II 216570, my first Rolex, which I fell in love with at first sight.

I live in Stockholm and was at the authorized dealer, and they only had the black dial Exp II in stock. They said it would be a few weeks until they get the white in stock, but it wasn't a problem for them to just change the dial and hands so it would be a white one, and they would do this at no charge.

My question is whether or not this is a good idea. Will this affect my warranty if I need to send it in from a different dealer? I'm guessing the serial numbers and packaging will reference a black dial. Also while I hope to keep this watch forever, you never know what might happen and I don't know if this changes how the watch would be perceived by a potential buyer. Would people assume it wasn't real, or had been tampered with in an unauthorized way?

I searched the forums and found varying posts about changing dials, but found none that addressed buying a new watch and having the dial color changed at the dealer. They said that especially with some of the Rolex models that have many different dial/hands combos that they don't stock all the watches and just change the dials for the customer based on what they want. If this is totally normal I'll just do it, otherwise I'll wait. Save for my excitement I'm not in a hurry anyway!

Thanks in advance!

Vu

[ViperB]

I would wait and get the watch with matching warranty card. This would make it much easier to sell down the road.

[Rags]

I would just wait for the watch you want to come in..At least you'll know the watch wasn't opened.

[Nycturbovr6]

Originally Posted by Rags

I would just wait for the watch you want to come in..At least you'll know the watch wasn't opened.

[Danex]

Agree, wait. They are far from rare and if the AD wants the sale, it will come sooner than you think.

[1995akcoop]

no thanks..... buy the color you want, alternate later if u chose. to me your are buy a brand new mod

[silverbug]

Excuse my ignorance here, but how will anyone know the dial/hands have been changed?
Both my 2014 Rolex watches (bought new from AD's here in the UK) don't state the dial combo on the warranty card like they appear in other markets eg the US.....they just state the watch serial number/ model and the country of original sale identification code.
At one stage I was after a blue dial Air-King and the AD offered to change a white faced model for me into a blue one: I didn't go down that route as I'm admittedly very fussy and wanted a watch exactly as it came from the factory.
Going back to the OP's question, do other European markets state the dial colour on the warranty card?
If they don't, then isn't the AD's suggested dial swap perfectly reasonable?
If they do, I'd pass......

[swils8610]

Pass. Wait and get the real deal factory sealed.

[elcompa]

Buy right the first time. Don't use the "band aid" approach just to make it work when the real thing will be there soon. You may not forgive yourself it you let them tinker with it.

For me? I would know the dial was replaced.....and I can't know that sort of thing. I wind drive myself crazy.

[viper9669]

Waiting would be worth it.

[tkerrmd]

I wouldn't want my brand new watch opened, wait

[Tools]

Changing a dial and hands is common and done all the time. In the US the packaging may come with the original build-code, but that is not true for all markets..

It seems that today we see a lot of folks who demand that "their" watch be exactly as it was produced with no deviation, and that's a fair position to have. But there is simply nothing wrong with a dial change if you so desire.

Without the original build-code it is not possible to know. Properly done, Rolex will be notified by serial number that a black dial is now a white dial as Dealers now have to provide that information to order parts..

[nikhsub1]

Originally Posted by Tools

Changing a dial and hands is common and done all the time. In the US the packaging may come with the original build-code, but that is not true for all markets..

It seems that today we see a lot of folks who demand that "their" watch be exactly as it was produced with no deviation, and that's a fair position to have. But there is simply nothing wrong with a dial change if you so desire.

Without the original build-code it is not possible to know. Properly done, Rolex will be notified by serial number that a black dial is now a white dial as Dealers now have to provide that information to order parts..

I agree with Larry... opening a watch is no big deal provided it is done correctly. I had my brand new sub opened twice, once to put in a red second hand and once for a red date wheel. Again, no big deal.

[GTC]

For two weeks: wait.

[boost2perfection]

I just wait

[flumazenil]

Personally, I would wait. You will have the watch for many years and who knows how good the AD's watchmaker is and what may accidentally happen when he has all the pieces on his bench. I've never seen the Rolex factory, but I assume it's kept at a higher standard than an AD's workbench where they do other jewelry services.

Just depends on what kind of person you are. I don't want my new watch opened by anyone until it needs service.

[Singslinger]

If it was me, the key question would be whether the AD will let you keep the black dial.

If yes, then I would do it because you'd then have the luxury of swapping again in the future if you grow tired of the white.

Either way, it's a great watch -mine is white! Enjoy!

[AF_Rob]

Originally Posted by Singslinger

If it was me, the key question would be whether the AD will let you keep the black dial.

If yes, then I would do it because you'd then have the luxury of swapping again in the future if you grow tired of the white.

Either way, it's a great watch -mine is white! Enjoy!

That's a good point! That's the only way I would even entertain the idea. Knowing me, I would want to switch it out all the time.

[Singslinger]

Originally Posted by AF_Rob

That's a good point! That's the only way I would even entertain the idea. Knowing me, I would want to switch it out all the time.

Yes, me too! I used to have the earlier Exp 2 and switched from white to black then back to white over a period of 10 years. Then sold it to buy the new white!

[bdex75]

I too say wait. Not because of the "as delivered from Rolex" part, but because I would want to know that Rolex pressure tested the watch. If AD has a competent, certified watchmaker I may think about it.


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[BNA/LION]

I would wait and get the one I want with all correct documentation. I would also just buy it from a trusted TRF seller. Best of Luck and post that bad boy when you get it!

[Im Lauf der Zeit]

Wait for what you want not what they want to sell you.

[GFLRolex]

Originally Posted by im lauf der zeit

wait for what you want not what they want to sell you.

+1

[steve.r]

When it is serviced they can see from the serial numbers what it left the factory with. I am in the camp to wait, I wouldn't want to buy a new Rolex that has been played with already.

The Polar is a GREAT choice by the way. I wear mine every day.

[FiftyTwoEighty]

I know it must be hard, but I would wait for what you want.

My polar says, Hi!

[genta]

I would wait! Hej från Oslo:)

[vubui]

Sounds like the waits have it, thanks everyone!

I don't care if they open it, personally. They have 4 watchmakers there and do service Rolex and other brands (though they said they do not service the Pateks they sell), there is a window where you can actually watch the watchmakers in the clean room as they work on your watch.

Considering that watches should be serviced every 5 years anyway and there are many reasons a watch will be opened in its lifetime, I am not concerned about that, nor do I care that it's not exactly as it came out of the factory. BUT since many of you have freaked out at the thought of me doing this, it does mean that if I sold the watch and disclosed everything (as I always do) that potential buyers would be turned off by the fact that I did it... so I won't.

Explorer II coming in a couple weeks then! Unless I fold and decide on the GMT Master II BLNR instead. I'm still a LITTLE concerned about the size of the Exp II on my 6.5 flat wrist. It's doable, but as much as I have mentioned that I worry about resale value, I do want to just keep this forever and want something that's not just trendy now (big watches are ok).

[vubui]

Originally Posted by FiftyTwoEighty

I know it must be hard, but I would wait for what you want.

My polar says, Hi!

That's an awesome photo! Photos like that will remind me to take this watch to some amazing places, which means I'll need to go to these amazing places myself!

Originally Posted by genta

I would wait! Hej från Oslo:)

Hey från Stockholm! ;)

[Roger1079]

Originally Posted by vubui

Sounds like the waits have it, thanks everyone!

I don't care if they open it, personally. They have 4 watchmakers there and do service Rolex and other brands (though they said they do not service the Pateks they sell), there is a window where you can actually watch the watchmakers in the clean room as they work on your watch.

Considering that watches should be serviced every 5 years anyway and there are many reasons a watch will be opened in its lifetime, I am not concerned about that, nor do I care that it's not exactly as it came out of the factory. BUT since many of you have freaked out at the thought of me doing this, it does mean that if I sold the watch and disclosed everything (as I always do) that potential buyers would be turned off by the fact that I did it... so I won't.

Explorer II coming in a couple weeks then! Unless I fold and decide on the GMT Master II BLNR instead. I'm still a LITTLE concerned about the size of the Exp II on my 6.5 flat wrist. It's doable, but as much as I have mentioned that I worry about resale value, I do want to just keep this forever and want something that's not just trendy now (big watches are ok).

When I want something, I always want it now rather than later. That being said, if the watch is only a couple of weeks out in the configuration you want directly from Rolex, I would wait. Had the response been to wait a couple of months, my position would likely be different.

[crowncollection]

Why not IMHO