ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX
12 September 2024, 09:47 AM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: USA <> BKK
Posts: 6,160
|
Rolex Corporate Direct ‘New Old Stock’ Purchases?
Have you guys ever heard of this? I have the opportunity to buy a model I’ve been after, but the (reputable) dealer is telling me this was a corporate Rolex employee purchase who got a discontinued model as a perk. It’s a 5 digit reference, which has a stamped warranty card by Rolex themselves (not an AD) and the date is TEN YEARS after this watch officially stopped production. The other crazy thing is the watch has the 2014-2020 style warranty card and green swing tag? On a 5 digit model!
I’m fairly well versed on Rolex, but this is just a bit puzzling to me. The dealer is super legit, so I’m not wanting to nix the deal, if this is just something I was unaware happened. Does Rolex really keep inventory for special employee purchases? For example, this is like me having the opportunity to buy a Rolex 16610 which is stamped 2020 (discontinued in 2010) with Rolex Germany listed on the card. And comes with a new style warranty card. Does that actually happen? If it was just a date the years after it ceases production that has happened numerous times, but this is not only that, but stamp by corporate, with a brand new card which was never given to ADs for this model in the first place. |
12 September 2024, 10:11 AM | #2 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 336
|
I've worked with three major high-dollar consumer goods manufacturers of serialized products.
We would FREQUENTLY have occurrences such as "Oh man. Here is a case of 144 items that were placed on credit hold 17 years ago and discovered today". So, it CAN happen. I'm not saying it DID happen, but that warranty card is comforting to me. |
12 September 2024, 10:22 AM | #3 | |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Real Name: Mitchell
Location: EST, EAT
Watch: Trusty Explorer
Posts: 1,082
|
Quote:
Separately, I'd air on the side of caution, as add-ons such as warranty cards and hang tags are not difficult to fake. Perhaps you can work with RSC to confirm authenticity of the story? |
|
12 September 2024, 10:25 AM | #4 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: USA <> BKK
Posts: 6,160
|
Quote:
And yes this situation also popped in my head. That perhaps this dealer hasn’t a clue, and what really happened is Rolex butchered a watch, and remedied by giving a new one. That would also make sense on the stamp. |
|
12 September 2024, 10:52 AM | #5 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Sector 001
Posts: 660
|
That’s a real head scratcher? Never seen or heard anything like that? Knowing how Rolex is about the warranty?
|
12 September 2024, 11:50 AM | #6 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: Boerne TX
Posts: 36
|
My salesdude was gifted a Sub by Rolex, it is engraved with his name and Rolex watch club or something. He said years ago the company had a competition to sell C amount of watches and he received the gift.
|
12 September 2024, 11:50 AM | #7 |
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Real Name: jP
Location: Texas
Watch: GMT-MASTER
Posts: 17,319
|
I've purchased a couple sets in the past and the dealer info was Rolex USA, NYC.
__________________
Member of NAWCC since 1990. INSTAGRAM USER NAME: SPRINGERJFP Visit my Instagram page to view some of the finest vintage GMTs anywhere - as well as other vintage classics. |
12 September 2024, 11:58 AM | #8 |
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2023
Location: Sesame Street
Posts: 141
|
Didn't I read on here in an old post about a 114270 with a 2020 stamp popping up in Japan? Not clear whether it was somehow in a dealer's safe for a decade plus or with the distribution arm of Rolex Japan.
I doubt there's "surplus stock" per se, more likely inventory that was forgotten in a storage facility, or undistributed pieces that had been used by corporate for things like photo shoots, etc. That said, Rolex absolutely has the ability to "reproduce" any watch from the past couple decades. Any/all parts for those watches - cases, crystals, dials, movements, bracelets, hands, etc. - are available for the purpose of service replacements. Typically they'd be used one at a time for a single damaged component on an existing watch, but they could always be assembled into an entire watch. However I doubt Rolex would issue papers for for something like that, would they? |
12 September 2024, 12:35 PM | #9 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: USA <> BKK
Posts: 6,160
|
Quote:
What’s perplexing is the dealer is super reputable, the price isn’t some ‘deal’ it’s market priced and the watch passes everything authenticity wise from extensive pics. and even if this was a fake, it would be pretty stupid for any counterfeiter to include the wrong warranty card like that, haha. |
|
12 September 2024, 12:40 PM | #10 |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: USA
Posts: 459
|
So the dealer was able to legitimize that the original owner was a Rolex employee and was gifted or purchased direct from Rolex? It sounds like an interesting story. It definitely needs to be seen by the RSC.
|
12 September 2024, 01:05 PM | #11 | |
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2023
Location: Sesame Street
Posts: 141
|
Quote:
1. True NoS, but where the inventory was forgotten around '09 before warranty cards were produced, then rediscovered a decade later, at which time the current card style was used. So, someone discovered a batch of a half-dozen watches, forgotten on a shelf, management said "hey, anyone want these?" and then had cards drawn up for the takers. 2. The watch was essentially assembled from the parts inventory some time around 2019/20 and the spare mid-case happened to have a V serial. |
|
12 September 2024, 01:21 PM | #12 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: USA <> BKK
Posts: 6,160
|
Quote:
And yeah, #2 is what I thought in my head.but I guess it begs the question ‘why’ was a discontinued 5 digit model put together by Rolex, stamped by Rolex corporate and sold with a green swing tag/modern warranty card all the way in almost 2020? So many questions haha. And again, to reiterate, this isn’t a ‘buddy special’, it’s an incredibly reputable dealer at normal price. And I can pay with CC if I want. It’s not gimmicky, and dealer is just relaying what they were told, the seller could have simply lied (although why?).. I just want to know if ANYbody has ever heard of something like this though, as I have never once heard of Rolex corporate hooking up an employee on a discontinued reference. Dealer is completely content with a refund if I sent to RSC and anything is awry, I’d just prefer not to waste my time and energy though if this is in any way not possible. |
|
12 September 2024, 01:21 PM | #13 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: USA <> BKK
Posts: 6,160
|
I’m not sure if it was ‘legitimized’ or more so just what they were told upon taking the watch in.
|
12 September 2024, 01:31 PM | #14 | |
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: UTC/GMT -5
Posts: 3,661
|
Quote:
|
|
12 September 2024, 01:34 PM | #15 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Real Name: A-Aron
Location: Utah
Watch: 126710BLNR 226570
Posts: 2,226
|
Very interesting thread. I’ll be following if only out of curiosity.
That said. I would drive straight to a RSC if I pulled the trigger and would demand an authenticity guarantee before purchasing. |
12 September 2024, 01:42 PM | #16 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: USA <> BKK
Posts: 6,160
|
Yeah I mean this is completely okay with seller that I send into RSC to verify it’s a real watch. I just am curious about the story! It’s very interesting to say the least. And I thought I had heard almost everything from Rolex. This is a first for me.
|
12 September 2024, 04:46 PM | #17 | |
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: USA
Posts: 558
|
Quote:
|
|
12 September 2024, 05:46 PM | #18 |
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Miami
Watch: me lose count.
Posts: 5,906
|
Very interesting story OP. Thanks for sharing.
__________________
♛ 218206 Roman ♛ 116689 ♛ 126710BLRO ♛ 16520 white ♛ 16523 white ♛ 16610 ♛ 5513 Birth Year - ✠ Patek Philippe 5980/1R-001 - AP 26331ST Panda - Panerai Bronzo 671 & 111, Ω Speedmaster 1957 Broad Arrow, Cartier Santos XL - Montblanc TimeWalker Chrono 41 |
12 September 2024, 06:45 PM | #19 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: USA <> BKK
Posts: 6,160
|
So further info from seller
This was 100% a Rolex gift for a sales associate, produced in 2018. And it’s 10000% certain of its origin because his watchmaker (he’s a large dealer) was actually the Rolex employee’s brother! So as long as seller is being honest, which I zero reason not to believe such a story with his reputation, Rolex at times will seemingly ‘resurrect’ discontinued models for a one off. And I think this might possibly be the last iteration of this watch ever produced because of that. Kind of a pretty cool story here, think I might jump on it and post an incoming when it arrives if so! |
12 September 2024, 07:08 PM | #20 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Real Name: Harry
Location: England
Posts: 10,669
|
I have heard of one instance of this in the UK but it was second hand information. I didn't know the buyer or the seller, just the SA who handled it. It was a NOS 16610LV, given to the owner by Rolex some years after production ceased and never worn by the owner.
|
12 September 2024, 07:14 PM | #21 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: USA <> BKK
Posts: 6,160
|
Quote:
I’m a weirdo and enjoy these quirky things though. Not Rolex, but I also have a PAM233 V series and PAM1024 U series which I specifically sought out as those two are also the last produced model year. I guess I’m kind of an end of the run collector |
|
12 September 2024, 07:42 PM | #22 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: California
Watch: GMT BLNR
Posts: 1,513
|
In… 2019? 2020?
I was offered a full yellow gold datejust 36mm on fluted bezel jubilee bracelet with marble dial at authorized dealer. It had been discontinued completely for years and had a marble dial. Dealer said Rolex sent it to them just recently didn’t know much more. But can confirm they no longer sold datejust in full yellow. |
12 September 2024, 08:32 PM | #23 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: United Kingdom
Watch: Rollie
Posts: 797
|
Sounds super interesting. My guess is, the discontinued watch was never sold previously in a retail network and the papers therefore never produced, so the only option was to issue the warranty card which was current at the time of corporate employee purchase.
I think I read somewhere here that if an authorised dealer (not the consumer) misplaces the warranty card, they have the ability to ask Rolex to make a new one, so I am not surprised. And yes, I saw the unused 114270 with the current style warranty card listed for sale in Japan! |
12 September 2024, 08:47 PM | #24 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: USA <> BKK
Posts: 6,160
|
Quote:
|
|
12 September 2024, 08:56 PM | #25 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: Stockholm
Watch: Just a Daytona
Posts: 1,385
|
OP, thank you for this really interesting story, and I look forward to hearing how it ends up.
And with 5000 posts, you absolutely know, "Buy the seller." But it sounds like you don't trust this seller. Despite his being a, "(reputable) dealer;" despite his being, "super reputable;" despite his being, "10000% certain of its origin;" you still have questions, which you're wisely airing here. Trust means not asking others for a second opinion. If you don't trust the seller, walk away. Am I misreading this? |
12 September 2024, 09:01 PM | #26 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: USA <> BKK
Posts: 6,160
|
Quote:
I’m simply asking if there’s other instances people have heard of this. I reiterated about the seller not being shady so I don’t get a bunch of ‘is this a shady dealer’ type comments. I don’t doubt anything the seller is telling me, but he can only relay what the seller to him said. I’m trying to figure that out here. But now after further clarification and it being such a close friend, seems the info would have been accurate and zero cause for concern. But to further my point, I can sell something to DavidSW and have an elaborate story, which he could then relay to a future client. It doesn’t mean it’s true for sure or add up. Understand what I mean? Also trust doesn’t equate to never asking for a second opinion on something to cross your t’s and dot your i’s. In any sector for that matter, sales, health, everything. |
|
12 September 2024, 09:09 PM | #27 | ||
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: United Kingdom
Watch: Rollie
Posts: 797
|
Quote:
Quote:
|
||
12 September 2024, 09:11 PM | #28 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: USA <> BKK
Posts: 6,160
|
Quote:
|
|
12 September 2024, 09:28 PM | #29 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2021
Real Name: Domi
Location: Croatia
Watch: 124060, BLRO...
Posts: 323
|
IT SEEMS A GOOD JOB, it's hard to get a NOS because there are a lot of weird situations and it's really hard to find the right NOSE. Once i wanted to buy NOS from Italian gray and i saw that it had a damaged link on the strap, hello! so this is a really good opportunity if the price is fair!
|
12 September 2024, 09:37 PM | #30 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Real Name: Gary
Location: USA
Watch: Daytona
Posts: 11,748
|
Sounds good and on this forum, we no doubt want to believe
__________________
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
|
|
*Banners
Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.