Rolex Corporate Direct ‘New Old Stock’ Purchases?

[dmash]

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.