100% Authentic?

[chrisf]

This may be really dumb of me, but when someone says "We unconditionally guarantee that every item we sell is 100% authentic" I interpret that to mean that all of the parts (ie 100% of the watch) are real, genuine rolex parts. Am I crazy or does 100% authentic mean that nonrolex replacement parts may have been used? I'm absolutely baffled, but maybe I'm just wet behind the ears.

The website in question (begins with a "p") has a partnership of some sort with a famous national watch store (begins with a "t"). I called this watch store and they said this quasi-partnership exists. I can get my watch authenticated at their store, but to do so, they send it to Rolex. My understanding is that Rolex will actually look at the watch and will not service the watch if there are non-rolex parts. This gets me back to the first paragraph. If there are nonrolex parts, then how on earth can this internet site say that a watch with nonrolex parts is "100% authentic"?

[chrisf]

The missing piece here, which I left out, is that although the website has an "unconditional guarantee that every item is 100% authentic," they also say this: "[The national watch chain] certifies to the purchaser that this timepiece was originally manufactured by the company whose trademark(s) it bears and that the watch is in working order.* *Replacement parts may have been utilized for maintenance."

I asked them what this meant after about five minutes of nonanswers, they responded that they do not guarantee that all of the parts of genuine, real rolex parts. WTF?

[Rockrolex]

I think you got your answer. It ain't 100% authentic anymore. Steer clear.

[chrisf]

Why did Tourneau get itself involved in this crap?

Is there any possible reason why all of the watches on the website are turned to 10:10, besides their having been pulled from stock photos?

[Tallboy]

Originally Posted by chrisf

Why did Tourneau get itself involved in this crap?

Is there any possible reason why all of the watches on the website are turned to 10:10, besides their having been pulled from stock photos?

Just about every watch ad-photo out there will feature the hands at 10:10. It looks "better". Think "symmetrical".

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by chrisf

Is there any possible reason why all of the watches on the website are turned to 10:10, besides their having been pulled from stock photos?

The watch is "smiling" at you and provides the best view of the dial.

[chrisf]

Thanks. Another thread threw me off there.

When Tourneau says the rolex is 100% authentic, one would expect the watch to be 100% rolex? At least that's what I would think.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by chrisf

Thanks. Another thread threw me off there.

When Tourneau says the rolex is 100% authentic, one would expect the watch to be 100% rolex? At least that's what I would think.

An "unconditional guarantee", issued by themselves for their own products, is meaningless..

It simply means that the watch is an authentic watch...if you don't like it, they will trade it for another....

[chrisf]

Many thanks to all. This and the other threads have made me cave. I'm operating strictly with ADs in the area now.

Portero.com confirmed to me today that they do not warrant or guarantee that all of the parts are Rolex parts, even though they say it is 100% authentic. Even if Tourneau, with whom they have an agreement to authenticate both before and after purchase, sends it to Rolex to get authenticated, and Rolex says "these aren't Rolex parts," they will not refund the money. So much for believing that the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal would get the story straight. Thanks again. Great forum.