Rolex Claims Copied Serial Number - Advice?

[reyvis]

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=822411

Try my link in the forum rolex mismatch. My TT sub circa 2005 purchased new from UK largest AD. Sent for first service with the RSC which was refused, because the model did not match the serial. Should have been black when I purchased blue! Lots of communication with Watches of Switzerland group who basically offered to pay half to reconvert the blue 'back' to black. I completely refused. Ended up writing to the UK Rolex CEO last week and still awaiting a reply. So you are not unique with having a problem. Even purchasing from an AD does not protect you. I had 100% proof with receipts, box, tags papers etc, even dated photographs.

[samuel019]

Originally Posted by Bladeshot

One post from the OP and no response?
Troll.

Always kinda drives me nuts with these one post threads. I mean I understand the OP can be busy but coming to a forum seeking help and when we try to help/dig deeper the OP has vanished.

[TimepieceRPP]

Originally Posted by samuel019

always kinda drives me nuts with these one post threads. I mean i understand the op can be busy but coming to a forum seeking help and when we try to help/dig deeper the op has vanished.

+1

[Brian Page]

Welcome!

[FrenchBigCrown]

Originally Posted by reyvis

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=822411

Try my link in the forum rolex mismatch. My TT sub circa 2005 purchased new from UK largest AD. Sent for first service with the RSC which was refused, because the model did not match the serial. Should have been black when I purchased blue! Lots of communication with Watches of Switzerland group who basically offered to pay half to reconvert the blue 'back' to black. I completely refused. Ended up writing to the UK Rolex CEO last week and still awaiting a reply. So you are not unique with having a problem. Even purchasing from an AD does not protect you. I had 100% proof with receipts, box, tags papers etc, even dated photographs.

Sorry for your grief dude.

It kinda shoots down all those "Only EVER buy from an AD" posts though.

[reyvis]

Yes and even if you show all the paperwork, etc. You get the classic 'catch 22'. if we said it was black, then the blue cannot be blue, but must be black!

[Joseph1260]

Thanks everyone for the insight. Relieved to hear my situation is not exactly unique. I’ve re-contacted Rolex asking them for more information, so the ball is in their court. At the end of the day, I’m certain I have a genuine Rolex and will just have it serviced at an independent servicer if need be. I doubt they would confirm or admit it, but I think it’s possible there
was some sort of recording error (skipped sequence/transposed digits/typo, etc). Once they saw unauthorized dealer, I think they are done.

[Boopie]

Originally Posted by dannyp

With that I would agree completely! A counterfeit of that era never would have kept time for this long and absolutely, positively, wouldn't have remained water tight for all of those scuba trips.

Sorry to hear that, OP.

As I understand it, if there’s something funny about the serial #, Rolex will consider it “counterfeit” even if it’s a real watch.

To state the facts as broadly as possible, a friend’s relative was a government official in a country where such officials often received very expensive gifts. One gift was a brand new Rolex GMT. The watch itself was legit but the serial number that was on it was not that watch’s actual serial number, but another number (as verified by Rolex), not engraved by Rolex. Who knows where the watch actually came from?

I don’t mean to suggest in any way that there is anything funny with OP’s watch, or that OP did anything wrong. I’m so sorry to hear about this. It must be heartbreaking.

I bought my new Yachtmaster from a grey dealer 20 years ago, because it was 20% below MSRP. It had the full B&P, stickers, etc. Obviously it’s fine because it’s been serviced at three different RSC over the past 20 years.

If you look at posts at TRF 15 years ago, the common question was how much of a discount to ask for at a grey. This hasn’t turned out to be a common problem.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Boopie

Sorry to hear that, OP.

As I understand it, if there’s something funny about the serial #, Rolex will consider it “counterfeit” even if it’s a real watch.

To state the facts as broadly as possible, a friend’s relative was a government official in a country where such officials often received very expensive gifts. One gift was a brand new Rolex GMT. The watch itself was legit but the serial number that was on it was not that watch’s actual serial number, but another number (as verified by Rolex), not engraved by Rolex. Who knows where the watch actually came from?

"Well how the f&%@ should I know if it was purchased from an AD, I received it as a f&%@ing bribe for Christ's sake!!"

[Bladeshot]

Originally Posted by Joseph1260

Thanks everyone for the insight. Relieved to hear my situation is not exactly unique. I’ve re-contacted Rolex asking them for more information, so the ball is in their court. At the end of the day, I’m certain I have a genuine Rolex and will just have it serviced at an independent servicer if need be. I doubt they would confirm or admit it, but I think it’s possible there
was some sort of recording error (skipped sequence/transposed digits/typo, etc). Once they saw unauthorized dealer, I think they are done.

Keep us posted. It’s interesting to hear all these stories.

[zewill]

Originally Posted by reyvis

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=822411

Try my link in the forum rolex mismatch. My TT sub circa 2005 purchased new from UK largest AD. Sent for first service with the RSC which was refused, because the model did not match the serial. Should have been black when I purchased blue! Lots of communication with Watches of Switzerland group who basically offered to pay half to reconvert the blue 'back' to black. I completely refused. Ended up writing to the UK Rolex CEO last week and still awaiting a reply. So you are not unique with having a problem. Even purchasing from an AD does not protect you. I had 100% proof with receipts, box, tags papers etc, even dated photographs.

Why a company which makes so much cash would cheap out and only pay half is beyond me… such a false economy.

[zewill]

Originally Posted by Boopie

Sorry to hear that, OP.

As I understand it, if there’s something funny about the serial #, Rolex will consider it “counterfeit” even if it’s a real watch.

To state the facts as broadly as possible, a friend’s relative was a government official in a country where such officials often received very expensive gifts. One gift was a brand new Rolex GMT. The watch itself was legit but the serial number that was on it was not that watch’s actual serial number, but another number (as verified by Rolex), not engraved by Rolex. Who knows where the watch actually came from?

I don’t mean to suggest in any way that there is anything funny with OP’s watch, or that OP did anything wrong. I’m so sorry to hear about this. It must be heartbreaking.

I bought my new Yachtmaster from a grey dealer 20 years ago, because it was 20% below MSRP. It had the full B&P, stickers, etc. Obviously it’s fine because it’s been serviced at three different RSC over the past 20 years.

If you look at posts at TRF 15 years ago, the common question was how much of a discount to ask for at a grey. This hasn’t turned out to be a common problem.

It’s only heart breaking if you make it so… stop taking it too seriously. As previously said, it’s all Rolex, just not 100% factory. Like also said previously, don’t forget the hype wasn’t there previously, and no one imagined locking up watches in safes and keeping the bezel protector…
So depending where you went to service for example, if your movement had an issue, the non official watchmaker might have simply switched the movements with no ill intentions… now it’s heresy, but at the time the result was achieved in that the watch was repaired and worked.

Lesson: if you want real Rolex 100% buy from ad, get service from rsc. All other options will not guarantee 100 factory Rolex. End of story.

[Uggi]

Originally Posted by zewill

It’s only heart breaking if you make it so… stop taking it too seriously. As previously said, it’s all Rolex, just not 100% factory. Like also said previously, don’t forget the hype wasn’t there previously, and no one imagined locking up watches in safes and keeping the bezel protector…
So depending where you went to service for example, if your movement had an issue, the non official watchmaker might have simply switched the movements with no ill intentions… now it’s heresy, but at the time the result was achieved in that the watch was repaired and worked.

Lesson: if you want real Rolex 100% buy from ad, get service from rsc. All other options will not guarantee 100 factory Rolex. End of story.

It’s not the end of the story. See post #61.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by Joseph1260

I have a genuine Rolex and will just have it serviced at an independent servicer if need be.

Maybe not ideal for you if you wanted a genuine RSC job, but you can get superb work from plenty of independents and probably pay less.