Warranty Card after Expiration

[dmmdaytona]

Hi All,

First time poster, long time reader.

I am aware that Rolex Warranties are 2 years. How important is the warranty card after those two years if you are purchasing a pre-owned rolex?

A local AD, who sells pre-owned watches, has a GMT II for sale, but it doesn't have the warranty card with it. The warranty would long be expired.

I don't plan to flip the watch or sell it in the future, as i would imagine that could impact the price, just as it is seeming to now.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

David

[ec51]

An expired warranty card is worthless, though many hold them in high regard believing they somehow make the watch "real." Many will pay extra money for an expired card even though they prove absolutely nothing.

[Furbo]

Some consider it a proof that the watch was not stolen..,

[Tyl3r]

Buyers like to purchase watches with the warranty card. It helps insure the watch is genuine and not stolen. The value of the watch may be worth a few hundred dollars less without it. If you plan on owning this watch for a while, then it doesn't matter. However, make sure the price you offer reflects the watch not coming with papers.

[707soldier]

I prefer a complete set even if the warranty is already expired.

[Rolex57]

Personally, I'd prefer a watch with a card/papers.

As long as the watch is clean, they aren't necessary as possession is 9/10th of the law.

Not having the card/papers jeopardizes the belief some people on this forum have that you may get hassled by a customs agent at a US border crossing because they're gonna think you're smuggling the watch in without paying taxes. One of the most miss-informed beliefs I've ever heard by the way.

Quick way to find out if the watch is clean, get the serial number and call Rolex.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by dmmdaytona

Hi All,

First time poster, long time reader.

I am aware that Rolex Warranties are 2 years. How important is the warranty card after those two years if you are purchasing a pre-owned rolex?

A local AD, who sells pre-owned watches, has a GMT II for sale, but it doesn't have the warranty card with it. The warranty would long be expired.

I don't plan to flip the watch or sell it in the future, as i would imagine that could impact the price, just as it is seeming to now.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

David

People who spend their spare time on Forums seem to think that those things are worth something and will spend a couple of hundred extra for them.. But that phenomena is pretty much an Internet thing on modern references. Condition is paramount, not what it might come with. In the vintage community an old watch with the original paperwork is a very rare bird indeed and can command as much as the watch alone - but this does not relate to much else.

The vast majority of watches that are resold on the used market do not have these things and can be had cheaper. Most Dealers that send their used watches out for servicing do not retain any boxes or papers that may have been with a watch.

Again, buy the best example for what you want to pay, any extras are nice-to-have but far from essential.

[edgware14]

Obviously I understand dealers and collectors will prefer a watch with papers, however

I hate the fact people believe a watch is worth hundreds less without the papers.

I get it all the time when selling a watch, people do 10 minutes research on google and read "Must have BOX AND PAPERS"

If I'm asking 3K for a watch, people will offer 2.3K and say obviously it has no papers so I can't trust where it has come from.

My reply is always the same, if I wanted to sell a fake Rolex, the papers would be the EASIEST part of the package to replicate.


It just bugs me that's all

[Tyl3r]

Originally Posted by edgware14

Obviously I understand dealers and collectors will prefer a watch with papers, however

I hate the fact people believe a watch is worth hundreds less without the papers.

I get it all the time when selling a watch, people do 10 minutes research on google and read "Must have BOX AND PAPERS"

If I'm asking 3K for a watch, people will offer 2.3K and say obviously it has no papers so I can't trust where it has come from.

My reply is always the same, if I wanted to sell a fake Rolex, the papers would be the EASIEST part of the package to replicate.


It just bugs me that's all

It seems logical to pay a few hundred more for papers. The price of some watches can be a decent car.

[AK797]

As said helps show the watch is not stolen and real. Worth having imho.

[edgware14]

Originally Posted by Tyl3r

It seems logical to pay a few hundred more for papers. The price of some watches can be a decent car.

Definitely worth paying more for papers, but people often think it justifies knocking hundreds OFF an already reduced watch (reduced because it has no papers) I guess they just use it a bargaining chip in negotiations.

[Micha]

Originally Posted by ec51

An expired warranty card is worthless, though many hold them in high regard believing they somehow make the watch "real." Many will pay extra money for an expired card even though they prove absolutely nothing.

you stated " many will pay extra money for an expired card"...
hence...how can it be "worthless", another statement of yours...

[Tridor]

Originally Posted by 707soldier

I prefer a complete set even if the warranty is already expired.

Ditto!

[watchwatcher]

How important is it? Unless it's a serious vintage piece and/or you plan on needing full resale value, not very.

[jvmartin]

If you look at the listing in the FOR SALE section, you will note that "w/ papers" seems to be very important.

A warranty card establishes a few things, pride in ownership, that it was not stolen off someone's wrist (though it still could be stolen), and that the watch has been well appreciated.

I would recommend storing it with other important docs. Obviously, do not go running into a burning building for it, but if it isn't going to bug you where it is being stored, it is better to keep it. It will make a sale easier and adds $100-$300 premium on average.

[xjeeunitx]

I don't know why people think cards are worthless. Regardless, even if it is expired, you need to told onto them. There are notable price differences with watches that have documentation compared to one that does not.

Do you not like money? Do not think they are worthless crap. Because they are not.

[xjeeunitx]

Originally Posted by edgware14

Obviously I understand dealers and collectors will prefer a watch with papers, however

I hate the fact people believe a watch is worth hundreds less without the papers.

I get it all the time when selling a watch, people do 10 minutes research on google and read "Must have BOX AND PAPERS"

If I'm asking 3K for a watch, people will offer 2.3K and say obviously it has no papers so I can't trust where it has come from.

My reply is always the same, if I wanted to sell a fake Rolex, the papers would be the EASIEST part of the package to replicate.


It just bugs me that's all

I understand that's your opinion. But again, this proves my point. If you held onto your paperwork or demanded paperwork when you initially purchased it, you wouldn't be saying what you just said because... you'd have a few extra hundred in your pocket.

[s14roller]

I'd prefer complete and wouldn't buy one without unless it was a significant discount.

In your case, if it's a good deal, then sure. If you can get it complete for the same money, then it's an easy pass, IMO.

You may plan to keep, but never say never...

[xjeeunitx]

Furthermore, in my few years of handling rolex watches, i have never seen a high quality replicated rolex warranty card. Even with papers, if youve handled these watches enough, you can easily tell a fake document.

[edgware14]

Originally Posted by xjeeunitx

I understand that's your opinion. But again, this proves my point. If you held onto your paperwork or demanded paperwork when you initially purchased it, you wouldn't be saying what you just said because... you'd have a few extra hundred in your pocket.

I know what you're saying but it doesn't stop me selling the watch, I always find a buyer for them. It will be someone who wants the watch because they are going to wear it and know it is a legit Rolex.

The thing that bugs me is that for every interested buyer I get 10 people messaging me saying 'No papers?!' That's all

[edgware14]

Originally Posted by xjeeunitx

Furthermore, in my few years of handling rolex watches, i have never seen a high quality replicated rolex warranty card. Even with papers, if youve handled these watches enough, you can easily tell a fake document.

Me neither, I've also never been fooled by a fake that I've held in my hand although I admit I've heard scary stories about some that are very hard to tell the difference without opening them up

[xjeeunitx]

Originally Posted by edgware14

I know what you're saying but it doesn't stop me selling the watch, I always find a buyer for them. It will be someone who wants the watch because they are going to wear it and know it is a legit Rolex.

The thing that bugs me is that for every interested buyer I get 10 people messaging me saying 'No papers?!' That's all

Consumers will always do that. Even if you had the papers, they will still point out a flaw to bring prices down. Its just part of the business. And for this reason, and also because i end up flipping most of ny watches, i will always buy a watch with documentation and boxes. That way, i wont lose too much money when its time to sell the watch.

[edgware14]

Originally Posted by xjeeunitx

Consumers will always do that. Even if you had the papers, they will still point out a flaw to bring prices down. Its just part of the business. And for this reason, and also because i end up flipping most of ny watches, i will always buy a watch with documentation and boxes. That way, i wont lose too much money when its time to sell the watch.

Yes, and I'd always choose a watch with paper work over one without.

However I'd much rather buy, for example, a mint 16613 at £3K and sell it for £3.5K then a mint one with box n papers at £3.5+ and sell it for £4K+

But obviously I see the merits in only dealing with watches with paper work, at the minute I go with the best deal going

[ec51]

Originally Posted by Micha

you stated " many will pay extra money for an expired card"...

hence...how can it be "worthless", another statement of yours...

Sorry I wasn't more specific.

An expired card is "worthless" when referring to the true authenticity of the watch.