Do you think you own your watch?

[greck]

Quite a few of the posts have explained away Rolex's policy as "a need to protect brand identity and protect against counterfeiting." I would understand this reasoning if you were able to walk in to an AD and order three bezel inserts, two dials and five sets of hands without even owning a watch. This, however, is not the case. To change the bezel in your watch you have to bring in the watch so that they can record the serial number, and have them do the swap (was at an AD in Oslo last weekend). I don't think withholding replaced parts from customers who have already paid a substantial amount for their watch combats counterfeiting and protects their brand identity at all. In fact I'd be willing to bet that the majority of counterfeit watches that infringe on Rolex's copyright don't have a single original part in them.

to Rolex's policy. For me it tarnishes ownership.

[mgm]

Originally Posted by greck

Quite a few of the posts have explained away Rolex's policy as "a need to protect brand identity and protect against counterfeiting." I would understand this reasoning if you were able to walk in to an AD and order three bezel inserts, two dials and five sets of hands without even owning a watch. This, however, is not the case. To change the bezel in your watch you have to bring in the watch so that they can record the serial number, and have them do the swap (was at an AD in Oslo last weekend). I don't think withholding replaced parts from customers who have already paid a substantial amount for their watch combats counterfeiting and protects their brand identity at all. In fact I'd be willing to bet that the majority of counterfeit watches that infringe on Rolex's copyright don't have a single original part in them.

to Rolex's policy. For me it tarnishes ownership.

Hey, Greg. I agree with you in sum. But for the sake of argument, were brand protection a bona fide issue, the man buying parts with the genuine Rolex could just as well be producing fakes...

So I wonder. Say I have no papers, and I'm bound and determined to use the RSC so that I can get the Rolex Seal of Approval and the cute little green box. If I have the hands and dial removed beforehand, will the RSC then work on my watch?

[pz93c]

It doesn't affect me, but I think it's a crock. I owned the parts as well as the sum of it's parts coming in. I want my parts back, just like I would at the mechanic.

That said, I shop vintage watches and the factory won't work on them anyway.

[redshirt1957]

One thing my wives, kids, and the government all have taught me; I don't own a darn thing.