Rolex Corporate Direct ‘New Old Stock’ Purchases?

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by dmash

I’m a weirdo and enjoy these quirky things though.

Likewise. Who wants to be normal?!

[Poodlopogus]

Originally Posted by dmash

So 1 isn’t really possible as all the V series (2009) of this watch came with warranty cards (the first type Rolex introduced around 06). The previous year M series (2008) also had the warranty cards. I know as I’ve had a few. So if this was actually a normal production V series piece it definitely should have had the original card. As far as I’m aware and what I’ve been relayed, is you can never ‘trade up’ warranty cards. Like if a dealer has a 116610LN in the safe they just found, with a 2020 and prior card, they can’t contact Rolex right now and get issued a new style card. They issue the old card.

Originally Posted by S.Explorer

Sounds super interesting. My guess is, the discontinued watch was never sold previously in a retail network and the papers therefore never produced, so the only option was to issue the warranty card which was current at the time of corporate employee purchase.

I don't think it was a reissued warranty card of any kind, rather, had the watch been "forgotten regular production" stock, the card was never produced and paired with the watch in the first place. Once the watch was offered to an employee, a card had to be written up and stamped, and the current version was used.

[brandrea]

Congratulations in advance

[StackLexus17]

OP post some pictures if you have them or can request them.

[rajurama]

NOS watches are available, if the price is right and thats what you want do it.

I think you should atleast let us know which model it is if you haven't already.

Cheers

[dmash]

Originally Posted by rajurama

NOS watches are available, if the price is right and thats what you want do it.

I think you should atleast let us know which model it is if you haven't already.

Cheers

It’s a 16600

I’m teetering as for almost the same price I can get a DBlue Deep Sea (I really want another SD in the collection). Will report back when I decide for sure which direction I’m going!

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by dmash

It’s a 16600

I’m teetering as for almost the same price I can get a DBlue Deep Sea (I really want another SD in the collection). Will report back when I decide for sure which direction I’m going!

I vote buy it now. You still have time to find a DBlue.

[faimag]

Although it is certainly possible a bunch of 16610s or 16660s were forgotten somewhere in the storage room and discovered today, the new style warranty card is very puzzling. But what is more peculiar to me is that Rolex themselves would bother to sell these watches now and make this public. It's not that they need the money or cannot produce a few more modern watches. If I were Rolex and given their strategy in recent years, they are more likely to destroy these watches altogether than send them to ADs! Now, if it was an AD who forgotten it in their safe, sure, but the certificate would not be a modern card.

Don't get me wrong, I would still buy the watch just to figure the truth, but the whole thing sounds too much of a "unicorn."

[dmash]

Originally Posted by faimag

Although it is certainly possible a bunch of 16610s or 16660s were forgotten somewhere in the storage room and discovered today, the new style warranty card is very puzzling. But what is more peculiar to me is that Rolex themselves would bother to sell these watches now and make this public. It's not that they need the money or cannot produce a few more modern watches. If I were Rolex and given their strategy in recent years, they are more likely to destroy these watches altogether than send them to ADs! Now, if it was an AD who forgotten it in their safe, sure, but the certificate would not be a modern card.

Don't get me wrong, I would still buy the watch just to figure the truth, but the whole thing sounds too much of a "unicorn."

It’s kind of nuts right? As this would be a 16600 with a stamped warranty card not only after it ceased production but after the following 116600 ALSO ceased production. Wild stuff haha

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by Poodlopogus

I don't think it was a reissued warranty card of any kind, rather, had the watch been "forgotten regular production" stock, the card was never produced and paired with the watch in the first place. Once the watch was offered to an employee, a card had to be written up and stamped, and the current version was used.

This is the most rational explanation.

[Mbbgysam]

Very interesting thread. I remember my AD randomly got a brand new 116710LN (discontinued around 2018) in a shipment in late 2020 or early 2021. We remarked that it was probably one of only a few out there with a new style warranty card.

[dmash]

Saga continues here: https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=960065

Long story short, I got it!