Is my "new" watch really 13 years old?

[Watchmutt]

Originally Posted by msjenbowen

So is it just the dial that's old and/or fake? I'm sorry for all the questions, but the "A" number inside the watch has convinced my appraiser that it's from 1999. Also, would this coincide with the absence of a serial number between the lugs?

I'm looking for an appraiser. Please tell me who you used....so I can avoid him.

[jolimont]

why is there no number under the "stainless steel" btw the lugs?

If this is an authentic rolex casing could it be worth $$$ as an error model? like spider dials

[RTea]

My worry would be the corrosion that can be seen between the lugs. How can that happen on a watch that's roughly 4 years old? Or could it have been done when the after-market dial was fitted?

I would still recommend going to an AD to pop it open to verify the movement is authentic.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by jolimont;3601689[COLOR="Red"

]why is there no number under the "stainless steel" btw the lugs?:[/COLOR]thinking:

If this is an authentic rolex casing could it be worth $$$ as an error model? like spider dials

Not on the V******'s?

[zeuloa]

I would recommend contacting the seller ASAP and returning the watch as that corrosion/damage under the bezel looks very bad. If purchased with credit card I would cancel the transaction.

If this is not possible and you have to keep the watch, I would take it to an AD with a certified technician to give it a once over, and replace that modified/after-market dial.

Keep us posted and best of luck!

[Brushpup]

It seems to me that the of the case negates the watch being new and warrants a full refund. The seller did say it was new right? I would exhaust every possible avenue to get a refund. Call me crazy, but I just cant get past this.

If some of it isn't corrosion, it must be grime, again negating new. The metal damage on the bottom edge of the case really bugs me. What is going to cause that sort of damage to a piece of forged steel, on a watch no less?

Larry, I would really value your opinion on this if you care to share it.

[Cabaiguan]

Originally Posted by honeybear

Perhaps it's just me, but that lug area looks pretty banged up for a "new" watch. Also, you have a tritium dial with diamond markers so that's probably an aftermarket diamond marker modification. It looks pretty questionable to me.

This...plus if the dial is aftermarket, I'd have a hard time trusting ANYTHING in that watch. I'd get my money back if possible.

[handsfull]

Originally Posted by Brushpup

The metal damage on the bottom edge of the case really bugs me. What is going to cause that sort of damage to a piece of forged steel, on a watch no less?

Larry, I would really value your opinion on this if you care to share it.

Not Larry, but I would surmise it was sloppy work performed/it occurred when the aftermarket dial was installed.

If that watch was sold as 'New'...it was a fraudulent transaction - plain and simple. Get your money back.

[rmfnla]

Yes, aftermarket (or customized) face; it did not originally come with those diamonds.

Hands do not match the face either, they would have had tritium inserts as well.

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by msjenbowen

No worries... I just turned 40 and my once-perfect vision is quickly deteriorating. I finally got a good picture and I can now see the serial number at the 6 o'clock position. It is "V" followed by 6 digits.

Sorry to say, it only gets worse...

[Silvio Mosiello]

That's one crooked cyclops!

[landroverking]

Lots of flags going up all over. Refund is in order IMHO.
Unless you can live with a Frankenwatch.

[msjenbowen]

Originally Posted by RTea

My worry would be the corrosion that can be seen between the lugs. How can that happen on a watch that's roughly 4 years old? Or could it have been done when the after-market dial was fitted?

I would still recommend going to an AD to pop it open to verify the movement is authentic.

Yes, I'm taking it in to the AD as soon as I can. Every new comment (damage, corrosion, after market dial, hands, crooked cyclops, etc.) makes me more and more worried. I will post the results. Thanks for all the feedback. It's really helpful!

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by msjenbowen

Yes, I'm taking it in to the AD as soon as I can. Every new comment (damage, corrosion, after market dial, hands, crooked cyclops, etc.) makes me more and more worried. I will post the results. Thanks for all the feedback. It's really helpful!

I am sorry if I added to your frustration, but only want to help. If I could go with you and help get the money back I would.

[msjenbowen]

Originally Posted by Brushpup

I am sorry if I added to your frustration, but only want to help. If I could go with you and help get the money back I would.

Thanks. If you have any suggestions on how to approach the seller, I would appreciate it. I have gathered a lot of information from this forum, and plan to get more facts from the AD, but I predict the seller's response will be that I should have had the watch checked out before I ever wore it and it's too late to return it now.

He did tell me that the diamonds were not set by Rolex (which I didn't mind, honestly), but he never told me the dial was 15 years old, that it was not even meant for this particular watch, and that the dial wasn't even meant to have diamonds, but was supposed to have tritium instead. So, of course, he didn't tell me the hands were not original and I don't even know what to think about the cyclops issue.

This is my first Rolex (obviously) and I thought I was just getting a good deal on a watch that had just been sitting there for a while. I had no idea I was buying a Franken-watch! I've learned a hard lesson and just hope there's some way out of it. Thanks again for reading my post and for responding.

[JJL]

I'm no expert, but I just bought my wife almost the exact model (except with jubliee bracelet) and the one you originally posted just does not strike me the same as the one she has. Below is a picture of hers (right out of the box with the bezel protector still on and stickers on the lugz)... but that is how yours should look IMO!

Good luck and hope the best comes out of this for you!

[NYC6]

Sorry to say but why would you purchase a Rolex as 'new' without papers, box or warranty card? Seems to me red flags right off the bat to negate a deal.

[JJL]

Originally Posted by NYC6

Sorry to say but why would you purchase a Rolex as 'new' without papers, box or warranty card? Seems to me red flags right off the bat to negate a deal.

I would guess it was probably for a really good price... "too good to be true" probably.

[msjenbowen]

Originally Posted by JJL

I'm no expert, but I just bought my wife almost the exact model (except with jubliee bracelet) and the one you originally posted just does not strike me the same as the one she has. Below is a picture of hers (right out of the box with the bezel protector still on and stickers on the lugz)... but that is how yours should look IMO!

Good luck and hope the best comes out of this for you!

I saw this picture earlier this year and fell in love with it. Your wife's watch is stunning! If we are able to undo this transaction, I will not settle for anything less. Thanks for posting.

[LightOnAHill]

time to lawyer up, let her pick the ad for the appraisal and undo the transaction and then go out and buy that watch in the condition you deserve!

[msjenbowen]

Originally Posted by JJL

I would guess it was probably for a really good price... "too good to be true" probably.

It was a good price, but not that great. If I remember correctly, I think it was about $2,000 off the MSRP of a brand new watch (not taking into account the old dial, etc). We were told the good price was because we were buying directly from a wholesaler instead of an AD.

[zeuloa]

Originally Posted by msjenbowen

It was a good price, but not that great. If I remember correctly, I think it was about $2,000 off the MSRP of a brand new watch (not taking into account the old dial, etc). We were told the good price was because we were buying directly from a wholesaler instead of an AD.

Rolex doesn't wholesale. Every Rolex you see (with exception of Rolex direct gifts such a celebrities and Daytona), come from an AD as far as I know. Even gray dealers purchase from ADs in vast volumes at a great discount, and therefore are able to give a lower price but this seems like it will change as Rolex has become stricter with ADs.

However - A "new" watch without box and papers screams out a huge red flag, specially with all the recent smash and run AD robberies that have happened.

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by Silvio Mosiello

That's one crooked cyclops!

Could be the camera angle...

[cht]

You need a refund and a new appraiser....

The watch is not original, the dial could have fake diamonds, the minute hand is wrong, the watch has been altered and messed with.
This effects the value more than a few thousand IMO....

[Welshwatchman]

Originally Posted by msjenbowen

It was a good price, but not that great. If I remember correctly, I think it was about $2,000 off the MSRP of a brand new watch (not taking into account the old dial, etc). We were told the good price was because we were buying directly from a wholesaler instead of an AD.

You would have got at least $2k discount from an AD after a few enquiries.

Try to get your money back ASAP.

If you paid by Paypal, start a dispute.

edit .. watch was purchased a number of months ago. Tough to get a solution now. Try contacting the seller and hope that they're reasonable.

[mrbill2mrbill2]

Originally Posted by handsfull

Not Larry, but I would surmise it was sloppy work performed/it occurred when the aftermarket dial was installed.

If that watch was sold as 'New'...it was a fraudulent transaction - plain and simple. Get your money back.

To produce that much damage on the case between the lugs is way beyond sloppy work.

This particular watch has too many oddities for me.

Hope the OP can get a full refund.

Edit: The watch was apparently purchased a few months ago. Refund is probably a no go.

[psv]

Originally Posted by lightonahill

time to lawyer up, let her pick the ad for the appraisal and undo the transaction and then go out and buy that watch in the condition you deserve!

+ 1

[msjenbowen]

The jeweler that sold the watch is trying to get some answers from his supplier. He wants to know where the appraiser found the serial number inside the watch. Can anyone tell me, based on this picture, what this serial number stands for and where it is located inside the watch? If not, I will call the appraiser tomorrow, but since I've gotten such great feedback here so far, I think someone probably knows better than my appraiser.

[psv]

Did you buy this watch in VA? If so where?

There are only two choices here: either you forget about the whole authenticity thing and enjoy your watch, or you march in to the seller, with lawyer in tow, and demand to get a full refund. Your watch might not be a fake, but it certainly has replacement parts, which doesn't match with the age of other core components like the case. It is certainly not a new watch, not even new old stock (NOS).

[TSW]

Get your money back this one ain't worth it.