Rolex Appraisal

[GuyC]

Went to my local Rolex AD this weekend and brought my submariner in with box and all the papers for an appraisal so I can insure the watch. The owner of the store was there and asked if I was the original owner of the watch, to which I said no ( as there is someone else's name on the warranty card). I explained that I bought this online from a trusted preowned seller. He refused to give me an appraisal on the watch because I wasn't the original owner......

Is this common?

He also acted pretty snobbish when I told him where I bought the watch......funny as his his shop was completely empty of customer as per usual.....

[kilyung]

Not surprising but I think most ADs will charge for the service.

[Trouble15]

If AD's refuse to give an appraisal for insurance purposes on a pre-owned Rolex, what does one do? Shop around for an AD who will eventually agree?

[GuyC]

Originally Posted by Trouble15

If AD's refuse to give an appraisal for insurance purposes on a pre-owned Rolex, what does one do? Shop around for an AD who will eventually agree?

Exactly what I was thinking on Saturday after this happened. Obviously I was prepared to pay for any appraisal. I went to my local Breitling AD where I also have done business and he said he would appraise it for $20.

Neeedless to say ,I won't be going back to the Rolex AD and I am in nthe market for a Daytona, so he is out the business.

[MariettaMike]

Originally Posted by GuyC

Exactly what I was thinking on Saturday after this happened. Obviously I was prepared to pay for any appraisal. I went to my local Breitling AD where I also have done business and he said he would appraise it for $20.

Neeedless to say ,I won't be going back to the Rolex AD and I am in nthe market for a Daytona, so he is out the business.

Good luck on the Daytona.

[Actsulb]

Call around to several ADs and which one can provide you with what you need. Best of luck.

[Tools]

No, it's not common.. the only reason he might not have given you an appraisal is if you couldn't show ownership from the original purchaser..

There is no reason to have taken in the paperwork in somebody elses name, or the box... only the proof of purchase that shows that you properly purchased it and are presently the legal owner..... Try another Dealer or Jeweler...

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by tools

no, it's not common.. The only reason he might not have given you an appraisal is if you couldn't show ownership from the original purchaser..

There is no reason to have taken in the paperwork in somebody elses name, or the box... Only the proof of purchase that shows that you properly purchased it and are presently the legal owner..... Try another dealer or jeweler...

x2

[sprtrlx]

ad has a bad additude in mho.ive had appraisals done on pieces that i bought 2nd hand,and only gave ad the watch to inspect.of course i had done other business with the ad,which may have helped.

[liuk3]

Not to hijack the thread, but if you purchased new from an AD, do they typically include appraisal letter for free with the purchase. One AD mailed me the letter no problem. Another AD looked at me like I was from Mars when I asked them to do so, but they are doing so.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by liuk3

Not to hijack the thread, but if you purchased new from an AD, do they typically include appraisal letter for free with the purchase. One AD mailed me the letter no problem. Another AD looked at me like I was from Mars when I asked them to do so, but they are doing so.

I recieved an appraisal letter with every new watch I bought at my AD. I think it is customary, but if not they should supply one upon request.

[karmatp]

Usually there is a fee for a appraisal unless you purchased the watch from them.

[Wrist Candy]

Originally Posted by liuk3

Not to hijack the thread, but if you purchased new from an AD, do they typically include appraisal letter for free with the purchase. One AD mailed me the letter no problem. Another AD looked at me like I was from Mars when I asked them to do so, but they are doing so.

I received an appraisal letter from my AD when I purchased my watch from them. It was included with my paperwork and I did not have to request it. They valued the watch at MSRP.

[m5blitzer]

Originally Posted by Wrist Candy

I received an appraisal letter from my AD when I purchased my watch from them. It was included with my paperwork and I did not have to request it. They valued the watch at MSRP.

When I bought my first Rolex from my AD, they automatically provided an appraisal (showing model type, detailed description, serial number, etc.) at MSRP plus 10% to account for future Rolex price increases for true replacement cost.

Guess what, within a month of buying the watch, Rolex raised their prices.

[steebee2]

Originally Posted by liuk3

Not to hijack the thread, but if you purchased new from an AD, do they typically include appraisal letter for free with the purchase. One AD mailed me the letter no problem. Another AD looked at me like I was from Mars when I asked them to do so, but they are doing so.

I bought new from an AD and then asked for the appraisal a week later. He mailed it no problem, with full description, model #, serial # etc. And BTW, full MSRP, not purchase price.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by steebee2

I bought new from an AD and then asked for the appraisal a week later. He mailed it no problem, with full description, model #, serial # etc. And BTW, full MSRP, not purchase price.

That makes complete sense since the sole purpose of an appraisal is to document current value - not the selling price.

[Rad22]

Originally Posted by liuk3

Not to hijack the thread, but if you purchased new from an AD, do they typically include appraisal letter for free with the purchase. One AD mailed me the letter no problem. Another AD looked at me like I was from Mars when I asked them to do so, but they are doing so.

Mine handed me the appraisal without me even having to ask for it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bondtoys]

... and it may be wise not to mention, that you have purchased the watch online.

I guess, that many ADs are not happy about that kind of competition, so the word online may raise some not so good feelings and I can understand that.

[azguy]

Screw them I don't care where you bought the watch, a Rolex AD should appraise it.

If you buy a car off e-bay does the dealership not support you afterwards or refuse and oil change or in general make you feel like a cheap scoundral like your AD did

I'd buy that Daytona and then walk in and show him what being a snobish individual got him-

[1bad750]

Seems like the ad's really frown upon getting a watch anywhere else. i went to one last week to checkout a clearly real rolex and they told me it was fake with a chinese movement without even opening it. It was later verified at a watch dealer who did a thorough inspection and opened it too.

[swiss ghost]

My AD's always give me an appraisal when purchased. As for taking a rolex in somewhere and getting it appraised i dont really think it should be that big of an issue HOWEVER when i spoke with ROLEX in Toronto they wanted $150 and 2 weeks to take a rolex in for 'authenticating' in which they said theres alot more than just taking the caseback off to authenticate, they said they needed to ensure the entire watch and every part was indeed 'authentic' rolex or it will not be 'authenticated'. I have to agree because i truly believe there are some out there wearing rolexes that are not 100% authentic. Any shady jeweller can 'authenticate' a 'rolex' and im sure all kinds of insurance scams go down because of this. I for one only want a rolex 'authenticated' by an AUTHORIZED Rolex service Centre or ROLEX themselves.

[m5blitzer]

Originally Posted by swiss ghost

My AD's always give me an appraisal when purchased. As for taking a rolex in somewhere and getting it appraised i dont really think it should be that big of an issue HOWEVER when i spoke with ROLEX in Toronto they wanted $150 and 2 weeks to take a rolex in for 'authenticating' in which they said theres alot more than just taking the caseback off to authenticate, they said they needed to ensure the entire watch and every part was indeed 'authentic' rolex or it will not be 'authenticated'. I have to agree because i truly believe there are some out there wearing rolexes that are not 100% authentic. Any shady jeweller can 'authenticate' a 'rolex' and im sure all kinds of insurance scams go down because of this. I for one only want a rolex 'authenticated' by an AUTHORIZED Rolex service Centre or ROLEX themselves.

Ditto.

ADs are not in the business of providing appraisals unless they sold you that watch, know for a fact how much you paid for it and they know the where the watch originally came from (Rolex). That watch must be authenticated first by their service center (for a fee). The other challenge for the AD is to determine the age of the watch and what it is worth today. They won't give you replacement cost for a 7 year old watch purchased at x % off from a trusted seller.

[Old Geezer]

Originally Posted by bondtoys

... and it may be wise not to mention, that you have purchased the watch online.

I guess, that many ADs are not happy about that kind of competition, so the word online may raise some not so good feelings and I can understand that.

I find huge irony if ADs don't like online grey dealer competition when they regularly feed the beast.

[m5blitzer]

Part of the appraisal process (if the watch did not come from an AD) may be to open the caseback to verify authenticity of the movement. There is a local watchmaker who will provide an appraisal for almost any brand of watches, and the fee includes research work to verify whether you have the real thing.

[malnik]

Originally Posted by GuyC

Went to my local Rolex AD this weekend and brought my submariner in with box and all the papers for an appraisal so I can insure the watch. The owner of the store was there and asked if I was the original owner of the watch, to which I said no ( as there is someone else's name on the warranty card). I explained that I bought this online from a trusted preowned seller. He refused to give me an appraisal on the watch because I wasn't the original owner......

Is this common?

He also acted pretty snobbish when I told him where I bought the watch......funny as his his shop was completely empty of customer as per usual.....

The dealership was probably covering their own asses. They got worry when you said the watch was bought online. There are many good fakes out there. If you said the original owner is your uncle and it's his name on the warranty card, maybe the results will be different.

[m j b]

Originally Posted by malnik

They got worry when you said the watch was bought online. There are many good fakes out there.

I once had a watch appraised at a place that I did not buy it from. The appraisal did not include validating the authenticity of the watch, and read something like this:

"What appears to be a Rolex Submariner model 14060M from 2003". Their own CYA, I suppose. I never had to file a claim, but I wondered how much good it would do me.

[DJJon]

Yes my AD included an Appraisal at full MSRP (even though he sold it to me at 13% discount off list) at no additional charge as part of the full AD experience.

[MoBe]

I think it may be possible that Rolex recommend that their AD`s refrain from appraising watches off the street without documentation.This behaviour would certainly fit with Rolex`s overall policy of being difficult with Rolex owners that stray beyond the bounds layed out by Rolex policy.

This is my personal speculation only and not based on any kind of internet information.

[rr-nyc]

Getting a watch appraised is easy but might require a couple stops to different jewelers. I highly doubt Rolex is behind some AD's unwillingness to appraise a watch. There is a difference between authenticating and appraising a watch although an appraisal requires authenticating if it wasn't purchased from that particular AD. An original warranty card or receipt can help the process since they can verify its origins.

Not all ADs have watchmakers on sight and if their is no documented history of the watch, some may not want the liability of writing up an appraisal with their name on it

[nsxt750]

Several years ago I needed an appraisal for insurance purposes and I went to an Estate Jeweler. I was referred to one by an AD and that was from a nice chat and nothing in the way of a refusal from the AD. His tone was that since an estate jeweler buys and sells all sorts of jewelry on a daily basis they would have a better knowledge of the current values and prices.

I live in the DC area so an estate jeweler may be called something else in your region.

Good luck.