How important are papers?

[Rhorne]

How important are papers when purchasing a rolex from gray dealer? He has rolex box and manual but no papers. The dealer gives a 1 year warranty through him.

[gmt 16750]

Well..... the watch being authentic is the most important thing and some (most) people feel happier with the original papers even though after 2 years they are, in a warranty sense, useless although they do provide a degree of provinance.
Papers - like most Rolex related item can be faked and this must be remembered (esp. with hand written papers).
Basically - if your gonna wear the watch for life, papers are not a big thing.
If your gonna sell later on 0- then original papers can make the sale easier and for more money in most cases.
In my limited experience there are two schools of thought for the papers:
those who think that after 2 years the papers are useless and those who like the 'full set' with any watch.
I'm from the 'full set' group where possible but with vintage Rolex it can be next to impossible to obtain certain models c/w papers and still pay the mortgage nowadays!

[colemanitis]

Papers are VERY important. I wouldn't buy a watch without them unless I trusted the dealer 1000%.

[finance21]

So long as the watch is priced accordingly and you are confident the watch is real (i.e. the seller comes with references) they are not important at all. They only become important if you decide to sell the watch, in which case you will also need to price accordingly. If I am looking for a nice watch to wear and the seller is well known, I have no issues with a well priced non-B&P watch.

You wear the watch, papers only sit in your draw.

If someone can build a good fake a watch they can most certainly fake papers.

[Welshwatchman]

Papers are not too important to me since they only ever materialize if ever I sell the watch.

Papers ARE important to others so I'll not be throwing mine away anytime soon.

[Tools]

Old warranty papers, and even the original invoice are frequently to be had with a buy from an individual....and for some reason, people are willing to pay extra for them..

They are seldom available through a Dealer or Pawn Shop.

Grey Dealers almost always have the original papers for BNIB watches, but not always for used.

I would never pass up a good price for an authentic watch just because it didn't have an old, useless sheet of paper with it..

[redshirt1957]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

Papers are not too important to me since they only ever materialize if ever I sell the watch.

Papers ARE important to others so I'll not be throwing mine away anytime soon.

That is the best, and should become the standard, answer to the box and papers question.

[doc_colton]

For an older watch I think I'd rather see a recent service invoice from a Rolex Service Centre.

[GMTII Owner]

For my own purchase of my GMTIIc, I wanted to have everything that comes with owning a Rolex which would include the papers. Now that I'm itching for a Sub no date, I'm looking for a watch in good condition that is priced accordingly with our without papers as I plan to keep it for my son.

So, to answer your question, it depends on your personal preference. I can tell you when you are wearing your Rolex, I doubt anyone is going to ask if they can see the papers to determine if it's real or not.

John

[zak98]

Originally Posted by colemanitis

Papers are VERY important. I wouldn't buy a watch without them unless I trusted the dealer 1000%.

agree 100%

[SPACE-DWELLER]

If the seller is legit and the watch is gonna be a keeper, papers are not important.

Even if you want to re-sell the Rolex later, papers are not too important since service papers will be as good as any certificate.

[RW16610]

Originally Posted by colemanitis

Papers are VERY important. I wouldn't buy a watch without them unless I trusted the dealer 1000%.

Same, i'm the type that must have everything regardless to keeper or not, period.

[Rhorne]

Thanks guys, I am not getting this one to flip, If I do purchase it, it will be a keeper. As most of you know I have been trying to find a gmt for some time now. I found this one that has original box and no papers. I'm not sure about the manual or hang tags, for got to ask about them.

[sea-dweller]

I would never buy a watch without papers. To me, this is just not a 'complete' watch set.
And, if you ever wish to sell in the future, papers authenticate the watch and you can usually obtain a little more $$$ for a watch that has the original papers & booklets. All of my Rolexes have the papers. original boxes and booklets.

[JJ Irani]

I was once stuck in the loo without any toilet paper. Damn, it was then that I realised how important paper can be!!

[pwrslider]

Originally Posted by redshirt1957

That is the best, and should become the standard, answer to the box and papers question.

I agree!! As long as the watch is authentic....I don't need or want the papers.......

[pwrslider]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

I was once stuck in the loo without any toilet paper. Damn, it was then that I realised how important paper can be!!

With all that wool runnin around...you grabbed paper instead???

[RW16610]

Lol

[Z-Sub]

My Explorer II was from Tourneau, preowned. No paper but they were able to find a box. I wear it as my daily beater since it does not have the rotatable bezel. It was fine wo the paper. I look at it everyday and does not get bored doing it. I never seen the original paper of my other watches since the day I bought them. I agree with others I will keep them if I ever sell them.

[cowboyjosh78]

I personally think a Rolex with no papers is like buying a car without a title. If you insure your watch thru your homeowners insurance, they might require a copy of the registration card and serial number, mine did, along with the appraisel <sp>.

[walds11]

Very. I want the full package. Havings the full package also helps for resale purposes.

[Land Dweller]

The so called "Grey Dealers" offer the full two year warrantys with Rolex watches, and fully registered documentation too, so i personally would not touch the offer made to you with a barge pole seeing as no papers are present. I'm sure you can get the above deal in your country as you can here in the U.K.

L.D.

[watchlady]

That is not true for most insurance. An appraisal is all I have ever had to supply and a receipt is a proof of purchase. Most normal people throw boxes and paperwork away. It's most us WIS's that treasure these things.

You can't sell a car without a title but you can sell a Rolex. You can get a new car title from the state but you generally will not get new papers from Rolex.

However, I once purchased a new Rolex from Tourneau, I asked if it had papers and was told it did. They charged my credit card and later told be the papers were misplaced/misfiled but they would find them in the next few days and contact me. Well the didn't and then I was told they were permanently lost and they would have to contact Rolex to get them reissued. I was quite angry.

I waited a few weeks, still no papers. I went back to the store and calmly asked and again was told they are coming from Rolex and was practically escorted out of Tourneau. Finally after nearly 2 months and no papers I wrote a letter to the president of Tourneau and sent it along with copies of receipts for 6 watches I had bought at various Tourneaus over the past few years. Two days after I sent it I got a call from the store manager saying I could bring the watch in and exchange it for a new one with papers.

I have since found a different AD I am much happier with.

Originally Posted by cowboyjosh78

I personally think a Rolex with no papers is like buying a car without a title. If you insure your watch thru your homeowners insurance, they might require a copy of the registration card and serial number, mine did, along with the appraisel <sp>.

[mborkow]

I wouldn't buy a watch without papers. I'd rather spend a little extra money and know I have the real thing.