Buying Grey Market Red Tag vs. Green Tag

[uncle_paul_hargis]

I'm looking online at places like Bob's or DavidSW, and identical watches can have significant price differences with the Red Tags as opposed to the newer Green Tags. I like things to be newer, or "better" or whatever, but I also want the best value I can get. The red tags are holding me back - am I over-thinking it? Is there a warranty difference? Or a certification difference?

I'm shopping for my first Rolex, and not looking for an "investment" piece with the hopes of flipping it some day. If I do, it will be because I no longer like the watch and just want to get rid of it. However, I am hoping to keep it forever.

Thanks for any help!

[cda555]

It is my understanding that the green tags are newer and have the 5 year warranty from Rolex. The red tags have the 3 year warranty. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

[Thatguy]

Originally Posted by cda555

It is my understanding that the green tags are newer and have the 5 year warranty from Rolex. The red tags have the 3 year warranty. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

This is correct. Buying most any modern Rolex with the intention of making money is probably not a good idea. Buy what you like and you might make or lose a little money.


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[Dauntless]

I am pretty sure that the green hangtag also denotes the new meaning for Rolex of "superlative chronometer". I believe the watches with the green hangtag are within +2/-2 seconds per day after casing.

[swils8610]

Originally Posted by cda555

It is my understanding that the green tags are newer and have the 5 year warranty from Rolex. The red tags have the 3 year warranty. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

That is correct. That's the only diff.


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[Sky21]

A good general mantra is to always buy the best condition piece you can afford then you'll never regret it. Whether it's red tag or green tag, that still holds true. Set your budget then find the nicest example of the reference you are looking for and enjoy wearing your new watch for as long as you want to keep it.

[Calatrava r]

Seems like mine always came with green tags in recent years. I guess I just did not notice. Bought at least 20 in the last five years. Too, too many, I fear.

[rollee1]

Green tag is 5 years warranty introduced 3 years ago, whereas the white tag is a couple of years new.
It's just a tag with no difference to the mechanical function of the watch, people prefer matching tags to period of production.

[uncle_paul_hargis]

Thank you all for the responses! That's very helpful.

[brandrea]

No difference to me other than the color of the tags. Rolex didn't start making a better watch just because they changed the color of the tag

[kauffee]

Originally Posted by brandrea

No difference to me other than the color of the tags. Rolex didn't start making a better watch just because they changed the color of the tag

The green tag, in addition to the 5 year warranty, guarantees the watch to between -2/+2 seconds per day. I believe the red tag only guarantees it to within COSC (-4/+6). Obviously they didn't change the movements, but the regulation likely became stricter around the time the tags changed over.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by kauffee

The green tag, in addition to the 5 year warranty, guarantees the watch to between -2/+2 seconds per day. I believe the red tag only guarantees it to within COSC (-4/+6). Obviously they didn't change the movements, but the regulation likely became stricter around the time the tags changed over.

Agreed, and most can be regulated to that regardless of the color of the tag.

[Maxy]

Originally Posted by cda555

It is my understanding that the green tags are newer and have the 5 year warranty from Rolex. The red tags have the 3 year warranty. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

Originally Posted by Thatguy

This is correct.

Little correction.

(Newer) Green Tags - 5 years.
(Older) Red Tags - 2 years (not 3).

[wrist_watcher]

Originally Posted by kauffee

The green tag, in addition to the 5 year warranty, guarantees the watch to between -2/+2 seconds per day. I believe the red tag only guarantees it to within COSC (-4/+6). Obviously they didn't change the movements, but the regulation likely became stricter around the time the tags changed over.

Even with the so called stricter regulation, many folks come here on the forum with brand new watches that are way out of +2-2. There is no iron clad guarantee a brand new watch will run this accurate, as real world conditions are different than the factory.

[Old Expat Beast]

Green tags were put on watches that had sat in ADs for years when the red-to-green change happened. Red tags were returned to Rolex. There's no difference in the watch or its performance, just the extra warranty from 2 to 5 years. Watches sold sfter July 1 2013 were retro-warrantied to 3 years when the change happened.

[Brenngun]

Now that you know all about the tag the most important thing is to buy the seller and you can't buy a better seller than DavidSW

[uncle_paul_hargis]

Originally Posted by Brenngun

Now that you know all about the tag the most important thing is to buy the seller and you can't buy a better seller than DavidSW

That is definitely one thing I have figured out. Everyone has nothing but the best things to say about them. The prices seem to be a great value, and they provide a lot of information.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by kauffee

The green tag, in addition to the 5 year warranty, guarantees the watch to between -2/+2 seconds per day. I believe the red tag only guarantees it to within COSC (-4/+6). Obviously they didn't change the movements, but the regulation likely became stricter around the time the tags changed over.

Not totally correct all this new spec means is that after casing Rolex tests on a timing machine to a precision of -2+2 seconds .What does this mean well in the real world at time of testing on timing machine movement met said spec much like the test at the COSC.This is not a guarantee it will perform exactly the same every day for life on the wrist, its just that its been tested to a precision of -2+2 seconds.As a few other manufactures started this -2+2 spec Rolex had to follow mainly the marketing much like the COSC test.Plus many watches at ADs for months had the red tags changed to green tags for the 5 year warranty had exactly the same movement.

[VicLeChic]

longer warranty with the green tag so more peace of mind if something goes wrong

[bobby81]

Originally Posted by rollee1

Green tag is 5 years warranty introduced 3 years ago, whereas the white tag is a couple of years new.
It's just a tag with no difference to the mechanical function of the watch, people prefer matching tags to period of production.

I don't think the White Tag denotes anything it's the Red & green for the difference in the lengths of the Warranty's. I think the serial number is on the White Tag not to get mixed up with the Model number

[bobby81]

Originally Posted by cda555

It is my understanding that the green tags are newer and have the 5 year warranty from Rolex. The red tags have the 3 year warranty. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

Green Tag five years Red Tag two years

[Likestheshiny]

The green tag, in addition to the 5 year warranty, guarantees the watch to between -2/+2 seconds per day.

The green tag was introduced with the warranty extension, which came before the +/-2 promise. It's possible to have a green tag but not the +/-2 accuracy promise (not that the watches are any different).

Green Tag five years Red Tag two years

As already noted by Old Expat Beast, red-tag watches sold after July 1, 2013 got an extra third year of warranty. That's important for buying used, because it means that a late red-tag watch will still have some warranty left.

The green-tag watches are generally more expensive because they're all still under warranty. Simple as that.

[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by padi56

Not totally correct all this new spec means is that after casing Rolex tests on a timing machine to a precision of -2+2 seconds .

I wonder how many Rolexes met -2/+2 first time, and how many needed regulation to get to that?