Rolex mismatch

[reyvis]

Hi all and my first post after joining.

I have been a member on another forum T****z*** for years. But I really like the amount of knowledge shown here. i did not know this forum existed!
I did post on the other website a problem I have, but I feel I may get some more information or knowledgeable opinions here to help me.

in 2005 I walk into a main London UK AD and purchase a new 16613 F reg TT blue face sub. Love at first sight!. 16 years later I take it to my local AD for a first service. I know! I only took it in, because i noticed the manual wind was becoming a bit sticky, but it kept perfect time and i only wore it about once a month in the last 10 years.
They contacted me two weeks later and said, 'there is a mismatch with the serial and model number'. The serial and model matches a black face and bezel. I immediately get my box , papers, serial number, tags,other Rolex bits, original purchase receipts and they photocopy everything to confirm I am correct. I can say that they look at me rather strangely. 'Never happened before'. I get the vibe!

I also contact the original AD who has records only back to 2008. How? I ask can I possibly walk out with my lovely watch, but it matches the serial to a black faced sub. The present AD manager is at a loss to give an answer. Maybe a dial and bezel switch before the sale, but he said we do not switch dials etc , that would have had to have been done by Rolex themselves! We only sell them and do not touch them in that way.

A month later I am still waiting for a reply from the largest UK Rolex AD chain and Rolex themselves, who have my watch at the service centre.

My questions are, does anybody know if this has happened before and how is it possible. The blue faced sub was in very short supply at the time and is it possible that Rolex switched a batch to fill the need. Or a real manufacturing error with a mismatch of documentation to that particular watch. the watch does have a 16613LN tag which I 'now know' is for a black dial.

I know that Rolex have made some manufacturing errors that should not be possible, but they do and so it must be even easier to mismatch the documentation serial and model I presume.

Any help is much appreciated

[OrangeSport]

Just bumbing really to see if anyone knows.

Does it actually matter? I assume Rolex is going to service it?

[reyvis]

Well, the model should officially be a black dial and bezel, so difficult to sell or get it serviced, without somebody raising questions, as Rolex have done.

[GradyPhilpott]

That seems to me to be a very unlikely scenario.

Keep use informed on how the AD and Rolex handle this.

[reyvis]

i most certainly will

[Boaters]

For sure very weird please keep us in the loop.

[joli160]

When I bought my wife’s DJ31 not so long ago I had the AD swap the dial on the spot. Think I could have swapped the bezel as well.
Doesn’t matter, like yours all original Rolex

[reyvis]

That is really interesting and nice to know, that some AD’s provide that service. But as I did not request or want a change, then there is still a mismatch. I presume you kept the other dial or had that change noted in some way. Also my AD has never provided that service. I actually want everything to match, in case I ever wish to sell. Some buyer could get rather ‘picky’. I had expected Rolex to be ‘perfect’ with regard to my first purchase at the time.
Still waiting for an official reply and still no watch service.
Thanks for the information and who was the AD?

[joli160]

Originally Posted by reyvis

That is really interesting and nice to know, that some AD’s provide that service. But as I did not request or want a change, then there is still a mismatch. I presume you kept the other dial or had that change noted in some way. Also my AD has never provided that service. I actually want everything to match, in case I ever wish to sell. Some buyer could get rather ‘picky’. I had expected Rolex to be ‘perfect’ with regard to my first purchase at the time.
Still waiting for an official reply and still no watch service.
Thanks for the information and who was the AD?

I did not keep the other dial, it went straight back in the DJ mine came from.
Reference number remained the same so no adjustments were made on the paperwork or warranty card. Perhaps only a RSC will be able to tell in the future that dials were swapped. Still all original so doesn’t bother me .
If you really want to know which AD sent me a PM. I don’t want to create problems for anyone in case this practise is somehow not allowed . AD’s are uptight enough as it is.

[1William]

Interesting situation. I would believe that Rolex will service the watch as it is and return it in perfect working order. I would see if you could get some explanation from Rolex, in writing, that would explain what has occurred. This would be for a future sale. Keep us posted.

[reyvis]

They have informed me that the problem has been taken very seriously and has now been escalated

[shaunylw]

I recently read about this happening and Rolex supplied a modern card with the existing serial number. That’s really the only fix here, outside of a service case and service card, which would be a horrendous option.


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[mjwalter80]

This is an easy fix....Tell Rolex they need to provide you with a black dial/bezel sub to match the your current papers and new box and papers to match your current watch. Problem solved

[Watcheroo]

Originally Posted by reyvis

They have informed me that the problem has been taken very seriously and has now been escalated

Interested to hear the outcome! I hope it all works out well for you


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[hutch300]

Out of curiosity what do you want Rolex to do? I don't mean this how it sounds. I am actually curios, its a weird situation. I think something like shaunylw said seems reasonable. I mean if I never planned to sell I don't think I'd care as long as my watch gets serviced.

[reyvis]

Service the watch. Correct the documentation and an explanation of how it happened if at all possible. Close that loophole. At the end of the day Rolex will decide what happened and what they will do. I am still very unhappy that it put me in a very questionable position, with only luck that I kept everything in a storage box. Even then I have had to 'dig out' insurance photographs with the exif data of the correct date and some dated holiday 'mug' shots with the watch very visible on my arm, as it had been inferred that the dial and bezel had been switched after the purchase.
That is the point at which I get rather cross

[OrangeSport]

Hindsight is great, but a couple of ADs I’ve used before for Rolex and Omega have given me an insurance valuation detailing the watch at the time of purchase. Seems something like that might be worth having in ways I hadn’t really anticipated..

They have model numbers etc and a description (eg: Rodium Dial with Floral Motifs and Jubilee Bracelet)

[Rocket_Man]

Dial swaps used to be fairly common and any watchmaker can do it. Just because the AD rep said they don't do dial swaps doesn't mean the AD didn't take the watch to their local independent and had the dial swapped. The watch is way past its warranty. Dial swaps are not 'illegal', Rolex would happily do them for you for a cost, as long as it was a valid configuration for that reference number. You'd pay a cost and have to give up the old dial. As long as it is a genuine Rolex dial I'm not sure what the big deal is. Independents had more regular access to Rolex parts than now a days. So in 2005 if a customer wanted a blue dial on a specific model they may have done a swap, the deal fell through and then you come along and buy it. Or the AD had the dail swapped to make it move faster. Even if the AD rep you asked was working at the store in 2005, he may not want to admit they swapped dials on watches in the case. Rolex may not be happy about that.

[reyvis]

They are not and neither am I. I suspect your guess may be nearer the truth. That was my first Rolex!

[HeartRolex]

Originally Posted by reyvis

Service the watch. Correct the documentation and an explanation of how it happened if at all possible. Close that loophole. At the end of the day Rolex will decide what happened and what they will do. I am still very unhappy that it put me in a very questionable position, with only luck that I kept everything in a storage box. Even then I have had to 'dig out' insurance photographs with the exif data of the correct date and some dated holiday 'mug' shots with the watch very visible on my arm, as it had been inferred that the dial and bezel had been switched after the purchase.
That is the point at which I get rather cross

I totally get it. You selected and purchased a watch with expectation that everything accompanying it (documentation, tags, etc.,) would match that watch not those of a different watch. Even if I never sold it, I would want the issue addressed. It needs to be documented by Rolex, for servicing and in case the watch were lost or stolen as the insurance company will want to replace the original watch.

[reyvis]

That is absolutely correct, but so is the distrust I encountered by having to provide proof. That I did not like.

[faz]

Beautiful watch, I have a 16613LB that I wore 9 years straight day in day out before it needed its first service. So not at all surprised that yours worked beautifully for 16 years before it needed its.

Now for blue dial two tone the terrrence number as you have said is 16613LB.

Does your paperwork show this? And only Rolex’s serial number in their system doesn’t match? Or does your paper work show 16610LN ( black dial and bezel) while your watch is a two tone?


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[faz]

Originally Posted by reyvis

That is absolutely correct, but so is the distrust I encountered by having to provide proof. That I did not like.

You have to keep in mind that those in retail business are used to seeing customers walk in and lie to them every single day.

You are posting here as an anonymous poster so there is no reason for you to lie in this forum, so you get a much more agreeable audience. But when you walk in to an AD or any store, you are just a random customer who could either be mistaken or be lying to get your way. Don’t worry about how they react, I guess is what I am trying to say.

And honestly in the end I wouldn’t let this mismatch ruin your love for rhe watch. Nothing has changed there. there are lots of independent watch makers that do as good or better a job at maintenance of that watch. Worst case scenario consider your watch to be a one odd mistake from a brand that is known for its parts and inventory control.

You know you bought that watch at an AD. You know it is real and you know it is all Rolex. In the end if this thing doesn’t work out ( they don’t provide a nee card etc ) , but ho cares?


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[reyvis]

The serial is correct on the paperwork matching the watch. The model number is correct for a black dial and bezel ending in LN which is on my tag. I put the box away for 16 years and did not have any knowledge at the time or until Rolex informed me of the mismatch, that LN stood for black. Nothing was ever written on the paperwork to name a colour.
I know so much more now!

[faz]

Originally Posted by reyvis

The serial is correct on the paperwork matching the watch. The model number is correct for a black dial and bezel ending in LN which is on my tag. I put the box away for 16 years and did not have any knowledge at the time or until Rolex informed me of the mismatch, that LN stood for black. Nothing was ever written on the paperwork to name a colour.
I know so much more now!

Scenario that people have explained above where an AD would change the dial or bezel on a watch doesn’t apply to this scenario. The LN vs LB had the dial and bezel insert difference only. If you have two new watches in an AD and you want to swap one for another, you just give the whole other watch to the customer, nothing else is different between the two.

I think this is a one off mistake originating from the factory. And they are probably too proud to admit at beginning.


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[HeartRolex]

Originally Posted by reyvis

That is absolutely correct, but so is the distrust I encountered by having to provide proof. That I did not like.

I’m sure that having your integrity questioned was the worst part of it. I’m with you.

[HeartRolex]

Originally Posted by faz

You have to keep in mind that those in retail business are used to seeing customers walk in and lie to them every single day.

You are posting here as an anonymous poster so there is no reason for you to lie in this forum, so you get a much more agreeable audience. But when you walk in to an AD or any store, you are just a random customer who could either be mistaken or be lying to get your way. Don’t worry about how they react, I guess is what I am trying to say.

And honestly in the end I wouldn’t let this mismatch ruin your love for rhe watch. Nothing has changed there. there are lots of independent watch makers that do as good or better a job at maintenance of that watch. Worst case scenario consider your watch to be a one odd mistake from a brand that is known for its parts and inventory control.

You know you bought that watch at an AD. You know it is real and you know it is all Rolex. In the end if this thing doesn’t work out ( they don’t provide a nee card etc ) , but ho cares?


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The retail environment is inherently distrustful when it comes to customer complaints for the reasons you’ve stated, though I can’t count how many times I’ve seen retailers lie to customers, and about random stuff, like finding the blue cashmere sweater you saw yesterday. They tell you they don’t have it, then you drive to shop and find it sitting there.

[LazySumday]

Seems like may r at the time, the AD found the Bluesy more popular maybe? Seems shady. Hope it works out for you but seems like either way, you have an authentic watch.


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[reyvis]

Got the end result from the largest UK AD group and Rolex.

The classic 'Catch 22 scenario'.

As the blue watch should be originally black in colour, then they will not service the watch until it is returned to it's original colour. Totally ignoring the fact that they supplied the new watch in a blue colour. Rolex and the AD group are ignoring any form of responsibility.

The most ironic catch 22 game. What a way to treat a customer!

[vh2k]

Originally Posted by reyvis

Got the end result from the largest UK AD group and Rolex.

The classic 'Catch 22 scenario'.

As the blue watch should be originally black in colour, then they will not service the watch until it is returned to it's original colour. Totally ignoring the fact that they supplied the new watch in a blue colour. Rolex and the AD group are ignoring any form of responsibility.

The most ironic catch 22 game. What a way to treat a customer!

Frustrating. Get it serviced somewhere else and put this nonsense behind you.