Judging Weight on Exhibition Models

[watch3r]

I've seen several threads suggesting that many of the exhibition models that ADs have in the cases don't have movements in them, and this is why they stay at the same time, etc etc.

Do the movements noticeably change the weight of the watch when installed? And without a movement, will something like the SkyDweller still allow you to set it, just not wind it?

I've tried several exhibition models on and never really thought about this. I also know my AD has several models they're calling exhibition that definitely run, AKA they're "Exhibition to Me"

[dnd2984]

They all have movements in them.

[tifosi]

They have movements. They just have some sort of modification so they don't run I imagine.

[omar-rye]

All the exhibition watches around me are working models. I’m able to wind them, set the time, start chronograph, etc

[m j b]

Originally Posted by omar-rye

All the exhibition watches around me are working models. I’m able to wind them, set the time, start chronograph, etc

Ditto. Two different stores.

[Bxtek]

In the beginning when these exhibition pieces first appeared, one AD told me that they had a weight in place to reflect one with an actual movement inside. Later on, another AD told me that they all had movements, but had a pin inside to disable them from working. I've noticed that some AD's have all non working exhibitions, other stores have working ones, and some have a mixture.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Bxtek

In the beginning when these exhibition pieces first appeared, one AD told me that they had a weight in place to reflect one with an actual movement inside. Later on, another AD told me that they all had movements, but had a pin inside to disable them from working. I've noticed that some AD's have all non working exhibitions, other stores have working ones, and some have a mixture.

Exactly the same here

[inadeje]

Originally Posted by watch3r

I've seen several threads suggesting that many of the exhibition models that ADs have in the cases don't have movements in them, and this is why they stay at the same time, etc etc.

Do the movements noticeably change the weight of the watch when installed? And without a movement, will something like the SkyDweller still allow you to set it, just not wind it?

I've tried several exhibition models on and never really thought about this. I also know my AD has several models they're calling exhibition that definitely run, AKA they're "Exhibition to Me"

They all have movements in them. I am told by my AD that Rolex installs a special easily removable plastic part (accessible after opening the case back and removable with jewelers tweezers) that locks the movement in exactly the position and time shown on all exhibition pieces. I am also told that those display watches belong to Rolex and are not sellable stock, the serials are also locked in the Rolex system meaning that the warranty card cannot be completed. This info is from the manager of my AD, not an employee. Some pieces shown in « display only » sections are not display pieces and they’re pretty easy to spot because there will be a disparity between the usual « 2.10 » time. However, those pieces are probably spoken for and displayed to fill-out the cases until the assigned buyer has confirmed their arrival to collect.

[shaunylw]

Last one i saw was real and everything was as it should be.


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[Vince M.]

Every exhibition model has a movement with a lock out. My AD said that Rolex makes them shuffle so many pieces through the case and Rolex makes them hold so many pieces in the back per contract. They are a tier 1 AD (360 pieces a year) and he said next year 2023 they will be moving to a tier 2 (700 pieces a year ). He literally showed me the contract last week stating all the above.

He is also guaranteed 6 white and 6 black stainless Daytona's as a tier 2.

He also said that tier 3 dealers get 1000 watches a year. 20 straight stainless non two tone Daytonas, 10 white 10 black.

[ltmgeller]

Should be the same

[onyourbikes]

Originally Posted by Vince M.

Every exhibition model has a movement with a lock out. My AD said that Rolex makes them shuffle so many pieces through the case and Rolex makes them hold so many pieces in the back per contract. They are a tier 1 AD (360 pieces a year) and he said next year 2023 they will be moving to a tier 2 (700 pieces a year ). He literally showed me the contract last week stating all the above.

He is also guaranteed 6 white and 6 black stainless Daytona's as a tier 2.

He also said that tier 3 dealers get 1000 watches a year. 20 straight stainless non two tone Daytonas, 10 white 10 black.

Nope.
Both stores in my city have regular, fully working, exhibition models.
The smaller store has a really good selection with most of the professional watches. They have about 50 watches on display. And I've handled a lot of them and all started to work when picked up.

[watch3r]

Helpful insight, thanks all for clarifying!

[Vince M.]

Originally Posted by onyourbikes

Nope.
Both stores in my city have regular, fully working, exhibition models.
The smaller store has a really good selection with most of the professional watches. They have about 50 watches on display. And I've handled a lot of them and all started to work when picked up.

Right, what I meant was some AD's put the lock out clip in some don't. My AD does not lock out the movements on any exhibition pieces.

ALL exhibition pieces have working movements.

[jb335]

This is a battle of “my AD said”


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[amh]

Originally Posted by tifosi

They have movements. They just have some sort of modification so they don't run I imagine.

They all run. Just wind it and wear it when you visit.

[tifosi]

Originally Posted by amh

They all run. Just wind it and wear it when you visit.

I dunno...they are all perfectly set to 10:09:37 at my AD.

[DJ2020]

All exhibition models are fully functional at my AD. They even wind them and set the time and date if applicable before they hand them to you to try on.

Actually there not exhibition models, there teasers!

[3sheets86]

I've seen them ticking when they've been moved. I believe they are proper watches. I once went to a release at Mappin & Webb in Manchester and they had new models on display, said they didn't have movements in so you didn't ask to buy them but they did.

[Calatrava r]

All the ones I have seen are fully functional

[onyourbikes]

Originally Posted by Vince M.

Right, what I meant was some AD's put the lock out clip in some don't. My AD does not lock out the movements on any exhibition pieces.

ALL exhibition pieces have working movements.

Ah, got ya.. So many people think they are filled with concrete or something....

[fskywalker]

The ones at my local AD are fully functional watches; actually saw a couple with the second hand sweep moving (apparently someone tried them and winded them) so am sure are the real deal

[Angryinch]

Obviously Kevin O’Leary doesn’t have a clue hey!lol

[77T]

Agree with others here.

My nearby one has many models, all working.

Just saw this one this week.




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[eijiboy]

Originally Posted by Vince M.

Every exhibition model has a movement with a lock out. My AD said that Rolex makes them shuffle so many pieces through the case and Rolex makes them hold so many pieces in the back per contract. They are a tier 1 AD (360 pieces a year) and he said next year 2023 they will be moving to a tier 2 (700 pieces a year ). He literally showed me the contract last week stating all the above.

He is also guaranteed 6 white and 6 black stainless Daytona's as a tier 2.

He also said that tier 3 dealers get 1000 watches a year. 20 straight stainless non two tone Daytonas, 10 white 10 black.

I wonder how many black subs do they get

[ArtNouveau]

When “exhibition models” first became a thing in the US only bigger dealers got them and they were the non-working ones set to 10:10 and 28 for date if they had one. I would presume they have movements, just something that renders them non-functional. I was in my Rolex only Boutique just this Thursday and that’s still what they have on display. The smaller market jewelry store AD where I live now puts a handful of their working inventory in the case and their “Rolex specialist” tells me they are required to hold 25 pieces. When they get new shipments in they can sell what they’ve been holding. Another plausible scenario we’ve heard here is that some ADs get a selection of working watches but RolexUSA still maintains ownership, issues no warranty card, and they cannot be sold.
Regardless of which of the above the watch you handle has a movement thus the correct weight, etc.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by jb335

This is a battle of “my AD said”

Not really. My AD handed me a fully functional RG Sky Dweller which was an exhibition model and labelled as such. The only thing they said was that it wasn't for sale. I was able to work out it had a real movement all by myself without my AD saying anything about it.

[HogwldFLTR]

I believe there was a time when Rolex circulated non-working new models when they were first released. These are different, I suspect, than today's Exhibition Only models.