Why are there so many rolex without certs?

[aaronch]

Probably been asked a million times before... I see so many rolexs for sale in the second hand market without certs. Is there any reason why this is the case? Most of the explanations seem to be that the owner lost it, but if I bought a 10k+ watch, u betcha life that I would be guarding the cert as much as the watch. And it's not only vintage watches too, I see alot of 1-2 year old watches that are missing certs. Is there something that I'm missing?


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[Nav01L]

ADs have often kept them to prevent flipping on hot models. That explains part of the younger watches...

[Bebot]

Originally Posted by Nav01L

ADs have often kept them to prevent flipping on hot models. That explains part of the younger watches...

Not here in the US. Never heard of it. I bought my first rolex in 1986 and I still have the paper certificate. Not a CREDIT CARD type.

[mjr24]

I think the whole practice of AD's holding cards is ridiculous. You guys should not be agreeing to let AD's do this.

Also, warranty cards are not useless pieces of scrap just because the warranty is up. Do you throw away your car title once it's out of warranty?

[aaronch]

Thanks for your reply. What gives the AD the right to keep the cert tho? If I bought from an AD, I would definitely want the cert. Unless it's something to do with ADs offloading to gray market dealers?


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[Wobbly]

Originally Posted by aaronch

Thanks for your reply. What gives the AD the right to keep the cert tho? If I bought from an AD, I would definitely want the cert. Unless it's something to do with ADs offloading to gray market dealers?


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Things have changed, but last year in the UK, many AD’s kept the warranty card for a year to prevent flippers.

If you didn’t agree, they wouldn’t sell you the watch. Strange, but true.

[JSolution]

Some people just don’t care if buying the watch to keep it.

[Eric-London]

Originally Posted by Wobbly

Things have changed, but last year in the UK, many AD’s kept the warranty card for a year to prevent flippers.

If you didn’t agree, they wouldn’t sell you the watch. Strange, but true.

In the UK, the warranty cards were released a few months ago. The AD's here are no longer holding them.

[dontbeshort]

Originally Posted by aaronch

Thanks for your reply. What gives the AD the right to keep the cert tho? If I bought from an AD, I would definitely want the cert. Unless it's something to do with ADs offloading to gray market dealers?


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I am longing to own my 1st Rolex (pref a Black Sub Date). The AD would be welcome to keep all the packaging and all the certificates. I’d never sell it . I’d never take it off my wrist. In fact the AD can destroy all the docs as far as I’m concerned. In case there are any ADs listening out there ..... please please sell me one.

[nightmyth]

Originally Posted by aaronch

Thanks for your reply. What gives the AD the right to keep the cert tho? If I bought from an AD, I would definitely want the cert. Unless it's something to do with ADs offloading to gray market dealers?


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it's a sellers' market and they make the rules. if buyers have more power then buyers can make more rules. simple

[Yess]

I thought Covid was trip.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Yess

I thought Covid was trip.

Can you explain this to me?

[steve099]

Not everyone is so fussy about a watch purchase, some just buy them and do not think twice about resale value....until they get into trouble.

Some are also stolen property, some papers get lost moving house...there are lots of reasons apart from the ones above.

I am currently missing a set of papers for a Jap sword, adds about $15K to its value but I am having trouble locating them, it happens after a few house and office moves.

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by steve099

Not everyone is so fussy about a watch purchase, some just buy them and do not think twice about resale value....until they get into trouble.

Some are also stolen property, some papers get lost moving house...there are lots of reasons apart from the ones above.

I am currently missing a set of papers for a Jap sword, adds about $15K to its value but I am having trouble locating them, it happens after a few house and office moves.

Perhaps I think that you meant to say Japanese there.

[steve099]

Originally Posted by Gaijin

Perhaps I think that you meant to say Japanese there.

Yes Japanese (Nihonto), apologies if the shortened term I used was offensive.

[Onikage]

Some people keep the paperwork out. When it comes time to sell the papers are still out.. somewhere. I know where mine are .. I think.

[Rori]

All the above plus a possible fake.

[dan993]

I think with the older models people were not buying them thinking of future value so many times the papers were simply misplaced.

[Calatrava r]

The older watches just had two year warranties. If you buy the watch to keep and it is off warranty what difference does the warranty card make. Most older watches are sold without papers, lucky to get the box.

Its only in the last several years that people began flipping and selling quickly so they kept everything to get the best price.

[HogwldFLTR]

Certs past the warranty period up until recently were simply scrap paper without any real value. Only in a greed driven collector's reality does a scrap piece of paper hold value.

[Bluside]

The first thing my SO wanted to do when I bought her first Rolex was throw away the box and everything.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by Bluside

The first thing my SO wanted to do when I bought her first Rolex was throw away the box and everything.

That's grounds for divorce! ;-)

My SO knows to keep box/papers.

[newu5er]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Certs past the warranty period up until recently were simply scrap paper without any real value. Only in a greed driven collector's reality does a scrap piece of paper hold value.

The whole watch market in general disagrees that the box and papers have no value and it has been that way since I started collecting more than 25 years ago. Collectors, casual wearers and flippers will pay less for a watch that is missing those items.

[aaronch]

Originally Posted by newu5er

The whole watch market in general disagrees that the box and papers have no value and it has been that way since I started collecting more than 25 years ago. Collectors, casual wearers and flippers will pay less for a watch that is missing those items.

I agree with this, especially in the case of rolexes given how many fakes are out there!


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[1William]

Some people do not want their names on cards that pass to others. Some are withheld by AD's to protect source identification in the secondary market. Others are lost, stolen or thrown away. I have no issue buying or owning a watch without the appropriate box and papers as long as it is authentic and I paid a reflective price.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by aaronch

Probably been asked a million times before... I see so many rolexs for sale in the second hand market without certs. Is there any reason why this is the case? Most of the explanations seem to be that the owner lost it, but if I bought a 10k+ watch, u betcha life that I would be guarding the cert as much as the watch.. . .

Most people buy watches to wear and toss all of the stuff that comes with it, others buy their watch, put it on, and wear it out of the shop.

The mania of keeping all of the bits and pieces is a relatively new phenomenon, but I would still say that the vast majority of watches will not have the old and obsolete papers or boxes.

The condition of the watch should still be paramount.

[dmhines]

Many pre-owned watches are sold wholesale at industry only trade shows. If you’ve seen the videos the majority of watches are sold in nothing but a plastic wrapper not the complete set. I’m thinking most complete sets are from private party trade-ins being immediately resold without going wholesale.

[iliketime]

to some people only the watch matters, the rest of it is rubbish.

[csaltphoto]

I've seen a few Rolex purchases completed in AD's and in only one case did the person leave with the box. That was a TT sub for a young guy. The others were PM purchases and the person left with it on their wrist. Probably had the card in their wallet.

[georgekart]

Originally Posted by csaltphoto

I've seen a few Rolex purchases completed in AD's and in only one case did the person leave with the box. That was a TT sub for a young guy. The others were PM purchases and the person left with it on their wrist. Probably had the card in their wallet.

Do people really do that? I mean leaving it on your wrist is one thing. That's pretty common I think, but when I get something and leave wearing it I still take the box with me.