Rolex Newbie here. What is reasonable?

[Alienbaby]

Lately I've been thinking about the YM II. This afternoon, I went to a local watch retailer in town at Tourneau. Even though they were not an authorized retailer, they sold other high end brands and I had some general questions about watches that I asked their sales associates just to get a feel for how people do business.

One of the biggest unsettling issues for me was exactly what Tourneau considers to be a "new" watch. I was reminded that they move their watches in and out of display cases on a nightly basis. This sort of transport makes watches vulnerable to the inevitable scratch, which they said "If you find a scratched watch, we have our local service shop that will repair it" and that sort of thing.

Now I don't know if this sounds completely unreasonable because I am a newbie, but if I throw down cash full price for a new Yacht Master II, I am not going to want anything less than a newly manufactured, factory sealed watch sent from the manufacturer. The last thing I want is a watch that has been on display at all, tried on by others, carried to/from display cases, etc. I'm sorry if that sounds crazy.

Another thing I'm concerned about is the ability to verify the authenticity of the new watch outside of the watch company I buy from. Will it be possible for me to call up Rolex USA and ask them for a model number on one that is being manufactured, then cross reference that model number with what I get when it arrives in the store?

For my requests, I don't mind waiting as long as it takes. Even a year if necessary. What are your thoughts on my questions? Do you feel that I should be more trusting to authorized dealers who I've never met before? Believe it or not, I've been screwed from very reputable high end designer stores before, screwed out of thousands. So I am not as trusting as most people, especially not when it comes to something so valuable.

[DanteBrandolini]

ALL Tourneaus are Rolex Authorize Dealers, everyone knows that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!They are one of the largest Rolex Dealers on the planet!!!!

[Alienbaby]

Originally Posted by DanteBrandolini

ALL Tourneaus are Rolex Authorize Dealers, everyone knows that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!They are one of the largest Rolex Dealers on the planet!!!!

I assumed the same thing before walking in and talking to a sales rep.

Not every Tourneau store is an authorized Rolex dealer. Its on a store by store basis.

[mikefrmnj]

Originally Posted by DanteBrandolini

ALL Tourneaus are Rolex Authorize Dealers, everyone knows that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!They are one of the largest Rolex Dealers on the planet!!!!

not true

[Chipmunk]

Originally Posted by DanteBrandolini

ALL Tourneaus are Rolex Authorize Dealers, everyone knows that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!They are one of the largest Rolex Dealers on the planet!!!!

NOPE, not in L.A.

[Tk52174]

All the new watches that I bought is from the display case, with the exception of a ss daytona that they got it out from the safe.

[larrysb]

Definitely NOT all Tourneau locations are Rolex dealers. The one near me, in a high-end mall, is NOT a Rolex dealer. All Rolex are pre-owned in that store.

[The GMT Master]

What you can do is order one - it should come direct to the dealer from Rolex themselves, and you can request that it isn't handled. If you're willing to spend that kind of money on a watch, any AD worth dealing with will be able to do that for you. As someone who works at an AD, taking the watches in and out of the window every day means that the highest care has to be taken, but even handling the watches with gloves and securely storing them in padded boxes at night, scratches do, unfortunately, occur.

My advice: ask for the watch to be ordered, put a deposit down, and have a stress free purchase

[SSSS]

Originally Posted by Alienbaby

Lately I've been thinking about the YM II. This afternoon, I went to a local watch retailer in town at Tourneau. Even though they were not an authorized retailer, they sold other high end brands and I had some general questions about watches that I asked their sales associates just to get a feel for how people do business.

One of the biggest unsettling issues for me was exactly what Tourneau considers to be a "new" watch. I was reminded that they move their watches in and out of display cases on a nightly basis. This sort of transport makes watches vulnerable to the inevitable scratch, which they said "If you find a scratched watch, we have our local service shop that will repair it" and that sort of thing.

Now I don't know if this sounds completely unreasonable because I am a newbie, but if I throw down cash full price for a new Yacht Master II, I am not going to want anything less than a newly manufactured, factory sealed watch sent from the manufacturer. The last thing I want is a watch that has been on display at all, tried on by others, carried to/from display cases, etc. I'm sorry if that sounds crazy.

Another thing I'm concerned about is the ability to verify the authenticity of the new watch outside of the watch company I buy from. Will it be possible for me to call up Rolex USA and ask them for a model number on one that is being manufactured, then cross reference that model number with what I get when it arrives in the store?

For my requests, I don't mind waiting as long as it takes. Even a year if necessary. What are your thoughts on my questions? Do you feel that I should be more trusting to authorized dealers who I've never met before? Believe it or not, I've been screwed from very reputable high end designer stores before, screwed out of thousands. So I am not as trusting as most people, especially not when it comes to something so valuable.

I kind of feel the same way. Find a good AD and ask him to order a BNIB from the Rolex distributor in NY. They normally take around 7 days to arrive. Tell them to put in the back when it arrives and not in the display so others don't handle it. Most ADs will do this anyway on a special order but it doesn't hurt to make sure by asking. Good luck.

[scottjb411]

You have every right to be meticulous about your watch purchase. I agree with the others as far as ordering it direct. I like tourneau only because they have a variety. There's only 3 people at my AD that I know handle the rolexes with the care they deserve. Some people just don't appreciate fine timepieces.

[PeteNYC13]

I have seen some pretty beat up NEW watches at the AD, especiall the gold models that show the most scratches on Polished Links.
My Sub and Daytona were right from Rolex and only handled by the watchmaker to put on additional links.
The YM was in the case for a while and had a few hairline scratches that were polished out before being presented to me after purchase.

If you can't get one that has not been touched by human hands, just ask them to give a quick touch up before you buy it. A DJII may not "turn" as quickly as others and very well may be in the case for a bit prior to sale. Either way, you can ask for anything and see if they will work with you.

Good luck.

-Pete

[Alienbaby]

Originally Posted by PeteNYC13

I have seen some pretty beat up NEW watches at the AD, especiall the gold models that show the most scratches on Polished Links.
My Sub and Daytona were right from Rolex and only handled by the watchmaker to put on additional links.
The YM was in the case for a while and had a few hairline scratches that were polished out before being presented to me after purchase.

If you can't get one that has not been touched by human hands, just ask them to give a quick touch up before you buy it. A DJII may not "turn" as quickly as others and very well may be in the case for a bit prior to sale. Either way, you can ask for anything and see if they will work with you.

Good luck.

-Pete

Forgive me for more newbie questions. So the gold metals scratch easier and show more wear than the stainless steel metal from say, a Sea Dweller Deep Sea?

[PeteNYC13]

Originally Posted by Alienbaby

Forgive me for more newbie questions. So the gold metals scratch easier and show more wear than the stainless steel metal from say, a Sea Dweller Deep Sea?

__________________________________________________ _____________
Well, in general (and an expert can correct me) gold is a softer metal than steel and can scratch easier.
But, what I mostly mean is that anything with a polished bracelet or Polished Center Link (PCL) will show more scratches than say a SS Sub with brushed bracelet.

For example, my almost 9 year old Sub shows less scratches than my 1 year old YM with PCL - the Sub was serviced and looked brand new more or less that same time that I bought the YM and I wear the Sub twice as much (at least) as teh YM.

Good luck and happy to help - if any of this helped at all. I hope it didn't create more confusion.

-Pete

[Alienbaby]

Yes you guys are a great help. I've never seen a forum of Rolex collectors respond as quickly as you guys on these boards. It is really impressive.

How come you don't wear the YM as frequently as the Sub? Just curious.

[PeteNYC13]

Originally Posted by Alienbaby

Yes you guys are a great help. I've never seen a forum of Rolex collectors respond as quickly as you guys on these boards. It is really impressive.

How come you don't wear the YM as frequently as the Sub? Just curious.

__________________________________________________ _______________
Sub is just my "every day" watch... just had it longer and is less flashy than the YM. Also, part of it is the PCL and the Platinum bezel don't hold up as well as an every day watch that I tend to be rough on as the SS Sub. I am slowly wearing the YM more and more but I still love the Sub. Wait until I can take the SS Daytona out of the safe and add that to the rotation - it will be a nice dilema to have each morning deciding which AWESOME watch to wear :-)

-Pete

[Andad]

What Chris The GMT Master said.

The scuffs and marks that appear on the highly polished surfaces are an enigma IMO. I have been told on several occasions that only something harder than stainless steel can actually scratch stainless steel and that includes the PCL's on Rolex watches.
If this is true why is it that my PLC's are marked, scuffed and dulled by the nylon cuffs on my jackets?
Dust picked up during work perhaps?

Polish your PLC with the cleanest softest cloth you can find and then check it - chances are you will see fine scuffs - go figure.
I swear I can mark my PLC's with a casual glance.