Any specific criteria besides age to qualify for certified pre-owned?

[dchang81]

Couldn't find anything about criteria for a watch to be certified pre-owned outside of it needing to be a few years old. Is that really it, just a servicing, and it can be certified?

[rolexnyc718]

At least 3 yrs old and being way over priced are the criteria.

[Moondoggy]

Originally Posted by rolexnyc718

At least 3 yrs old and being way over priced are the criteria.

[travisb]

Originally Posted by rolexnyc718

At least 3 yrs old and being way over priced are the criteria.

Best sums it up.

[KatGirl]

My understanding is that you sell to Rolex, then they get it serviced at RSC, and call it CPO. Also, at least 3 years old is correct. When they sell it, it comes in a nice Rolex service pouch, with a 2 year warranty card. As mentioned, it’s probably priced higher than current market value.

Kat


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[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

My understanding is that you sell to Rolex, then they get it serviced at RSC, and call it CPO. Also, at least 3 years old is correct. When they sell it, it comes in a nice Rolex service pouch, with a 2 year warranty card. As mentioned, it’s probably priced higher than current market value.

Kat


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You sell the watch to the AD who owns and services the watch. The watch is then returned to Rolex for certification and is returned back to the AD for sale at a price set by the AD. CPO watches come with a new warranty card, pouch and box and may come with the original collateral if they were included when the watch was sold to the AD. If they weren’t included you still receive the Rolex CPO packaging, guarantee of authenticity and warranty.

[hojlund]

next year we will see a lot of 126500 daytona available for walk in customers at AD as CPO, at 25% over grey market price.

[georgekart]

Originally Posted by hojlund

next year we will see a lot of 126500 daytona available for walk in customers at AD as CPO, at 25% over grey market price.

I thought CPO has to be a discontinued model. Is it not the case?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by georgekart

I thought CPO has to be a discontinued model. Is it not the case?

No, that is not the case.

[Bazil]

I believe Rolex are trying to have their ADs as stand alone or 95% sales of Rolex watches, so this CPO is the goose that paid the golden egg for them, you walk in get told long wait list for watch you want but you can look at some 3 year old models, my AD says it’s a huge part of their sales so someone must be interested in it, there are of course pros and cons, Higher prices, but you get serviced watch, checked, two year warranty …
I look at grey prices and some sellers on here, I find those prices somewhat high, so it’s all down to each individual what they want more …

[guaibebe]

Is it possible to sell it to Rolex and fetch 25% higher than grey market?

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by guaibebe

Is it possible to sell it to Rolex and fetch 25% higher than grey market?

No!

Kat


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[Idaho]

IMHO, CPO is for impulse buyers. It works. But as stated only a service pack and 2 year warranty come with. Priced too high. If you have a trusted GM dealer you get boxes and papers that were original to the AD sale. Good continuity.

[BraveBold]

I cross checked a reference another member just said they purchased CPO (see the other thread for an Explorer II)… 1916 Company sells that reference as CPO at parity or below the price offered by a popular “Trusted Seller” on here. So zero premium.

They also are selling with the box plus you get the confirmation of a recent service and two year warranty. Greater validation even than the reputation of grey dealers. Can’t believe I have to write that lol.

Let’s just be real here… someone needs to do the work to find the best value. Sometimes that absolutely will be CPO. Most times not, true…

A Cartier I sourced from a Trusted Dealer here needed a service done (stopped)… after I wore the watch maybe 20 times over 8 months. I am fine with that but let’s not pretend there isn’t value here - and when you move away from hype pieces, the Rolex CPOs can be compelling.

[Calatrava r]

I thought "we" can be any age as long as we have the money. LOL

[502 to Right]

I was pricing 16710 and 16700 GMT's last December. My local AD CPO had multiple and they were priced "only" 20% above what I found the gray/aftermarket fair market value to be. And if you calculate in the $850 value of a service it would be more like 15% above gray FMV. That's high but not crazy high. In my opinion anyway. For many people the assurance of getting a 100% authentic Rolex with a reliable 2 year warranty is worth it.

That said, I was at a different CPO AD last summer and they had a 126710 ceramic Pepsi for sale at 40% over gray FMV. Definitely not worth it in that case.

[BraveBold]

Originally Posted by 502 to Right

I was pricing 16710 and 16700 GMT's last December. My local AD CPO had multiple and they were priced "only" 20% above what I found the gray/aftermarket fair market value to be. And if you calculate in the $850 value of a service it would be more like 15% above gray FMV. That's high but not crazy high. In my opinion anyway. For many people the assurance of getting a 100% authentic Rolex with a reliable 2 year warranty is worth it.

That said, I was at a different CPO AD last summer and they had a 126710 ceramic Pepsi for sale at 40% over gray FMV. Definitely not worth it in that case.

From what I’ve seen the “highly demanded” watches typically carry exorbitant CPO premiums above and beyond. I think they are satisfying customers who want it now, can pay that amount, and would prefer to keep everything through official channels.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by dchang81

Couldn't find anything about criteria for a watch to be certified pre-owned outside of it needing to be a few years old. Is that really it, just a servicing, and it can be certified?

The CPO program is a Dealer program.

They can submit any Rolex over 3 years old to be certified. After that, the watch will need to go through the process and meet Rolex criteria for fit, finish, and authenticity; it then gets a new warranty, box, and accessories.

Customers can't do anything with the program except buy one of the certified watches.

[dchang81]

Originally Posted by Tools

The CPO program is a Dealer program.

They can submit any Rolex over 3 years old to be certified. After that, the watch will need to go through the process and meet Rolex criteria for fit, finish, and authenticity; it then gets a new warranty, box, and accessories.

Customers can't do anything with the program except buy one of the certified watches.

So they have to be verified by Rolex themselves, or just the AD? There's not really any info besides they're serviced and get a pouch. I mean if they actually get verified by Rolex themselves that's a heck of a lot more reliable than some guy behind the counter at an AD....

[Tools]

Originally Posted by dchang81

So they have to be verified by Rolex themselves, or just the AD? There's not really any info besides they're serviced and get a pouch. I mean if they actually get verified by Rolex themselves that's a heck of a lot more reliable than some guy behind the counter at an AD....

It needs to go through Rolex approved process and be "certified" my an authorized/designated Rolex rep. Might be at an RSC, or at one of the many independent/authorized Service Shops.

[dchang81]

Originally Posted by Tools

It needs to go through Rolex approved process and be "certified" my an authorized/designated Rolex rep. Might be at an RSC, or at one of the many independent/authorized Service Shops.

So it's not necessarily done by Rolex themselves then, could be by the AD.... So there's no real criteria or regulations then for whar qualifies outside of a few years old.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by dchang81

So they have to be verified by Rolex themselves, or just the AD? There's not really any info besides they're serviced and get a pouch. I mean if they actually get verified by Rolex themselves that's a heck of a lot more reliable than some guy behind the counter at an AD....

Originally Posted by dchang81

Thanks, I mean that would make the most sense otherwise they're just relying on ADs which seems like the quality would vary wildly. It is odd that they don't explain the process, it doesn't seem very transparent to me...

Don't confuse the Rolex CPO program with a Dealers certified offerings, they aren't the same.

https://www.rolex.com/en-us/buying-a...cation-process

[winst]

Originally Posted by dchang81

So they have to be verified by Rolex themselves, or just the AD? There's not really any info besides they're serviced and get a pouch. I mean if they actually get verified by Rolex themselves that's a heck of a lot more reliable than some guy behind the counter at an AD....

The way I look at it, is if I buy a pre owned watch at a decent price from somewhere I trust other than a Rolex AD, but then take it to the AD and get it serviced by Rolex, I have virtually the same thing as CPO but at a greatly reduced price. The watch will have been authenticated by Rolex, validated as not on their stolen register and come with a 2 year warranty, pouch and service card. The only difference is the colour of the pouch and service card, where quite frankly I prefer the green.

[BraveBold]

Originally Posted by winst

The way I look at it, is if I buy a pre owned watch at a decent price from somewhere I trust other than a Rolex AD, but then take it to the AD and get it serviced by Rolex, I have virtually the same thing as CPO but at a greatly reduced price. The watch will have been authenticated by Rolex, validated as not on their stolen register and come with a 2 year warranty, pouch and service card. The only difference is the colour of the pouch and service card, where quite frankly I prefer the green.

A lot of conditions need to be met to make them equivalent.

Also, a lot of time. Some people value their time and saving 2% net on a $15k purchase isn’t worth the time and associated hassle.

As for conditions, that watch needs to be equivalent condition. In my experience there is a wider range of descriptions from just any seller… so then you must narrow it to sellers with strong reputations. Now you are eating into that CPO premium.

I will say CPO pricing is all over the place. So is grey market pricing generally. Then I would exclude the most hyped pieces - because often the large premiums being paid are 100% convenience premiums. The same buyers could establish sufficient buying history / spend and get at retail but value their time and so don’t bother. So an even wider premium to get it from an AD may be more tolerated…

Then it gets down to more ordinary pieces that are generally available in preowned markets. Now you start with a premium vs general “grey” prices but chip away with:

* comparing only to highly reputable sellers - premium declines
* the 2 year warranty - premium declines
* time and hassle to DIY that plus attendant risks (just like any RSC submission)
* the actual unknowns (frankenwatch, stolen watch, etc)

I saw a study suggesting the 1916 company CPO premium is about 15%. That does not exclude hype pieces per my suggestion above. I have seen other sellers of CPO that have a smaller premium (and another thread highlighting this is active here now). A smart buyer looks at everything holistically. I don’t think time is free either and also the sequencing of risks matter. I’d prefer seeing the “end product” in hand rather than sending a newly purchased watch to RSC and hope for the best… after I already paid.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by winst

The way I look at it, is if I buy a pre owned watch at a decent price from somewhere I trust other than a Rolex AD, but then take it to the AD and get it serviced by Rolex, I have virtually the same thing as CPO but at a greatly reduced price. The watch will have been authenticated by Rolex, validated as not on their stolen register and come with a 2 year warranty, pouch and service card. The only difference is the colour of the pouch and service card, where quite frankly I prefer the green.

That's why there are options; neither demonstrably better than another.

Some folks shop only price while others like the assurance and provenance that those bits of paper provide. If not we wouldn't have so many "box and papers" discussions that are always back and forth.

[inadeje]

Rolex’s CPO program is the ultimate power move—with a twist. It guarantees that pre-owned Rolex watches meet the brand’s high standards, reinforcing the legendary longevity that makes Rolex a generational timepiece. More importantly, it allows Rolex to recertify its watches long after they’ve already profited from the initial sale, turning recertification into a lucrative revenue stream. At the same time, it strengthens ADs’ position in the secondary market. All in all, a brilliant strategy.

[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by inadeje

Rolex’s CPO program is the ultimate power move—with a twist. It guarantees that pre-owned Rolex watches meet the brand’s high standards, reinforcing the legendary longevity that makes Rolex a generational timepiece. More importantly, it allows Rolex to recertify its watches long after they’ve already profited from the initial sale, turning recertification into a lucrative revenue stream. At the same time, it strengthens ADs’ position in the secondary market. All in all, a brilliant strategy.

If they priced them correctly it would be brilliant. Right now the only client they have is one that doesn’t really understand the watch market. If they even google the model number, most won’t buy. Rolex is so far off on the CPO pricing it’s laughable.


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[martyjanderson]

Originally Posted by shaunylw

If they priced them correctly it would be brilliant. Right now the only client they have is one that doesn’t really understand the watch market. If they even google the model number, most won’t buy. Rolex is so far off on the CPO pricing it’s laughable.


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yep its a joke. bought several 1 to 2 year old mint (couldnt tell used at all) from trusted sellers with original warranty cards for way less than cpo.

[Roddypeepa]

Would imagine if it’s serviceable and doesn’t need ludicrous repairs, harming margins they’ll take it. I mean their margins are ludicrous anyway so they can certainly swallow expensive repairs.

I must say as an aside I thought cpo would be a force for good: provide some stability and certainty in the used market as I naively thought there might be some central price guidance. How wrong I was.


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[dchang81]

I guess this goes back to my question, does the watch go to Rolex at all, or is this guided completely by the AD....?