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Speed · 26 October 2009, 02:15 PM

So I stopped in Shreve in San Francisco today - just for the heck of it.

Got in to a discussion with salesman about GMT IIs...Then on to GMT II Cokes / Pepsis. He tells me how popular Pepsis are right now. Says they are scarce / discontinued (duh). I say, you could always buy a bezel insert and swap. He looks at me like I am from Mars and says you can't get them...and when you go to sell the watch, the papers say what the original model was. I say I heard the old GMT papers did not. He goes on to say he's been selling Rolex for 20 years... any swears bezel insert you see online or elsewhere are fake. Only an Rolex AD / RSC can order the part.

What gives??? Are all the fine indy sellers here getting "fake" / aftermarket inserts etc. etc? I don't want to generalize, but this arrogant guy ticked me off.

As an aside, I said I was interested in the SS GMT IIC. Oh they just got one in. I was wearing my Sub when I was in the store - he did not even offer to show me the watch / offer to let me try it on. Jerk...But I digress.

Thoughts on the question I posed are appreciated.

moviefreak · 26 October 2009, 02:20 PM

I believe most of the Original Inserts from non AD's are either from outside the US or from the US with a seller that has a good connection with US AD's.

DadsWatch72 · 26 October 2009, 02:22 PM

Watch makers that have a Rolex accounts can get inserts from what I understand. You can also get inserts on TRF.

If your interested in the GMT then I would have asked to see the watch. Don't wait for them to offer, tell them what you want. They are there to serve you.

A good saleman wouldn't need to be asked, they would have offered.

Speed · 26 October 2009, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DadsWatch72

Watch makers that have a Rolex accounts can get inserts from what I understand. You can also get inserts on TRF.

If your interested in the GMT then I would have asked to see the watch. Don't wait for them to offer, tell them what you want. They are there to serve you.

Understood...but by that time, I had had it with his attitude..

DadsWatch72 · 26 October 2009, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masugu

Understood...but by that time, I had had it with his attitude..

I totally understand. Was he the owner?

Speed · 26 October 2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DadsWatch72

I totally understand. Was he the owner?

Nah.

DadsWatch72 · 26 October 2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masugu

Nah.

If you are still upset and would like to return to see the GMT, I would call the owner and explain the situation. He will probably invite you back and personally show you the watch.

jsf74 · 26 October 2009, 03:03 PM

If you were at Shreve then you should have visited the independant RSC upstairs in the same building. Hopefully they are still there. In 2007 I got my pepsi bezel swapped for a black bezel for around $80.

Speed · 26 October 2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsf74

If you were at Shreve then you should have visited the independant RSC upstairs in the same building. Hopefully they are still there. In 2007 I got my pepsi bezel swapped for a black bezel for around $80.

I know that place...Very nice guys. Have gotten sizings done / advice there.
I would consider them to service my Sub when its time. However, the comment by the sales person spurred my question about inserts & bezels.

Since it was a Sunday / I was killing time before a movie, I went into Shreve

deserted · 26 October 2009, 03:10 PM

Let's hope the inserts are not aftermarket......

sleddog · 26 October 2009, 03:29 PM

Bill,there are lots of aftermarket inserts around but no AD with a Rolex part account would use these inserts...Thats why,in US and Canada for example,when an AD replaces the insert they keep the old one to return to Rolex...(they will not give it back)
Grey market sellers who sell OEM insert have connections with ad's or watchmakers with parts acounts and deal + trade in these through watch shows and meets..! Many sellers here for instance would only have true OEM inserts from personal collections,closing down stock purchases etc.....
You just need to know who your buying from and only use a reputable seller like Steve M here on the forum for instance......
All AD's will give you that story because thats their business and don't want you to bypass them.....
Rob

Speed · 26 October 2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleddog1000

Bill,there are lots of aftermarket inserts around but no AD with a Rolex part account would use these inserts...Thats why,in US and Canada for example,when an AD replaces the insert they keep the old one to return to Rolex...(they will not give it back)
Grey market sellers who sell OEM insert have connections with ad's or watchmakers with parts acounts and deal + trade in these through watch shows and meets..! Many sellers here for instance would only have true OEM inserts from personal collections,closing down stock purchases etc.....
You just need to know who your buying from and only use a reputable seller like Steve M here on the forum for instance......
All AD's will give you that story because thats their business and don't want you to bypass them.....
Rob

Thanks Rob...I figured there was a bit of that sour grapey attitude from the sales guy I talked to. I know a couple of very reputable sellers on the forums. This is where I got my Sub Date. Just thought I would ping everyone on this topic. Your answer is what I would have hoped to hear.

Dan Pierce · 26 October 2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleddog1000

Bill,there are lots of aftermarket inserts around but no AD with a Rolex part account would use these inserts...Thats why,in US and Canada for example,when an AD replaces the insert they keep the old one to return to Rolex...(they will not give it back)
Grey market sellers who sell OEM insert have connections with ad's or watchmakers with parts acounts and deal + trade in these through watch shows and meets..! Many sellers here for instance would only have true OEM inserts from personal collections,closing down stock purchases etc.....
You just need to know who your buying from and only use a reputable seller like Steve M here on the forum for instance......
All AD's will give you that story because thats their business and don't want you to bypass them.....
Rob

I agree w/ Rob. When an AD or a watchmaker with a Rolex parts account orders a new insert they are required by Rolex to submit the serial # of the watch.
dP

Speed · 27 October 2009, 12:01 AM

Thanks all

well, as usual a bit of variance in replies. My takeaway is it feels like it's easy to get an official replacement bezel and or insert, fakes do exist...

I recall on the forums someone saying only the late model gmt lls called out bezel colors on the papers.

26 October 2009, 02:15 PM	#1
Speed "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: USA Posts: 19,706	Are Rolex parts not provided by ADS/RS- Inserts, Bezels etc. aftermarket / Fake? So I stopped in Shreve in San Francisco today - just for the heck of it. Got in to a discussion with salesman about GMT IIs...Then on to GMT II Cokes / Pepsis. He tells me how popular Pepsis are right now. Says they are scarce / discontinued (duh). I say, you could always buy a bezel insert and swap. He looks at me like I am from Mars and says you can't get them...and when you go to sell the watch, the papers say what the original model was. I say I heard the old GMT papers did not. He goes on to say he's been selling Rolex for 20 years... any swears bezel insert you see online or elsewhere are fake. Only an Rolex AD / RSC can order the part. What gives??? Are all the fine indy sellers here getting "fake" / aftermarket inserts etc. etc? I don't want to generalize, but this arrogant guy ticked me off. As an aside, I said I was interested in the SS GMT IIC. Oh they just got one in. I was wearing my Sub when I was in the store - he did not even offer to show me the watch / offer to let me try it on. Jerk...But I digress. Thoughts on the question I posed are appreciated.

26 October 2009, 02:20 PM	#2
moviefreak "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: in my house... Posts: 5,524	I believe most of the Original Inserts from non AD's are either from outside the US or from the US with a seller that has a good connection with US AD's. __________________ Cheers, Eduardo Be a WIS not a WUSS... and remove all the stickers..

26 October 2009, 03:29 PM	#11
sleddog TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Rob Location: Nearby. Posts: 24,930	Bill,there are lots of aftermarket inserts around but no AD with a Rolex part account would use these inserts...Thats why,in US and Canada for example,when an AD replaces the insert they keep the old one to return to Rolex...(they will not give it back) Grey market sellers who sell OEM insert have connections with ad's or watchmakers with parts acounts and deal + trade in these through watch shows and meets..! Many sellers here for instance would only have true OEM inserts from personal collections,closing down stock purchases etc..... You just need to know who your buying from and only use a reputable seller like Steve M here on the forum for instance...... All AD's will give you that story because thats their business and don't want you to bypass them..... Rob __________________ He who wears a Rolex is always on time, even when late!! TRF's "After Dark" Bar & Nightclub Patron-Founding Member..

26 October 2009, 02:22 PM	#3
DadsWatch72 Banned Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: USA Watch: DRSD 1665 #3551XXX Posts: 2,401	Watch makers that have a Rolex accounts can get inserts from what I understand. You can also get inserts on TRF. If your interested in the GMT then I would have asked to see the watch. Don't wait for them to offer, tell them what you want. They are there to serve you. A good saleman wouldn't need to be asked, they would have offered.

26 October 2009, 03:03 PM	#8
jsf74 "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Watch: GMT Master II Posts: 14	If you were at Shreve then you should have visited the independant RSC upstairs in the same building. Hopefully they are still there. In 2007 I got my pepsi bezel swapped for a black bezel for around $80.

26 October 2009, 03:10 PM	#10
deserted Banned Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: fort wayne IN Watch: Patek 1909003 Posts: 2,176	Let's hope the inserts are not aftermarket......

27 October 2009, 12:01 AM	#14
Speed "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: USA Posts: 19,706	Thanks all well, as usual a bit of variance in replies. My takeaway is it feels like it's easy to get an official replacement bezel and or insert, fakes do exist... I recall on the forums someone saying only the late model gmt lls called out bezel colors on the papers.

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