Service Centre Warranty

[Mr DateJust]

A friend was asking me for some advice on authenticating a pre owned GMT he bought in Nov. I took a look over it and everything seemed ok but I am no expert. He then said that he had only just got it back from the RSC having sent it straight there after purchasing the watch. I told him if they serviced the watch that's a 100% guarantee that its genuine as Rolex wouldn't touch a fake. I just wanted to check I was telling him the right info here. Is the little service/warranty card you get back from the RSC an guarantee that the watch is authentic?

[77T]

You were right about it being genuine if they worked on it.
But the card alone just says it has a guarantee for 2 years.
Anyone can modify a watch with aftermarket parts the day after it gets back from the RSC...

[Mr DateJust]

Thanks for confirming. Just curious what do Rolex do if a watch sent to them in genuine but has had a couple of after market parts installed over its life. Do they still work on the watch but swap everything back to original Rolex parts and then bill the customer?

[77T]

They include the list of aftermarket parts that must be replaced and the cost of doing that on the estimate for the owner to approve before any work is done.

If the buyer declines those items, Rolex sends it back with no work done.

This is the reason why anyone who chooses to customize their Rolex should always keep the original parts and return the watch to its authentic state before sending to RSC.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Mr DateJust

Thanks for confirming. Just curious what do Rolex do if a watch sent to them in genuine but has had a couple of after market parts installed over its life. Do they still work on the watch but swap everything back to original Rolex parts and then bill the customer?

No, Rolex does not do this - it is an internet myth..

If they find aftermarket parts they notify the owner and refuse service unless the owner agrees to change and pay for the parts. If it is counterfeit they have the legal right to destroy any Trademark infringement.

However, if the watch is put in through an AD, the AD becomes their customer and they only talk to the Dealer and not the owner; sometimes the Dealer agrees to the parts change, then passes the charges along to their customer.