Just how "Worthless" is an expired warranty card?

[T. Ferguson]

It seems the conventional wisdom around here is they are worth the recycling value of the plastic. But is that really the case?

Consider that also around here, guys caution using the case stamp as an accurate measure of the age of a watch and that the watch really is only as old as the original sell date.

It seems to me then that an expired warranty card does have value, especially when it is attached to a watch that has a serial number that would suggest the watch is several years older than when it was actually sold. This provides provenance of the true "age" of the watch as well as when service may be required.

Wouldn't this be especially true with the move to random serials? The card provides proof of the watch's age. I had asked an AD how they plan to value future trade ins on random serials and he said that since they do not have access to a Rolex database that will tell them the manufacture or sell date, they will have to low ball values on random serial trade ins that don't have warranty cards (unless of course, they sold the watch).

What do you guys think - is a warranty card really worthless?

[Art 1]

I keep mine.

[Welshwatchman]

I think that those who think the warranty card/papers entirely worthless are in the extreme minority.

I'd not sweat buying a piece without papers/card but fully acknowledge that two near identical watches; one "naked" and the other "full set" have different (sometimes very) market prices.

[jamesbondOO7]

Totally worthless. When you get the watch serviced at an RSC, you get a new one.

[Knappo 1307]

Originally Posted by Art 1

I keep mine.

I'm with Art.....

[mjclark32]

Mine expires in a couple weeks but I'll still hang onto it

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by Art 1

I keep mine.

+1 I would think that if two watches were being looked at and one had been serviced at the RSC in the last five years and had the card to prove it, it would be more attractive to a buyer if everything else was the same. jmho

[Welshwatchman]

Originally Posted by jamesbondOO7

Totally worthless. When you get the watch serviced at an RSC, you get a new one.

Interesting.

Is it true that the current RSC service card is identical to the original warranty card?

I was not aware of this.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

Interesting.

Is it true that the current RSC service card is identical to the original warranty card?

I was not aware of this.

I remember it was a thin green plastic card that had the white strips with info on it. I received it one to two weeks after I picked up the watch at the RSC. I put it in the box and will check tonight against the new one.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

Interesting.

Is it true that the current RSC service card is identical to the original warranty card?

I was not aware of this.

I think he means the regular green Service card.

[Brenngun]

Not completely worthless but not overly important when considering a watch purchase.

[Welshwatchman]

Originally Posted by MonBK

I think he means the regular green Service card.

Maybe.

Read again and it could also mean that you get a new watch.

Still not getting the totally worthless thing.

Useless - yes.
Worthless - no.

16610LV Z serial - Watch only - £3750
16610LV Z serial - Full set - £4400

Seen them both sell with my own eyes.

[nauticajoe]

I keep mine as well. It's part of the package.

[samuel019]

Originally Posted by nauticajoe

I keep mine as well. It's part of the package.

X2. ALOT of people say box and papers dont matter but I promise you they do. Everyone prefers there Rolex to have everything it came with. Just look at the for sale section here on TRF. I promise you find price differences with and without as noted here already. I try to keep everything from the sleeve to the watch but thats just me.

[esm]

IMO - an expired warranty card with your name on it is worth more than green tag, bezel protector etc.

[mrbill2mrbill2]

While RSC service papers attest to authenticity, original warrantee and receipt attest to purchase date.

[financeman]

Worthless no. Will I pay more for a used watch with it, no.
I will keep mine though as it does let people know exactly when the watch was put into service. It is nice to have them if they were saved but not a nessecity

[Thevenin]

I personally think the point is the value that you give to your toys. Not only for watches, but I keep all original documents and boxes for all items that I own. Not to mention an " original warranty card " certainly gets the first place.



Besides, card says ROLEX on. How can it be " worthless " ?

[outlaw468]

Not sure if I agree that documentation is worthless or the concept of paying the same for a documented watch vs a watch without documentation.

I understand personal preference but not sure it is in line with reality.

I think if you look in the FS section, the watches with warranty papers/card, even if expired, are demanding a higher price. I think many people, from novice to collector to reseller, do give some value to the documentation. I personally will pay more for a documented watch, especially if the warranty is still valid.

[mfnj]

Not totally worthless. If it was filled out correctly with the serial number it could be useful if your watch is ever stolen or lost. A friend of mine used his with the help of police to recover his stolen datejust at a pawn shop and prove he was the original owner.

[Mickey®]

Originally Posted by Knappo 1307

I'm with Art.....

Me 3

[GradyPhilpott]

The box and papers have meaning to me personally. For whatever reason, I like to have those items stashed along with service receipts I may have.

I will admit that this is really only true for my Rolex watches. I may save other boxes, in case the item fails and I need to return it, but after a reasonable period those boxes get thrown out or reused.

I have no plans to sell my watches, so I can't say that there is a rational reason for this, but then I can't really provide a rationale for owning a Rolex or owning a plethora of watches that have no intrinsic value beyond the capacity to tell time.

[77T]

IMHO we will reach an inflection point in the resale curve where the majority of Rolexes changing hands will be Random SNs. The OP's point about setting a particular watch's age by just the scribbled sales date on a warranty card has some validity. We won't be able to go to some database and say "well, a G serial means it was prolly made between xxxx and xxxx years".

However, the value of that card can be (and likely will be) diminished by a plethora of counterfeited Rolex Warranty Cards custom printed to any SN a scammer wants. And including details like reference #, case material, bezel and dial.

So ultimately the card will be only valuable to WIS who also insist on the era-correct hang tags and bezel protector.

[GradyPhilpott]

Paul and I used the word "plethora" in posts we were writing simultaneously.

What are the chances of that?

[77T]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Paul and I used the word "plethora" in posts we were writing simultaneously.

What are the chances of that?

It was a one in a million shot, doc!

Oh wait, that's for the Seinfeld trivia thread.

[dcash0615]

I think the warranty card is NOT worthless. It provides provenance. It also assists in aging the watch, especially with the current random serial number sequencing. In addition, it provides an added level of security that the watch is not stolen or has not been stolen at some point in its history. I am in no way saying it guarantees the watch has never been stolen and resold, but less likely.

[Hairdude1]

I keep all of mine!

[Watchdog]

Of course papers/card are valuable. Look at prices with and without.

[ndsleep612]

Fine watches is like fine art. Provenance is everything to the collectors. Are you going to be buying a Monet or a Renoir from mysteriously unknown collector, or would you pay a bit more from a reputable art gallery?

Same with watches, I want to know what originally came with my watches even if I'm not the original owner.

[joe100]

Completes the package.