Green label on the back of Rolex watches

[Mike Lee]

My 8 month old Submariner has had to go back for repair to Rolex and I mentioned to my Dealer that the green label on the back of the watch has started to peel off.

He has said he is surprised it has lasted this long and that all these labels peel off eventually and have no bearing on the future authenticity of the watch.

I am due to collect the watch in the next few days and as a new Rolex owner who has lost the watch for 3 weeks, I am highly suspicious as the Dealer has told me he wants to wear it for the next 3 days to ensure it is accurate.

I would gratefully accept any comments from more experienced Rolex owners than me.

Thanks in anticipation.

[ijen0311]

I believe most people take the green label off as it gets sticky and yucky with time - so don't worry about that

If you feel uncomfortable, tell the dealer you will monitor it's accuracy for 3 days and let him know how it goes.

[The GMT Master]

The hologram is irrelevant these days, it's not a valid way to authenticate a Rolex, especially as you can get reams of convincing counterfeit ones on the internet. There are far better and more accurate ways of authenticating a watch, so don't worry in the slightest about the sticker.

As for your dealer asking to make sure its accurate, I think that's perfectly reasonable. You need to get some constant wear out of it to check accuracy.

[rkb]

My Z Exporer that I purchased new last week had a clear plastic sticker instead of the hologram. I wonder if Rolex has given up on the holograms.

[train-time]

New ones do not have the green sticker anymore. It looks better without it anyway. Don't worry about it and enjoy your watch.

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by rkb

I wonder if Rolex has given up on the holograms.

They have, for the last couple of years or so.

[CharlieG]

If you are attached to the hologram you could try to peel it off and keep it with the box but as others have stated its really not a big deal.

Post some pics when you get your watch back

[karmatp]

The hologram is supposed to be removed after purchase in the first place. They are a worthless sticker than can actually damage your watch if you get continuous moisture under the sticker, it can cause pitting of the steel. As for as the guy wanting to wear it, I wouldn't let him. If he just wants to observe it for a couple of day's, that is quite normal after a adjustment.

[Mike Lee]

Thank you all very much for the helpful comments you've made.

I am now very seriously worried how new my new watch is after reading train -times's comment.

I bought my watch new in May 2008 from a dealer in a deprived area and wonder as it has a green label if it could be old stock - could this be part of the problem of my watch losing 15 seconds a day as it has now gone for repair?

When did Rolex stop using the green labels?

I will hopefully be picking the watch up on Tuesday and would like as much advice as possible beforehand.

Thanks once again.

[Whiskey]

I wouldn't let him wear it either!!!!

His reasoning sounds ridiculous! If he's a professional watchmaker, he should have a watchwinder on the premises where he can put the watch into and then check it for keeping time. He has no need to wear it other than to show it off.

Would you let your Ferrari mechanic drive your Ferrari for a week if he said he wanted to see how it runs before he gives it back to you?????

If this guy has any clue about how to fix a watch he wouldn't say something stupid like this.

If I were you, I'd head over there immediately and collect your watch and NEVER send it back to him!

Again, I can't stress how ridiculous this sounds!

With regards to the green hologram, yes, they stopped putting these things on in 2007.

As your hologram has started peeling, it's already too late to peel it off and save it. If you wanted to keep it, it should have been peeled off as soon as you bought the watch. You'll find that now when you go to peel the sticker, it'll peel off and leave residue behind. You'll have to get some of that glue-remover citrus goo-be-gone from the hardware store, dilute it with water, and then dampen a clean rag in it and gently rub the rest of the sticker off. Once you've done this, rinse the watch well wherever you touched it with this stuff and you're set.

[WatchTimes]

What letter is on your warranty card in front of the serial #
that will tell the year it was made.

[GinGinD]

The dealer removed the sticker from my watch when I bought it and tossed it. I've never understood why some want to keep it, but top each his own. He also removed the tag since I wore the watch out of the store, although that he put in the box for me.

Jeannie

[VisibleSpecter]

Taking off the stickers is a'ok. However, where does he get off saying he will wear your Rolex? He may just be trying to be helpful, but I don't think it's his place to say that. If you had asked him to that would be another story.

[The GMT Master]

Sorry, I must have misread your original post. The dealer asking to wear your watch for three days is completely out of order - ask for it back, and you can decide for yourself whether it is keeping decent time or not. It shouldn't matter if it's an older piece of stock - in any case, the warranty will take care of it. Bear in mind that these are mechanical watches, and in rare cases, there are some teething problems.

[gregdolley]

Originally Posted by Mike Lee

My 8 month old Submariner has had to go back for repair to Rolex and I mentioned to my Dealer that the green label on the back of the watch has started to peel off.

He has said he is surprised it has lasted this long and that all these labels peel off eventually and have no bearing on the future authenticity of the watch.

I am due to collect the watch in the next few days and as a new Rolex owner who has lost the watch for 3 weeks, I am highly suspicious as the Dealer has told me he wants to wear it for the next 3 days to ensure it is accurate.

I would gratefully accept any comments from more experienced Rolex owners than me.

Thanks in anticipation.

Don't worry about the sticker. Even counterfeiters copy those stickers anyway, so it doesn't have much meaning anymore. Plus, new Rolexes don't even come with the green hologram sticker anymore. Now it's just a clear sticker with a green patch (or maybe it was a line? I don't remember) near the edge of the circle.

Your dealer says he wants to wear it for three days to ensure accuracy?! That sounds like total B.S. First of all, the RSC has a wrist simulator that they put all watches in for a few days to monitor their accuracy. So there's no need for your dealer to wear it himself.

[Solar]

When I got my new Sub LV (M series) last month, the AD said that Rolex isn't putting the hologram on the back anymore. Mine had no sticker.

Chris

[Mike Lee]

Thanks again for all the helpful advice.

It is Sunday today in UK and the shop is shut but I will be collecting the watch Monday first thing.

I have checked the serial no and the prefix letter is D.

I hope I'm wrong but this appears to indicate that the watch was made in early 2005 and was already 3 years old when I purchased it in May 2008.

If it's been laying unused for 3 years could that explain why it went wrong after 7 months?

I would appreciate any further advice and what a superb forum this is, I am on a very steep learning curve at present.

[Chris B]

Hi Mike,

The stickers have no intrinsic value whatsoever, its only nerds like us that try to apportion value to the little devils

The serial number is just an indication of when the case was made & shouldn't be relied as how old the actual watch is, yours has a D prefix which puts the case as made between January 05 & July 06.

http://www.watches.co.uk/watches/inf...erial-numbers/

If you bought your watch from a AD they would have stamped the warranty on the day of purchase & to all intents & purposes your watch is new from that date.

Sorry to hear you had problems but sometimes these things happen & its good that you had it rectified under guarantee as it'll come back as good as new. It should have been returned to Rolex in the first instance, your AD wanting to wear it for a few days to verify what you already told him was nonsense & delayed the resolve process.

Have a good Sunday, looks like Spring has arrived at last, be even better tomorrow when you have your Sub back on your wrist

[PeterT]

No problems about the sticker. The watch should come back from Rolex in perfect working order and so there is no need for your dealer to wear it. What happens if he catches it against something and leaves a dent etc. Check it very thoroughly when it comes back. There is no way that I would have agreed to that!!!
Some of the Rolex dealers in the more rural locations may well have watches for some time before selling and so you bought a 2005 watch in 2008. It is still brand new.
The benefit of a site like this is that you learn lots of info, for many people they would not realise about the serial numbers. Yesterday I saw at least 2 watches from 2006 in an AD's window still in their plastic wrappings, indicating brand new.

Peter

[buz-lh]

I think the offer of wearing your watch for a couple of days to check it is a nice gesture. My AD is constantly walking around wearing two watches as a winder is not going to duplicate the actual wearing and accuracy of the watch. If you are the suspicious or untrusting type just collect it when it returns and if there is a problem you can make another unnecessary trip to the AD to return it. This is a small gesture from an old school type that is quite normal. It's no wonder that the small AD's are struggling to make it when even the slightest gesture is looked upon with suspicion. Regarding the green sticker, just remove it.