Undated watch query

[Pete2404]

Hi guys,

I’m thinking about buying a skydweller here in the UK off a reputable watch dealer.

The warranty card is undated and is from abroad. It also has the original box.

Should I stay away from it or buy with confidence?

I have contacted the watch company who supplied it and they said this watch has never been into that shop!?!?

Thanks

[MattyL147]

So you contacted the AD to ask if they sold it to the grey dealer? I'm not saying this to be crass, but you clearly have no idea how this works. There is not a chance they would admit to selling it to that dealer. Maybe they did, maybe they didn't, but they would never admit to doing it even if they did.

Buy the seller.

[Pete2404]

Sorry I’m new to all this, please could you elaborate on the above! AD and grey dealer????

[Pete2404]

I contacted the address which is on the Rolex card to ask the date of the watch as undated but they said the watch hasn’t never been received at that shop

[troways]

Probably the card is fake, just my two cents.

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[MattyL147]

Originally Posted by Pete2404

I contacted the address which is on the Rolex card to ask the date of the watch as undated but they said the watch hasn’t never been received at that shop

Yes; Rolex only sells watches through ADs (authorized dealers). You can, however, buy a Rolex at any number of stores/online retailers that are not ADs (these are called grey dealers). These greys get their watches either directly from ADs or from "flippers" who buy from ADs and sell to the greys.

Do yourself a favor and read any number of threads here so you can understand how this all works.

That being said, from what it sounds like, you found a watch at a grey and saw the name of the AD on the card. You then called the AD to verify the watch. That was never going to happen.

[Pete2404]

Originally Posted by MattyL147

Yes; Rolex only sells watches through ADs (authorized dealers). You can, however, buy a Rolex at any number of stores/online retailers that are not ADs (these are called grey dealers). These greys get their watches either directly from ADs or from "flippers" who buy from ADs and sell to the greys.

Do yourself a favor and read any number of threads here so you can understand how this all works.

That being said, from what it sounds like, you found a watch at a grey and saw the name of the AD on the card. You then called the AD to verify the watch. That was never going to happen.

Why wouldn’t it have a date on though?

Does this mean it’s not real, surely the AD name on the card should have recognition of the watch being in store yet they told me they didn’t.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Pete2404

Why wouldn’t it have a date on though?

Does this mean it’s not real, surely the AD name on the card should have recognition of the watch being in store yet they told me they didn’t.

This is typical of a true Grey Market watch.

This watch was likely sent from Geneva to a designated Market Distributor (there are hundreds) who then sold it to an Import/Export business instead of into the AD chain.

Rolex SA does not sell direct to AD's, they sell to licensed distributors within a market area. Some of those distributors are local government controlled

[joli160]

Bought a lot of my watches from trusted sellers, most came completely blank, no date no name.
If you buy from a reputable dealer you will be fine

[007timer]

Originally Posted by joli160

Bought a lot of my watches from trusted sellers, most came completely blank, no date no name.
If you buy from a reputable dealer you will be fine

How does that affect the warranty? How do they know when it is activated?


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[darius359]

If the warranty isn't completely filled out then it is not active. The price of going grey. However, if the date isn't filled out, just get a sharpie and add a date. All set!

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[Pete2404]

Originally Posted by Tools

This is typical of a true Grey Market watch.

This watch was likely sent from Geneva to a designated Market Distributor (there are hundreds) who then sold it to an Import/Export business instead of into the AD chain.

Rolex SA does not sell direct to AD's, they sell to licensed distributors within a market area. Some of those distributors are local government controlled

Ok sure but the address on the warranty card is from a Rolex distributor -

CANETA CONTINENTAL‬
Barra Shopping
4.666 Avenida das Américas Loja 127B/C
Rio de Janeiro 22640102
Brasil

But these guys are saying they’ve never had that watch come into store!?

I bought it here in the UK from an independent watch dealer.

[Pete2404]

Originally Posted by darius359

If the warranty isn't completely filled out then it is not active. The price of going grey. However, if the date isn't filled out, just get a sharpie and add a date. All set!

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Yes interesting about the warranty, 5 years from new...
So could I date it myself or not, it’s a discontinued dial watch.

[l_chissle]

Originally Posted by Pete2404

Yes interesting about the warranty, 5 years from new...
So could I date it myself or not, it’s a discontinued dial watch.

I think the cards get scanned when they are first purchased to activate the warranty.

[darius359]

Originally Posted by LPC6

I think the cards get scanned when they are first purchased to activate the warranty.

I think this is done when it if sold legitimately. You would have to find out what the case is for watches that aren't sold out of the store. When I sold Rolex at Tourneau, we would have to make a photocopy of the receipt and warranty card and send all the copies to Rolex at the end of each month. That's how they would know what was sold and how replenishment was facilitated, not including special orders.

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[joli160]

Originally Posted by 007timer

How does that affect the warranty? How do they know when it is activated?


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Cards have a dealer stamp, I suppose they scanned it when they sold it to the grey.

Also I don’t care about warranty at all. A regulation is very cheap and in the worst case it may need a full service if something shows up in the warranty period.
Relatively small costs with a Rolex.
This happens rarely and chances are a RSC will deny the warranty anyway, claiming owner abuse.

[ThatSubGuy]

Did you at least get a proper receipt with VAT on it?

[winst]

Ring Rolex UK +44 20 7024 7300 if you have the serial number and ask them if they can confirm what date the warranty was activated from. It’s worth a try.

[Pete2404]

Am I not to worry then with a card that’s not dated and the dealer on the card doesn’t know anything about the watch coming into store!?!?!?

[kepler22]

Can you tell us who the dealer is in the UK, so are reputable some are not. Other members of the forum would give you a steer if you identify them


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[jerryguo]

like others said, BUY THE SELLER!


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[joli160]

Originally Posted by ThatSubGuy

Did you at least get a proper receipt with VAT on it?

Yes, that’s a must for me. I want to be able to proof legit ownership.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by Pete2404

Am I not to worry then with a card that’s not dated and the dealer on the card doesn’t know anything about the watch coming into store!?!?!?

What is there to know about a watch ? If it runs fine, looks good, all OK isn’t it.
No one dealer will tell you from who he bought it, privacy matter.

[trematix]

I had a situation a while back from a person on the forum. They had a brand new watch and an undated card. I asked for a picture of the card. I called the AD on the card and asked them when it was scanned. It was scanned in 2014 so warranty was no longer valid. Needless to say, I didn’t buy the watch. It goes by scan date so if you can get that, you’ll know how much warranty is left.


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[JSolution]

Have one watch undated .. have another no with no name... not an issue if the watch is real for me.

[Pete2404]

Originally Posted by trematix

I had a situation a while back from a person on the forum. They had a brand new watch and an undated card. I asked for a picture of the card. I called the AD on the card and asked them when it was scanned. It was scanned in 2014 so warranty was no longer valid. Needless to say, I didn’t buy the watch. It goes by scan date so if you can get that, you’ll know how much warranty is left.


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Iv spoken to them overseas via WhatsApp and they said the watch has never been in store so no record of it!?

[365DAS]

Originally Posted by Pete2404

Iv spoken to them overseas via WhatsApp and they said the watch has never been in store so no record of it!?

Surely if the AD has sold the watch to a grey dealer then they will want to avoid any involvement with it so not surprised if they’re suggesting they’ve never sold the watch as their AD status could potentially be in jeopardy (I’m sure there’ll be more to it but basically no AD wants to fall fouls with Rolex!)

As suggested already above, call RSC UK and get them to run the serial number or ask an AD very nicely and see if they’ll do it for you (doubt it thought unless you’ve traded with them).


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