Advice needed buying from gray

[Dr H A]

Dear all
So I am buying from a very trusted gray dealer 116500 LN
Unworn condition 2020 Model
My question is how the warranty will be affected if this is bought from Gray and not AD

I have bought all other watches from AD
This is first gray market buy and may be the only one ever

Plz advise

[DaveTheWatchGuy]

As long as the warranty card was properly set up and entered into the Rolex system, you’ll be fine. Doesn’t matter if your name isn’t on the card.


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[Jim Smyth]

You have truly no way to know if it was in fact swiped when sold if it isnt directly through a AD. I would factor that into the purchase price and buy the seller that stands behind the watch if a warranty isnt honored and if its needed in the first 5 years.

[joli160]

Why worry about it ?

Clearly you can afford a regulation or service which is only needed in the worst case scenario possible and are very cheap anyway compared to other brands.
Most probably your watch doesn’t require either in the first decade.

Rolex should honor the warranty and if not the seller should.

[Benzsiam]

If the warranty card left the date blank, the seller should shows the original receipt that they bought it from ADs, so your warranty is good for 5 years from that date.

Normally the warranty card should have the original purchase date on the card.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by Benzsiam

If the warranty card left the date blank, the seller should shows the original receipt that they bought it from ADs, so your warranty is good for 5 years from that date.

Normally the warranty card should have the original purchase date on the card.

The new cards don’t anymore, also no name entry

[spikep]

Originally Posted by joli160

The new cards don’t anymore, also no name entry

New card shows date of purchase

[joli160]

Originally Posted by spikep

New card shows date of purchase

My bad, sorry

[77T]

Here in the USA your new watch’s warranty does transfer from the original owner to you. So that part is straightforward. Buying pre-owned carries two areas of risk, manufacturing defect and previous owner risk.

But pay attention to the caveats in the warranty conditions. Any failure to meet the conditions can be costly. I believe you will be paying a large premium - perhaps paying close to MSRPx2 - but the cost of a covered repair may be a small risk.

What is a small risk? First, a very large percentage of new Rolex models never fail within first 5 years - I’d hazard a guess at 95-98%. And a very small percentage of well-experienced, trusted sellers void the warranty by mistake.

Here is the guarantee language from the website...

“Rolex guarantees the proper functioning of its watches for a period of five years from the date of purchase. The Rolex guarantee excludes normal wear-and-tear (notably the wear-and-tear of non-metal bracelets and straps), loss, theft, or damage due to misuse. The substitution of components with, or the addition of, components or accessories not manufactured by Rolex will invalidate the guarantee. The guarantee is valid only if (1) the watch has been sold by an Official Rolex Retailer; (2) the guarantee card has been completed in full by the Official Rolex Retailer at the time of purchase; and (3) the guarantee card is presented with the watch, either to an Official Rolex Retailer or to an Official Rolex Service Centre. Any work carried out by third parties will render the guarantee null and void.”

So...what is the seller risk?

If the seller has had it opened,
or opened it,
or dropped it to damage the movement,
or shook it hard enough to do the same,
or somehow misused it,
or failed to get it directly from an AD,
or bypassed activating the guarantee card...

Then you’d be challenged to secure a warranty repair. Those risks are for a 1st owner watch, that is one bought by the TS directly from an AD.

If it is a 2nd owner watch (you didn’t say BNIB) then the seller risks amplify a bit. In addition to the above-mentioned risks, you assume the risk of the fidelity of the 1st owner - in other words was it stolen?

The only way to be sure of a pedigree is to get a return guarantee from the TS. One where you get 100% refund if it fails an RSC review of authenticity and fidelity.

If you’re buying from one of the TRF Boutique sellers then you should be very safe. But ask all the questions now, and do it in writing, as well as defining refund rights. Remember if it was ever registered as being stolen, you will only get a letter from Rolex Legal dept.
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[Dr H A]

Thanks a lot !!!! Very helpful !
Buying from DavidsW
New unworn condition