Lost a bit of money in Chrono24 purchase... so beware

[paxjedi]

I have a 2001 GMT Master II (16710) with oyster bracelet. The bracelet is getting tired and I wanted a change in looks. So I have been looking to replace the bracelet with a Jubilee bracelet. I saw a few for sale in Chrono24 and ebay with prices ranging from $2,000 to $3,500 and decided to buy from Chrono24 (Mistake 1) instead of ebay as a reputable seller in Spain was giving it for $2,000. The bracelet was unused with no original packaging. There was a lot of back-and-forth message between the seller and myself because I wanted to make sure that the bracelet, particularly the end links was compatible with my case. I took the word of the seller that it was compatible (Mistake 2).

I paid $2,000 plus shipping plus sales tax of ~9%, then I got billed by UPS for duties of $224, for a total price of about $2,500 (Mistake 3).

The first thing I did was to bring the bracelet to the Rolex Service Center to confirm that it was authentic and to buy new pins for the bracelet. The technician wanted to look at my Pepsi and brought both watch and bracelet to the back. He came out and said the Jubilee bracelet was indeed authentic and so were the end links. HOWEVER, he said that they were meant for an older GMT Master II model and that the end links were wrong and the bottom line was that he could not install it on my watch. He did not really explain why it would not fit but basically he said he would not install it. Out of curiosity, I asked how much a new Jubilee bracelet was for my watch and he said $1,250 plus tax.

WHAT?!

I should have just gone to the RSC from the very beginning to get the Jubilee bracelet. I asked if I could keep my original Oyster bracelet and the response was "Of course. Its your bracelet". A week later I got the new Jubilee bracelet and the RSC sized and installed it for free. I brought home my original oyster.

So I contacted Chrono24 and the seller and said that the RSC did not want to install it because it was not meant for the watch and had the wrong end links. The seller (true to his good word) was willing to take it back so I shipped it back to Spain at my expense. Chrono24 eventually gave me back my money. However, the $224 in duties plus $80 of shipping will never be refunded back to me.

Lesson: Go to your RSC first if you want replacement parts. Chrono24 is okay but that should have been my last resort.

Flame on!!!


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[amanbra]

they let you keep the bracelet? I thought they held on to the bracelet? i'm so confused... this is why they charge a premium online for these... anyway i think it's a pretty good result in the end. If the bracelet fit you'd be done way more money...

[paxjedi]

Originally Posted by amanbra

they let you keep the bracelet? I thought they held on to the bracelet? i'm so confused... this is why they charge a premium online for these... anyway i think it's a pretty good result in the end. If the bracelet fit you'd be done way more money...

Yes, I agree that would have been more expensive if it fits.


As for the RSC, I guess it all depends on the RSC because I have heard stories of RSC's not returning the bracelet. But my condition to the RSC for ordering the Jubilee was that I get to keep my original bracelet. The cute receptionist (she had a wonderful accent) and the technician said "Of course". So I ordered the Jubilee. At first she said it would take four weeks but four days later she called me and said the bracelet was there. Pretty pleasant experience honestly.

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[rmwill]

Same thing with bracelet links. People charge double what Rolex charges for likely fakes. I have no idea why people don't start with the AD and RSC.

[afmars]

Glad you were able to get a refund and still secure an original and correct bracelet for less than you originally planned. This story could have ended way worse!

[paxjedi]

Originally Posted by afmars

Glad you were able to get a refund and still secure an original and correct bracelet for less than you originally planned. This story could have ended way worse!

True!
True!


My Chrono24 seller was top notch and his communication was 100%.
He was almost apologetic that it did not work.
But it could have been worse.


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[Swiss Mad!]

We are all wise after the event,

Unfortunately you had a bad (and expensive) experience.

Lesson learned & thank you for sharing this so others may not be so unfortunate.

I am not judging or criticising, but did you not think to check with RSC the cost of a replacement Jubilee bracelet before purchasing the one off Chrono?


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[VogelPhoenix]

Not the worst lesson for the price of a decent dinner. Look at it as slightly reduced discount compared to the original plan.

[Mags01]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.. Lesson learned for all of us, at least I am glad about the outcome for you. You have a brand new bracelet for your watch after all!

[CoveWatch]

Ah, well the good news is you ended up with what you wanted and at an overall lower price than what you were originally comfortable with. ($1250 plus tax plus C24 fees) I mean it could have been worst with the seller not acting good on his part, but happy to hear you got it done at the end.

[Epanerai12]

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CZrmXf5...dium=copy_link

For a good laugh re: c24

[dpt.calvin]

Seems like you didn’t do your due diligence to make sure it fit. Your watch. Your responsibility to figure out what end links you need.

[paxjedi]

Originally Posted by Swiss Mad!

We are all wise after the event,

Unfortunately you had a bad (and expensive) experience.

Lesson learned & thank you for sharing this so others may not be so unfortunate.

I am not judging or criticising, but did you not think to check with RSC the cost of a replacement Jubilee bracelet before purchasing the one off Chrono?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I did not think about going to the RSC, which was a mistake.
I was afraid that the RSC would tell me that the watch did not come with the Jubilee so they would not sell me one. But I was clearly wrong.


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[paxjedi]

Originally Posted by dpt.calvin

Seems like you didn’t do your due diligence to make sure it fit. Your watch. Your responsibility to figure out what end links you need.

I did, and made sure the end links were 50 - and the seller sent me the 50 links. But the RSC said they were wrong, and did not explain why.



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[S’portEye]

You should be praising chrono24 for as good as it worked out for you. Could have been way worse.

[Feb_29]

Thanks for sharing your experience! Enjoy your new bracelet.

[RaZCaL]

Thanks for sharing! Looks like you’re from NYC so I’m presuming you went to the RSC on 5th Ave? I am looking for a jubilee bracelet for my 16710 too so I will be stopping by. Hope they don’t give me any issues. Thanks!

[dpt.calvin]

Originally Posted by paxjedi

I did, and made sure the end links were 50 - and the seller sent me the 50 links. But the RSC said they were wrong, and did not explain why.



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Is your 16710 from 2001? Does it have holes in the lugs? I believe lug holes = 502B and no lug holes = 502T.

What end links did RSC sell you?

Edit: When you refer to "50," are you sure you're talking about end links? I mean there are 550 end links, but not just "50" as far as I'm aware.

The original bracelet, sold as an option for the GMT 16710 was the 62510H "50". The 50 was stamped on the right-hand last link of the bracelet, right before the end links (see photo). However, the ONLY difference, technically between a 62510H "50" and, a standard 62510H is the center spring bar retainers, which on the 50 are 2 tenths of a millimeter larger. Yes, 0.2 of a millimeter. There are no other differences at all. If you can find a 50 stamped bracelet it will be so prohibitively expensive that it makes zero sense, in my view, unless you don’t care about the cost.

[RolexSimon]

Originally Posted by rmwill

Same thing with bracelet links. People charge double what Rolex charges for likely fakes. I have no idea why people don't start with the AD and RSC.

Not that easy to get replacement clasps / bracelets from many ADs.

[GGGMT]

Cheap education.


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[paxjedi]

Originally Posted by RaZCaL

Thanks for sharing! Looks like you’re from NYC so I’m presuming you went to the RSC on 5th Ave? I am looking for a jubilee bracelet for my 16710 too so I will be stopping by. Hope they don’t give me any issues. Thanks!

Look for Karen. (She has the 36mm DD turquoise).
Make sure you complement her watch, then you will be in good shape.
Tell her Paul, who just ordered the Jubilee bracelet for his GMT Master in January, sent you and says hi. She will remember me.

Good luck.


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[Tensai]

Thanks for the story. That is good to know!

[inadeje]

You could technically get the tax back if you proved to UPS that the item was reexported.

[vipereaper30]

Thanks for sharing your experience and glad it worked out with the RSC. Does sound like a big pain you went through. And good to hear the seller was easy to work with on the return.

[samuel019]

Well on the bright side even with duties and shipping you still came out less overall

Probably hard to look at it that way but I’m glad it all worked out, overall

[TimeLord2]

I feel for you OP. The same bezel insert I purchased for $171 from RSC for my 1675/3 sells for anywhere from $250 - $650 on EBAY. RSC installed it, because they insisted (wouldn't sell it unless installed…), and charged me for the installation. I had them return my old one, and they charged me for that too… It is the wrong insert for the watch but the only one they currently sell for an acrylic crystal 1675/3 now. It's basically a service insert but probably correct for a 16753. Still cheaper than EBAY!

[Jack T]

Good story, and kudos to the seller on Chrono24, he stood by his word.

[214270Explorer]

Thanks for your input. It will help others avoid issues.
You were also lucky that C24's seller was helpful too.

[ltmgeller]

RSCNY will let you keep the original bracelet, or at least they have in the past. You can also just bring in the head and order the new bracelet.

[scousejames]

It's the same with 16710 bezels.
They come up for sale on here very often for $300+, but I'm baffled why anyone would pay that much, as you can easily just walk into any RSC and purchase a brand new one for just over $100.