Japan RSC: New GMT Bezel Policy

[SVH]

Has anyone encountered this new policy for serving GMTs at RSC's in Europe or North America?

No swapping non-original bezel inserts or bracelets, and old bezels will NOT be retuned

Rolex is becoming the Ferarri of swiss watches

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyviHAoT8kg

[1William]

I have not heard this.

[brandrea]

I think old parts policy has been in place for some time.

The bracelet swap seems to vary from region to region

[ADR1982]

I highly doubt rolex has a centralized db of every serial number and associated bezel color over several decades.

You could just try a local watchmaker with a rolex parts account for the insert of your choice

[sportsfan0704]

As of last Tuesday in NYC Rolex service center this isn’t the case

[Tzachi]

Originally Posted by SVH

Has anyone encountered this new policy for serving GMTs at RSC's in Europe or North America?

No swapping non-original bezel inserts or bracelets, and old bezels will NOT be retuned

Rolex is becoming the Ferarri of swiss watches

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyviHAoT8kg

Bezel is a "major part".
2 fake major parts on a same watch are a NO GO for service approval.

No swapping non-original bezel inserts - We're talking CERAMIC.
They will swap broken one, but not non-original as this is a way for flippers /fakers / shady dealers to get the hard to get original bezel: swap with a fake and you have an extra insert.

They will not swap non original bracelet. but they will sell you an original one.

[502 to Right]

This is true for Rolex AD watchmakers. I spoke to two of them in the last 2 weeks about this. No color swapping and the old bezel insert must be sent back to Rolex (and it must be authentic). These are the rules being imposed on them by Rolex.

[502 to Right]

Originally Posted by sportsfan0704

As of last Tuesday in NYC Rolex service center this isn’t the case

I think you got lucky.

[espanol]

Originally Posted by SVH

No swapping non-original bezel inserts or bracelets, and old bezels will NOT be retuned

I mean, I kind of understand it. These references are decades old. I can understand why they would not want to continue manufacturing parts for older models on a large scale.

However, one of the aspects of Rolex that I've appreciated over the years is the 'perpetual' serviceability. While the parts may not always be original to the watch, the fact that you can drop off any Rolex and have it serviced looking like new is a fantastic.

[GMT Aviator]

I’ve serviced three 16710’s at RSC in the UK. One I swapped the bezel insert for a different colour, the others I just had renewed as they were scratched and faded which isn’t my bag. They let me keep the bezel inserts that were removed on all three watches.
They had no way of knowing which bezel insert the watch had originally left the factory with, so the swap from say BLRO to LN wasn’t a problem.

[0nly5iv3Digits]

This is the latest according to Austin Daniels. Very sad state of affairs

[Potawatomi]

Originally Posted by 0nly5iv3Digits

This is the latest according to Austin Daniels. Very sad state of affairs

As goofy as Austin is, he's always had very informative content regarding experience with RSC. Showing receipts, records and just anything he could to explain the process was really interesting.

[ViperB]

Originally Posted by 502 to Right

This is true for Rolex AD watchmakers. I spoke to two of them in the last 2 weeks about this. No color swapping and the old bezel insert must be sent back to Rolex (and it must be authentic). These are the rules being imposed on them by Rolex.

This is 100% correct for Rolex dealers. They are sent back first and Rolex does check serial to match inserts. They will ship back matching inserts regardless which one you send in. Actually a good way to know if your watch was born a Pepsi.

[502 to Right]

Originally Posted by ViperB

This is 100% correct for Rolex dealers. They are sent back first and Rolex does check serial to match inserts. They will ship back matching inserts regardless which one you send in. Actually a good way to know if your watch was born a Pepsi.

This is not what I was told by my AD watchmaker and he literally called Rolex to confirm while I was at the AD. They are matching the color sent in--not what the watch was originally made with. The insert sent in must be authentic. They will exchange Pepsi for Pepsi, Coke for Coke, and Black for Black. And under no circumstances are you allowed to keep the old insert if you get a replacement from Rolex.

[Greenp]

What if you take off the bezel and turn in the watch for a new bezel? Wouldn't they have to replace it?

[502 to Right]

Originally Posted by Greenp

What if you take off the bezel and turn in the watch for a new bezel? Wouldn't they have to replace it?

No. They could tell you to go find an authentic bezel insert on your own. Or go without a replacement bezel from Rolex.

A similar thing happened to me with a dial. In 2016 I purchased a 16234 Datejust with a silver dial from a respectable jewelry store that sold pre-owned watches. In 2021 I decided I wanted to change the dial to blue and brought the watch to my AD watchmaker to order the parts and do the work. However, upon inspecting the watch he informed me the dial had been refinished and he could not send it to Rolex to get the blue replacement dial. My choices were to keep the watch and have no work done on it by Rolex or an AD watchmaker or to source an authentic dial that could be sent to Rolex to get the replacement blue dial.

I contacted the store that sold me the Datejust with the refinished dial and they apologized profusely and sent me another silver Datejust dial that was authentic. With an authentic dial in hand I was able to get the replacement blue dial. But without an authentic dial, Rolex was not going to sell me a replacement.

You may have heard stories of people doing what you described, but Rolex has cracked down hard on spare parts floating around. I think that loophole has been closed.

You can disagree with the rule, but it is what it is. Thankfully I was able remedy the situation.

[Nicw100]

I don't know about a Japanese RSC, but regarding the UK RSC they 100% will replace the bezel insert on a 16710, but only on a like for like basis.

It does not mater if the colour of the insert is different to the original factory colour, they will still replace the old insert with a new one of the same colour/same as what is currently on the watch. They will also keep the old insert.

I had a new insert (coke) fitted for my 16710 that was on a coke (original insert was black when it came out of the factory) by an RSC in London last month.

This policy has been in place for about 12 months (at least in the UK), previously the RSC would allow you to swap the insert for any new colour.

[502 to Right]

Originally Posted by Nicw100

I don't know about a Japanese RSC, but regarding the UK RSC they 100% will replace the bezel insert on a 16710, but only on a like for like basis.

It does not mater if the colour of the insert is different to the original factory colour, they will still replace the old insert with a new one of the same colour/same as what is currently on the watch. They will also keep the old insert.

I had a new insert (coke) fitted for my 16710 that was on a coke (original insert was black when it came out of the factory) by an RSC in London last month.

This policy has been in place for about 12 months (at least in the UK), previously the RSC would allow you to swap the insert for any new colour.

This is exactly what I was told in the U.S.

[Speedbird-1]

A suspicious person might think that someone at (name your own RSC here) is making a shedload of dough, selling 'genuine' used bezels?
Only a suspicious person would think this though.