Why so manywatches without boxes and papers?

[Flier]

Thas fown to the owner
I would like to have the ones that came with my watch
Not some random ones

[nachopc]

What I don’t understand is why you can’t have a duplicate on the watch papers if you can prove that you are the legitimate owner.

Can anyone answer this?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[The Argonaut]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Of course you know the Paul Newman had no box or papers, fwiw. Do you think it would have gotten $20 million had it had them? What do you think happened to them?

What? $17mill and no box and papers. Still, when they say "buy the seller," I think that seller was okay. Just.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by nachopc

What I don’t understand is why you can’t have a duplicate on the watch papers if you can prove that you are the legitimate owner.

Can anyone answer this?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Nothing in it for Rolex.

[darwin95]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Most Rolex are bought by people to wear and not collect. Wearers don't care about keeping unused junk in their homes. Mainly flippers keep the stuff. Do you keep all your shoe boxes?

nailed it.

[CRM114]

The more valuable boxes and papers become to buyers in the after-marketplace, the more counterfeit boxes and papers produced there will be. It's far easier to make fake paperwork than it is to make fake watches.

The existence of a box or papers (for watches outside the warranty period) proves nothing as far as authenticity or legitimacy is concerned. Take your Rolex to an RSC and they won't ask to see papers and don't care if you have them. They're not interested. Having a "full set" is strictly a collector's preference and worth more to them if that's their thing, but having a "full set" shouldn't be considered an assurance of anything having to do with the watch itself.

[yhzdude]

funny enough i see some rolex box and paper for sale on ebay...without the watch.
who would buy such a thing unless they want to fool someone reselling a fake or a miss-match?

[IlikeSubs]

Boxes are easy to get and papers are as simple as sending the watch to a RSC to “authenticate”. Beyond that I doubt anyone really cares. Isn’t the biggest reason the get papers to prove authenticity? I just bought a TT Sub that has service papers. I haven’t received it yet, but once I do I’ll call Rolex and get them to confirm it was serviced by them on that date. That proves authentication and is good enough for me. I know others hav other preferences, but besides authentication I don’t care.

[Boaters]

Most people I know wear the watch not the box and papers. With other brands that are not so expensive if you have 40 to 50 watches the boxes and papers start to take up some space so they conveniently start to disappear.

[lovetherolex]

Most people just don't care, barring the WIS or collector, the watch goes on the wrist and the box and papers go out of the mind.

Until there's a warranty issue...then there's a mad scramble.

[Swiss Mad!]

I get a watch may well have lost its box & papers along the way, but anything less than 5 years and no box or papers I would walk away.

Too many stolen items being passed off on ebay to take the chance.

Most legitimate watch owners would also keep the original purchase receipt.

[Swiss Mad!]

Originally Posted by lovetherolex

Most people just don't care, barring the WIS or collector, the watch goes on the wrist and the box and papers go out of the mind.

Until there's a warranty issue...then there's a mad scramble.

Sorry, I don't agree.

Anyone spending multiple £/$'000s on a Rolex or similar, knows what they are buying and knows the importance of keeping the box and papers.

Would you really consider buying a Day Date, say 18 months old that had no box or papers? I certainly wouldn't.

[SeaDweller50]

The more Rolex watches without their warranty cards the better as far as I’m concerned, as it only makes ours that do, more valuable.

[lesfield]

I brought my watch without box and papers from a reputable dealer as it saved me $1000. The dealer gave me a certificate of authenticity and I got it checked out at a different specialist (always nice to have a second opinion) and it's all good, so I'm happy.

Looking at other watches they have in stock I'd say the papers, box and tags can add 10% to the value of a typical watch.

[Polarbears]

Here is an opinion I have. I won’t name any names but there are several “collector” sellers that sell everything sans box and papers. I find it hard to believe that every watch they sell is an orphan. I believe they sell the “accessories” separately on eBay or similar for more $$.

[Swiss Mad!]

Originally Posted by Polarbears

Here is an opinion I have. I won’t name any names but there are several “collector” sellers that sell everything sans box and papers. I find it hard to believe that every watch they sell is an orphan. I believe they sell the “accessories” separately on eBay or similar for more $$.

Only the box would have any value (and that's minimal really) - Papers or warranty card & hang tag are unique to each watch so worthless second hand.

[Tony64]

Originally Posted by Swiss Mad!

Only the box would have any value (and that's minimal really) - Papers or warranty card & hang tag are unique to each watch so worthless second hand.

What you say makes sense, but they are offered for sale and bought - so they apparently do have monetary value.

[Tony64]

Originally Posted by CRM114

The more valuable boxes and papers become to buyers in the after-marketplace, the more counterfeit boxes and papers produced there will be. It's far easier to make fake paperwork than it is to make fake watches.

The existence of a box or papers (for watches outside the warranty period) proves nothing as far as authenticity or legitimacy is concerned. Take your Rolex to an RSC and they won't ask to see papers and don't care if you have them. They're not interested. Having a "full set" is strictly a collector's preference and worth more to them if that's their thing, but having a "full set" shouldn't be considered an assurance of anything having to do with the watch itself.

Excellent advice

[GMT Aviator]

What I don’t understand, are the Rolex papers you see being sold on eBay for £hundreds!!

I can’t imagine why anyone would pay for these papers unless they have the watch with the matching serial number which is incredibly unlikely, and who buys a watch without papers and then goes looking on eBay in the vein hope that some seller might be selling the exact papers pertinent to their watch?! It rediculous, but someone is buying them.

[JM0127]

Originally Posted by Swiss Mad!

I get a watch may well have lost its box & papers along the way, but anything less than 5 years and no box or papers I would walk away.

Too many stolen items being passed off on ebay to take the chance.

Most legitimate watch owners would also keep the original purchase receipt.

Kinda my train of thought. Vintage items I'll take everything they have. Neat if there is a full set but not a deal breaker. Gives the watch it's provenance and character. I will say in full disclosure that I do look for full sets in certain years that were good years for me. Besides that, if I like it I buy it. Do my research and move on.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by Swiss Mad!

Sorry, I don't agree.

Anyone spending multiple £/$'000s on a Rolex or similar, knows what they are buying and knows the importance of keeping the box and papers.

Would you really consider buying a Day Date, say 18 months old that had no box or papers? I certainly wouldn't.

X2. Especially if its a lifetime keeper and it is going to be handed down to the next generation when the owner passes.

[frankoman]

Originally Posted by Tony64

Well played!

Sneaker collectors are maniacal about keeping all the packaging on the limited edition ones. These are never worn however and are kept as new, as with many other collectibles like toys and action figures.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by frankoman

Sneaker collectors are maniacal about keeping all the packaging on the limited edition ones. These are never worn however and are kept as new, as with many other collectibles like toys and action figures.

Sneaker collecting fascinates me.

I get how you’d buy a cool pair in your size to wear...sooner or later. The interesting bit is buying common sizes - not your own - say 9,10,11 etc and speculating on future price / selling to some guy who may or may not actually wear them!

[frankoman]

Originally Posted by GMT Aviator

What I don’t understand, are the Rolex papers you see being sold on eBay for £hundreds!!

I can’t imagine why anyone would pay for these papers unless they have the watch with the matching serial number which is incredibly unlikely, and who buys a watch without papers and then goes looking on eBay in the vein hope that some seller might be selling the exact papers pertinent to their watch?! It rediculous, but someone is buying them.

I bought a bunch of papers in a large lot of Rolex stuff a few years ago. For me it’s a reference library and helps authentication.

[Jcy90]

If you’re buying a watch to wear and keep enjoy the $500 or so discounted price for it not having paperwork. A sub date isn’t a rare watch by any standard especially if it’s modern. If you’re buying a watch to collect and hold and maybe flip in the future in hopes of appreciation then definitely try to find the most complete set in the best condition.

[KeepTheTime]

We wrote an entire post about this Why Some Pre-Owned Watches Don't Include Box and Papers with points that haven't been mentioned here. If you're buying a used watch from a dealer, keep in mind that many of them (especially brick and mortar) are buying low enough that it doesn't matter to them if it has the box or not. Some dealers even refuse the boxes because they can be unpleasant, aren't always in the best shape, and space is a huge issue when you have so many watches in inventory.

While it's hard to believe for some collectors, we have clients who simply do not want anything but the watch. When this happens, we give them a reduced price.

Originally Posted by breitlings

i think people withold papers with names etc for privacy reasons.

This can be a potential issue (especially trading locally) because selling a Rolex with your name on it can give the next owner the idea that you are of means and potentially have other Rolex watches at your residence. For that reason, some clients ask us to withhold the paperwork or black out their name/info.

Originally Posted by The M3 Guy

One possibility not mentioned is buying a Rolex overseas when on holiday, to avoid paying customs duty on it wear the watch through customs check point and don't have box and receipt in your bag so if searched and questioned you have owned it for some time.

This is common.

Originally Posted by CRM114

It's far easier to make fake paperwork than it is to make fake watches.

Exactly. Never buy a watch just for the box and papers.

Originally Posted by yhzdude

funny enough i see some rolex box and paper for sale on ebay...without the watch. who would buy such a thing unless they want to fool someone reselling a fake or a miss-match?

There are lots of collectors who either originally threw theirs in the trash or bought a watch without box and papers and want to reconstruct a complete set. Of course they won't have matching papers, but at least the can get a box, tag, booklets, etc.

[TacticaLCawacoL]

Many time, people buy the watch, keep the warranty card during a few time and that’s it. We do not all appreciate Rolexes the same way.