I need help. Missing Serial

[BMedia]

Afternoon all,

I am going to keep this vague as I want to protect the person who sold me my watch as currently they are being extremely helpful.

I recently bought a watch and everything checked out beautifully. Couldn't ask for more really. My insurance policy has asked for me to get a value from the local AD however, they said they could not value it because the SN has been removed and not through general wear and tear.

Now I am going to theirs on Wednesday to discuss options but I do want to be properly informed before I go.

As it stands:

Is my watch worthless?
Can I ever sell it?
What would happen if it went back to Rolex?
Is the serial was removed but all the numbers match, where would that leave me?
Because my watch has increased in value, if I hand it back in should I expect a price in reflection of the current market?

Really, I have already committed the money to exact item I want. It ticked all the boxes. I don't wan't to hand it back if I can but I also don't want to pay over the odds for something that is not what it said it was.

The seller hasn't offered any options yet, that is what Wednesday is for.

[SaintMickey]

No way we can help without more info. Model? Pictures?

Its definitely a DOA when/if its ever sent to a RSC.

I believe the serial number is in other places within the watch? Wonder if its stolen...although scraping serial number off is a big flag.

SEND IT BACK TO SELLER -is what I'd do.

[Jackie Daytona]

Work with the seller and return it. If the AD says it’s been removed through questionable means I would say that’s pretty much the end of it.

[1665fan]

Try to return it 100%

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

Try to return it 100%

This 100%
There's plenty of watches out there to choose from without consciously being saddled with a potential problem in perpetuity. That is unless you have an existing relationship with an top notch independent watchmaker with a Rolex parts account. I'd always be a bit reluctant to ever send it to RSC.

[SaintMickey]

LOVE to see some pictures...

[padi56]

Originally Posted by BMedia

Afternoon all,

I am going to keep this vague as I want to protect the person who sold me my watch as currently they are being extremely helpful.

I recently bought a watch and everything checked out beautifully. Couldn't ask for more really. My insurance policy has asked for me to get a value from the local AD however, they said they could not value it because the SN has been removed and not through general wear and tear.

Now I am going to theirs on Wednesday to discuss options but I do want to be properly informed before I go.

As it stands:

Is my watch worthless?
Can I ever sell it?
What would happen if it went back to Rolex?
Is the serial was removed but all the numbers match, where would that leave me?
Because my watch has increased in value, if I hand it back in should I expect a price in reflection of the current market?

Really, I have already committed the money to exact item I want. It ticked all the boxes. I don't wan't to hand it back if I can but I also don't want to pay over the odds for something that is not what it said it was.

The seller hasn't offered any options yet, that is what Wednesday is for.

What watch is it and dont forget serial was moved from between the lugs to the inner rehaute at 6 oclock on watches from around 2005- 2007 on. Cannot understand why anyone would want to remove a serial unless perhaps stolen, but there is a movement serial which Rolex could determine the case serial from .

[SaintMickey]

Originally Posted by padi56

What watch is it and dont forget serial was moved from between the lugs to the inner rehaute at 6 oclock on watches from around 2005- 2007 on. Cannot understand why anyone would want to remove a serial unless perhaps stolen, but there is a movement serial which Rolex could determine the case serial from .

100%
That's why I'm asking for more info and pictures. Until then I'll consider this another internet story. Sorry OP.

[BMedia]

Originally Posted by SaintMickey

100%
That's why I'm asking for more info and pictures. Until then I'll consider this another internet story. Sorry OP.

Quite a strange comment?

Like I said earlier I don't want to do anything that will incriminate the dealer until they have had their say. I just want some advice on what to do.

However, I have checked the 6 marker and it is 100% removed.

[SaintMickey]

Originally Posted by bmedia

quite a strange comment?

Like i said earlier i don't want to do anything that will incriminate the dealer until they have had their say. I just want some advice on what to do.

However, i have checked the 6 marker and it is 100% removed.

What watch is it? What year of production? Any pics?

[Wobbly]

Originally Posted by BMedia

Quite a strange comment?

Like I said earlier I don't want to do anything that will incriminate the dealer until they have had their say. I just want some advice on what to do.

However, I have checked the 6 marker and it is 100% removed.

If it’s the watch you bought about 2 years ago, it’s all in your previous posts, watch, dealer, price you paid.

Maybe you should have though before posting.

[SaintMickey]

Originally Posted by Wobbly

If it’s the watch you bought about 2 years ago, it’s all in your previous posts, watch, dealer, price you paid.

Maybe you should have though before posting.

[Swearengen]

Rolex can determine the s/n from the movement number. S/N being removed is not a good sign......

[dnuggett]

If the serial was really removed I wouldn't be able to return that watch fast enough.

[mml4]

Originally Posted by dnuggett

If the serial was really removed I wouldn't be able to return that watch fast enough.

Short,sweet and to the point! That watch brings new meaning to the phrase "Damaged Goods".

[johnwigan]

The joys of buying on the grey market.

Don't want to alarm but depending on how that watch was acquired it could result in you having to explain yourself to the local constabulary. If it came to their attention they may think you were involved in acquiring the item, never mind the handling. And how it was acquired could be very serious indeed.

I wouldn't be thinking about the current market value of this watch at all.

[BLNR Nairobi]

It’s already been mentioned before, but I genuinely cannot think of any good/legal reason why a serial would have been removed. I am not saying the watch is stolen, but there sure is a huge red flag fluttering in the wind. Unless the seller can give a (very) good explanation why the serial was removed.

Your seller could be innocent - maybe he bought it from someone else. Whatever the case might be, it’s a real big red flag to have a watch/‘fire iron’/automobile etc with a removed serial.

Not the type of thing you want to have unless you are a character on The Wire.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by BMedia

I am going to keep this vague as I want to protect the person who sold me my watch as currently they are being extremely helpful.

They sold you a watch without a serial number.

Return it.

[OrangeSport]

Get your money back. Don't think you can expect more though, even if prices keep rising

[kieselguhr]

There really isn’t a good reason to manually remove a serial number between the lugs.

I would return to seller.

[SaintMickey]

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

There really isn’t a good reason to manually remove a serial number between the lugs.

I would return to seller.

Thinking out loud...what year and model was it? Did it ever have SN between the lugs?

[OrangeSport]

Just a thought, are service cases / replacement cases stamped?

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by OrangeSport

Just a thought, are service cases / replacement cases stamped?

If it's a real deal Rolex service replacement Mid-case.
Yes they are always stamped with a serial number which follows the watch throughout the Rolex system.

The OP may be mistaken about it being removed and it may also be a non genuine Mid-case which opens another avenue for complications and liabilities.

The OP really needs to get out of this one unless they have a solid fall back position.
But it looks like they've paid their money so they will need to be rather deft at handling this with the vendor in order to salvage something out of the deal

[214270Explorer]

Providing the serial number is not on the rehaut and has indeed been removed -
HARD PASS if you are smart.
Get your money back and never go to that dealer again.

[Goochy]

Originally Posted by BMedia

Afternoon all,

I am going to keep this vague as I want to protect the person who sold me my watch as currently they are being extremely helpful.

I recently bought a watch and everything checked out beautifully. Couldn't ask for more really. My insurance policy has asked for me to get a value from the local AD however, they said they could not value it because the SN has been removed and not through general wear and tear.

Now I am going to theirs on Wednesday to discuss options but I do want to be properly informed before I go.

As it stands:

Is my watch worthless?
Can I ever sell it?
What would happen if it went back to Rolex?
Is the serial was removed but all the numbers match, where would that leave me?
Because my watch has increased in value, if I hand it back in should I expect a price in reflection of the current market?

Really, I have already committed the money to exact item I want. It ticked all the boxes. I don't wan't to hand it back if I can but I also don't want to pay over the odds for something that is not what it said it was.

The seller hasn't offered any options yet, that is what Wednesday is for.

You any “everything checked out beautifully” but you didn’t check the serial number? Surely this is a basic check.

[BMedia]

Originally Posted by Goochy

You any “everything checked out beautifully” but you didn’t check the serial number? Surely this is a basic check.

By no means am I an expert. I asked all the questions, including to this forum and no one told me there was anything between the lugs or to look there. I was under the impression that the serial was inside the watch.

My papers said the serial number.

I have dated receipts and bills of sale which have it all logged and attached to the watch and even card receipts for the business which was located locally to me which originally sold the watch.

The dealer who sold it to me is also incredibly well respected and gave me no reason to believe it was anything less than described.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by BMedia

By no means am I an expert. I asked all the questions, including to this forum and no one told me there was anything between the lugs or to look there. I was under the impression that the serial was inside the watch.

My papers said the serial number.

I have dated receipts and bills of sale which have it all logged and attached to the watch and even card receipts for the business which was located locally to me which originally sold the watch.

The dealer who sold it to me is also incredibly well respected and gave me no reason to believe it was anything less than described.

You couldn't have asked all the questions about the potential location of the serial number, otherwise I'm confident someone would've told you about it.
Any way, the later watches are stamped on the Rehaut, whilst earlier watches are between the lugs.

[Alex71168]

Originally Posted by BMedia

The dealer who sold it to me is also incredibly well respected and gave me no reason to believe it was anything less than described.

Not with me they are not!

[SaintMickey]

Originally Posted by Alex71168

Not with me they are not!

Yeah its getting harder to hear "well respected" if one sells watches with sn removed or without at least telling the buyer. But then they'd never sell it.

[rmwill]

Did you buy it from one of the trusted sellers here?