Opinion on Gibraltar Rolex watches resale value...

[L55HEM]

Hi guys, pretty new to the forum (less than a week), just wanted to see what the thoughts are in owning a Rolex purchased from Gibraltar to see whether a resale value would be affected by having the country code 150 on the warranty card rather than say 160 for the UK?

I also note the code 150 seems to be for Spain therefore looks like Gibraltar doesn't have their own code but of course outside EU customs, therefore would any subsequent purchaser be worried about VAT being paid or would that just be the first purchasers requirement?

Thanks in advance :)

[padi56]

Originally Posted by L55HEM

Hi guys, pretty new to the forum (less than a week), just wanted to see what the thoughts are in owning a Rolex purchased from Gibraltar to see whether a resale value would be affected by having the country code 150 on the warranty card rather than say 160 for the UK?

I also note the code 150 seems to be for Spain therefore looks like Gibraltar doesn't have their own code but of course outside EU customs, therefore would any subsequent purchaser be worried about VAT being paid or would that just be the first purchasers requirement?

Thanks in advance :)

Short answer no.

[brettpaul]

No impact at all - watches are purchased from all over the world and all Rolex warranties are international....except if you ask the RSC in NYC

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by L55HEM

Hi guys, pretty new to the forum (less than a week), just wanted to see what the thoughts are in owning a Rolex purchased from Gibraltar to see whether a resale value would be affected by having the country code 150 on the warranty card rather than say 160 for the UK?

I also note the code 150 seems to be for Spain therefore looks like Gibraltar doesn't have their own code but of course outside EU customs, therefore would any subsequent purchaser be worried about VAT being paid or would that just be the first purchasers requirement?

Thanks in advance :)

Gibraltar is in the EU but you are correct in that it is not part of the "customs Union" so technically you have to declare when entering the UK and pay an additional 20%, but that is the original purchasers responsibility or whoever brings it in. Once its in the EU customs area (the internal market), there are no further duties by sending it to france, netherlands, spain or any other country in the customs union. Im aware that most people wouldn't declare it anyway and often import them all over the world in violation of customs laws, so i am just telling you what you are supposed to do not what most people do. I doubt it affects retail value especially since it looks like the watch originated in spain anyway (not that it really matters though, but it could give a buyer down the road some piece of mind).

[zama]

Does not matter where it comes from at all, as long as it does not have Barbary ape poo on it should be fine......

I bought a shirt once from M&S in Gibraltar, it is always a good trivia pursuit question when I tell people I bought a shirt at M&S paid in pounds but was not in England where was I???? Few get it right.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by brettpaul

No impact at all - watches are purchased from all over the world and all Rolex warranties are international....except if you ask the RSC in NYC

Rolex USA and Rolex SA (which includes every other country but the USA) are technically different companies. They require a bill of sale in NY RSC because if the original purchaser is the one getting a foreign rolex serviced, they will honor the warranty from Rolex SA but not if it is a grey market import. I have no idea why they don't require this at all US service centers and just NY, but they could.

If a bill of sale isn't provided then they may refuse to do warranty work, despite the fact it is an"international warranty". The service isn't denied because the warranty isn't valid, its denied because the watch is in violation of trademark law as technically that watch isn't "supposed" to be in the USA at all. A bill of sale clarifies this for Rolex USA as they are not trying to hurt a legitimate overseas purchase IE from on holiday or an expat who purchased while living abroad but trying to prevent grey market imports where the original purchaser isn't the same one who is getting it serviced.

In the same sense, Rolex USA won't do warranty work on a watch they find to be stolen, they won't do it on one that violates the law on their exclusive ownership of their US trademark. I don't think they should do this, but they can, as the US government has granted Rolex USA the exclusive use of the Rolex trademark which doesn't apply to Rolex watches from Rolex SA.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

Rolex USA and Rolex SA (which includes every other country but the USA) are technically different companies. They require a bill of sale in NY RSC because if the original purchaser is the one getting a foreign rolex serviced, they will honor the warranty from Rolex SA but not if it is a grey market import. I have no idea why they don't require this at all US service centers and just NY, but they could.

If a bill of sale isn't provided then they may refuse to do warranty work, despite the fact it is an"international warranty". The service isn't denied because the warranty isn't valid, its denied because the watch is in violation of trademark law as technically that watch isn't "supposed" to be in the USA at all. A bill of sale clarifies this for Rolex USA as they are not trying to hurt a legitimate overseas purchase IE from on holiday or an expat who purchased while living abroad but trying to prevent grey market imports where the original purchaser isn't the same one who is getting it serviced.

In the same sense, Rolex USA won't do warranty work on a watch they find to be stolen, they won't do it on one that violates the law on their exclusive ownership of their US trademark. I don't think they should do this, but they can, as the US government has granted Rolex USA the exclusive use of the Rolex trademark which doesn't apply to Rolex watches from Rolex SA.

Not trying to be argumentative, but this is BS IMO. The terms of the warranty tell me to present my warranty card. The terms state nothing about requiring a bill of sale. If the card is valid in Rolex system, NY RSC cannot require additional documentation and still be in compliance with the warranty.

What if the watch was a gift?

The fact that no other RSC does this is an indication that the NY RSC is on its' own program. They can get away with it because it's easier to ship the watch to Dallas than to struggle with the NY RSC over this issue.

[L55HEM]

Thanks guys lightning quick and very helpful, good to know as I purchased a few watches at a very good price a few years ago from the AD there and upon enquiring in the UK as to the value I was advised the price would be lower due to being from Gibraltar. Thought might have been a ploy to get them for less money but worth an ask as might have put me off buying there in the future. Great place too as they have an aphorised service centre upstairs and quoted 2 weeks for a full service which is excellent compared to local timescales. Thanks again :)

[L55HEM]

Originally Posted by zama

Does not matter where it comes from at all, as long as it does not have Barbary ape poo on it should be fine......

I bought a shirt once from M&S in Gibraltar, it is always a good trivia pursuit question when I tell people I bought a shirt at M&S paid in pounds but was not in England where was I???? Few get it right.

Haha lucky no ape poo, one did however jump on my shoulder from behind off the top of a van which scared the life out of me

Great trivia question, ill be using that one ;)

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by L55HEM

Thanks guys lightning quick and very helpful, good to know as I purchased a few watches at a very good price a few years ago from the AD there and upon enquiring in the UK as to the value I was advised the price would be lower due to being from Gibraltar. Thought might have been a ploy to get them for less money but worth an ask as might have put me off buying there in the future. Great place too as they have an aphorised service centre upstairs and quoted 2 weeks for a full service which is excellent compared to local timescales. Thanks again :)

I've heard of UK dealers pulling this one, but its total BS. Personally, I would rather have a watch with Gibraltar papers (warranty card) than UK papers, just because it would be more interesting provenance. That's just me, though. I suspect 99% of people wouldn't care. And the UK dealer certainly won't be selling it any cheaper than a similar watch with UK papers.

[Gaijin]

Other than it being kinda cool I can't see it adding any value.

[joli160]

Country code in itself does not matter imho.
The one thing that would bother me as a potential buyer is not getting an invoice with VAT.
Our tax collectors in some of the EU airports may create a problem if they stop you for a screening.

[Vivalas]

Originally Posted by zama

Does not matter where it comes from at all, as long as it does not have Barbary ape poo on it should be fine......

I bought a shirt once from M&S in Gibraltar, it is always a good trivia pursuit question when I tell people I bought a shirt at M&S paid in pounds but was not in England where was I???? Few get it right.

Cornwall???

[ndsleep612]

Doesn't affect anything. I wouldn't mind buying a Rolex from Antarctica if they ever had an AD there as long as it makes sense.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by zama

Does not matter where it comes from at all, as long as it does not have Barbary ape poo on it should be fine......

I bought a shirt once from M&S in Gibraltar, it is always a good trivia pursuit question when I tell people I bought a shirt at M&S paid in pounds but was not in England where was I???? Few get it right.

Scotland? Wales? Northern Ireland?