Opened case-back on Daytona.

[watchmogul7133]

Hello Guys. Hope everyone is well and staying safe. Out of curiosity I visited my local watchmaker. I took my Daytona that I bought from grey market, because I wanted to look at the movement.

The watchmaker is very experienced (50 or so years in the same place) and used rolex tools when opening it. However, I understand that rolex has ways to find out if it was opened. Nothing was done I just managed to take a couple of pics of the 4130 movement for myself.

Question, assuming I voided the 5 year warranty on the watch would rolex still fix it if I have any issues down the road?

[Tools]

If it is a Grey Market watch, it likely doesn't have a valid warranty, so it doesn't matter.

If it is simply a secondary market (used) watch, and the watchmaker didn't scratch up the back; it is unlikely that anybody will notice.

If the watch is authentic, Rolex will always repair it.

[Rado63]

I hope you took several photos with the rotor turned in different positions so you could see as much of the movement a possible. But no photos posted here, so you might have been dreaming this happened.

[305watchcollector]

I think this is correct.

Originally Posted by Tools

If it is a Grey Market watch, it likely doesn't have a valid warranty, so it doesn't matter.

If it is simply a secondary market (used) watch, and the watchmaker didn't scratch up the back; it is unlikely that anybody will notice.

If the watch is authentic, Rolex will always repair it.

[BartM]

So where are the pics?

[watchmogul7133]

Here it is. Having trouble uploading pics in the forum

[77T]

Originally Posted by watchmogul7133

Question, assuming I voided the 5 year warranty on the watch would rolex still fix it if I have any issues down the road?

Under that assumption, no warranty work. Presuming it isn’t stolen or inauthentic, the RSC would fix it for the charges they quote at the time of repair.

Stolen watches are retained pending a legal process to establish true owner.

Inauthentic watches must be brought up to authentic standards at your cost in addition to the repair - that alone can be expensive.


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[Token74]

Originally Posted by watchmogul7133

Here it is. Having trouble uploading pics in the forum

Not exactly a thing of beauty is it! (Speaking as a Daytona owner myself).


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[envuks]

Originally Posted by Tools

If it is a Grey Market watch, it likely doesn't have a valid warranty, so it doesn't matter.

If it is simply a secondary market (used) watch, and the watchmaker didn't scratch up the back; it is unlikely that anybody will notice.

If the watch is authentic, Rolex will always repair it.

I was always under the impression from TRF that the warranty follows the watch (in the case of grey market and private sales). Seems this has been widely discussed for awhile. I’m wondering if new info came out that I may have missed, and if so, would you point me in that direction so I can get up to speed?

Thanks in advance


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[Jpccarguy]

Originally Posted by Token74

Not exactly a thing of beauty is it! (Speaking as a Daytona owner myself).

+1

So apparently, that's why there's no sapphire caseback!

[Jpccarguy]

And BTW, my Omega Speedy racing chronograph is vertical clutch, column wheel movement, same as the 4130. It has a sapphire back, but let me tell you, not much to see. Gotta get a VC or Patek, I guess.

[-dustin]

Originally Posted by envuks

I was always under the impression from TRF that the warranty follows the watch (in the case of grey market and private sales).

I was thinking the same...

[Tools]

Originally Posted by envuks

I was always under the impression from TRF that the warranty follows the watch (in the case of grey market and private sales). Seems this has been widely discussed for awhile. I’m wondering if new info came out that I may have missed, and if so, would you point me in that direction so I can get up to speed?

. . .

If a watch has a valid warranty, it does follow the watch.

The confusion comes from the misuse of "Grey Market", which is parallel import of goods, bypassing the Authorized Distributor. These watches have never been sold to a retail customer from a Dealer, so do not have a valid warranty.

A used watch, or a private seller is not the "Grey Market", it is the secondary market.

[Polarexplorerii]

Originally Posted by Token74

Not exactly a thing of beauty is it!


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[Robf52]

Originally Posted by Token74

Not exactly a thing of beauty is it! (Speaking as a Daytona owner myself).


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Built to last like a tank, but not much to look at.

[ToyotaMoe]

Originally Posted by Jpccarguy

+1

So apparently, that's why there's no sapphire caseback!

+2
That’s a mans man movement right there for you

[Macnavara]

Not sure it was worth the potential problems of opening but congrats anyway

[aknajera]

I took my sea dweller into a watch maker’s ship to have him help me take the bracelet off. I handed him the watch and 3 seconds later he had taken off the back of the case. I was worried too that he had compromised the seal or something. You hope these guys know what they are doing when they do it without asking.

[SearChart]

Opening and closing the watch with the correct tools will not do any harm nor will it void the warranty.

Rolex cannot see if it's been opened or not when done correctly...

[JacksonRain]

Originally Posted by Tools

If a watch has a valid warranty, it does follow the watch.

The confusion comes from the misuse of "Grey Market", which is parallel import of goods, bypassing the Authorized Distributor. These watches have never been sold to a retail customer from a Dealer, so do not have a valid warranty.

A used watch, or a private seller is not the "Grey Market", it is the secondary market.

Originally Posted by envuks

I was always under the impression from TRF that the warranty follows the watch (in the case of grey market and private sales). Seems this has been widely discussed for awhile. I’m wondering if new info came out that I may have missed, and if so, would you point me in that direction so I can get up to speed?

Thanks in advance


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Originally Posted by -dustin

I was thinking the same...

Tools, you had me at the beginning...non AD retailers and wholesalers selling watches, all of whom are "out of [Rolex's] network" as the vice president through the president once told me, are considered grey market dealers.

Many watches are traded and sold from dealer to dealer before reaching the hands of a end buyer/customer, including those with factory stickers in place.

The reason that I stated that Tools was on to something is because the overwhelming majority, YES, overwhelming majority of sellers OPEN these watches up on receipt for inspection and for good reason, including watches that are like new condition and within 5 years, and unfortunately sometimes in not the best or controlled environments.

That VERY common practice technically voids the warranty. Does RSC always find out? No. Do they recognize the touchups polishing or refinishing which also voids a warranty, INCLUDING MECHANICAL? sometimes, but there is your answer, and that's what you have to consider when purchasing one of these timepieces.

I should mention that watches that non ADs obtain that says the TSs name or that non ADs get from ADs and the cards are left BLANK for the name, are watches that are rarely opened, since the non AD is buying from the backdoor from the AD and sometimes the AD either keeps the card until the time of sale made to non AD retailer's customer or trusts the non AD with a nameless card and warranty and everything is in tact. Let's not have the swipe the card discussion...anyway hope that clears up some things

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[RJRJRJ]

Originally Posted by Tools

If a watch has a valid warranty, it does follow the watch.

The confusion comes from the misuse of "Grey Market", which is parallel import of goods, bypassing the Authorized Distributor. These watches have never been sold to a retail customer from a Dealer, so do not have a valid warranty.

A used watch, or a private seller is not the "Grey Market", it is the secondary market.

Exactly this. We call sellers like DavidSW "grey market" but the reality is that he's just reselling watches that he bought from an AD or a private seller.

As far as I know, there aren't any actual grey market Rolex watches.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by envuks

I was always under the impression from TRF that the warranty follows the watch (in the case of grey market and private sales). Seems this has been widely discussed for awhile. I’m wondering if new info came out that I may have missed, and if so, would you point me in that direction so I can get up to speed?

Thanks in advance


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The warranty only follows the watch if the watches warranty card was scanned and activated by a official Rolex AD.

[richard371]

Not a pretty movement . Don't have to worry about my Daytona ever cheating on me. It is a very well designed movement and I always love seeing those red gears. Still better looking than most Rolex movements. I think a lot has to do with the way it photographed. Did it look nicer in person vs the photo?

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Opening and closing the watch with the correct tools will not do any harm nor will it void the warranty.

Rolex cannot see if it's been opened or not when done correctly...

Exactly. How would they know? Especially if the caseback is torqued to Rolex spec.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Jpccarguy

+1

So apparently, that's why there's no sapphire caseback!

You can buy aftermarket if you’re interested ...

http://www.customwatchconcepts.com/i...1917c8ce12e7ec