When it comes to selling a Rolex watch, one might wonder if Rolex or the authorized dealer (AD) will find out. In this section, we will explore how Rolex or the AD knows if you sold your watch. We will also discuss whether Rolex will blacklist you for selling your watch, how the retailer scouts the web to find out if you sold your watch, how the warranty will not expose that you have sold your watch, and what to do to keep your AD from knowing you sold your watch.
How Does Rolex or the AD know if you Sold your Watch?
Rolex and retailers dislike flippers, in other words, those who sell their watches. Rolex even clearly states in the retail contract that their watches should be sold to end-consumer, over-the-counter. As such, if a customer gets their hands on one, it can be very appealing to flip it for a quick profit. But this is not something that neither Rolex nor the official retailer likes.
Rolex will not blacklist you
First and foremost, we need to sort out the fact that Rolex will not blacklist you if they find out that you have sold your watch. However, one of the most common ways that a Rolex AD finds out that you have sold your watch is that Rolex informs them. In recent years, Rolex has actually started hiring people who browse the web for advertisements for Rolex watches – in particular brand new Rolex watches. This may include some of the biggest platforms like eBay, watch forums, and Chrono24.
The Rolex retailer scouts the web
There are also an increasing number of Rolex retailers that actively scout the web for watches that they have sold. If a Rolex retailer identifies a watch that they have sold, they will likely blacklist the customer, or at least inform the customer that they know they have sold the watch.
The warranty will not expose that you have sold your watch
Different from what some people think, Rolex will not find out if you sell your watch as a result of the warranty. The Rolex warranty is connected to the warranty card and the watch. The warranty is not connected to a person and it is transferable without anyone having to do anything. The only way you can be exposed via the warranty is if you advertise your watch online and forget to hide the serial number (or place of purchase).
If someone visits the retailer with the watch
Another way a Rolex retailer would be able to find out if you have sold the watch is if someone comes into the store with the watch. This is not uncommon if you sell the watch locally. For example, if you buy a watch and then advertise it on the local marketplace. Someone buys it and then goes to the same retailer who sold it to have it checked for authenticity. This way, the store will be able to know that you have sold it.
Quick tips to keep your AD from knowing you sold your watch
If you advertise online, it is best to not disclose the serial number of the watch, hide the serial number on the rehaut at 6 o’clock, hide the serial number on the warranty card, hide the retailer on the warranty card (if you have an older warranty card), hide the day and month of purchase on the warranty card, and don’t show the receipt which indicates where it was sold. If you sell your watch, it is best to sell it out of the country or far away from your AD and if the watch has the old warranty card, ask that the buyer don’t contact that exact retailer for any checks, but instead contact a different AD.
