Rolex kept the old bracelet

[Shropshire Lad]

A couple of years ago I sold a lovely 16760 GMT to the husband of a friend at work. He loves this watch and recently sent it off for a new bracelet and clasp after he damaged the clasp. So I'm told he's got it back by my friend and in conversation, she tells me that Rolex kept the old bracelet. I asked why and she said it was their policy as they don't want these things in the second hand market.

Is this right?? It seems to me that they've kept his property. If he'd sent the watch head off on its own he'd still have both. It just doesn't seem right.

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[demonloop]

It sounds like he’s bought the new bracelet on “exchange basis” so they will keep the old one.

They used to offer a higher price for you to keep the old one, ie not an exchange, but I don’t know if you can still do this.

[Mick P]

They keep the old bracelet to prevent you selling it on to some scrote who will use it for a frankenwatch. It's a good idea and it protects everyone. Be grateful that they do it.

[Chris_in_the_UK]

They keep the old bracelet to prevent you selling it on to some scrote who will use it for a frankenwatch. It's a good idea and it protects everyone. Be grateful that they do it.

It's not their property to retain?

[Mick P]

It's not their property to retain?

You got over 35,000 posts on here and you come out with a statement like that. You know full well that if you want an exchange whatever, Rolex will keep the old one. If you want to keep the old one, you can, but they won't sell you a new one. Your choice, take it or leave it.

I don't want old stuff available to scrotes, Rolex don't either and neither should you.

[Chris_in_the_UK]

You got over 35,000 posts on here and you come out with a statement like that. You know full well that if you want an exchange whatever, Rolex will keep the old one. If you want to keep the old one, you can, but they won't sell you a new one. Your choice, take it or leave it.

I don't want old stuff available to scrotes, Rolex don't either and neither should you.

I actually could not care less Mick.

[Hood]

You got over 35,000 posts on here and you come out with a statement like that. You know full well that if you want an exchange whatever, Rolex will keep the old one. If you want to keep the old one, you can, but they won't sell you a new one. Your choice, take it or leave it.

I don't want old stuff available to scrotes, Rolex don't either and neither should you.

Uninformed tripe as usual.
I have ordered up 2 93150 bracelets in the last couple of years for a 5513 and a 1665
At no point was I asked to give up the original bracelets .

[Foxy100]

If you had head-only presumably you would pay a higher price to get a new bracelet fitted. They're not going to turn you away just because you don't have an old one to exchange.

[MakeColdplayHistory]

Has he bought a new bracelet or paid to have the bracelet replaced?
If the former, tell him to go in and ask for his property back but he may well have done the latter, knowingly or not.

[hafle]

They keep the old bracelet to prevent you selling it on to some scrote who will use it for a frankenwatch. It's a good idea and it protects everyone. Be grateful that they do it.

I bought a bracelet off this forum for my 16660. Wish I'd known in advance that I was a scrote creating a frankenwatch.

Last I checked, for certain items rolex were more than happy to let you keep the original part in exchange for paying more for the reolacent.

[Shropshire Lad]

I bought a bracelet off this forum for my 16660. Wish I'd known in advance that I was a scrote creating a frankenwatch.

Last I checked, for certain items rolex were more than happy to let you keep the original part in exchange for paying more for the reolacent.

I too have bought second hand links on here so I'm in the club as well.

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[Shropshire Lad]

They keep the old bracelet to prevent you selling it on to some scrote who will use it for a frankenwatch. It's a good idea and it protects everyone. Be grateful that they do it.

Ok understood. I don't think they made this clear to him but at least he hasn't been done.

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[Wyvern971]

Without wanting to be argumentative, if this were the case, would this not mean that they would size bracelets when you buy a Rolex and keep any spare links?

They keep the old bracelet to prevent you selling it on to some scrote who will use it for a frankenwatch. It's a good idea and it protects everyone. Be grateful that they do it.

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[Mick P]

Without wanting to be argumentative, if this were the case, would this not mean that they would size bracelets when you buy a Rolex and keep any spare links?

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Yes that is a good point. The Rolex system is far from perfect and it seems to alienate far too many customers, your point and the Nato issue are two good examples of where their retention policy is blown out of the skies.

[gbn13]

In October 2018 I called into RSC St. James Square and purchased a bracelet for my 16700, as the existing one was a bit stretched.

I now have two bracelets. There was no alternative pricing for a replacement, with Rolex to keep the original. “We don’t do that with bracelets, we sell you a new one and you keep the old one”.

If there has been a change in policy, it is a new policy.

[JasonM]

To Shropshire Lad, did the watch go through a AD to get the new bracelet? I bet it did and they kept the old one. I said this recently in another thread, my dad sent his Speedy in for a refurb via a AD and didn’t get the old parts back, send it to Bienne yourself and you do.

[draftsmann]

Nudge nudge, wink wink. Those eBay and Chrono-shop parts sellers have to get their stock somehow.

[Shropshire Lad]

To Shropshire Lad, did the watch go through a AD to get the new bracelet? I bet it did and they kept the old one. I said this recently in another thread, my dad sent his Speedy in for a refurb via a AD and didn’t get the old parts back, send it to Bienne yourself and you do.

Yes, he went through their local AD.

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[Ukboweldoc]

A couple of years ago I sold a lovely 16760 GMT to the husband of a friend at work. He loves this watch and recently sent it off for a new bracelet and clasp after he damaged the clasp. So I'm told he's got it back by my friend and in conversation, she tells me that Rolex kept the old bracelet. I asked why and she said it was their policy as they don't want these things in the second hand market.

Is this right?? It seems to me that they've kept his property. If he'd sent the watch head off on its own he'd still have both. It just doesn't seem right.

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I have had this happen to me many years ago - I insisted that I had my old bracelet back, which they did in fact return.

I understand asking for your old dial back can be more difficult - but I have achieved this with a GMT fat lady a couple of years ago.... but made it a pre-requisite before the watch was sent away.

[Kitz]

Every point made in this thread could have been made without rancour .


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[ollipekka]

I bought both jubilee and SEL oyster for my 16700 and got to keep old bracelet despite internet saying i couldn't do that or get even get a SEL bracelet for 16700 for the matter of the fact. Internet gromes always don't know everything and willingly shill others into believing you need to buy overpriced bracelets off Chrono24.

[HenPecked]

Every point made in this thread could have been made without rancour .

So, after Luke Skywalker killed it?

[oldoakknives]

And apparently, you just couldn’t resist having a little dig either...

Go to the draft thread, it’s what it’s for.

You’re right I should have kept quiet. I’ll delete the post.

[Ribena36]

In July I took my 1675 in to St James for service & repair and they offered optional replacement of bezel/dial/hands. When I asked if I could have the originals back they confirmed I could but there would be a 50% surcharge on each part as they price on an exchange basis. For example they charge 37.30 for the bezel insert but if I want original back they will charge additional 18.65. (Ex VAT).




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[oldoakknives]

In July I took my 1675 in to St James for service & repair and they offered optional replacement of bezel/dial/hands. When I asked if I could have the originals back they confirmed I could but there would be a 50% surcharge on each part as they price on an exchange basis. For example they charge 37.30 for the bezel insert but if I want original back they will charge additional 18.65. (Ex VAT).




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Seems to fit in with what MickP said.

[Mick P]

Seems to fit in with what MickP said.

To be fair, I was quoting my 16710 where the original buyer could purchase 3 different bezels at the same time. Therefore there would have been no restrictions. The restriction applied to model related bezels.

[gray]

Lost the will to post. Just imagine I agree or disagree to suit your mood.

[Mick P]

In July I took my 1675 in to St James for service & repair and they offered optional replacement of bezel/dial/hands. When I asked if I could have the originals back they confirmed I could but there would be a 50% surcharge on each part as they price on an exchange basis. For example they charge 37.30 for the bezel insert but if I want original back they will charge additional 18.65. (Ex VAT).




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That is crazy. So for the princely sum of £18.65 you could retain your old bezel and then flog it to a franken builder. Oh well, that's life I suppose.

[Hood]

That is crazy. So for the princely sum of £18.65 you could retain your old bezel and then flog it to a franken builder. Oh well, that's life I suppose.

This is an interesting point and worthy of discussion and opinions will vary.
Bracelet and bezel insert replacements where someone will put a period correct replacement on their vintage watch is not viewed badly and is merely bringing the watch back to it's original look.
My interpretation,and I'm quite willing to be corrected on this is that a Franken is more where a movement is non matching to the case.
Obviously all original to the watch for say a 4 digit reference is the holy grail however if not possible a period correct replacement is certainly not seen as bad form.

[Andyg]

OP, just ring Rolex and ask them. It's possible they offered an exchange strap for a lower cost, however this is a new one on me. If this is not the case and full price was paid then your friend is entitled to have the old one returned.

[hafle]

Out of interest, doesn't buying a bracelet from rolex mean you now have a franken? I mean it's not the bracelet that originally came with the watch. So no different to someone with a head only watch buying someone else's bracelet to fit on their watch. Is any watch with service replacement parts also a franken?

This is all of course assuming Mick is talking sense

[darko]

OP, just ring Rolex and ask them. It's possible they offered an exchange strap for a lower cost, however this is a new one on me. If this is not the case and full price was paid then your friend is entitled to have the old one returned.

This exactly.
There was no discussion of ‘exchange’ when I dropped mine off, or accepted the quote, or requested the old one back for that matter.

[darko]

Had 5 digit gmt2 serviced within the last few months via St.James’s. Agreed to bracelet replacement. Watch came back with the new one fitted but without the original. I questioned it and requested the original....the response (from Paul, I think his names was) “Yes, no problem. We’ll need a couple of days to have to have it sent back from the archive (...or similar). Collected it a few weeks later when I picked up my sub from its service...
No surcharge, part ex or increased cost from the original quote.

[Shropshire Lad]

Thank you to all those that replied and who know what they are talking about.

I'm going to recommend my friend goes back to the AD and ask them to confirm what the relevant two tier prices are, i.e. new bracelet or exchange bracelet. I'll suggest he asks for the old bracelet back if there isn't compete clarity on this front.

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[MakeColdplayHistory]

Thank you to all those that replied and who know what they are talking about.
I'm going to recommend my friend goes back to the AD and ask them to confirm what the relevant two tier prices are, i.e. new bracelet or exchange bracelet. I'll suggest he asks for the old bracelet back if there isn't compete clarity on this front.

Any update?

[Shropshire Lad]

Any update?

Nothing to report. I've suggested to my friend that he goes back in and asks for the old bracelet. I'll update the thread if he does this.

Thanks again for the advice and replies.

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[Bluehase284]

When I enquired about a sub bracelet I was quoted £1950 but a core exchange discount price of £1400.

I don't think you have an option other then exchange unless the bracelet is lost etc - then you need to pay the premium.

[KingKitega]

I paid £1550 for a glidelock bracelet just a few months ago. No problem for my AD to order it - didn't have to exchange anything - just a simple straight purchase. Been on my Explorer 2 16570 ever since.

[RobDad]

Whilst I’m very anti any kind of fake, or fake parts - I think the fake Rolex parts issue is rather less worrying than fake aircraft parts, fake car brake parts etc. I’m rather more concerned at my holiday plane falling out of the sky than a fake spring bar giving way on someone’s man jewellery. Let’s keep it in perspective hey?!!


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[LeBowl]

I picked a jubilee bracelet for my GMT yesterday from my AD. No exchange just straight purchase

[Montello]

I have bought a new bracelet from Rolex, £1000.

No exchange price was offered, I did ask.

Their default is to keep the old one but when asked they did return the old one.

Initially they were going to retain the spare links but after a bit of discussion those were also supplied.

[33JS]

Anyone saying Rolex dont sell bracelets separately is being silly. My AD is happy to get me a Batman bracelet to go on my Pepsi. No px required.

Daft argument!