1. Do I need a Rolex warranty card with my pre-owned Rolex?
Customer Dave Diver enters a Rolex authorized dealer (AD) on 2/19/20 and purchases a brand new Rolex Ceramic Submariner in steel model 116610 for $8,950.
The date of purchase is 2/19/20. Once the sale is complete the authorized dealer will electronically register the Rolex to "Dave Diver". They will then write his name on the card and the date of purchase activating the 5 year warranty on that day.
If Dave decides to sell his watch to someone else the next day, the new owner can still use the warranty card to have their watch serviced. The only instance the card would not work is if it's not registered to the specific watch brought in for service.
Pictured below is an unworn Rolex Ceramic Blue Submariner 116613 from late 2019. Notice the white new model card. This watch is still under warranty and was purchased directly from an authorized dealer.
2. What is the purpose of a Rolex Warranty card?
This is a direct quote from Rolex's website. Rolex guarantees the proper functioning of its watches for a period of five years from the date of purchase. The Rolex guarantee excludes normal wear-and-tear (notably the wear-and-tear of non-metal bracelets and straps), loss, theft, or damage due to misuse.
The substitution of components with, or the addition of, components or accessories not manufactured by Rolex will invalidate the guarantee. The guarantee is valid only if (1) the watch has been sold by an Official Rolex Retailer;
(2) the guarantee card has been completed in full by the Official Rolex Retailer at the time of purchase.
(3) the guarantee card is presented with the watch, either to an Official Rolex Retailer or to an Official Rolex Service Centre. Any work carried out by third parties will render the guarantee null and void.
The warranty card only covers proper function/time keeping. If the card date is 5 years or older the watch is no longer under warranty. The warranty card can also be used as an additional measure of verification to authenticate the watch.
You do not "need" a warranty card to make an intelligent purchase. The card is most valuable to a brand new release or complicated movement that has potential of needing service. The date only or non-date models have extremely resilient and long lasting movements will very little room for error.
3. What is the difference between Rolex warranty card and Rolex warranty paper?
The Rolex card is introduced in the year 2006. The Rolex card is a plastic credit card with a front and a back displaying different information regarding the Rolex watch.
There are two versions of the Rolex warranty card an older model (all green on the front) and the newer model (mostly white on the front).
The old model was produced from 2006-2015 these card were 2 year factory warranty cards, the Rolex International Warranty was more than doubled to a 5-year warranty from the date of purchase in 2016 when the mostly white (new model) card was released.
The expired warranty paper can be used as a means to prove a complete set was kept together and well taken care of up until it was sold. The authenticity of the watch can be lightly supported by the serial number on the case matching the paper. Never use a paper as a means of verification. Hold the Rolex one-year warranty paper up to bright light and check for watermarks. There is a crown water mark present on an authentic paper. Do not let papers influence your decision to purchase a Rolex watch. They are easily counterfeited with modern copiers and scanners.
If you have any further questions regarding this post please email Sales@BelovedWatch.com.