Have you purchased a Rolex watch without papers? Or do you want to sell your Rolex watch but have misplaced the papers? Are you now wondering how can you get original or replacement papers?
Do not worry, first of all, let me tell you that you are not alone and secondly, you are at the right place. In this article, I am going to tell you what to do if you have misplaced your original Rolex papers. I will also tell you if you could get replacement papers for your Rolex or not.
So keep calm and keep reading!
Quick Navigation
- What Are Rolex Papers?
- What Happens If You Lose Your Rolex Papers?
- Should You Buy A Rolex Watch Without Papers?
- FAQs
What Are Rolex Papers?
Rolex is one of the most luxurious and famous watch brands around the world and its watches cost thousands of dollars. Everybody wants to own a timepiece from Rolex but how to tell if a Rolex is real and not just a copy? Because there might be more copies than the original Rolex watches in this world.
To prove their authenticity, all the Rolex watches in the world come with papers. These papers consist of the following things:
- Owner’s manual
- Authenticity or guarantee certificate
- Container box
The owner’s manual is the manual that you get with almost every machine that you purchase. It is there to help you learn how to use the watch and its features.
The authenticity or guarantee certificate is the most important of them all. This is what authenticates your Rolex watch. This certificate consists of the following details:
- Model number of the watch
- Serial number of the watch
- Serial number of the bracelet
- Place and date of purchasing the watch
The guarantee certificate is called paper because prior to the year 2006, Rolex used to give an actual piece of paper that used to consists of all the above-mentioned details. But from 2006 onwards this certificate was replaced by a plastic card. And nowadays you get a guarantee card with every Rolex watch that proves its authenticity.
The Container box as the name suggests is the box that contains all the papers and the watch itself.
What Happens If You Lose Your Rolex Papers?
Now let us look at what happens if you manage to lose these papers. Can you replace lost Rolex papers? Will you be able to service your watch at a Rolex service center? In case you want to sell it, how will you be able to sell your Rolex watch without papers?
How To Get Rolex Papers?
As discussed earlier, whenever you purchase a new Rolex watch, you get the box and all the papers with it. But if unfortunately you have misplaced them and are wondering how to get replacement papers or the original papers then I have bad news for you. In any circumstance, Rolex does not issue replacement papers or the original papers again.
So if you ever decide to purchase a Rolex watch again then remember to store its papers in a very safe place.
Will Rolex Service A Watch Without Papers?
The next question that needs to be answered is: Will Rolex service a watch without papers?
And the answer to this question is a yes. Rolex will service a watch without the original papers as long as it is not stolen. The company maintains a database of all the watches that were reported stolen. And every time anyone takes a Rolex for servicing then the serial number of the watch is matched against the stolen watches. If the watch is not stolen then the watch is serviced and if it is stolen then you know what will happen.
Therefore if somebody steals your Rolex ever then do remember to report it to Rolex along with the cops. Because, if the thief gets the watch serviced from any of the registered Rolex service centers then you will get your watch back.
How To Sell Rolex Without Papers?
As discussed earlier the papers prove the authenticity of a Rolex watch. And if you have misplaced them then you will have a hard time proving the authenticity of the watch and getting a hefty amount out of someone’s pocket. Needless to say, you will be getting a lot lesser amount compared to what you should be getting.
If you could just prove that the watch is authentic then you will be able to easily sell it at a much higher price. But as discussed before Rolex will not give you any replacement papers or original papers, no matter what the conditions are.
So the question that arises is: how to sell a Rolex watch without papers or how to prove the authenticity of a Rolex watch without original papers?
There is actually only one way of doing it i.e. by getting it authenticated. And to get a watch authenticated, you have two options.
1) Get The Watch Authenticated From A Experienced Horologist
A horologist can authenticate whether the watch is an original Rolex watch or not. And once the watch gets the approval of an experienced well-known horologist then it will not be hard for you to sell it at a higher price. But the problem with this option is that if the buyer has not heard of the watchmaker before or does not know him then they may not trust the approval of the horologist.
2) Getting The Watch Serviced
The next and best option to prove the authenticity of a Rolex watch is to get it serviced from a registered Rolex service center. When a Rolex watch is serviced from a registered service center then it will help you with two things:
- The watch’s working will be as good as new
- The service center will issue a service certificate that will prove the authenticity of the watch
The benefit for the buyer is that they will not have to pay anything extra to maintain the watch in the near future. And the benefit for you is that you will be able to sell the watch at a much higher price. But the disadvantage for you is that you will have to pay for the watch service, which generally costs around $500-$600 and can go all the way up to $1000.
Should You Buy A Rolex Watch Without Papers?
If you are in the market for buying a used Rolex watch then it is possible that you might be getting a good deal for a watch without papers. But should you buy it?
The answer is a yes. You should buy it but after some investigation. You should first get it checked by an experienced watchmaker or horologist that you know. And if they say that it is an authentic Rolex watch then you should definitely buy it.
FAQs
Can You Get Original Rolex Papers?
No, you cannot get original Rolex papers, once misplaced, under any circumstance.
What Happens If You Lose Your Rolex Papers?
You will not get a good deal if you try to sell your Rolex watch without papers.
Does Rolex Provides Replacement Papers If The Original Papers Are Lost?
No, Rolex does not provide any replacement papers.
