After news surfaced last week that Rolex is planning to buy the popular independent watch retailer Bucherer it left some people wondering if that meant Rolex would be battening down the hatches and reducing their involvement with other retailers. This possibility was so concerning that some retailers (Watches of Switzerland in particular) experienced substantial share price drops. However, Watches of Switzerland and Rolex have renewed their commitment to working together with the news that the retailer’s UK stores are now part of the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned Programme.
The programme, launched last year, essentially means that every Rolex watch in the scheme has been serviced by Rolex and given a renewed warranty. Providing collectors with confidence and security in the pre-owned watches. And now those watches are going to be available from Watches of Switzerland, Goldsmiths and Mappin and Webb both online and in their showrooms.
Watches of Switzerland CEO Brian Duffy commented that “We are proud to continue to work closely with Rolex and to offer Certified Pre-Owned timepieces in the UK, having already experienced a positive reception in the US. We look forward to presenting an extensive offering in our showrooms and also online, continuing to offer our clients the opportunity to purchase in confidence and experience our expertise and excellence”.
What does this mean for consumers? On the positive side, between the service and the warranty you really can have confidence that the watches you’re buying are genuine and in good condition. On the cynical side, you’ll likely see a dramatic mark-up on Rolexes that have the seal of approval. Where the programme has been rolled out at other retailers, the watches have been priced at as much as £10,000 above where an equivalent watch is priced at other locations without the seal.
But still, the main headline is that despite initial concerns you can most definitely continue to pick up Rolexes from a variety of retailers.
More details at Watches of Switzerland.
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