lol chinese fakes have better QC than swiss counterparts. It's a running meme in China, which they call '瑞士毛' (swiss hair). It's surprising the west has just started noticing this.
Had a friend that went in to a AD soon as Covid relaxed. He put himself on the list. Year later he got his black sub. He got extremely lucky. Was the AD in Birmingham bullring.
I had my 2002 Air King in for service back in 2012 at an AD. When I got it back I wore it in a shower shortly after and saw humidity forming inside the watch. I called up the AD who was very apologetic and was at least happy that it wasn’t salt water. But it tells me that they didn’t properly service the watch or pressure test it
I looked at a submariner at an AD about nine months ago and saw the dial was not centered properly. It was off a couple degrees and very noticeable to me. I brought it to their attention and they said they were going to have their watchmaker look at it. Nothing like paying all that money to have some watchmaker open it up
I'd rather hear more specifics regarding the number of watches with defects and the models rather than simply saying, 'so many'. You mentioned a couple, saying 'so many' implies many more than that. Please expand.
They are the same mass produced but decent watch they were. If I looped my 2018 Hulk the finishing on the hour markers and the lume plots is not as good as you would expect. But this is very similar for most mass produced brands. It’s not good enough. But I don’t think it’s a new thing. Decent way to get people to buy preowned though I guess!
Wow! That is so concerning. Sad day when you realize your precious Rolex watch that you've waited so long for has scratches. I sure hope Rolex will address this. Thank you for addressing this.
If you buy from him he will check and make sure and you only pay way over then the AD. cant you look at watch at AD when you get??????????????????????????WTF
It would be good to see a video from yourselves, on a mock purchase scenario, and you showing us what we should inspect, as though we are at the AD. For example, bring a magnifying glass, gloves, and check area A, B, and C, etc. Thanks.
Bring your own 10x loupe and methodically scan the entire watch, mm by mm. Look for dust on the dial, scratches on the hands and indexes, printing errors with the text on the dial, scratches on the bracelet, clasp, and crown, and misalignment of the bezel/indexes.
It's something that could affect any company, I guess. You occasionally employ the wrong person, who seemed great at interviews, then they get settled in, switch off, and stop caring. That's all it takes.
Thanks for that update mate! You’re absolutely correct! I picked up a Yacht-Master 42 white gold on oyster flex from my AD back in August 2023. I inspected the watch and everything was fine. Then, when we sized the watch, they had to order another strap size. I didn’t think to inspect it again when I came back to pick it up and surely enough, they had scratched the lugs. When I noticed it a day later, I immediately went back to my AD to show it to them and they said it couldn’t have been them since they put something on the lugs to protect them. They further told me that when I walked out of the store with it, it amounted to me accepting the watch and declaring myself satisfied with it. Believe me when I say that I learned my lesson and that will never happen to me again!
Checked my new watch from AD. No pubic hair on the dial or seller team's shark teeth marks on the bezel. (Joke aside: checked my 2024 Rolex Daytona steel from AD following your video. All good. :) ).
As someone who works for an AD and have seen the behind the scenes , the quality is not slipping . It is QC every step of the manufacturing process . Rolex does not send watches unless they are perfect . Clickbait title
How to we really know we can TRUST you. If this is true this guy is just trying to help HIMSELF. What do you recommend what is going on here on this channel. I just bought a sprite last week and it was perfect.I bought it from AD.
How is it click bait ? He’s telling you they won’t accept them? To what end would it benefit his business by highlighting imperfections. Hats off to the guy for ensuring his clients get the perfection they deserve
I’m over Rolex. They have become like car dealers to me. Always manipulating buyers and playing games. Putting profit over product and worst of all manipulating the supply by selling their watches out the back door to grey dealers. Their watches are average at best in quality and specifications vs many other better products that are readily available. Rolex are for fools with money. Most of their customers can’t afford the watch and are sheep renters. They buy what their told to rent.
32xx low amplitude problem. Been going on for a long time now. 200 page discussion in the Rolex forum. It’s not just superficial quality issues. The whole movement is unreliable.
Great video mate. Is the Daytona OF Ghost above or below list? What price would you pay for a 2024 unworn? I don’t have one for sale, just curious on the current market on this watch. Thanks!
Thanks so much for the support mate, so glad to hear you’re enjoying the content! The Daytona Ghost is really solid in the market and still above retail in the secondary market for us to buy and sell 🙌🏻💯
Most Rolex owners could be walking around with imperfections and never notice it because they ASSUME that it’s perfect solely because it’s a Rolex. Replica Rolexes from the top factories have higher QC than these and the replica owners have a higher expectation of their watch than genuine Rolex owners do. At the end of the day, at least replica buyers get high quality pictures and videos of every watch before they spend $700, vs an AD that will never give you that luxury. Something to think about!
Had 3 different bezels on subs and gmts not lining up perfectly at 12 o'clock. The crown on the inner rehaut is rarely perfectly aligned at 12 o'clock either.
I have a 2021 Air King that I have recently removed from storage. I found a speck of dust on the dial. This watch has been worn before but very carefully and occasionally. I can't recall there being any dust on the dial before. Thoughts on whether this speck has always been there and rolex quality control didn't pick it up?
Interesting observations. I purchased a brand new 116610LV (Hulk) from my AD shortly after release. I noticed it had a tiny black imperfection within the bezel and it ended up going back to Rolex who changed it without question. This was obviously many years ago so I don’t think it’s necessarily a ‘new’ problem with quality control? I bought a new JC Deepsea from the same AD a couple of weeks ago and your video made me get the loupe out again though!! 😂
Random question not related to quality - what is the harder watch to come by / better option do you think - rose gold or yellow gold two tone wimbledon dial datejust? If you had an option for either or at a dealer which would you pick?
That’s really hard to say, both are utterly stunning configurations, and it all depends on which gold you prefer the look of! The steel is also a stunning option, and a much better seller in the current market - the Bimetal currently trades for below retail on the secondary market 🙌🏻💯
I bought a brand new sub last month from an AD. Three weeks later I discovered it had a piece of lint factory sealed inside the case underneath the glass. So this is very true unfortunately 😢 (side note I took it back to rolex and they took care of it)
It's unbelievable to think how often clients seem to have experiences like yours! So happy to hear you got it sorted mate, now you can wear it and enjoy it again 🙌💯
😂😂😂😂 you've got to be shitting me! Don't listen to this garbage! He wants you to buy them from him for a few thousand more! Go and buy one from an AD! Let's be honest yoh won't be able to see an issue unless you use a magnifier! Just wow! Don't be so gullible!
I can’t wait for the good old days to be back where we can buy watches from grey market at a discounted rate. The grey market dealers treat you way better than AD’s.
If you're looking for a steel GMT or a Daytona, you're going to be waiting a long time for that to ever happen. If you're looking to buy a Datejust or OP however, it might happen in a few years.
"Super clones" are the same 600 dollar shitters from the same 4/5 factories. They mostly use the same serials, and the paperwork/box is a red flag alone before you get to the watch. You can find hundreds of pictures online. Then once you get to the watch, winding it/setting the time will confirm it's a fake 99% of the time for anyone that has a real Rolex with your eyes closed, and opening the caseback will confirm the last 1%. If any grey dealer is too incompetent to purchase one and resell it without noticing, they're certainly not a trusted dealer to begin with.
Hi Charlie, I have thought that I am wrong, but it looks to me that I was right, it is not only Rolex, I had an issue with Breitling, so I have thought I will go with Rolex,I was focused on any other deal, quality, info etc and I have been surprised by brand new watches I’ve seen in some Rolex AD…..when I have asked about the visible quality issue….they said “you can see it on every watches, it doesn’t matter how big price tag is or even brand it is” …..
It's never acceptable to have QC issues from a customer perspective, but the underlying point is true - nothing, regardless of the price, is perfect. There isn't a single brand in any industry that has a 100% QC success rate. Even the almighty Toyota has recall issues every now and then, and luxury brands are no different. So absolutely demand QC perfection because that's what you pay for as a customer, but never forget that's it's objectively impossible and that there will always be a few products with issues here and there.
Another great video. This is what happens when a company has more customers than products, they are going to sell them anyway even if they are not perfect and they get complacent. Then before you know it few years have gone past and the reputation is gone.
It’s ridiculous to think isn’t it mate, Rolex should be desperate to resolve this! So glad to hear you’re enjoying the content, I really appreciate the support 🙌🏻
I've seen quite a few companies slipping in their quality in recent years, such as Nike, but I definitely wouldn't expect it from Rolex! By the way, what watch would you recommend for daily use, if any? Ideally one that is subtle enough to be worn on the train (the law firm I work in is in the Liverpool Street area so it's pointless to drive). I am a fan of most Rolex models but I am unsure if something like a precious metal GMT or DayDate is justifiable if I can't wear it in London, which is why I'm thinking to scale it back to something like a Datejust, Submariner or stainless steel GMT
The precious metal GMT and Day-Date are utterly stunning models, however, they’re not suitable for daily use as the gold is prone to scratches - they’re much better suited to being a special occasion watch! The steel Submariner is almost unbeatable when it comes to daily functionality, so stunning, so versatile, and so robust 🙌🏻💯
Very informative honest video from the top dealer, I wish Rolex would supply you direct Charlie that you sort the problem , I know what a perfectionist you are when adjusting watches , Some of these ADs need to get a grip . Brilliant video as usual mate Thank you speak this week 💥💥👍🏻
ABSOLUTELY true - brand new straight from AD I would say 50% or more of mine have had debris or dust under the crystal.. evidence of a fingerprint of sorts on the underside of the crystal once.. misaligned Rolex print compared against the 12:00 marker very common.. only once I have experienced a hair on the dial.. it was a polar explorer one of the very first new reference ones back in 2022 and it blew me away to see that! lol.. Im still a Rolex fanboy though I always just assumed this type of stuff was expected to a certain extent for mass produced watches.. I figure Rolex knows a VAST majority of their clients are not nit picky enthusiasts like we are, and they know they can get away with that shit quality (which they do get away with it clearly lol) so yeah!
Two of my watches are at Rolex, London. They are between one and three years old. One loses 10 sec and the other that is a year, old loses 4 seconds a day, I have a Deepsea that is 22 months old and loses 8 secs a day. This will be attended to in January. In 2018, I bought an Explorer II, within six months the timekeeping was so poor that it spent a few weeks at Rolex. I bought a new Deepsea that had dust on the dial I was without this watch for nine weeks! One of my Rolex winder boxes has broken down. I have been waiting for 18 months for its return. Rolex state it cannot be repaired. I am sorry I bought it as Rolex have always been able to effect repairs but not with Swiss Kubik..
Rolex is obviously a big name, and likely the most recognizable, but they are certainly not a top tier luxury watch brand. The imperfections are no surprise either and I anticipate that they don’t improve anytime soon given their manufacturing ramp up.
Yeah pretty crazy how this number is taken as gospel online, when it's just an estimate. Probably not light years away from the actual number, but who knows. The only "official" figure Rolex has approved was in the recent Submariner book, but it was only for that model
There were always faults, I am not saying you are wrong in your observations about issues. However you do not get the watch directly from Rolex so hard to be 100%...BUT the logic of Rolex reducing QA costs because of the grey prices dropping is outlandish. There is no logical connection between the issue and the hypothesis. Also would like to know the numbers out of interest
I’ve received a very poor service from Longines boutique in London: I collected a “brand new” Zulu Spirit GMT that had marks on it and doesn’t bleep the power reserve advertised. Very extremely careful even at the authorised dealers as they pull the wool over your eyes!!
I think you need to stick to watch demand and trend rather than scaring people to go to AD. Please read the comments, I think you will lose your credibility by making such videos. Couple of questions for you. 1. Do you think your quality check is better than Rolex’s quality checks? Such a big brand must be spending fortunes on quality assurance. 2. From where did you get the figures for the number of watchers sold by Rolex?
He isn't trying to scare anyone, he is telling them check their watches. You can easily send it rolex and have them check it, its not hard. There is spending a fortune and then there is dealing with volume, you think Ferrari's dont leave with imperfections here and there get real.
@@jh5560 but you don’t take your Ferrari to garage down the road to check if there is any imperfections. Has to be detected by the approved dealership, right? Or you will go to a local garage to buy a Ferrari, over the retail prices, just because they claim that they can do better quality check the Ferrari 😀 Understand his logic mate.
All the more reason to buy from the AD and not from the Grey Market . I cant Believe for one min that Rolex standards are slipping . Just click bait as the Market is Dead .
Im about to purchase my first. Should i wait because you said the prices will be dropping soon? I know you're honest, so will give an honest answer. Thanks
No one knows what the market will do. What we know is supply is virtually maxed up, demand is still relatively strong, and MSRP increases every year or so. Market has already significantly corrected since 2022, some models have started rebounding over the past few months after dropping continuously since 2022. On the other hand, some models could still continue to drop (Datejusts, OPs, etc.) but they're not going to fall off a cliff even if they do drop. If someone tells you they know for sure what the market will do, they're BSing you. At the end of the day, you're buying a luxury item. If you want it today and you can afford it, get it, otherwise, don't.
It all depends on what model it is you’re looking at purchasing, mate. However, if you’re buying to wear and enjoy, market performance is irrelevant! Although, I’d check the secondary market and see if you can potentially pick it up for below retail price before purchasing from the AD 🙌🏻💯
Interesting topic and fantastic video as always, but how do I approach my AD regarding this on future purchases. I can’t take a loupe into the boutique to inspect a piece I’m being offered, it just wouldn’t be right. I just trust my AD on quality control and expect perfection. Worrying really.
Thanks for the support mate, glad to hear you’re enjoying the content, I really appreciate the support! It’s really hard to say because it can be an awkward situation to manage, especially when you’ve potentially waited so long for the watch and want to maintain a relationship. However, you have to remain vigilant and tell the AD as soon as a defect is noticed! 🙌🏻💯
I've never been convinced by Rolex build quality. Gmt pepsi bezels prone to cracking, meteorite dials with cracks in them and paint on gmt hands that look like a 5 year old painted it. Plus they mostly don't METAS certify them like Omega do so they might be vulnerable to magnetism. For such money I would expect perfection.
@@Mark-lj1dj METAS was initiated by Omega. The last thing Rolex will do is align to a standard that was pushed by Omega. However, it was very smart to get Tudor to do so, as it proves the "entry-level luxury" brand owned by Rolex has movements that directly compete with Omega at a cheaper price. Rolex's superlative test has a very similar set of steps to METAS anyway, and an even tighter tolerance on accuracy. Not to mention the WR which is tested above spec, and knowing the WR spec for Rolex is still very safe (any sports model with a Triplock can do much better than 10 bar in reality). Obviously there will always be some QC issues on specific models, there's not a single brand on the planet that doesn't have any. From 100k Pateks to supply chain gods like Toyota, you'll find QC issues. The real question is the percentage, and with more than 1 million watches made per year, you really don't hear that many issues of significant QC issues with Rolex...
I had a scuff on my bezel on my brand new Bruce Wayne. They replaced the bezel. They also literally left a sticker around the cyclops lens I’ve never seen that before
All that theorize is base on manual labor, Rolex is all robot machine produced, so you can’t push the production as with human labor. The machine can produce a maximum number of units, just industrial engineers. You must check the movement which you have stated you don’t do .
As I'm not a watchmaker myself, I'm sure there are all sorts of things that go into it that I dont know about...but I can't imagine how it possibly takes a whole year to make one watch
Now you have said this, when I got my watch it needed resizing and I didnt notice it for a while but the clasp wasnt sitting central on the underside of my wrist. Being somewhat OCD about it, it has annoyed my but I still havent got round to sorting it.
I think you have called it right. Any external visual defects should have been picked up by the AD. Hair under the glass or imperfections should not have been passed to the next production stage but quarantined under their QC system. As far back as 2021 (height of Covid), Rolex admitted they could not keep up with demand - they referred to customer allocations rather than wait lists. Next year, Rolex are opening up four new "pop up factories" to meet the extra demand before the new facility in 2029. Other suscibers have mentioned training of new staff - looks like youe will need to be even more vigilant, any subsrcibers luck enough to pick up a new Rolex should follow your checks at the AD and even ask to look at the watch under a magnifier (or take one with them - there not that expensive),
@@gaffs82 Yes, thanks, good point. Looking at all the comments so far and the number of views to date, whatever the reasons, this is a nightmare for a luxury brand as it creates uncertainty and doubt. Rolex can't control this narratve and no doubt Rolex staff will see this on their social media.
Thanks a lot sir you are too honest to say the truth even the dealer in the rolex showroom told me the same thing.. I went today to buy dayjust and he told me to go check the tudor black bay red bezel he said it has perfect fishing and is durable more durable than the rolex submarine and half price 🎉
I had one with a tiny grey spot under the date bubble glass ,when I took it back they tried to tell me I had dropped it and wanted £150 for a new glass.
Absolutely, providing it is within the 5 years, the warranty is tied to the watch 👍 However we inspect for these issues and don’t stock any if they are present 👌🏻
The items are massively manufactured on assembly lines, which does not reduce any costs due to imperfection. The primary cause is due to someone setting of specifications before starting the machinery. It might take several hours to produce one piece, and then it is stored for 364 days to make the narrative more believable.😂
I don’t think it’s the issue with Rolex factory. It’s the newbie staffs at ADs who doesn’t need any training/skills to sell watches. In this situation we can expect their noob way of handling watches are causing all these defects. They may also be so fascinated with these watches and start playing with them 😂
you know what, some words on the street say that about 450 models are delivered to my local AD monthly and whenever people come and ask for a specific model, they say no stock available at the time. lmao.
Go for the preowned grey market, the prices are showing substantial adjustment. ADs are still only contacting the same list of buyers not realising these buyers are selling out the pieces. I know because I just accompanied someone to get his 6th sports Rolex model from the AD this year. They are thinking he’s a true collector, idiots.
This is a strange way to promote your business. Tell your customers that Rolex quality control is bad. Sure, LWC can check the exterior but Charlie has said they don’t open watches up so if he’s saying that quality control is bad then surely that could apply to the movement?
I do think the prices of Rolex will fall even further, basically watch collecting is bigger than ever now. Thousands of new people enjoying the hobby each year. Awareness of other brands is now at an all time high. I think everyone starts off with Rolex but it’s an obvious choice. Too obvious for someone now claiming to be an enthusiast. I have owned 7 Rolex watches in my time but now don’t own one. I really like them but I like something on my wrist only another watch collector would know about and appreciate. It’s all gone a bit chavvy for me.
Prices have only fallen because of the unprecedented rise during Covid. They are back inline with where they have always been if you remove that spike. And bitcoin is near $100k - a lot of young men with a lot of money to spend all of a sudden.
Noticing a hair in the dial of your Rolex feels worse than spotting a hair in your fettuccini alfredo
Is the hair a pube in both cases?
Or a fly in your soup in a Gordon Ramsay restaurant!
I mean, your rolex is worth 700+ bowls of pasta so yeah....
If it’s still under warranty, you can go get it taken out for free at a service center
Sounds like people are swapping out real with Chinese fake parts
lol chinese fakes have better QC than swiss counterparts. It's a running meme in China, which they call '瑞士毛' (swiss hair). It's surprising the west has just started noticing this.
Who knows?
copium.
@@lihanou no one does quality control like those Chinese 8 year olds working in the factories
@@lihanouQC?! Lol those Chinese watches are not going to be ticking 10 years from now. Get real…
Basically scaring you to go to your Rolex ad so you go to him instead 👀
Had a friend that went in to a AD soon as Covid relaxed. He put himself on the list. Year later he got his black sub. He got extremely lucky. Was the AD in Birmingham bullring.
If you don’t like it please watch something else
@@steved2008 You stevy you GO dont say that to anyone else. PALSY your part of this whole mess
Exactly what I thought 😂
Nah my new gmt bezel came messed up from the factory
I had my 2002 Air King in for service back in 2012 at an AD. When I got it back I wore it in a shower shortly after and saw humidity forming inside the watch. I called up the AD who was very apologetic and was at least happy that it wasn’t salt water. But it tells me that they didn’t properly service the watch or pressure test it
Ah very sorry to hear that. Yes such a terrible thing to happen, they should have pressure tested that for sure. 👌🏻
Don’t wear a watch when you shower in “hot” water. The watch could be waterproof but it can not protect against “steam” molecules.
I looked at a submariner at an AD about nine months ago and saw the dial was not centered properly. It was off a couple degrees and very noticeable to me. I brought it to their attention and they said they were going to have their watchmaker look at it. Nothing like paying all that money to have some watchmaker open it up
Absolutely spot on there, it’s a lot of money to spend - it should be perfect!
The problem is across every sector. It all started during Cov. Everything changed from then on. I notice it in every aspect of daily life now.
At night as well? 🤣
I'd rather hear more specifics regarding the number of watches with defects and the models rather than simply saying, 'so many'. You mentioned a couple, saying 'so many' implies many more than that. Please expand.
Sounds like a couple. Probably people swapping fake parts.
David you know what is going on here
@@greenrush4313 I have an idea what you think, but I'd like to give him a chance to supply more information. So far, he hasn't...
They are the same mass produced but decent watch they were. If I looped my 2018 Hulk the finishing on the hour markers and the lume plots is not as good as you would expect. But this is very similar for most mass produced brands.
It’s not good enough. But I don’t think it’s a new thing.
Decent way to get people to buy preowned though I guess!
The problem is to find people with the skills to produce these watches.
It will get worse, it is a global event, not only for Rolex.
yep, new migrant labor everywhere
Rolex have never been a high finishing or high horology brand. Their products are mass produced.
Wow! That is so concerning. Sad day when you realize your precious Rolex watch that you've waited so long for has scratches. I sure hope Rolex will address this. Thank you for addressing this.
Yes it is such a shame isn’t it, especially with the high cost involved - it should be perfect! 👌🏻
If you buy from him he will check and make sure and you only pay way over then the AD. cant you look at watch at AD when you get??????????????????????????WTF
It would be good to see a video from yourselves, on a mock purchase scenario, and you showing us what we should inspect, as though we are at the AD.
For example, bring a magnifying glass, gloves, and check area A, B, and C, etc.
Thanks.
That’s a great idea! Will see what we can do 👌🏻
Bring your own 10x loupe and methodically scan the entire watch, mm by mm. Look for dust on the dial, scratches on the hands and indexes, printing errors with the text on the dial, scratches on the bracelet, clasp, and crown, and misalignment of the bezel/indexes.
It's something that could affect any company, I guess. You occasionally employ the wrong person, who seemed great at interviews, then they get settled in, switch off, and stop caring. That's all it takes.
Very true! Always the risk of that happening 👍
Thanks for that update mate! You’re absolutely correct! I picked up a Yacht-Master 42 white gold on oyster flex from my AD back in August 2023. I inspected the watch and everything was fine. Then, when we sized the watch, they had to order another strap size. I didn’t think to inspect it again when I came back to pick it up and surely enough, they had scratched the lugs. When I noticed it a day later, I immediately went back to my AD to show it to them and they said it couldn’t have been them since they put something on the lugs to protect them. They further told me that when I walked out of the store with it, it amounted to me accepting the watch and declaring myself satisfied with it. Believe me when I say that I learned my lesson and that will never happen to me again!
Checked my new watch from AD. No pubic hair on the dial or seller team's shark teeth marks on the bezel. (Joke aside: checked my 2024 Rolex Daytona steel from AD following your video. All good. :) ).
Glad to hear your watch is flawless mate, you’re incredibly fortunate to have such a stunning model in your collection 🙌🏻👌🏻
As someone who works for an AD and have seen the behind the scenes , the quality is not slipping . It is QC every step of the manufacturing process . Rolex does not send watches unless they are perfect . Clickbait title
How to we really know we can TRUST you. If this is true this guy is just trying to help HIMSELF. What do you recommend what is going on here on this channel. I just bought a sprite last week and it was perfect.I bought it from AD.
How is it click bait ? He’s telling you they won’t accept them? To what end would it benefit his business by highlighting imperfections. Hats off to the guy for ensuring his clients get the perfection they deserve
I’m over Rolex. They have become like car dealers to me. Always manipulating buyers and playing games. Putting profit over product and worst of all manipulating the supply by selling their watches out the back door to grey dealers. Their watches are average at best in quality and specifications vs many other better products that are readily available. Rolex are for fools with money. Most of their customers can’t afford the watch and are sheep renters. They buy what their told to rent.
Bs. I’ve seen defects on watches I’ve owned since new.
Wrong. I own many & not all are perfect. Rolex work to a tolerance & I can tell you absolute perfection isn’t it.
Great video, and not a single mention of the Rolex Pepsi. I really enjoyed this.
So glad to hear you’re enjoying the content mate, I really appreciate the support 🙌🏻
Instead, you are the one mentioning it 😂
Excellent video one of the only people in the watch industry that actually speaks the truth that ive seen on UA-cam. thanks for the honesty Charlie 👍
Thank you mate I really appreciate that! Thank you for watching 🙏
32xx low amplitude problem. Been going on for a long time now. 200 page discussion in the Rolex forum. It’s not just superficial quality issues. The whole movement is unreliable.
Top quality as always! That’s why you guys are the best 💎
Thanks mate really appreciate that!
Great video mate.
Is the Daytona OF Ghost above or below list? What price would you pay for a 2024 unworn? I don’t have one for sale, just curious on the current market on this watch.
Thanks!
Thanks so much for the support mate, so glad to hear you’re enjoying the content! The Daytona Ghost is really solid in the market and still above retail in the secondary market for us to buy and sell 🙌🏻💯
Most Rolex owners could be walking around with imperfections and never notice it because they ASSUME that it’s perfect solely because it’s a Rolex. Replica Rolexes from the top factories have higher QC than these and the replica owners have a higher expectation of their watch than genuine Rolex owners do. At the end of the day, at least replica buyers get high quality pictures and videos of every watch before they spend $700, vs an AD that will never give you that luxury. Something to think about!
OR SOMEBODY GETS A ROLEX FROM THEIR AD ....GETS A SUPER CLONE ALSO .....BUT PASSES ON THE CLONE NOT THE ORIGINAL AS UNWORN....
This is very interesting. Have you thought of sharing your findings with Rolex 🤔
I'm ready to buy that defective Daytona for 50% off retail
😆😆
Had 3 different bezels on subs and gmts not lining up perfectly at 12 o'clock. The crown on the inner rehaut is rarely perfectly aligned at 12 o'clock either.
Same
Enjoyable video Charlie, i agree check your watch from the AD carefully before you leave.
Glad to hear you’re enjoying the content mate, I really appreciate the support! 🙌🏻💯
I have a 2021 Air King that I have recently removed from storage. I found a speck of dust on the dial. This watch has been worn before but very carefully and occasionally. I can't recall there being any dust on the dial before. Thoughts on whether this speck has always been there and rolex quality control didn't pick it up?
Interesting observations. I purchased a brand new 116610LV (Hulk) from my AD shortly after release. I noticed it had a tiny black imperfection within the bezel and it ended up going back to Rolex who changed it without question. This was obviously many years ago so I don’t think it’s necessarily a ‘new’ problem with quality control? I bought a new JC Deepsea from the same AD a couple of weeks ago and your video made me get the loupe out again though!! 😂
It's crazy to think isn't it, happy to hear you had it rectified by Rolex! Haha I hope the JC was flawless mate 🙌
Haha… Thankfully it was! Didn’t stop that nervous hot flush feeling when I was looking though!!
I cant tell that they are producing watches faster..I have now been waiting on a Rolex Expl II ref 226570 Polar for 14 months.
I have mine for sale basically brand new bought from Rolex even with reciept of purchase! 2023 ref 226570
Random question not related to quality - what is the harder watch to come by / better option do you think - rose gold or yellow gold two tone wimbledon dial datejust? If you had an option for either or at a dealer which would you pick?
That’s really hard to say, both are utterly stunning configurations, and it all depends on which gold you prefer the look of! The steel is also a stunning option, and a much better seller in the current market - the Bimetal currently trades for below retail on the secondary market 🙌🏻💯
Thanks for the reply - it is a hard choice - interesting that market doesn’t really favour one or the other bimetal option
I bought a brand new sub last month from an AD. Three weeks later I discovered it had a piece of lint factory sealed inside the case underneath the glass. So this is very true unfortunately 😢 (side note I took it back to rolex and they took care of it)
It's unbelievable to think how often clients seem to have experiences like yours! So happy to hear you got it sorted mate, now you can wear it and enjoy it again 🙌💯
Thanks for the heads up !!
going to hold off on buying one now!!
😂😂😂😂 you've got to be shitting me! Don't listen to this garbage! He wants you to buy them from him for a few thousand more! Go and buy one from an AD! Let's be honest yoh won't be able to see an issue unless you use a magnifier! Just wow! Don't be so gullible!
@
Rolexes are overpriced !
-Good video to bring the prices down!! lol
May buy one when it does !!!
😂🤣😂🤣😂!
1.25 MILLION watches created and theres a waitlist for daytonas? give me a break lol
I can’t wait for the good old days to be back where we can buy watches from grey market at a discounted rate. The grey market dealers treat you way better than AD’s.
Not always the case. My main AD is superb.
If you're looking for a steel GMT or a Daytona, you're going to be waiting a long time for that to ever happen. If you're looking to buy a Datejust or OP however, it might happen in a few years.
When does quality ever improve for any product.
Rolex is a great example. Compare a modern Rolex to one from the early 2000s or prior and the build quality is substantially better.
you need to be sure you are not buying super clones - totally possible
Am sure they know what they are doing, super clones are easy to spot if you know what your looking for.
@stevesracingbits yes but many dealers have been caught out
Chinese?
Just don't get the attraction of the green bezels.... Love the blue skydweller w jubilee
"Super clones" are the same 600 dollar shitters from the same 4/5 factories. They mostly use the same serials, and the paperwork/box is a red flag alone before you get to the watch. You can find hundreds of pictures online. Then once you get to the watch, winding it/setting the time will confirm it's a fake 99% of the time for anyone that has a real Rolex with your eyes closed, and opening the caseback will confirm the last 1%. If any grey dealer is too incompetent to purchase one and resell it without noticing, they're certainly not a trusted dealer to begin with.
Hi Charlie, I have thought that I am wrong, but it looks to me that I was right, it is not only Rolex, I had an issue with Breitling, so I have thought I will go with Rolex,I was focused on any other deal, quality, info etc and I have been surprised by brand new watches I’ve seen in some Rolex AD…..when I have asked about the visible quality issue….they said “you can see it on every watches, it doesn’t matter how big price tag is or even brand it is” …..
It's never acceptable to have QC issues from a customer perspective, but the underlying point is true - nothing, regardless of the price, is perfect. There isn't a single brand in any industry that has a 100% QC success rate. Even the almighty Toyota has recall issues every now and then, and luxury brands are no different. So absolutely demand QC perfection because that's what you pay for as a customer, but never forget that's it's objectively impossible and that there will always be a few products with issues here and there.
Another great video. This is what happens when a company has more customers than products, they are going to sell them anyway even if they are not perfect and they get complacent. Then before you know it few years have gone past and the reputation is gone.
It’s ridiculous to think isn’t it mate, Rolex should be desperate to resolve this! So glad to hear you’re enjoying the content, I really appreciate the support 🙌🏻
I've seen quite a few companies slipping in their quality in recent years, such as Nike, but I definitely wouldn't expect it from Rolex! By the way, what watch would you recommend for daily use, if any? Ideally one that is subtle enough to be worn on the train (the law firm I work in is in the Liverpool Street area so it's pointless to drive). I am a fan of most Rolex models but I am unsure if something like a precious metal GMT or DayDate is justifiable if I can't wear it in London, which is why I'm thinking to scale it back to something like a Datejust, Submariner or stainless steel GMT
The precious metal GMT and Day-Date are utterly stunning models, however, they’re not suitable for daily use as the gold is prone to scratches - they’re much better suited to being a special occasion watch! The steel Submariner is almost unbeatable when it comes to daily functionality, so stunning, so versatile, and so robust 🙌🏻💯
Very informative honest video from the top dealer, I wish Rolex would supply you direct Charlie that you sort the problem , I know what a perfectionist you are when adjusting watches , Some of these ADs need to get a grip . Brilliant video as usual mate Thank you speak this week 💥💥👍🏻
Haha that would be nice wouldn’t it! 😆
Thanks Paul glad you liked it, appreciate you watching and will speak next week 👍
It’s a great message, just make sure you inspect what you buy at the end of the day is your responsibility to do so!
Correct mate! You should always do your checks, even when purchasing from the AD 🙌🏻
Yet another clickbait title. Rolex would never risk their brand.
ABSOLUTELY true - brand new straight from AD I would say 50% or more of mine have had debris or dust under the crystal.. evidence of a fingerprint of sorts on the underside of the crystal once.. misaligned Rolex print compared against the 12:00 marker very common.. only once I have experienced a hair on the dial.. it was a polar explorer one of the very first new reference ones back in 2022 and it blew me away to see that! lol.. Im still a Rolex fanboy though I always just assumed this type of stuff was expected to a certain extent for mass produced watches.. I figure Rolex knows a VAST majority of their clients are not nit picky enthusiasts like we are, and they know they can get away with that shit quality (which they do get away with it clearly lol) so yeah!
Two of my watches are at Rolex, London. They are between one and three years old. One loses 10 sec and the other that is a year, old loses 4 seconds a day, I have a Deepsea that is 22 months old and loses 8 secs a day. This will be attended to in January. In 2018, I bought an Explorer II, within six months the timekeeping was so poor that it spent a few weeks at Rolex. I bought a new Deepsea that had dust on the dial I was without this watch for nine weeks! One of my Rolex winder boxes has broken down. I have been waiting for 18 months for its return. Rolex state it cannot be repaired. I am sorry I bought it as Rolex have always been able to effect repairs but not with Swiss Kubik..
It happens. A small knock can throw off the timing of a mechanical watch. It’s why it’s recommended you don’t golf in one, for example.
Your prices online are crazy high, about a year behind the times.
💯
Rolex is obviously a big name, and likely the most recognizable, but they are certainly not a top tier luxury watch brand. The imperfections are no surprise either and I anticipate that they don’t improve anytime soon given their manufacturing ramp up.
Refurbed watches sold as new by the Ad’s
>"the official numbers for Rolex"
>literally quotes a bloomberg guess
Yeah pretty crazy how this number is taken as gospel online, when it's just an estimate. Probably not light years away from the actual number, but who knows. The only "official" figure Rolex has approved was in the recent Submariner book, but it was only for that model
Have had the same experience with multiple Breitlings
There were always faults, I am not saying you are wrong in your observations about issues. However you do not get the watch directly from Rolex so hard to be 100%...BUT the logic of Rolex reducing QA costs because of the grey prices dropping is outlandish. There is no logical connection between the issue and the hypothesis. Also would like to know the numbers out of interest
I’ve received a very poor service from Longines boutique in London: I collected a “brand new” Zulu Spirit GMT that had marks on it and doesn’t bleep the power reserve advertised. Very extremely careful even at the authorised dealers as they pull the wool over your eyes!!
That’s terrible mate, sorry to hear about your experience! ADs certainly seem to take the client for granted 🙌🏻
I think you need to stick to watch demand and trend rather than scaring people to go to AD. Please read the comments, I think you will lose your credibility by making such videos. Couple of questions for you.
1. Do you think your quality check is better than Rolex’s quality checks? Such a big brand must be spending fortunes on quality assurance.
2. From where did you get the figures for the number of watchers sold by Rolex?
He isn't trying to scare anyone, he is telling them check their watches. You can easily send it rolex and have them check it, its not hard. There is spending a fortune and then there is dealing with volume, you think Ferrari's dont leave with imperfections here and there get real.
@@jh5560 but you don’t take your Ferrari to garage down the road to check if there is any imperfections. Has to be detected by the approved dealership, right?
Or you will go to a local garage to buy a Ferrari, over the retail prices, just because they claim that they can do better quality check the Ferrari 😀
Understand his logic mate.
Any advice on buying vintage Rolex watches, I am getting the Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 1974 and I am looking for the Sub ref 6538
Find a trusted dealer who focuses on vintage. Eric Wind and Adam Gold of Menta Watches are 2 US based companies to contact.
I have noticed vertical striping marks on the polished Rolex case flank of my new 2024 Sub. Rolex quality really is not up there anymore.
That is horrible! Even superclones dont have that....
All the more reason to buy from the AD and not from the Grey Market .
I cant Believe for one min that Rolex standards are slipping .
Just click bait as the Market is Dead .
If the mint and wimbledon DJ41 are the top 2, would that make the Azzuro blue the third? You did feature it for a quick second in your video there.
The Blue baton dial and the Azzurro Blue Roman numeral dial are closely tied for 3rd! All of them are unbelievably stunning combinations 🙌🏻💯
Sub no date is my favourite for sure and a bargain price as well!
Such a classic timepiece, so much watch for the money! Great addition to any collection 👌🏻🙌🏻
Watch dealer and honesty don't belong in the same sentence 😂😂
Nothing in life is 100 percent perfect, personally I’d rather but new than second hand . Go Patek for higher quality
Im about to purchase my first. Should i wait because you said the prices will be dropping soon? I know you're honest, so will give an honest answer. Thanks
No one knows what the market will do. What we know is supply is virtually maxed up, demand is still relatively strong, and MSRP increases every year or so. Market has already significantly corrected since 2022, some models have started rebounding over the past few months after dropping continuously since 2022. On the other hand, some models could still continue to drop (Datejusts, OPs, etc.) but they're not going to fall off a cliff even if they do drop. If someone tells you they know for sure what the market will do, they're BSing you. At the end of the day, you're buying a luxury item. If you want it today and you can afford it, get it, otherwise, don't.
Please spell and punctuate correctly. Your comment has given me a headache.
^ Prices still continue to fall month on month as they have for 18 -24 months.
It all depends on what model it is you’re looking at purchasing, mate. However, if you’re buying to wear and enjoy, market performance is irrelevant! Although, I’d check the secondary market and see if you can potentially pick it up for below retail price before purchasing from the AD 🙌🏻💯
Interesting topic and fantastic video as always, but how do I approach my AD regarding this on future purchases. I can’t take a loupe into the boutique to inspect a piece I’m being offered, it just wouldn’t be right. I just trust my AD on quality control and expect perfection. Worrying really.
Thanks for the support mate, glad to hear you’re enjoying the content, I really appreciate the support!
It’s really hard to say because it can be an awkward situation to manage, especially when you’ve potentially waited so long for the watch and want to maintain a relationship. However, you have to remain vigilant and tell the AD as soon as a defect is noticed! 🙌🏻💯
Yes very interesting, what happened to the day in the life videos?
Thanks Gary glad you enjoyed it. Season 2 has ended now. Stay tuned for more BTS style videos 👌🏻
I've never been convinced by Rolex build quality. Gmt pepsi bezels prone to cracking, meteorite dials with cracks in them and paint on gmt hands that look like a 5 year old painted it. Plus they mostly don't METAS certify them like Omega do so they might be vulnerable to magnetism. For such money I would expect perfection.
They don't do METAS like Omega because Tudor does that.
@fj7509 i know they do. Rolex should do it too since omega do it for half the price.
@@Mark-lj1dj METAS was initiated by Omega. The last thing Rolex will do is align to a standard that was pushed by Omega. However, it was very smart to get Tudor to do so, as it proves the "entry-level luxury" brand owned by Rolex has movements that directly compete with Omega at a cheaper price. Rolex's superlative test has a very similar set of steps to METAS anyway, and an even tighter tolerance on accuracy. Not to mention the WR which is tested above spec, and knowing the WR spec for Rolex is still very safe (any sports model with a Triplock can do much better than 10 bar in reality).
Obviously there will always be some QC issues on specific models, there's not a single brand on the planet that doesn't have any. From 100k Pateks to supply chain gods like Toyota, you'll find QC issues. The real question is the percentage, and with more than 1 million watches made per year, you really don't hear that many issues of significant QC issues with Rolex...
I had a scuff on my bezel on my brand new Bruce Wayne. They replaced the bezel. They also literally left a sticker around the cyclops lens I’ve never seen that before
All that theorize is base on manual labor, Rolex is all robot machine produced, so you can’t push the production as with human labor. The machine can produce a maximum number of units, just industrial engineers.
You must check the movement which you have stated you don’t do .
As I'm not a watchmaker myself, I'm sure there are all sorts of things that go into it that I dont know about...but I can't imagine how it possibly takes a whole year to make one watch
It's just a story they want you to believe to support the hype and lies of scarcity.
Ceramic bezel from my root beer fell off while the ad was putting it back in the box. They replaced the watch with a new one.
Wow that’s unbelievable! Glad to hear you had it replaced mate 🙌🏻
I’ve had misaligned hands, particularly noticeable at 6pm. When the hour hand was bang on 6pm the minute hand was about 2min behind.
Easy fix
@ requires service centre. Not what you expect from a new watch
Now you have said this, when I got my watch it needed resizing and I didnt notice it for a while but the clasp wasnt sitting central on the underside of my wrist. Being somewhat OCD about it, it has annoyed my but I still havent got round to sorting it.
They make over 1.2 million watches a year. Rolex are mass produced watches. I’m not surprised quality has dropped.
A co-worker got a Pepsi and the cyclops was crooked on it 🤣
No way that should have passed QC 😱
@ I know! Now he’s gotta send it to RSC
Seen that too on a Starbucks
Rolex quality slipping? Yes. That’s why I only got vintage Rolex watches, well one exception as it’s a 2012 watch.
I think you have called it right. Any external visual defects should have been picked up by the AD. Hair under the glass or imperfections should not have been passed to the next production stage but quarantined under their QC system. As far back as 2021 (height of Covid), Rolex admitted they could not keep up with demand - they referred to customer allocations rather than wait lists.
Next year, Rolex are opening up four new "pop up factories" to meet the extra demand before the new facility in 2029. Other suscibers have mentioned training of new staff - looks like youe will need to be even more vigilant, any subsrcibers luck enough to pick up a new Rolex should follow your checks at the AD and even ask to look at the watch under a magnifier (or take one with them - there not that expensive),
Hairs under the glass are so easy to see. Me thinks someone has been in that watch since it was bought.
@@gaffs82 Yes, thanks, good point. Looking at all the comments so far and the number of views to date, whatever the reasons, this is a nightmare for a luxury brand as it creates uncertainty and doubt. Rolex can't control this narratve and no doubt Rolex staff will see this on their social media.
Always the best content.
Thanks mate, really appreciate you watching! 🙏
Really hope the fakes aren't getting good enough to take you lads too mate
Honest car Dealer
The clues in the name 🤣
Clue's...
As gaffs82 said maybe parts are being changed out. Could you be looking at fake bezels?
Thank you Charlie much appreciated.
You are welcome mate, glad you liked this one! 🙌
Thanks a lot sir you are too honest to say the truth even the dealer in the rolex showroom told me the same thing.. I went today to buy dayjust and he told me to go check the tudor black bay red bezel he said it has perfect fishing and is durable more durable than the rolex submarine and half price 🎉
Thanks for the support mate, I really appreciate it! Giving an honest insight into the luxury watch market is our biggest aim 🙌🏻💯
Wow. That is really scary. Thanks for the sharing.
It is isn’t it! You are very welcome, thanks for watching 👌🏻
Another Banger! Salute from Athens !!
Thanks for the support mate, I really appreciate it 🙌🏻
I had one with a tiny grey spot under the date bubble glass ,when I took it back they tried to tell me I had dropped it and wanted £150 for a new glass.
So sorry to hear about your experience mate, that's terrible to be blamed for their mistake! Hopefully you get it sorted 🙌
Really hope Rolex ups their game soon! 😔
Since when have Rolex supplied official watch production numbers?
The Morgan Stanley report each year and the new Rolex Submariner book.
@@gaffs82 The Morgan Stanley report is an estimate, not an official number supplied by Rolex. The book I haven't seen.
I agree
I had to send back 5 watches
dust on dial and date window
scratch on dial
Loud rotor
Watch couldn't hold power x2
That’s ridiculous! Such expensive luxury items, they should be perfect!
Hope you managed to get them all rectified! 👌🏻
My wife knows when I’m listening to you, she does a good impression of you Charlie…lol
Haha that’s amazing! 😆 Thanks for watching mate, hope you liked it!
So if I got one from you and there’s a problem can I send it back to Rolex under warranty?
Absolutely, providing it is within the 5 years, the warranty is tied to the watch 👍
However we inspect for these issues and don’t stock any if they are present 👌🏻
Of course!
The items are massively manufactured on assembly lines, which does not reduce any costs due to imperfection. The primary cause is due to someone setting of specifications before starting the machinery. It might take several hours to produce one piece, and then it is stored for 364 days to make the narrative more believable.😂
Got a watch with card that the chip did not work on it .
Told the dealer over one year and still nothing .
From the AD !
That’s unbelievable mate, so sorry to hear about that! 🙌🏻
I don’t think it’s the issue with Rolex factory. It’s the newbie staffs at ADs who doesn’t need any training/skills to sell watches. In this situation we can expect their noob way of handling watches are causing all these defects. They may also be so fascinated with these watches and start playing with them 😂
Mass produced product line, always going to have an issue here and there …. The hype isn’t real lmao😂…
you know what, some words on the street say that about 450 models are delivered to my local AD monthly and whenever people come and ask for a specific model, they say no stock available at the time. lmao.
Go for the preowned grey market, the prices are showing substantial adjustment. ADs are still only contacting the same list of buyers not realising these buyers are selling out the pieces. I know because I just accompanied someone to get his 6th sports Rolex model from the AD this year. They are thinking he’s a true collector, idiots.
This is a strange way to promote your business. Tell your customers that Rolex quality control is bad. Sure, LWC can check the exterior but Charlie has said they don’t open watches up so if he’s saying that quality control is bad then surely that could apply to the movement?
My first Rolex bought in early 2014 was gaining 20 seconds a day in after 1 year and had to go to the RSC.
@@jamessmith-on3jf it happens. You can knock a watch a few times and it can throw the timing off. That is why it’s recommended not to golf in a watch.
I do think the prices of Rolex will fall even further, basically watch collecting is bigger than ever now. Thousands of new people enjoying the hobby each year. Awareness of other brands is now at an all time high. I think everyone starts off with Rolex but it’s an obvious choice. Too obvious for someone now claiming to be an enthusiast. I have owned 7 Rolex watches in my time but now don’t own one. I really like them but I like something on my wrist only another watch collector would know about and appreciate. It’s all gone a bit chavvy for me.
Prices have only fallen because of the unprecedented rise during Covid. They are back inline with where they have always been if you remove that spike. And bitcoin is near $100k - a lot of young men with a lot of money to spend all of a sudden.
Since you don’t open the watch to check the movement , maybe you are talking about very good fakes
They do open the backs up. They just don’t tell you they do.
I got a sub recently, and there is a speck of dust on the dial.
The watch market is dead. Rolex sucks too
Looks like someone didn't get their watch!
Dont think they'll be hairs under the glass - clothing fibres is more likely.