Are gray market watches worth it?

Though grey market watch dealers may cause some hardship for luxury watch retailers, they are an excellent alternative for customers who are looking to buy a luxury brand watch for less than the average retail price. Grey market watch dealers are often used for purposes other than just a more competitive price.

How do watches get to the grey market?

Gray market watches are often sourced from overseas or even sold illicitly by dealers that have excess inventory. When buying from a gray market source, you have no way of knowing when the watch was manufactured and what may have happened to it in its journey between multiple distribution points.

What is a grey market Rolex?

The grey market is made up of dealers outside of the Rolex authorized dealer network. These grey market Rolex dealers by definition can only sell pre-owned Rolex watches because they are technically an owner themselves. The second way is when an authorized dealer will sell inventory in bulk.

Will Rolex drop in prices?

Your Rolex price could increase in value over the years. But there is no exact formula to determine if a particular Rolex model will go up or not. Some Rolex watches become more expensive when they acquire vintage status. Others raise in value because they are made in Oystersteel.

Do grey market watches have warranty?

Usually in the form of a 5-year international guarantee, which is only issued by an authorized dealer. Some gray market websites offer a third-party guarantee, but it can’t cover the extent of damages that an official warranty can. Another gray market watch qualifier is the price it is sold at.

How does the gray market work?

A gray market is an unofficial market for financial securities. Gray (or “grey”) market trading generally occurs when a stock that has been suspended from trades off the market, or when new securities are bought and sold before official trading begins. The gray market is an unofficial one but is not illegal.

What voids a Rolex warranty?

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.