As far as I’m aware they won’t.

You could get it done privately, but if you then tried to sell it on as a more valuable watch 😬

 

that is what I thought.

So, I don't understand how people can acquire these parts.

I mean it would stand to reason that they would only be available to a official repairer who would replace a dial

 

that is what I thought.

So, I don't understand how people can acquire these parts.

I mean it would stand to reason that they would only be available to a official repairer who would replace a dial

They can’t. Only through an RSC. And they won’t sell the dial separately. They will get your old dial and replace with the new.

 

I have seen offered some dials for a watch that I like, The Rolex Perpetual 41mm

I found a " Celebration" one for example

this would substantially increase the value of a Oyster Perpetual so, I thought, that Rolex wouldn't do this and also I thought that it would be considered a Franken-Rolex?

If same reference number, they should. Go to an RSC.

 

then how it is possible that I see Dials for sale , are they fakes?

 

Maybe a Rolex owner decided to use his watch as a spare part source.

 

But in this day and age, you can’t acquire a Rolex part separately from a service.

 

well, they seem to be boxed (in a transparent box) and there is more than one from more than one seller .

 

Dials, bracelets, bezels, anything and everything Rolex is available on the grey market.

 

I understand bracelets and bezels , they are parts which are needed to be replace things damage (which even a dial could be) but a dial can potentially change the value of a Rolex to double that.

Now I am obviously (not yet) a Rolex owner but is there any reference to the color of the dial in the original papers?

If not you can buy a fancy dial which is belonging to a very scarce series and put it on the same watch and instantly double its value!

 

I understand bracelets and bezels , they are parts which are needed to be replace things damage (which even a dial could be) but a dial can potentially change the value of a Rolex to double that.

Now I am obviously (not yet) a Rolex owner but is there any reference to the color of the dial in the original papers?

If not you can buy a fancy dial which is belonging to a very scarce series and put it on the same watch and instantly double its value!

View attachment 19209412

Nope. Serial (SKU?) number is correlated to the dial configuration.

 

I think I may have a clue to this thing.
I have been offered a Rolex precision with a Green dial and I was told that the dial is NOT original , they would provide the original dial with it

So, these dials on offer are in all likelihood " aftermarket" ( as in non original)

 

They make super clone Rolexes that are barely indistinguishable from a real Rolex. It stands to reason that the same manufacturers would make and sell fake dials.

 

Do you want that dial because you like it or just to have something "worth" more $? That's sad.

And I daresay 99.99% of dials you see for sale are fakes.

 

I want that dial ( green one not the one I have shown before) because I like it

Irrespectively from which dial one likes different dials have obviously a different appeal

I was told by several AD that the chance that I can actually buy a green dial in size 41 is extremely LOW

However the same AD have secondhand green dials for prices close to €2000 HIGHER than the new price!

So dials make a difference

 

Irrespectively from which dial one likes different dials have obviously a different appeal

You don't say!

Rolex nor an AD will change the dial to the Celebration. If you find one for sale it's virtually certain to be a fake.

 

well, that is what I wanted to know

 

I experienced similar stance. I visited my AD and asked if my warranty would still be in place if they installed an aftermarket clear case back. They clearly stated that no, they would not install it. And B), Rolex would never service it again - warranty or no.

It is so silly though. Harley, Ducati and Ferrari dealers are more than happy to alter their products - new or used. They actually encourage it - they're dealers for several aftermarket brands of parts and make substantial income "personalizing" stock vehicles.

Why won't watch brands do the same ?

 

It is so silly though. Harley, Ducati and Ferrari dealers are more than happy to alter their products - new or used. They actually encourage it - they're dealers for several aftermarket brands of parts and make substantial income "personalizing" stock vehicles.

I think AMG started the same way, becoming so good at customizing MB that they collaborated and were later bought by Mercedes. I think most companies would choose the "any publicity is good publicity" route but Rolex feels differently.

 

I asked my AD to remove the DJ brac
elet and put my custom strap on it. They said Rolex won't allow them to do it. I did convince them to remove the bracelet and then I installed the strap. At a subsequent visit they asked to see how it looked. Quoting a Star Trek episode I said "I am not programmed to respond in that area."

 

I'm surprised they let you in the door with that

 

well, so that is even clearer an answer to my question @CBH_TX , thank you

The policy is, as I would have thought, that any alteration, even if using an original part but installed by a third party, would immediately disqualify the watch as a " franken-rolex" and it would be no longer (for all intents and purposes) a Rolex to Rolex.

Which HAS to mean (I hope) that a Gree dial (in my case) or any other color on sale as a " pre-owned" Rolex by a AD HAS to be the Dial which comes with that particular watch (as per papers).

Because of this it would be highly beneficial (I don't know if that is the case) that the papers would mention, somewhere , that " this watch" has dial so and so and so on...

Lacking this mention on the papers, how could I know, when purchasing even from a known but not authorised dealer that the dial on the watch is absolutely kosher?

Again.

I am interested in a OP 41mm in green ( available at €1500 to €2000 more than new from a AD but secondhand) but if I purchase this from any other source , is there a way for me to tell that that is the proper dial ?

 

You need to "buy the seller" meaning a reputable reseller with a stellar history. Some people can be trusted. Many cannot.

 

@CBH_TX
What is wrong with it?

 

Yes that's how Rolex operates.

 

I’m one of the few people that understand why Rolex have these policies. They’re trying to protect their products and reputation. There’s such a demand for their watches that they can’t just turn out parts on demand as it wound ruin their market ie people would be putting real dials into fake watches. There an infinite combination of parts that can be chopped around to “authenticate” a watch. There was a case in the U.K. where a large secondary seller had sold a genuine watch but it had a fake bezel. There was a thread around here a while back. Giving them the benefit of the doubt they likely authenticated it using the usual checklist (movement, dial, engraving, clasp etc) and missed the bezel. There are unscrupulous people out there so a few get through but without the strict policies it would be a free for all. Its also why rolex aren’t discounted at ADs and ”full set” Rolex hold their value.

Having said that I still wouldn’t buy a Rolex from a non AD. I’m too tight to pay the premium for starters. There are so many things that can go wrong (as in the case above) and if you fall foul of the Rolex policies you’re not going to win. Buy from an AD and youre fully covered. The wait is worth it.

 

I know this isn’t the same thing as OP’s question, but I had a vintage DD and sent it into RSC. They said they could switch the dial to any color that was offered on the watch at that time. I chose blue and they of course kept the original champagne. I assume if they were to swap for a celebration dial it would be much more expensive since it’s higher demand/value, but you could always ask.

 

They used to, but Rolex has stopped that practice. Wristcheck used to have the video on their YouTube, but now it's all gone. I'll link it if it comes back.

 

Well , this is all getting very confusing

 

Well to sum it up...Rolex will not swap out the existing dial for a celebration one. Neither will an AD. If you find a dial for sale on eBay or other site or from a private party it is surely a fake.

 

You're right to be cautious, swapping dials like that can definitely make it questionable in collectors' eyes, especially if the dial didn't originally come with that case and serial number.

 

My brother had his Rolex Datejust 16234 purchased in the early 90s serviced a year or so back at a Rolex AD. The watch originally had a machine turned bezel on it, but he was able to swap it to a white gold fluted bezel somewhere along the line many years ago before Rolex started locking everything down. The Rolex AD he took the watch to would not work on the watch unless he swapped the bezel back to the machine turned bezel per Rolex. He had to go home and find the original bezel for the swap back. Once the watch was completed, he took it to another independent watchmaker and had the bezel swapped back out. What a hassle. Bottom line, Rolex or Rolex AD will not do these sorts of swaps for you.