Anyone keen on watches?

[Roy S]

Are you saying all the Rolex watches in dealers windows and showcases are dummies?

No, they're all 'exhibition only' pieces.

[Roy S]

Cheapo solar powered Casio

[Barry]

No, they're all 'exhibition only' pieces.

So they are fully working, but not for sale.

[Roy S]

So they are fully working, but not for sale.

There was talk that they were dummy pieces but this was pooh poohed I believe?

In any case, whether they are real or not, you can't just go into a Rolex boutique and buy a watch (unless you're very very lucky and sometimes they might have a ladies model that nobody wants).

That's the reason both my Rolexs are worth double what I paid for them retail.

[struth]

[Roy S]

[archiesdad]

There was talk that they were dummy pieces but this was pooh poohed I believe?

In any case, whether they are real or not, you can't just go into a Rolex boutique and buy a watch (unless you're very very lucky and sometimes they might have a ladies model that nobody wants).

That's the reason both my Rolexs are worth double what I paid for them retail.

Chatting to a Rolex agent they are ‘demo models’, when a replacement comes into stock they then can be sold, I said IF I was buying a ‘new’ Rolex I’d want the factory fresh model not one that had in/out the window and on numerous wrists, bounced off the counter etc but he told me that’s not the way it works,.

[Barry]

Any Rolex dealer would not allow the watch to be "bounced off the counter". They always lay down a velvet cloth on the counter, and I suspect will not allow you to see how the watch looks on your wrist in daylight, outside the shop.

[archiesdad]

I’ve seen watches accidentally dropped and a thin bit of ‘velvet’ cloth won’t break it’s fall, I have tried watches outside in daylight although often accompanied by someone from the shop, camera shops have happily allowed me to take expensive* lens outside to test without me leaving my watch on the counter as security.
*Sometimes more expensive than a Rolex.

[hifi_dave]

Recently had my 1970 Submariner serviced which I then gave to my Son. The jeweller, Mappin and Webb, laid it out on a red velvet cushion, not a cloth and threw in with the cost, a leather bound estimate and Champagne all round.