About two years in the past, Rolex announced its Certified Pre-Owned program. It’s a partnership between Rolex and several other official retailers worldwide. Briefly, these retailers can now provide pre-owned Rolex watches with a brand-issued authenticity certificates and a two-year worldwide guarantee. Not too long ago, I sat down with David Bijlsma, Chief Industrial Officer at Gassan, to speak concerning the Rolex Licensed Pre-Owned program and get a greater understanding of what it affords to clients.
Rolex Licensed Pre-Owned at Gassan
Gassan is a family-owned enterprise with 15 shops within the Netherlands (together with these at Schiphol Airport). The corporate additionally has seven shops at Changi Airport in Singapore. I visited David Bijlsma on the Home of Gassan within the heart of Amsterdam. The corporate began in 1945 as a diamond cutter at this location, however it now has a number of in-store boutiques and repair departments. Evidently, it contains an impressive-sized Rolex boutique and Rolex service division. However we sat down in Gassan’s room for pre-owned watches, a giant area that jogged my memory of a luxuriously adorned house with comfortable sofas.
Rolex GMT-Grasp II ref. 16713LN, a part of Gassan’s Rolex CPO assortment.
A living-room expertise
It’s a homey environment that Gassan has created, and it’s the proper setting to take a look at among the beautiful pre-owned watches (from all types of manufacturers, together with ones Gassan doesn’t carry as a retailer) whereas having fun with a espresso. Massive home windows convey the proper quantity of daylight, which was initially to make sure the diamond cutters had one of the best mild to do their duties. As of late, it’s good for learning watches with pure mild reasonably than arduous spotlights.
David Bijlsma, Chief Industrial Officer at Gassan. Picture through Gassan
An interview with David Bijlsma, Chief Industrial Officer at Gassan
On David Bijlsma’s wrist was a Rolex Explorer II ref. 1655 from 1971 with its unique Oyster bracelet. As this watch is from his start 12 months, it’s his prized possession. It was additionally an ideal look ahead to the event, a dialogue concerning the Rolex Licensed Pre-Owned (CPO) program supplied via Gassan.
Robert-Jan Broer (RJB): Gassan already has expertise promoting pre-owned watches. The Rolex CPO program brings a “licensed and assured” coverage, however one can assume you already solely supplied genuine, warranty-covered pre-owned Rolex watches to clients. What’s the benefit for the client when shopping for a Rolex from the CPO assortment in comparison with your earlier pre-owned Rolex assortment?
David Bijlsma (DB): What I really like about Rolex is that the watches are made to final for generations. We all the time ensured these watches have been checked and verified by our workforce of competent and Rolex-certified watchmakers at Gassan. Along with this, with the Rolex CPO program, Rolex checks every watch to confirm its authenticity as soon as extra. It’s added worth for the client that Rolex additionally ensures the watch ticks all of the containers. Solely Rolex watches three years and older qualify for this program, however there’s no most age. That implies that even watches 50 years or older may be bought via this program.
RJB: Is a classic Rolex nonetheless coated by the guarantee for 2 years, then?
DB: Sure, however we’ll advise clients to not deal with a classic watch the identical manner as a contemporary one. It’s a bit like traditional vehicles; you’ll drive and deal with these otherwise from a contemporary one too. Prospects ought to know {that a} folded classic Rolex bracelet isn’t the identical as a contemporary one. It could be greatest in the event that they handled classic watches with care, and we’ll make it possible for they’re conscious of this.
Rolex Datejust ref. 116234 from 2019, through the Rolex CPO assortment at Gassan
RJB: Do you suppose the Rolex CPO program will attract clients who often purchase a pre-owned Rolex elsewhere (not CPO)? In different phrases, do you anticipate to promote extra pre-owned Rolex watches now that you just provide them through CPO?
DB: Certainly, I anticipate to promote extra pre-owned Rolex watches this manner. I now get individuals in right here who often wouldn’t even contemplate shopping for a pre-owned watch. Typically, they’re already clients of Gassan, and now they see our pre-owned boutique with our number of watches. With the Rolex CPO, they get a two-year manufacturing unit guarantee, which affords them additional confidence to purchase pre-owned. We love this system as a result of each Rolex and Gassan wish to provide high quality in every thing we do, making certain clients are completely satisfied. Now we have many consumers, and a few even have been with us for generations, so we don’t accept something much less. In order quickly as Rolex began with the CPO, we have been enthusiastic and satisfied of its success.
RJB: What concerning the worth variations between the non-certified pre-owned watches and people within the CPO program?
DB: We have to make sure that the pricing stays aggressive. Nonetheless, doing these additional checks and making certain authenticity and high quality does come at a sure value. We see that clients are prepared to pay a bit additional to have that confidence when shopping for a pre-owned Rolex. Additionally, needless to say a pre-owned Rolex with official authentication and a manufacturing unit guarantee is extra unique than different choices within the pre-owned market.
RJB: So, what occurs when somebody affords you a Rolex to your Rolex CPO program?
DB: This service is just for many who wish to promote a watch to us. The certification isn’t for somebody who owns a Rolex and desires to have it licensed. When somebody affords us a Rolex watch, we do some preliminary checks to ensure every thing is genuine. Now we have a Rolex-exclusive service division that has lots of experience. If the watch passes all of the checks, we’ll be assured in buying it. After the acquisition, the watch will obtain a service, and Rolex will authenticate it.
Explorer II 16570, picture through Rolex.
RJB: What occurs if the watch has been a substitute bracelet, dial, palms, and so forth from previous providers? Will it nonetheless go Rolex’s authenticity test?
DB: If all of the substitute elements may be recognized as real Rolex elements, sure, it’ll go that test. It’s nonetheless an genuine Rolex, and the corporate will guarantee these watches are constructed (and serviced) to final. In some circumstances, then, Rolex can’t let the watch depart the service facility with out changing elements to make sure every thing is as much as the requirements. We’ll let clients know when exterior elements, reminiscent of a bracelet, are from a later interval, for instance.
RJB: The Rolex CPO program is accessible worldwide, however Gassan is the one vendor providing it in The Netherlands.
DB: Sure, that’s right. We share the identical core values; it’s all about high quality. We discovered the Rolex CPO technique convincing from the beginning. Moreover, we have now the assets (an in depth Rolex service division) to do it greatest. Rolex is the forerunner relating to manufacturers providing licensed pre-owned watches, and we’re completely satisfied to be a part of it.
RJB: Thanks to your time and solutions!
After the interview, David Bijlsma gave me a tour of the Home of Gassan constructing. What stunned me was the scale of the in-store Rolex boutique and the Rolex service division above it. The latter was the identical measurement as the previous, with at the very least a dozen watchmakers completely engaged on Rolex watches.
Rolex Sky-Dweller ref. 326935, 2017. Rolex CPO assortment at Gassan.
A brand new buyer for pre-owned Rolex at Gassan
When Rolex introduced this CPO program for its licensed sellers, I used to be a bit pessimistic. Particularly when trying on the costs, I puzzled why I should purchase a pre-owned Rolex from a CPO associate reasonably than a non-public vendor or a vendor of pre-owned watches. Bijlsma clarified that there’s one other kind of purchaser — i.e., those that wouldn’t even contemplate shopping for a pre-owned watch from Rolex or any model.
As is commonly the case, my perspective was that of somebody who feels comfy shopping for pre-owned watches from unknown individuals or sellers. There’s a whole group of shoppers on the market who wouldn’t even contemplate a pre-owned look ahead to numerous causes. Nonetheless, if their trusted licensed vendor can provide the watches in a cushty setting together with an official Rolex certification, it’d change their perspective.
Yow will discover extra info on the Licensed Pre-Owned program through Rolex and the House of Gassan website.
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