Let me tell you about a Rolex experience I had purchasing from Prudential Gem and Jewelry, and their gross Frankenstein Rolex I purchased.
5 years ago I purchased a two tone Rolex Datejust from Joe that was from a year that was significant for me. I liked the watch and getting a watch as a daily reminder was unexpected and made me purchase it the same day. I was pleased with the service, and was pleased to buy my very first vintage Rolex after walking up and down Wabash Ave and seeing other stores. The windows were full and they had two cases full of Rolexes so I thought I had been very lucky to have such a selection and at a lower price than Rolex on Michigan Ave.
When I asked about authenticity, Joe said they were grey market but his jeweler was an expert and they check out each watch before selling it. Joe told me he relied on his reputation to sell watches, and since selling one fake would sink his business, I thought that was a good answer so I pulled the trigger. He asked for cash and I went to the bank to pull out the cash. I trusted him, and let me tell you how much it hurt me down the line. I saved a penny to loose a dollar a few years later. I did not authenticate the watch or even question it until when I went to the real experts for a service.
I went to an authorized dealer to have the Rolex I bought from Prudential serviced, and I wanted to get on the wait list for a new Datejust I wanted to celebrate a big event in my life. Rolex took it in for a service since the watch was having some issues with time keeping. It was loosing minutes a day despite being on a winder. It was my first Rolex purchase and I had little scratches on it, and I was excited to have my daily wearing watch keeping time properly and polished like new. My datejust was from the 1980's so I knew it would need service.
The acrylic is fake, does not have the Rolex logo. Some internal parts were not original and the back case had incorrect markings. Just as an additional insult, when I purchased the watch, I was given a green watch box with Rolex labeling which was ALSO FAKE! I took the box home and threw it away, and I felt so betrayed and foolish for trusting some random store on a row full of jewelers.
The watch box is not authentic, AD said it was probably from Alibaba if you search ROLLEX box. The box from that period does not look the same as this box was modern and the correct box had a different pattern. I was sold this as a box only with no papers. So I paid a premium for a fake box. Since Prudential is not an authorized dealer, there is no way for them to get authentic boxes.
Please heed my warning. I am livid at how foolish I was to purchase a watch that was a frankenstein and even gave me a fake box to add insult to injury. Saving a little bit of money at the time was not worth the heartache.
Shame on Prudential and shame on Joe for defrauding people. read more