The Rolex Warranty Explained: Coverage, Transferability, and Voidance

Every new Rolex watch comes with a five-year international warranty. Although the warranty coverage only lasts five years, the warranty card (or papers) should be safeguarded indefinitely as a means of authenticating the watch.

Before 2006, Rolex warranties were printed on paper. Since then, Rolex has used credit card-style warranty cards, including various combinations of the model number, serial number, purchase date, purchaser's name, retailer’s name, bracelet number, case material, and/or dial color. In 2020, Rolex added NFC chips to these cards for enhanced authentication; tapping your phone to the card should direct you to the Rolex website.

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Now, let’s get into the details of the five-year warranty—what it covers, what it doesn’t, its transferability, and how to make sure it remains valid.

What Is Covered Under Rolex’s Five-Year Warranty?

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Simply put, Rolex’s five-year international warranty covers manufacturing defects. Most buyers won’t need to take advantage of this warranty since Rolex watches rarely experience such issues within the first five years.

If your new Rolex is keeping time outside of its -2 to +2 seconds per day accuracy, the repair or regulation is covered under warranty. Cosmetic issues, like a blemish on the dial, a dent in the hour hand, or a discolored lume plot, are also covered. While this isn’t an exhaustive list, it gives a good idea of what’s included—if the defect is due to Rolex’s fault, they’ll repair it under warranty (within the five-year period).

What the Rolex Warranty Does Not Cover

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Conversely, Rolex’s five-year warranty doesn’t cover regular wear and tear or routine maintenance. For instance, if you knock your Explorer II on a metal trash can, any resulting repair costs won’t be covered under warranty. Similarly, if your Rolex is running slow and it’s been five years since purchase, this repair falls under routine service, which is not included in the warranty.

Rolex Warranty Transferability

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If a Rolex watch is sold within its warranty period, the warranty can (and should) be transferred to the new owner. As long as the new owner has the warranty card and proof of purchase, Rolex will honor the warranty for the remainder of its term (beginning from the original purchase date).

However, there are specific situations where Rolex won’t honor your warranty, even within the five-year period.

How (Not) to Void Your Rolex Warranty

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Any Rolex that shows signs of modification, tampering, or any form of unauthorized servicing will not be covered under the five-year warranty. For example, if Rolex determines that your watch’s caseback has been opened by anyone other than an authorized Rolex Service Center, your warranty will be voided. Installing an aftermarket dial will net the same result. Long story short, you should submit your Rolex for service as you purchased it: all original OEM everything.

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