re: Rolex Question, paging Obtuse1

They want to tease you with things you can't buy. If you see ones with the hands set to 10:10 and 31 seconds and the date is at 28 those are non-functional ones. Some are fully functional.



Obviously, it is so people can shop the watches but for most models it doesn't make sense because if you are in there just shopping then you will not be able to buy any of the models that they use exhibition watches for. People that have the relationship to buy a new Rolex at an AD almost certainly know exactly what they want and don't need to kick the tires.

I think the biggest reason is to prevent the cases from being empty.


BTW my understanding is they are owned by Rolex and only on loan. I have been curious when some show up for sale somewhere... maybe they already have. I own a watch prominently marked "PROTOTYPE" that was never supposed to leave the factory of a certain Swiss manufacturer but it did. Note I have never bothered to hold an exhibition only Rolex so I have no idea if the cases are marked or not. Anyone know? Specifically the ones with the hands fixed.