They're still embarrassingly poor in comparison to the competition. For the amount of dough one spends on a watch you'd think they could provide a decent box. That said you don't wear a box....
I don't know when Rolex did it, but they appear to have updated their boxes and packaging.
Generally everything is a little smaller.
New box to the left
A pale cream replaces the pale green, and the Rolex logo is now indented into the card, as opposed to the green transfer.
The cream (new) v green (old) continues
The stored documents are now much more easily accessible via a flip down panel.
They're still embarrassingly poor in comparison to the competition. For the amount of dough one spends on a watch you'd think they could provide a decent box. That said you don't wear a box....
They still do the boxes in different sizes, so you aren't comparing apples with apples.
The former, pale green boxes came in three sizes: Samoa, Moorea and Lagoon (it doesn't take an enigma machine to decode Small, Medium and Large). Watches are delivered to ADs in a much smaller, acrylic packing box which has its numbers stickered at one end, with the name of the relevant box into which the AD should put it.
It is at this point when the system breaks down, as Elisabeth-with-an-S from Flappin' & Dead (who has passed her course in smiling nicely and advanced nail treatments) cannot remember how it works and is not sure if bigger boxes are for bigger models, or those with higher values, or precious metals.
As for the quality of the boxes, what is wrong with them? There is usually a rule we follow, that the more OTT and enormous the box, the poorer the quality of the watch and the less value it will retain in the long run. We see a few - here is one week's "in-tray" :
Haywood
Last edited by Haywood_Milton; 12th June 2015 at 10:04.
Thanks for the information Haywood, very interesting
What's wrong with it ?
They do some lavish boxes, but you need to buy the solid gold models etc... I'd rather have the money spent on the watch rather than the box, but perhaps that's just me. Ironically their older, really poorly made boxes, are the most valuable on the second hand market.
I just find it rather cheap and tacky. When I buy a watch the unboxing is the best bit, but with a Rolex I always find myself underwhelmed when I get to the box. A Glashütte Original on the other hand, no scrimping there, and I'd say the quality of the watch hasn't suffered one bit.
As long as they keep delivering quality watches, a simple useful box is all I need.
Daddel.
Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!
I have to confess, I unbox the watch as fast as a kid unwrapping a Christmas present (albeit without ripping anything up!). I just want to get to the watch.
Some time later I will have a brief look at the box before it goes into storage.
For me, the Rolex packaging is just about right.
I prefer smaller boxes. They take a lot of space. Like two rooms. Small,compact and adequate is what I want. Hate wooden. Iced with hinges that come off easily.
Rolex boxes IMO are very functional which is the only thing I want from boxes.
The new larger box
I think they could be of better quality.
I think the Rolex box accurately reflects how many watches they make a year...not how much they cost. A £6000 GO comes in a finely crafted wooden box because they don't sell many of them...a Rolex comes in exactly the quality you would expect 800,000 watches a year to come in.
GO Looks like a faux-leather box with felt trim and china made hinge/lock to me?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkfGU3NlB7k
Nice enough but not that much more fancy.
So who is considered to make the best watch box in your opinion chaps?
Why is it that ne Longines boxes look really nice and expensive, whereas Omega boxes look a bit low rent with the red faux leather box
Breguet boxes are nice. I like the dornbluth boxes.
Last edited by JPCain86; 12th June 2015 at 23:31.
I love the old Breitling bakelite ones. Now downgraded to very ordinary cardboard. But like others it's not something I get exercised about, as they go straight into the back of a cupboard.
I can't say I ever considered the box but when you see how much they go for on thee own its clear some do
The Bakelite is as brittle as anything; I have about a thousand of these in storage (no exaggeration) and perhaps 15% have broken around the hinges. Things improved slightly when they changed from two butterfly hinges to a single piano hinge, but the problem could still arise.
The letters of BREITLING in metallic material glued to the lid are prone to coming off and the black leatherette interiors can shred and deteriorate. Plastic interiors become unglued. The black foam ones were very cheap to the touch.
Have known a number of catches on the "Emergency" brief-case box to fail.
Nope, not such a fan of the Breitling box family here !
Haywood
Received my new Explorer II today and was surprised to see the new packaging, I had thought they had just changed the inner logo and card holder!
"Best" is a subjective term, even with a consensus but Vacheron Constantin Overseas is very nicely presented.
Cuervo Y Sobrinos is one worthy of praise, since it converts to a humidor.
Wyler, when they were around, made a superb leather covered one the original and full size version.
Of course, the packaging should be commensurate with the cost of the item contained within some exceed that at the lower end, other at the higher end fail miserably.
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f381/wa...g-1004198.html
http://ap.watchprosite.com/show-foru...iguet-box-set/ nice enough, but hardly bowling anyone over with it's fairly safe and middle of the road offering.
I was aware that my SDc was arriving in something different, but had no idea what until it arrived.
The main benefit is how easy it is to stow your documents now, or more specify removing them from the box.
To me everything else is of an equally high standard as before.
Tudor,was nicely surprised by the black bay presentation.
My GO came in the new style dark brown "leather" box which is far nicer than the above.
No loupe now but the watch is housed in a leather travel case that comes out from the main box, the travel case also has a slide out centre to store the little pusher used for moving the date on.
My favourite box so far would be the Dornbluth as it is handmade and real wood, but ultimately they all just end up in storage anyway making the vintage Rolex boxes a winner as they're small.
I personally think the box is important, you are spending a LOT of money and a but of thought on presentation is the least you should expect.
Ultimately the watch is the most important thing and i agree with that but attention to the finer details should be what separates the men from the boys
If Rolex/anyone else believe that the box is a useless item that takes up space then they should put a bit if effort into making the box/packaging as useful as possible and something that adds to the buying experience
The Panerai Pear Wood boxes are lovely. All the watches had warranty issues - and the boxes sat in the loft so they might has well have come wrapped in tissue paper tbh!
it might be a larger box, but it looks exactly the same - without checking Is day it's the same box as my DSSD.
I've seen some older Daytona's that came in a nice wooden box though, and think they should have continued this for a watch that equals at over£25k :-(
It's just a matter of time...
Franck Muller Conquistador or Long Island big boxes were/are lovely.
Have a vacheron overseas and the box is pretty cool. Has another smaller box inside that you can pull out and use for traveling etc.
Quit like it
As nice as the various boxes are, after the initial purchase mine just sit in the loft until it's time to flip the watch
Hi all am new hear buying my first Rolex from AD I just need some advice what come in Rolex box example is it 2 warranty card and also does it come certificate because am asking I order on Thursday told them to get it directly from Rolex and on Friday they told me it came I know Rolex take week to 14 days to ship the watch I asked the sale man he said he requested and they delivered the watch for next day delivery
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My watch boxes are all in the loft with the paperwork.
I do like the box my Rolex came in, when I got it in 2004, wooden lined and leatherette covered. By comparison the Omega boxes are poor.
Franck Muller do some nice boxes.
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
I do like a nice box... PP
simple, elegant and just the right size.
The PP box is lovely. Silly question but is that a pen?
I have only purchased 1 Rolex, and that was from an AD. That watch has never been in the box.
Watch was sized, and worn. Spare links and docs in the box, box in a bag and then straight in a cupboard at home.
I realized that keeping my watches in my hidden safe was only smart if I also hid the watch boxes. Which is a bit of a PITA
Thanks. A quick google said they also make pens so wasn't sure.