Should I modify my Rolex watch after I buy it? - Custom Rolex  

Custom-Rolex sind ein grosses Thema in der Uhrenwelt

Have you ever seen a Rolex Submariner with a green dial and a bezel set with emeralds? Or a Day-Date with a red dial and rubies as indices?  

Probably, you are thinking to yourself that Rolex has never launched such extraordinary creations. That's true. However, the watches mentioned are by no means clumsy fakes. The answer to the ominous riddle is custom Rolex.  

Custom Rolex watches are Rolex watches that have been arbitrarily modified by a non-certified third party after purchase. 

So you can put together your own Rolex according to your imagination, so to speak. However, this also comes with serious downsides.  

You should under no circumstances have your Rolex modified afterwards if you have bought it as an investment. A custom Rolex always involves altering the original condition of the watch. If a Rolex is set with diamonds, the watch has been "damaged" and the Rolex warranty is void. If this doesn't bother you and you want to customize your Rolex for purely aesthetic reasons, you can certainly consider a subsequent change.

Why change your Rolex at all?

There are countless reasons to change your Rolex.  

It can happen that after a certain time, one's simple Rolex seems too conservative and boring. A plain Datejust made of stainless steel with a white dial is undoubtedly classic and timeless, but it can be quite dull for some people, especially if they don't have a large watch collection that allows for variation. A colorful dial for the Rolex could quickly bring a change.

Or perhaps one has a configuration for a Daydate in mind from the start, which simply isn't available for purchase. Who doesn't know this feeling? Many have probably had the thought that an object or a product would be much better if feature XY were different. This is also the case for some Rolex wearers, who then put their thoughts into action.

Maybe the goal is simply to express one's individuality by customizing the Rolex so that it's guaranteed that no one else has the same one. Big egos, especially in the watch world, don't like to settle for uniformity.

It's also possible that one wants to wear a specific model from the popular brand with the crown, but it's incredibly hard to find. The Oyster Perpetual with the turquoise "Tiffany" dial is extremely popular. This model actually costs only 5,800 Swiss Francs. On the gray market, the mentioned model is traded for four to five times its price due to its popularity.

Die Rolex Oyster-Perpetual Tiffany
Source: Rolex

Understandable, if you can not pay these horrendous prices or want. A custom Oyster Perpetual, which you can have made just like the regular one from the factory, would then be the cheapest solution.  


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What can I change on a Rolex?

When it comes to what can be changed on a Rolex, creativity knows no bounds. In short, everything can be changed.

If you take a look at the range of altered Rolex watches, sooner or later you will find the most abstruse creations.  

Eine Custom Rolex in Blau und rot mit blauem Ziffernblatt
Source: Rolex

You can have the surface of the watch set with precious stones or diamonds. Sogenannte Iced-Out Uhren waren bis vor wenigen Jahren voll im Trend.

Another very popular way to customize a watch is to replace the dial. There are dials available in all imaginable colors and patterns, as well as with diamond settings or even completely without a dial as a skeletonized Rolex.

The watch case and bracelet can also be completely changed. It's possible to attach newly designed bracelets to your Rolex or exchange the case with a different material. Furthermore, sometimes even the back of the Rolex is replaced with a glass case back.

As far as purely visual changes are concerned, there's really nothing that doesn't exist. 


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Where can I get my watch customized?

If you have really made the decision to have your Rolex customized, you should not do it anywhere.  

Even if you find tutorials on the internet, it is highly recommended not to attempt the modifications yourself.

You should also definitely avoid unscrupulous jewelers. Be cautious if you are offered noticeably low prices for the customization.

Prices vary widely, but you can be sure that a decent workshop will never convert your Rolex to another watch for a few hundred euros.  

It is best to seek out qualified jewelers or workshops that have already proven themselves in the past. Customer reviews, in particular, can be very telling.

Caution is advised, especially when it comes to diamond setting. This work requires extreme skill and sensitivity to achieve a flawless result. Not every workshop works with the greatest precision and care. In this case, it is best to find someone who specializes in diamond setting. 

In any case, it is clear that you should not save money here, otherwise you risk damaging your watch through poor work. 

Eine rote Lady Daydate mit diamantbestückung
Source: Rolex

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The disadvantages of a custom Rolex

Now let's discuss the downsides of a custom Rolex. These are numerous and significant.

Da wäre zunächst einmal der wichtigste Punkt. Sobald die erste Kleinigkeit an der Uhr verändert wird, kannst du dich von der Idee der Rolex als Wertanlage verabschieden. Dies ist nämlich ein Eingriff in den Originalzustand der Uhr. Sozusagen wird sie dann als “beschädigt” angesehen. Deine Uhr wird niemals wieder den Wert erlangen, den sie im Originalzustand gehabt hat.  

Furthermore, any existing warranty immediately and irrevocably expires as soon as the watch is modified. Rolex is very displeased when third parties tamper with their watches and will no longer accept your watch for watch service.

At the same time, one risks compromising on quality. For instance, the custom workshop may not properly seal the watch, making it no longer waterproof, or the watch movement may be damaged during the work. The interior of a Rolex is highly sensitive. If it is exposed by unqualified individuals, countless errors can occur.

The exceptional case: Symbiosis of new art and classic watches 

However, there is an exceptional case. A few custom companies are popular and established among a certain target group, despite the headwinds from the watch world. These custom brands dance on a fine line between art and crude destruction. 

These are extremely well made customs, which are so extraordinary that you can say there is a creative and artistic effort behind it.  

A new, unique design, which springs from the spirit of the times, breathes new life into a classic model. This is quite appealing in the watch scene. 

MAD Paris is probably the best-known company that manufactures such custom watches.

However, the amazing thing is that some companies have managed to attain their own unique status. A MAD Paris Rolex, for example, is a MAD Paris Rolex and not just an ordinary custom Rolex.

Thus, a MAD Paris Rolex can nevertheless be a value investment, since the popular custom manufacture also brings out strictly limited editions.  

Therefore, it is not unusual for MAD Paris watches to be set with pink diamonds or to be completely black. 

Conclusion - a Custom Rolex should be well considered

In conclusion, it's clear that with a custom Rolex, you're not only paying for the cost of the service and the materials. You're also paying with the reduced resale value of your watch.

In addition, you have to accept that your Rolex could be damaged if it is customized by unqualified workshops.  

However, the world of custom watches offers such a wide variety of possibilities that changes can be quite tempting.  

In the end, everyone has to decide for themselves whether to accept the disadvantages of custom Rolex. Basically, however, it is not recommended to modify your watch afterwards.  

Scource cover image: Rolex


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Q&A

What is a Custom Rolex?  

A custom Rolex is a Rolex that is subsequently altered, usually visually, by a third party. 

Should I modify my Rolex after buying it? 

You should not change your Rolex, because every change reduces the value of the watch. 

What should I consider if I want to customize my watch?  

You should definitely consult qualified professionals, because otherwise you risk bad results or even damage to the watch.  


About the author

Autor bei Gentleman-watches

Alexander Weinberger

For me, the most fascinating thing about watches is the interplay between precise craftsmanship and artistic development. In a watch movement, hundreds of small parts have to be put together precisely so that they form a large whole.


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