Warranty Card
A warranty card is the official document issued by an Authorised Dealer listing serial number, reference, sale date, and dealer stamp. Rolex 2020+ uses Code 50 digital cards verifiable against Rolex's system. A complete, signed warranty card moves price by ±6–10% on Rolex Sport Steel.
Four functions
- Proof of authenticity — manufacturer document confirming the watch is genuine
- Proof of provenance — where and when sold — not stolen or grey
- Warranty period — Rolex 5 years (2015+), Patek 2 years, AP 2 years
- Service reference — Service Centre tracks history via card
Types
Rolex pre-2020 (paper card)
- Green/blue paper
- Lists: serial, reference, model name, sale date, AD stamp, signature
- Printed Geneva or Bienne, Switzerland
Rolex 2020+ (Code 50 digital)
- Paper with QR code + 5-character Code 50
- Verifiable via Rolex retailer portal
- Hard-to-forge hologram
- "Activated" when AD sells and stamps the date
Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin
- Dark green paper
- Lists: serial, reference, dial details, movement number
- Printed Geneva, Switzerland
AP Guarantee
- Navy blue paper
- Lists: serial, reference, sale location
Price impact
| Warranty card status | Impact on Sport Steel | Impact on Patek/AP |
|---|---|---|
| Full Set with signed card | Baseline | Baseline |
| No card | -6 to -10% | -15 to -20% |
| Card present but unsigned | -3 to -5% | -8 to -12% |
| Card from foreign AD | -2 to -4% | -5 to -8% |
| Photocopy / reproduction | -10 to -18% | -25 to -35% |
Code 50 — Rolex 2020+
Rolex launched Code 50 in 2020 to combat counterfeiting:
- 5-character alphanumeric code on card
- QR code scannable
- Activation by AD at sale — date stamped on card
- Verification via Rolex retailer portal — matches serial + Code
This system:
- Lets dealers verify authenticity in real time
- Makes card forgery essentially impossible without Rolex system activation
- Service Centre can pull history via Code 50
Forgery patterns
Pretty photocopy
- Paper has no hologram
- Print lacks depth
- Font size doesn't match originals
"Resized" card
- Uses a card from another lost watch, erases and rewrites serial
- UV reveals ink layer artifacts
Colour shift
- Old paper develops slight yellowing
- A "2010" card on pristine white paper signals suspicion
What specialists check
- UV light — Rolex card has UV-reactive security marks
- Cross-check serial against 6 o'clock rehaut number
- Date stamp matches the year of the serial (Rolex serial has mapping)
- AD stamp — knows the real Thai AD stamps (Riviera Group)
- Code 50 verification (post-2020) — via portal
Seller playbook
If you have the card
- Store in plastic sleeve or paper envelope — protect from humidity
- Don't write on it
- Keep with the box and accessories
If the card is missing
- Search safes, original boxes, old file cabinets
- Contact Rolex Service Centre Riviera Group for "service papers" if the watch was serviced in Thailand
- Contact the original AD (Riviera Group, foreign AD) — they may have records
Send warranty card photo via LINE — we verify Code 50 and check the issue date.
Sources: Rolex Code 50 technical specification 2020 · Patek Philippe Origin Certificate documentation · Watchmaker Forum warranty card identification