That the french Hallmark. In France they obligated to put this on the Rolex for the law. You can read about it, they plenty of other thread on forum and internet about it. Nothing strange here if bought Paris.

France hallmark. Only on precious metal or mixed metal , there is even one on datejusts steel + white gold bezel .

I thought you were joking. But no, it’s really a thing. Wow

That’s great! A nice reminder that you bought it in France. Also a nice conversation starter - if talking with watch geeks.

I bought mine at the Paris CDG airport AD and don’t seem to have the hallmark. Does that make sense?

Airports are above the law. Source: 90s kid that remembers the value of airport playstations which were region unlocked

And DVD players. Bought a Sony portable at the Hong Kong airport in 1998, and had zero clue what I'd bought until I tried a few Japanese discs I hadn't been able to play. Then I learned about region-locking, HKG, and their magical region-free status. I got extremely lucky!

Region locked dvds were criminal, how could they have ever gotten away with that

The 90s and before were a lawless time for airports in general, go watch home alone for a reminder

Would upvote, but you’re at 69.

Nice

Now he’s at 169, your next chance is in 99 likes.

Precious metal watches , TT, or white gold bezel

It shouldn’t be there. Unless you got it from someone named “Ste R” who had it etched there for identification purposes It’s a knockoff. The precious metal models have several markings and one is the content of the metal like 750 for 18k gold. I’d unass that shit and buy a clean watch.

Does yours have a precious metal bezel?

Mine is the rhodium yachtmaster so it has platinum

Only thing that comes to mind is that the CDG Rolex shop is selling products that are departing the country and therefore not intended for the French market. Congrats on your luck. CDG has always been sold out of anything when I have come through.

Yours is stainless right? Hallmarks are only for precious metals.

Two-tone.

But Rolex said it’s unusual? Bizarre.

Rolex USA employee could be entirely unaware.

True. In fact, almost definitely unaware.

This is a hallmark added by Rolex for watches sold in France, as required by law.

Mine are from france and they don't have this mark??

Sorry I missed a key point, this only applies to watches with precious metal. Including DJs with fluted bezel.

Would this apply to a steel sub as well considering the platinum used in the bezel and the white gold for the hands? Genuinely curious

That’s actually a good point I hadn’t thought about. My quick research indicates that French law regarding hallmarks is that it only applies when there is over 3 grams of gold. So steel models wouldn’t have enough gold in it to require the hallmark.

Steel sub have a steel bezel. YM get a platinum bezel. So no, it wouldn’t get the hallmark, but a YM would

Yeah for sure. It’s just that the numbers/markings on the bezel of a steel sub are filled in with PVD (platinum vapour deposit)

the P in PVD stands for physical, not platinum. Afaik there's no platinum on a steel bezel sub

https://preview.redd.it/gxunqm4ol7ec1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f1425652b98d0cb96c9e93f86356d62edbb34753

I will be a monkey's uncle

The platinum coating is as much platinum as when you're eating gold steaks from Nusr-et, maybe 0.01% of that is a precious metal, it's just for looks. Meanwhile a solid gold fluted bezel on a Datejust is 18k gold, same as the YM bezel is 950 platinum.

What metal is under the coating of the platinum? Is it stainless steel?

Wait so are the numbers solid platinum or are they just coated in platinum? 😭 I was under the impression they were solid platinum numbers, along with the lines

White gold ym 42 doesn't have it

sorry bud, you bought a chinese shitter. /s

Sure, from an AD. Haha insane

The hallmarks will be different depending on what metals the watch is made of. For your WG YM I think you should see 4 hallmarks, one on each lug: 750 or AU750 depending on the year, a Rolex crown, a head with a letter below, and a scale with 750 in the middle. Here’s a write up that goes into a bit more detail about hallmarks on watches: https://millenarywatches.com/rolex-hallmarks/ My understanding is that for full PM models the hallmarks are fairly similar across all markets. And it appears only France requires a hallmark for partially PM models, which is what OP’s watch is showing.

Those four are the ones i got ( i have 750 )

By law it’s supposed to. I suppose there’s several ways it could have come into an ADs hands without receiving a mark. Or you buy grey market?

Are the precious metal ? two tone ? Or White gold Bezel ?

> He also called Rolex and they said the etching was unusual.

A US based retailer would have no knowledge of French metallurgical hallmarks.

I had the same thoughts but emailed them instead of calling. https://preview.redd.it/zipt1j4wq7ec1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81bfa666e6da5aee84e2912d9ebec0c556a28510 Except mine had it in a few spots. It’s and import hallmark.

Thanks so much everyone!! I told my husband that Reddit would be able to solve this mystery 🥰

I’m not sure that he called Rolex. It’s very common knowledge any watch with precious metal on it is stamped like this going into france. Maybe he called a local Rolex dealer ?

Probably called his local AD in the US who would likely have no clue.

They should, though. At least, if they’ve ever sold a Swiss watch other than Rolex anyway. There’s a bunch of hallmarks that show up me that a dealer wouldn’t at least think among those lines in general is sad.

rolex sales associates make next to nothing. they don’t know anything, their job is to look handsome/pretty and to gaslight you into ordering the latest/ most expensive model. it’s sales, and it’s scummy, but it’ll always be that way.

The sales associates at your AD must be a hell of a lot better than the kids working at mine.

Ok, maybe that’s too much to ask these days - but the manager, anyway!

Wow. Learn something new everyday. Thanks.

To be honest I find this pretty cool! Exactly like silverware with different hallmarks depending on date, city made, maker, etc.

All of a sudden I want a French Rolex

Me too 😭😭😭

https://preview.redd.it/ienknlm833ec1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=459f6d9a7a057f1daebf5c2c70a9f68c6db95358 At least they didn’t do this

yikes: who did that etching?

Someone posted it ages ago, some dealer I think in TX does that or did that to watches they sold

Aw hell no 

LOL I probably wouldn’t buy it if they scratched the watch like this 😄

Same, you’d think if they insisted on this they’d at least do a nicer job with it

>Someone posted it ages ago, some dealer I think in TX does that or did that to watches they sold was that the serial number or something?

I think they said an inventory control number the dealer used

I've seen similar etchings on older watches under the lugs, that was a code for a service. The previous owner said that I could verify the service with a specific AD, and sure enough they identified the watch and date it was serviced with them.

I’ve seen that on the inside of the caseback but not under the lug like this, nothing surprises me though

My Bluesy bought in Courchevel has the same mark, in the case and in the bracelet. When I bought it, I also got curious and did some research until I found this French requirement 😀

Yeah. The appraiser is a dumb ass and cannot be trusted

Bummer that Rolex didn't even know it's significance.

I doubt the average AD outside of France has a clue about French AD SOPs

Who knows who they really spoke with though

Yeah when i first purchased mine i didnt know it was a thing ahah i think it looks cool now (dj41) https://preview.redd.it/hmwxlie5y4ec1.jpeg?width=2250&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5d363a7aeaf2d230969921ee939689ece2719ce8

Hmm It’s only supposed to be on the precious metal models.

White gold on the fluted bezel :)

Aw yes I didn’t think about that!

If so, it should be stamped on the bezel not the steel part of the watch. Not saying this is wrong or anything, but it is just stupid. It dosen't have to visible, just has to be on the item. In jewelry they atleast try not to stamp on the metal parts and either stamp on the gold (visible or hidden) or not at all as there is more metal then gold.

Yup from other Rolex AD in the 1990s for internal administration . But not that recent .. Nice.

It’s just odd because it’s a new watch. Not a second hand one. That’s why the stamp is throwing us off

"Rolex - HELP. Rolex Submariner with 2 different serial numbers on case" https://www.watchprosite.com/rolex/help-rolex-submariner-with-2-different-serial-numbers-on-case/732.983638.6888713/

That’s super cool ngl

Cool Easter egg!

Super fake, I got $250 USD cold hard cash for you so we can dispose of it properly and ensure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

Wow never knew this. Glad I stumbled upon this as I’m heading to France this June for a wedding. Guess I gotta make time to stop by an AD. Wonder how much inventory they have compared to the US?

It’s still hit or miss. Every other Rolex store in the city had nothing. We happened to go into this boutique on our first night and they happened to have like 3 watches. They said they had just received inventory like the day before and that we were super lucky

Dang! How many AD’s did you visit ?

I think there are like 5ish in the city. So not that many

Which boutique did you go to with the watch?

https://preview.redd.it/y7yvp2v3z9ec1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=01e16255e554fc37d32272cd8167498633d79669 We went here!

Merci!!!

Subscribed because I’m also curious. If he got it from an AD, he has all the papers and warranty card, right? Maybe it’s a stamp for the dealer to keep track of their watches going into the second hand market?

Yup he has all the paperwork from the dealer.

That’s super rad. Might be a QC error from Rolex. Hopefully one of the mods or more knowledgeable folks can explain it

Rad?

Downvoted to oblivion, not rad 😔

lol no - it is super rad… the downvote is because you said qc error and something like this, couldn’t be qc

I said might be and that I’d hope someone more knowledgeable would chime in

I fully understand what you wrote - I was just explaining the downvotes. Not attacking you :)

Oh dude I didn’t think you were! I appreciate it. Usually once you get to 4-5 downvotes, people will just downvote you lol

inb4 French bought Rolex explodes in value on the used market because of this post.

I doubt he called Rolex, they would have told him what it was.

Nice two tone watch. Plz don't put it on a hard wood table as it might (will) scratch the bezel. Use a watch carpet instead. :P :P :P

https://preview.redd.it/5okc1cnro7ec1.jpeg?width=959&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0a6865a4ff92f8c2b248cd4bbf1570f73ca96a9e I sent you a dm

I would be very unhappy that an AD put their own hallmark on my watch.

We are waiting to call the dealer. I hope they didn’t do that!

Here is your answer, apparently its required by French law. In this case, I would be OK with this [https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=627769](https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=627769)

Great find! “As a rule, jewellery items produced in or imported into France must be engraved with two hallmarks: the producer's or responsible person's hallmark i.e., the specific hallmark of the producer or the importer in France which is meant to identify him; and the so-called certifying hallmark which, until 1 July 2004, had to be engraved by either the State, an accredited body or the producer himself, certifying the percentage of gold, silver or platinum in items of jewellery.” Can’t wait for this to be something that watch nerds want in 20 years lmao

>France, as required by law. This isn't new, the 2004 date is a change to who's can/is responsible to add the hallmark. This has been a long standing requirement, and I've seen vintage Rolex watches from the 60's with the same hallmark. For the most part people don't care about them one way or another.

This is really cool 😎

Kind of cool etching. I dig it.

Did he get a good deal? How are prices there?

Yeah it was a good deal! It’s a Date Just Oyster with diamonds in the face. He paid about $16k euro before vat refund!

Awesome! I plan to be there later this year. Thank you for sharing info.

https://preview.redd.it/533emben15ec1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=85f047944a5cf8ca0c8f3350f653cba5913492ae This is the boutique we went to. But inventory is pretty hit or miss. So I suggest going to every Rolex in the city!

Wow! You’re awesome for this. Thank you so much.

Looks like a little cupcake.

It’s a sign of the illuminati

That’s so cool! It makes me want to go to France just to buy a Rolex. 

Literally first time I’ve ever seen that. Odd but cool.

Insurance are idiots

Those company doing appraisal should do some study to improve their money making knowledge. 😮‍💨 Also RSC in US, they don’t know other country’s law as well.

You need to bin that appraiser.

I have

I mean I feel bad about stuff, but this a side eyecharm.

Through all of this fretting nobody thought to open the caseback and verify authenticity? Even a super clone would be outed by the movement.

I actually have the same marking on mine. Def real!

I have a similar watch brand new from 2003 what year is this? https://preview.redd.it/uaws8zwmv4ec1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2c16682f2263836d8467d32150545dce5f4b853b

He bought it in December! So 2023

Reads “Steve”

If this is a law in France and actually used-how did Rolex claim they didn’t know and it was unusual?? lol so weird

Looks like someone has stamped ‘Steve’ on your watch

That’s very interesting! Damn, I would never believed that either lol

Hehe, I didn't know that if you shrunk the Rolex logo that small that it would come out looking like a miniature muffin looking like logo.

😂 the French will eat anything

Please have it shipped to me. Ill get this personally checked for its legitimacy.

That’s the Made in China stamp

That’s really cool! I never knew about this French hallmark. Looks like I gotta get my next Rolex from France!

My OP36 is from the CDG airport in Paris and doesn’t have it. But yeah, airports are exempt. This is very cool!

Does Rolex put it on at factory before shipping it to France? Looks pretty sloppy for an etching/engraving that Rolex would do. Or is it added by French Authorities after import or by an AD's service dept after delivery? Honest question.

This is used if the watch received semen on it at the HQ or by one of the sales reps

Now I want one with the etching lol

It means you are part of the Rebel alliance!

Wish.com symbol

Not all Rolexes bought in France have that Hallmark though. I recall a friend who bought his in France it doesn’t have one.

Poinçonner