Good news about Rolex in South Africa

Despite closing its Sandton affiliate office, Rolex will maintain its service centre in South Africa and expand its retail presence in the country with its partners. 

Rolex announced in May that it would be closing its office in Sandton after operating in South Africa for 76 years. 

The company said at the time that a change in “local markets and conjuncture” was the reason for closing its office. It later added that these changes resulted in South Africa no longer warranting the presence of an official Rolex affiliate. 

It gave no further reasons for closing its office, but some speculate it is due to a decline in the luxury watch market in South Africa. 

Other reasons may include general economic conditions that make running a physical office in the country too difficult and unnecessarily expensive for Rolex. 

The office will close at the end of this month. 

It joined a string of other global companies leaving South Africa, such as European banking giant BNP Paribas and Shell. 

Despite closing its Sandton affiliate, the brand said it would maintain its after-sales service centre and strengthen its retail presence throughout the country.

As of the 1st of July, the brand’s partner, The Vault, will take over and centralise all maintenance and servicing activities for the country’s other Official Rolex Retailers. 

The Rolex Authorized Service Center will continue operating at the same address in Johannesburg and with the same watchmakers known to the customers. 

“Through its expertise and resources, The Vault team will uphold Rolex’s high-quality standards for the entire market and will continue the brand’s long-term dedication to watch servicing excellence,” the company said. 

Rolex said it has substantial expansion plans for its retailer network in the country, with it increasing its presence in major economic hubs over the next few years. 

In Johannesburg, Rolex will inaugurate a 200 m² boutique in Sandton City with its partner SHEMER. 

Scheduled for opening late next year, this will be Rolex’s first mono-brand store in South Africa, located within the Diamond Walk, alongside other international luxury brands.

Simultaneously, the official retailer and long-time brand partner, Charles Greig, will completely overhaul its store in Hyde Park and include a new 65 m² Rolex shop-in-shop.

In Cape Town, Rolex will open a boutique at Charles Greig’s address in Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in late 2025. 

Another official retailer, Van Deijl Jewellers, signed an agreement with Tyger Valley Shopping Center to increase its store footage, allowing Rolex to develop a new 70 m² shop-in-shop.

Rolex will also spread its retail footprint to Durban, where its partner, The Vault, will inaugurate a 60 m² corner in Umhlanga Arch.

Next year will also see the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned (RCPO) program introduced in South Africa. 

Launched in 2022, the RCPO program offers the opportunity to buy genuine second-hand Rolex watches guaranteed by the brand. 

These watches benefit from the quality criteria inherent to all Rolex products and the full know-how and professionalism of the brand’s worldwide network of experts. 

South Africa will be Rolex’s first African market to provide RCPO watches.