Seventy-six years after establishing a presence in Johannesburg, evolving local markets and conjuncture have curtailed the need for an official Rolex affiliate in South Africa. Rolex Watch Company (South Africa) Ltd was established in 1948 in Johannesburg and moved to Sandton in 1997. Despite the closure, Rolex will continue to offer after-sales services through The Vault, its partner from July 2024. The Rolex Authorized Service Centre will remain operational at its current Johannesburg address.
Upcoming retail expansion In 2025, Rolex will open new boutiques and shop-in-shops across South Africa, including:
• A 200 square metre mono-brand store in Sandton City with SHEMER (Q2 2025).
• A 65 square metre shop-in-shop at Charles Greig in Hyde Park (Q2 2025).
• A boutique at Charles Greig in Cape Town’s Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (late 2025).
• A 70 square metre shop-in-shop at Van Deijl Jewellers in Tyger Valley Shopping Centre.
• A 60 square metre corner in Umhlanga Arch, Durban with The Vault.
Certified pre-owned Programme Rolex will introduce the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned (RCPO) programme in South Africa in 2025.
It is the first African market to offer this programme, providing genuine second-hand Rolex watches guaranteed by the brand. These initiatives underscore Rolex’s commitment to developing the South African market and maintaining strong relationships with local clients.
