Should I buy this JLC on the grey market?

As long as you weight out the cost of the service if something goes wrong. So if the saving is more than the service the warranty really dosent mean much. If it makes more sense to spend the extra $1,800 to have the warranty and build a relationship with that AD because you plan to collect more coveted pieces do that. That is pretty much how I weigh out if I’m going with my AD or grey.

Go to a trusted reseller. Anything JLC is too expensive at MSRP. Go preowned!

Definitely do your homework, but I am seeing 24 of this exact watch on Chrono24 starting at $9500 to MSRP. I have had good experiences on Chrono24, but this is a higher price point than I work at, so buy the seller as much as the watch. Hope this helps!

For something at that level, I’d lean towards the AD. If grey market was more like 20%+ off, that would be different. The $1,800 seems like a lot but the percentage just isn’t enough that I think going grey market makes sense. IMO

I would go used from a trusted dealer. I'd get the whole bag box and papers. I'd check reviews if you're buying online. I'd stay away from new dealers or private sellers. I'd try to communicate with the chosen dealer to get feel for who they are. I wouldn't buy the cheapest one you find.

Jomashop seems like a good compromise no?

It's new and they at least offer their own warranty

So basically if I buy at an AD JLC would service the watch for free vs if I buy at Jpmashop I'd have to pay?

What if the difference was 2.8k? Lol that's a serious question btw

Yeah. I've never dealt with them. But I haven't heard anything bad.

That's very helpful.

Have you ever heard of someone needing a repair under warranty from good brands like jlc?

Personally from my family or friends I have yet to hear about such story.

Obviously my sample size is relatively low but I am wondering how useful a manufacturer warranty is on luxury watches.

What is your experience?

Well now you’re talking a substantial discount. I have bought a couple times from Jomashop, and had good results. However, both times were less than $1,000 so the risk was lower. But for that much difference I’d be looking hard at grey market. I believe ADs have value to a point and the higher price the watch the more value they may add. But as I said, when you get up around that 20% discount, I think the AD doesn’t have that much value.

One other factor is whether you believe a relationship with that AD is something you value.

Honestly I am not too worried about the warranty the more I think about it.

What is the probability I may need the warranty? 5%?

If so let's say the fix cost $2.5k that means the value of the warranty is $125.

So even a $1k difference is way worth it.

The one thing I would fear on the grey market watch is that the watch has pieces that are not actual JLC parts and that the watch could have been messed with.

Do you think this is a real risk or a completely irrational fear?

I agree.

I asked the AD if they would get me a batman if I bought it after I already bought a panerai with them.

They said they can't promise anything...

Then I'm like what is the value of building more purchase history with that AD.

Did you purchase a JLC from a reseller?

Would fearing that the watch may have been messed with with non JLC parts used in it be an irrational fear or a relevant concern?

If you’re going through a reputable source like I believe Jomashop is, I don’t think there is much risk of a ‘non standard’ watch.

Well the unfortunate fact is they really can’t say that to you. I would say it’s worth not saving the $1800. Helping that sales rep now could help him argue your case with the store director about your allocation when a Batman comes in. All of these sales reps have to argue on your behalf why you are so special compared to the 1,000 other people that requested this piece whilst only recieving 5 that month. That rep making that sale, might make it that much easier to pay for day care, to help get their partner a car they have been saving for. You see it’s not necessarily the AD you need to have spend history with, it’s really the rep seeing you as a high priority client.

On another note I have purchased and traded many watches with Jomashop and the experience is always touch notch 👍

Cards on the table, $1800 isn't THAT much of a difference, when we're talking about a watch already nudging 11K in its cheapest version. This isn't the minor leagues. I don't know your financial situation (and I don't need to), but if 10.8K is a buy and 12.6K has you sucking air between your teeth and saying, "I dunno..." then I'm not sure the 10.8K price is right for you anyway. I would want to be able to spend 50-100% beyond the price of a new watch, and if I couldn't do that, I'd query whether I really had the money and/or the mindset to be buying a watch that expensive in the first place, even at the cheaper price.

Honestly that's just the way I operate with everything lol. And it's exhausting. I even do that when I buy groceries.

It's not so much that I don't have the money or the mindset to get the item. It's just that I want to make purchases in the most rational and responsible way.

I recently bought a limited edition panerai. I liked the watch a lot and it was the last one available. Since time was of the essence I bought it as it was rational to me.

Here it's a watch I can get now or in 6 months or in a year so I would feel very guilty purchasing it now without having considered all those seemingly important details.

Also $1800 could be a very nice piece of jewelry for my wife that I could buy at my other rolex AD where I know they will get me the pieces I want.

So it is super valuable.

Then I would say, take that $1800 and weigh it against what the AD version gets you that the Jomashop one doesn't. This is all going to be in the area of warranty, I guess. Having a "relationship" with an AD pretending to be your pal, and maybe a glass of cheap bubbly, isn't worth bringing into the equation.

So, is the warranty part of the equation worth that extra $1800? In the wake of what you've already said in your reply to me, I think that's the only question to be asking yourself at this point. Good luck!

Thanks a lot for the help my friend..

What about the actual authenticity and parts in the watch? Do you think there is a risk with jomashop?

Honestly, no I don't. I think the grey market - and Jomashop as the poster boy for the grey market - terrifies a certain kind of buyer, and this is how talk of watches on there being less than legit comes about. But I'd be comfortable buying from there, myself. But I'm just one guy. Maybe time for a poll?!

Very good idea!

Done!

Well, I don’t think you should have to worry too much about that. If you buy from a reputable seller, such as I believe Jomashop is, the risk of getting something’not standard’ is very low.

Did you end up buying the watch? If you did, did you go new or preowned? Post pics if you picked it up.

I didn't buy it because I find the price too high right now.

It's a great timepiece which I'd like to own eventually but now I feel I can't justify the purchase.

This Jaeger seems like a higher priority on my next watch conquest :-) :