Skipping the waitlist, what’s it worth?

I'm not one for instant gratification. I'm also not one that is nutty about getting the best price by any means, but paying extra for an utterly inessential item out of impatience would be humiliating and sour the purchase. It should be worth waiting for, and there is one way to prove that. 

For me, I'll not pay more than RRP for any watch. 

Others may find that too restrictive & choose to pay that premium. While I wish they wouldn't because it affects me in a small way with prices going up because that premium is what people are willing to pay, I'm not going to begrudge them their choice. 

I'll just modify my actions based on market conditions & my situation. 

I wouldn't pay above RRP, I'm not that interested in watches. 

I love watches, but there is nothing that special about them that it would inspire me to pay a premium above the manufacturer's price just to have a particular one. 

Finally, I'm enough of a "hipster" that I don't want the watches that are all "hype", and hard to get. 

Yeah, as long as the process is transparent and logical.

I recently booked a build slot for my first Anordain watch, ETA end of 2026. And Im fine with that, because the process was clear and straightforward. And felt respectful. I understood their circumstances and I felt valued all along.

Meanwhile Ive been on waiting lists here in London for the Pelagos 39, every AD appears to be different in the way waiting lists work (one literally just took my details on a post-it note - I for sure am getting a call from this dude) and most of them give out that 'if you're a first time client then you shouldn't hold your breath' vibe, etc. And I shouldn't have to befriend strangers to be considered worthy. 

So yeah, waiting may be part of the fun. Being taken for a pr*ck is harder to accept.

It all depends on your budget, age, etc.......for me, I´m 55, will be retired in 2,5 years with a very good pension, kids are out of the house, mortgage is paid.....so....I will go 1,5 - 2x RRP if I really want it (did it once already)....no point in being the richest guy in the cemetery....but everyone's situation is different, you can't generalize this

I wouldn’t normally pay above rrp except for one watch (Pepsi GMT), as I know I’ll probably be waiting years. 
Even then I wouldn’t pay more than 25% and currently the grey market is above 100% so I doubt that will happen anyway. 

Normally I would never pay a premium on a watch. 

The only exception I would made is when several rumors are existing that the watch is going to be discontinued soon. If I really really want this watch I would be thinking of spending + 10% or so before the price would raise much more when it’s discontinued and there is not a realistic chance to get the watch soon. But that is the only excaption. Otherwise I wouldn’t do it.

I'm currently waiting on a Pelagos FXD. I could buy one gray market right now for 10-20% over MSRP. There are some on Chrono 24 and even Jomashop has one. I'm tempted. But when spending that much money on a watch that would probably have to go back to Tudor for any service, I'd rather wait and have the piece of mind of an AD and a warranty.

If this was a watch that I new I could take to a local watchmaker if something went wrong, it might be different. If $4k wasn't a very expensive watch to me, it might be different.

There are thousands of watches out there, 99% of which can be easily purchased.  

I'm willing to put myself through exactly zero hassle to get one of the handful that thousands of other people are dying to get their hands on.

I'd  pay 10% to 20% increase if I really wanted it and only if I could afford the watch. In saying this I would try to find it discounted first before paying little higher.

Unless it's a watch no longer in production (with one exception), I'm not paying above MSRP.  I've only done it a couple times.  Once for a Zodiac, once for a CW, once for a Seiko.

I've toyed around with trading some watches in to help pay for the ONE watch that, while still in production, I will never get the call for...the Omega Silver Snoopy 50th Anniversary.

I doubt I'll actually do it though.