Buy or Pass on Rolex from the Grey Market?

It is not an unreasonable price, but it is also not a very hard watch to get, though the Chicago market is tough. It is an awesome watch that remains underrated In the lineup.

You are right and many will come here and say, buy the seller, which is true. Most grey’s are shady and will polish the hell out of the watch and claim it as new, they will not include all the links, and will mix match box and papers. So the questions I would be curious of are:

• Is it a genuine grey dealer or someone who purchased it and is flipping it? I would not consider all folks who immediately sell as grey dealers. Sometimes they may buy something they may not want just to build a history. They will keep flipping pieces they do not want to build up to the watch they want.
• Who is the seller and do they have a long list of reviews? Do they have an actual store front or are they a backpack dealer? If from the Rolex forums, what does their feedback look like?
• Does the seller or staff wear pieces? Check their instagram and look for how they treat their inventory.
• Do not be afraid to have the watch inspected when you get it. The seller will not like it, but that is not your problem. Authenticate it.

Your will get lots of good advice here, but figured I would share my quick thoughts. 

I'd save my money, and wait for the AD. Then you know exactly what you're getting, rather than taking a risk. 

Appreciate the response and questions!

Seller listing: https://nashvillewatch.com/product/rolex-milgauss-116400gv-black-dial-green-sapphire-2022-unworn/

Seller profile / reviews on WatchCharts 

Greater risk playing the AD game (however long that takes if not buying pieces you don’t want) or buying from someone looking to make a quick buck?

Full disclosure, I have never bought a Rolex on the grey, but have purchased many other brands. Nashville Watch has been around a while and seems to have good reviews and while I have looked at their site, I’ve never bought anything through them.

EDIT: Make sure the watch they are showing is the one they are selling. I doubt Nashville would do it, many other grey’s list a watch, then source it through a sellers group.

Thanks for the heads up! 

In you original comment, you mentioned the Milgauss is “not a very hard watch to get.” 

Where have you seen it available for purchase?

I’ve been checking AD‘s and Tourneau / Bucherer boutiques in Chicago and NYC. 

Have you tried with any particular AD yet? 

It's your time and money, but at that price I know I'd either buy from an AD, or buy something else. 

So I found this on Chrono24

https://www.chrono24.com/rolex/papers-rolex-milgauss-green-anniversary-116400gv-stainless-steel-black-watch-box--id25182018.htm
 

New, unworn with box and papers for $9992. I can’t vouch for this particular seller, but I’ve done well on Chrono24 in the past. My understanding is that you’ve got some recourse if you buy through them. I think you could buy and take the watch to get it verified and get your money back if there’s a problem. 

I would try dealers outside, perhaps venture up to Milwaukee or down to Indy. In my experience, the two watches my AD always seem to have is the Explorer and the black dial Milgauss. I imagine that is similiar in other ADs, but dealing with larger chain based ADs can be a challenge to stand out. 

Edit: by seem to have, I mean make available. It could take time, but I am willing to bet if you talk to those outside Chicago, you may have good luck. I hear good things about the AD in Indy.

Like what other crunchers suggested, the Milgauss is not in huge demand relatively speaking, and if you can get one at similar price from a local AD, I wouldn’t risk getting it online. 

Presuming it is genuine, I would say that price is excellent. In the UK that is the price direct from Rolex, and that's if your prepared to wait a lifetime to get it

As it happens it is my favourite Rolex model, although it would be even better if it were 38mm. Local AD's will never hold stock, and unless you have a very good relationship with one you can expect to wait at least five years. Anyway, that's how it works in the UK

Pretty much same everywhere in the world. Here in Hong Kong, there are plenty of physical shops selling grey market watches. 

I would imagine in Hong Kong there are numerous shops selling fakes as well

I've been talking to James & Sons, Razny, C.D. Peacock, and the Rolex Tourneau boutique in Chicago and NYC. All give the stainless steel sport model demand / availability story, push for more purchase history to be cobsidered in the future (have given business to all previously). 

Always need an excuse for a good road trip!

The secondary market for Rolex has come back down to Earth. So the price for that unworn Milgauss seems very fair. However, I'd ask if that resale price includes S&H because there is very little margin built in (assuming they purchased from a customer at SRP).  As an aside, I perused their site and I'm shocked at just how many "unworn" Rolex models they have listed with no less than 3 seemingly all having been originally sold in August 2022.

Yes, the whole concept of new, unworn, unsized, tags, etc. feels a little off given my experience buying Tudor from ADs / boutiques. 

Looked more into Chrono24's Authenticity Guarantee and 14 days from delivery from a dealer and 7 days from delivery for a private sale does offer some peace of mind. 

Have you (or anyone you know) leveraged an AD to verify the authenticity of a watch you did not purchase from them?

Curious to know 1) if ADs will lend a hand to purchasers of the brands they sell not from them and 2) how much they charge to verify the authenticity of what you purchased (given you it's not from the AD's inventory). 

I haven’t done it, and when I think about it, they might not want to do that.  They may feel it doesn’t make sense to help you with a purchase you make from somebody else.  I wonder about an independent watchmaker?  To them it would just be a job, and possible work in the future. 

I only buy grey market if it's discontinued/sold out.

The number of unworn (new) Rolexes being sold grey seemingly everywhere is frustrating. I wish all the watches being purchased from ADs were going to people buying it for themselves or loved ones to wear and appreciate but it is just a sign of the times.  

Anything high in demand that can easily be sold on the secondary market will become a haven for flippers. PS5 haul below is from a flipper a little more than year ago who made $40k in a week/ imagine what they could have done with Rolexes a year ago). 

I spoke to an AD in London and asked why there are so many new/unworn pieces on the grey market here. i was told a lot of stock is coming in from Europe. Especially Italy. 

So if anyone has a trip to Italy planned, take your Rolex kitty with you! 

This sounds too pragmatic, but if you can afford it, life’s too short not to just do what you want. Why wait 2 years when you can be wearing the watch you want today.

If you are tight on money or worried about resale value, then go the AD option instead or choose a lower priced watch that you will love and feel comfortable wearing. My 2 cents.