Working movements in “exhibition only” Rolex?
I just moved to Denver and stopped by an AD who to my surprise had full “exhibition only” cases, including pieces with ticking second hands. I chatted with the head sales person for the jeweler who was also confused and is going to talk to their Rolex rep to find out more.
Is Rolex putting “functional” movements in their “exhibition only” watches or did a junior sales person put the real stuff in the window?
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You should check out "Right Time Watches" in Denver I am subscribed to their YouTube channel and they seem to have a good inventory across multiple price brackets 🙂 ...and let me know what you find there of course!!! 😀
Every watch I have tried on in my AD has always been ticking
Exhibition watches are full production models. Sounds like the SA you talked to was either clueless or playing dumb.
Every watch I have tried on in my AD has always been ticking
Interesting. The Chicago and Tourneau/Bucherer ADs I’ve visited never had ticking or wind able movements in their Rolex exhibition models. Clearly I’ve been going to the wrong places!
Exhibition watches are full production models. Sounds like the SA you talked to was either clueless or playing dumb.
Does that help or hurt my odds of picking up a Rolex professional model? 😂
Interesting. The Chicago and Tourneau/Bucherer ADs I’ve visited never had ticking or wind able movements in their Rolex exhibition models. Clearly I’ve been going to the wrong places!
I've tried a few from skydweller which has a very unique way to set the date and time to deep-sea challenge and they all worked
Does this mean Rolex dealers have watches for sale to walk-ins? I mean more than the occasional two toned or odd DJ or OP.
I recently picked up a new datejust from my AD and their policy as supposedly given by Rolex themselves was that after paying the full amount for the watch, it had to sit in their store for other customers to try on for 2 weeks. only after 2 weeks was I able to go in and actually take it home with me. So it does explain why all of a sudden there are so many watches available to try on, and desirable models at that. It just sucks for the buyers to have to wait an extra 2 weeks and potentially have someone mishandle your watch.
I've never seen one of the non-working movements. Every "exhibition" piece I've tried was a working watch that would eventually be sold to someone.
I recently picked up a new datejust from my AD and their policy as supposedly given by Rolex themselves was that after paying the full amount for the watch, it had to sit in their store for other customers to try on for 2 weeks. only after 2 weeks was I able to go in and actually take it home with me. So it does explain why all of a sudden there are so many watches available to try on, and desirable models at that. It just sucks for the buyers to have to wait an extra 2 weeks and potentially have someone mishandle your watch.
Paying for the watch ahead of time is your dealer policy, Rolex only dictates that watches should be in the cases for people to try. Your AD doesn't have to take the money ahead of time.
When registering my interest for an Air King two weeks ago, the AD had an "exhibition" model available for me to try on, which came from the safe, and another model in the window. The one I tried on was fully functioning, I changed the time and it was working perfectly. I'm completely convinced that the "exhibition" model is nonsense made up because they don't want to sell that model to you.
If I had bought 10 other Rolex's from them previously, I have no doubt that I'd have gone in to get an Air King and walked out with one the same day.
Does this mean Rolex dealers have watches for sale to walk-ins? I mean more than the occasional two toned or odd DJ or OP.
Rolex ADs always have watches for sale, who they will sell them to and when is the question.
Hi! Speaking as a Guy who works at an AD of Rolex and all the other great brands I can confirm that the movements used are actual functional movements! However Rolex did used to send out watches to AD’s with non functional movements but this was a while ago. Some watches may have these non functional movements and you can recognize these because the watch wil always be on 10 past 10 with the seconds hand at 6 o’clock. It’s possible that the AD Just put the hands on a functional movement that way tho. But now you guys have some inside information ;)
When registering my interest for an Air King two weeks ago, the AD had an "exhibition" model available for me to try on, which came from the safe, and another model in the window. The one I tried on was fully functioning, I changed the time and it was working perfectly. I'm completely convinced that the "exhibition" model is nonsense made up because they don't want to sell that model to you.
If I had bought 10 other Rolex's from them previously, I have no doubt that I'd have gone in to get an Air King and walked out with one the same day.
no, 10 other Rolexs won't get you that watch, more like 10 other non Rolex/PP and some jewelries
Hi! Speaking as a Guy who works at an AD of Rolex and all the other great brands I can confirm that the movements used are actual functional movements! However Rolex did used to send out watches to AD’s with non functional movements but this was a while ago. Some watches may have these non functional movements and you can recognize these because the watch wil always be on 10 past 10 with the seconds hand at 6 o’clock. It’s possible that the AD Just put the hands on a functional movement that way tho. But now you guys have some inside information ;)
That would make a lot of sense. Thanks!
For me it's the other way round: never seen a dummy Rolex before, always ticking ones. I'm based in Germany.
The sales rep at my AD said, the Rolex rule for their store is, there has to be N pieces of Rolex at the store at any point in time. When new stocks arrive, they can sell the new arrivals, or they could keep the new ones and sell the existing stocks. But they have to keep a minimum amount as exhibition pieces. I guess this is a policy to avoid "ghost" Rolex stores like at some international airports.
Because the Rolex watches are essentially in rotation and can get sold eventually, they are all real, fully functional Rolex watches.
no, 10 other Rolexs won't get you that watch, more like 10 other non Rolex/PP and some jewelries
Wait, so you're suggesting Rolex purchases don't count towards Rolex purchases? An idea almost unanimously known to be true, where a client has a strong relationship with an AD, they are likely to receive preferential allocations.
Wait, so you're suggesting Rolex purchases don't count towards Rolex purchases? An idea almost unanimously known to be true, where a client has a strong relationship with an AD, they are likely to receive preferential allocations.
Maybe @yourADguy and some other folks on the inside can weigh in? I’d love to know
Every exhibition Rolex I've seen has been operational (5 different ADs CAN/USA).
You should check out "Right Time Watches" in Denver I am subscribed to their YouTube channel and they seem to have a good inventory across multiple price brackets 🙂 ...and let me know what you find there of course!!! 😀
I bought a MeisterSinger from Right Time. Solid people!
I recently picked up a new datejust from my AD and their policy as supposedly given by Rolex themselves was that after paying the full amount for the watch, it had to sit in their store for other customers to try on for 2 weeks. only after 2 weeks was I able to go in and actually take it home with me. So it does explain why all of a sudden there are so many watches available to try on, and desirable models at that. It just sucks for the buyers to have to wait an extra 2 weeks and potentially have someone mishandle your watch.
Have they heard of a thing called the 'Sale of Goods Act' (or similar in your location)?
Have they heard of a thing called the 'Sale of Goods Act' (or similar in your location)?
I'm assuming they get around this because the wording they used was that I needed to give them a 100% deposit. So 2 weeks later when I went to pick the datejust up was the actual day of the sale.
Wait, so you're suggesting Rolex purchases don't count towards Rolex purchases? An idea almost unanimously known to be true, where a client has a strong relationship with an AD, they are likely to receive preferential allocations.
First of all, all ADs are different, and Rolex rules for each AD can be different, there is no right answer.
In my experience, do my Rolex purchases put me to a more favourable position for the next Rolex? Certainly not. The attitude is, by selling you Rolex watches, AD is doing you a favour, selling you an item below market value, handing you cash in their mindset. In return, they expect regular purchase of items that have fat margins.
But I guess if you and your family shopped that 10+ Rolex spread across the last 20 years, it proves you to be a regular buyer and could help.
At the end of the day, it's all about money. If an AD aim short, it sells the Rolex directly to grey market dealer, pocket extra cash instantly. ADs that play the long game? They use their Rolex to build relationships with high value clients. Question is, what's your position in this Rolex game?
My sincere advice, never spend extra on other items in the hope to get your Rolex, it won't work, not until you spend an obscene amount, not worth it. Just be patient for the market to cool down, or go grey.
First of all, all ADs are different, and Rolex rules for each AD can be different, there is no right answer.
In my experience, do my Rolex purchases put me to a more favourable position for the next Rolex? Certainly not. The attitude is, by selling you Rolex watches, AD is doing you a favour, selling you an item below market value, handing you cash in their mindset. In return, they expect regular purchase of items that have fat margins.
But I guess if you and your family shopped that 10+ Rolex spread across the last 20 years, it proves you to be a regular buyer and could help.
At the end of the day, it's all about money. If an AD aim short, it sells the Rolex directly to grey market dealer, pocket extra cash instantly. ADs that play the long game? They use their Rolex to build relationships with high value clients. Question is, what's your position in this Rolex game?
My sincere advice, never spend extra on other items in the hope to get your Rolex, it won't work, not until you spend an obscene amount, not worth it. Just be patient for the market to cool down, or go grey.
I think the only thing i'd add here is that the AD does in fact make a profit on every Rolex sale as well as other brands, but I do agree with your points.
"It looks like you've bought a watch from us, but in reality, we've just given you free money" is how somebody described it to me.
As it happens, my local Rolex AD also sells Longines (of which there are many I love), so having now purchased two from them, when I registered my interest for an Air King, the sales associate openly stated that it was good I was an existing customer.
when I was trying on several different watches at our Rolex AD, they seemed to all be running as expected. Interesting, the difference in people's experiences!
actually in stock?
actually in stock?
They did not seem to be for sale 🤷♂