The Joy of Buying Rolex
I put my name down for a 41mm black steel OP in August last year. The folks in my AD are lovely, but they don’t have a watch for me yet. It’s now 6 months on, and 7 months to the occasion that I had planned for the watch: my son’s 21st. I’m far less convinced now than I was 6 months ago that a piece will be available. I’ve opened up the req a bit to include Explorer and smooth bezel datejust because they are very similar (in my mind).
I happened to be in another UK city this week and popped into their AD to have a chat about the state of their Rolex sales. The sales guy could not have been less interested in me, leaning on the display cabinet and shrugging his shoulders to pretty much every enquiry.
He did offer to sell me a smaller OP for £7.5k, about £2k over retail price.
Where did that watch come from? The same AD sold it to a customer at retail price. The customer then sold it back a few months later, at a healthy profit. And now the AD was selling the same watch, at an even bigger delta. I was just flabbergasted. We say it’s not the ADs fault, it’s a supply issue.
But if the AD is selling stock to exactly the sort of people that they say they are trying to avoid (flippers) and then rewarding those flippers and making bigger profits form the actual flipping, why would they sell anything to people who actually want to wear the watches?
I’m at a bit of a loss really. Like I say, my local AD seems great, but I don’t have a watch.
I’ve bought luxury goods and high end brands before. I’ve never had a less luxurious experience than when trying to buy this watch for my son.
I think I’m sticking with it just to see the process through and see what’s really possible.
When does the joy start?
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
Nobody should allow themselves to be made to jump through hoops over buying a watch. The joy starts when the self respect returns.
I never had these issues. Lucky I guess. I enjoy my Rolex greatly as I do all my other watches. Good luck to you!
Nobody should allow themselves to be made to jump through hoops over buying a watch. The joy starts when the self respect returns.
I think you might be right
Don't play games, there are a ton AD's out there who would be happy to help you. I got a DateJust six weeks after asking (and well in time for my anniversary) with maybe a few hundred in jewelry over a few years previous purchase history (ie - basically nothing). A good AD is there to help you make those memories, to make moments special, start shopping around and say goodbye to that last store for good.
I think it depends on where you live and the people who operate the Rolex ads where you reside. I don’t buy Rolex but honestly all ads are the same: they serve their preferred customers first. The very good ad that I buy many watches from has a customer who buys as many as 40-50 watches on a single trip. They are going to treat him better than they regard my business.
Not popular opinion, but go look in Watchfinder and see if you can find a gently owned used model. Prices have come down - and if you ask - they will negotiate a little bit. You will get your watch with a letter of authenticity.
You pay a bit of premium - but life is short. If you want it, go do it.
*This is how I bought my Rolex DJ w/fluted bezel. Waited for a sale on Rolex and pulled the trigger. Now I own the only Rolex I want - and happy.
I'm from the UK ,like you have had good and bad experiences with AD my best was a 41mm Wimbledon date just fluted bezel in 4 months with only 1 purchase 5yrs ago
Not popular opinion, but go look in Watchfinder and see if you can find a gently owned used model. Prices have come down - and if you ask - they will negotiate a little bit. You will get your watch with a letter of authenticity.
You pay a bit of premium - but life is short. If you want it, go do it.
*This is how I bought my Rolex DJ w/fluted bezel. Waited for a sale on Rolex and pulled the trigger. Now I own the only Rolex I want - and happy.
I could do that, and I might end up going that way. It does feel like I’d be facilitating the problem though if I pay more than retail. I hate that thought.
I'm from the UK ,like you have had good and bad experiences with AD my best was a 41mm Wimbledon date just fluted bezel in 4 months with only 1 purchase 5yrs ago
We have a purchase history with this AD. Nothing outrageous, but in the several K range in total. That’s the only thing that stops me shopping around.
We have a purchase history with this AD. Nothing outrageous, but in the several K range in total. That’s the only thing that stops me shopping around.
That's the think they do like history with a client so you feel obliged to keep with them,just keep popping in for a chat and remind them your not a flipper
I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be an AD for long if Rolex found out.
I am fortunate to have a great relationship with my AD. I buy and sell watches, Rolex and non Rolex, with them regularly. I've asked them about buying Rolex watches back if I don't get on with them and they've said it has to be three years old to not be deemed flipping. I'm unsure if this is official Rolex policy, or an internal one, but it sure puts an end to the behaviour you've unfortunately encountered.
It starts with Breitling or Omega.
Many ADs I’ve spoken with have said that the 41mm OPs are more difficult to get than other models like the Explorer 1. Seems they are very popular. I was able to get an Explorer 1 pretty quickly. I have to imagine if you have 7 more months till the event you will get an allocation.
Did they give you any sort of estimate?
I was playing these stupid Rolex games for over a year, come almost the second I just went grey market never to look back. Unless u have history with them the chances aren’t very good! But having said that my friend got a datejust in only 2 weeks…… so go figure? 🤷🏻♂️
Have you seen what Bucherer is selling pre-owned Rolex watches for? I stopped into their boutique at South Coast Plaza and was shocked to see reconditioned submariners selling for $15k. They don’t come with boxes.
I was surprised since Bucherer is now a part of Rolex. It feels shady.
40-50 watches on a visit?! That sounds like a dealer. No one does that.
Private collector very wealthy man longtime buyer of lots of watches pretty well known around Toronto. Definitely not a dealer nobody has ever bought a watch off him. Not mythical, I have friends who know him quite well. Watches are bubblewrapped and stored. On 2 occasions watches that I wanted were being reserved, waiting for this gent to consider. My ceiling is his floor.
I’ve decided to focus on neo-vintage Rolex models. I’ve purchased a 14060M Sub that I absolutely love. I’m currently waiting for a 16570 Explorer II that should be here this week and my next Rolex after that one will be an early drilled lug 14270 36mm Explorer.
I didn’t have to beg for either of the ones I bought and the sellers even seemed happy to have my money. I like the smaller sizing and more tool-like finishing of the earlier models vs new anyway, and by God the lugs are drilled.
BTW, if you were behind me on a waiting list in St. Louis or Columbus, you just moved up one because I called and asked to be taken off the preference list at both of my ADs (not like they were going to call me anyway).😂
Why bother ? I have given up on Rolex a long time ago. They should not treat their customers in this matter. There is this old saying " what goes around comes around" and they are not an exception to this saying.
Buy a Breitling or an Omega. You walk into an AD, Plonk down your money and walk out with a gorgeous watch for your son! F Rolex...
Buy a Breitling or an Omega. You walk into an AD, Plonk down your money and walk out with a gorgeous watch for your son! F Rolex...
TBH I’d just get an Omega Aquaterra. IMO it is a much nicer watch. I really don’t get this jumping through hoops for a Rolex nonsense.
Which AD was selling to the flipper? Name and shame!
It’s also worth noting different ADs get different allocations based on their success. So you might be best off hedging your bets..
TBH I’d just get an Omega Aquaterra. IMO it is a much nicer watch. I really don’t get this jumping through hoops for a Rolex nonsense.
Agreed, the whole thing about sucking up to a glorified shop assistant and buying extra bits to boost your chance of moving up the waiting list is quite pathetic.
Grand seiko cheaper nicer and you get to be in there club 👌👍😂🤣
Rolex will not accept that from an AD. I would inform them directly.
Many ADs I’ve spoken with have said that the 41mm OPs are more difficult to get than other models like the Explorer 1. Seems they are very popular. I was able to get an Explorer 1 pretty quickly. I have to imagine if you have 7 more months till the event you will get an allocation.
Did they give you any sort of estimate?
No estimate. Lots of comment here suggest that by opening up the ask to Exp and DJ I have a much better chance
Get a Grand Seiko or Omega 💥💥💥. The Rolex staff in the shops are so disinterested and just basically saying they have nothing 😆 can put your name on a list with no timeline or ETA 😂. So go GS
Mah,they ruined the brand for watch enthustiast’s.
Love Rolex,but it’s not worth all that trouble.
Get a Grand Seiko or Omega 💥💥💥. The Rolex staff in the shops are so disinterested and just basically saying they have nothing 😆 can put your name on a list with no timeline or ETA 😂. So go GS
GS just doesn’t do it for me. Omega AT is a solid alternative in my mind. Seriously considering that.
The real sucker is the ones who play their stupid game. Rolex is a mass-produced goods. It's not a better watch than omega, breitling or GS in any way. Why pay 2x and beg?