It makes sense to have some scarcity for brand exclusivity, but the situation right now is completely out of control and leads to lots of ADs taking advantage of customers, creating ill will. And Rolex isn't capturing most of the profit on many of their own products.
High-end Watches Locally?
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It backfired on them, at least in my case. I never would have checked out hublot or grand seiko if I hadn't been so pissed off at rolex availability
Maybe they think this is a fad, and they don't want to increase production only to have it fade.
Yeah, as far as I know increasing production isn't on the table, I think it's more a question of raising the retail price so that people can walk into an authorized dealer and actually buy one.
Rolex isn't making money on these higher gray market prices, so their brand value is flowing into a lot of other hands.
Rolex isn't making money on these higher gray market prices, so their brand value is flowing into a lot of other hands.
Another point made on the Rolex Forum is that part of buying a luxury product is the luxury experience. You go stay at the Ritz, go buy a Ferrari, or go to a boutique watch shop to buy a Patek, you're going to be pampered.
The Rolex buying experience right now is the opposite of that. It's terrible. The ADs have no stock, you can't try anything on, and you have to sort through grey market and potential fakes and scams. Then you have bling cash flashers waving their Rolex around on YouTube or Instagram, something that doesn't even happen with more luxurious boutique brands.
Ultimately that's why I ended up with a Grand Seiko. I'll definitely be looking at that again along with Omega, IWC, etc for my next purchase.
The Rolex buying experience right now is the opposite of that. It's terrible. The ADs have no stock, you can't try anything on, and you have to sort through grey market and potential fakes and scams. Then you have bling cash flashers waving their Rolex around on YouTube or Instagram, something that doesn't even happen with more luxurious boutique brands.
Ultimately that's why I ended up with a Grand Seiko. I'll definitely be looking at that again along with Omega, IWC, etc for my next purchase.
Joe Boudain said:
It backfired on them, at least in my case. I never would have checked out hublot or grand seiko if I hadn't been so pissed off at rolex availability
Yet you would buy a submariner or GMT at retail immediately if offered to you
I'd buy at over retail from an AD if I could.
FTAC2011 said:Joe Boudain said:
It backfired on them, at least in my case. I never would have checked out hublot or grand seiko if I hadn't been so pissed off at rolex availability
Yet you would buy a submariner or GMT at retail immediately if offered to you
Sure, but that's not an option. Hence why everyone is upset.
Can the dial and bezel be replaced on a vintage Rolex datejust. For example if I have one that's been sitting for 10+ years and needs and overhaul and while doing that I want to go from a gold face and bezel to a white face and silver bezel as well as swap out the crown and band. From what I have read it sounds like Rolex places restrictions on what you can do through authorized shops.
It can be done, but not by a Rolex AD. I saw a guy at Hal Martin replace the face on a ladies Rolex so assume they can do the same for you.
I believe that they will allow you to switch, as long as you switch to another Rolex sku in the same family. As in, if there was a rolex model that had a white face and a silver bezel in the same family model, they will let you do that. What they won't do is create franken-watches.ZosoAg said:
Can the dial and bezel be replaced on a vintage Rolex datejust. For example if I have one that's been sitting for 10+ years and needs and overhaul and while doing that I want to go from a gold face and bezel to a white face and silver bezel as well as swap out the crown and band. From what I have read it sounds like Rolex places restrictions on what you can do through authorized shops.
Hal Martin will definitely do this. They have a whole selection of dials and bezels you can choose from.
Thanks. I am not a watch guy so I don't know anything about this stuff. I assume Hal Martin's is a reputable place you can trust? Would you recommend them for the full service over going to an authorized dealer?
I trust them. I took a well over 100 year old omega to them and they did a fantastic job. And while I was in there, Jadeveon Clowney came in with his agent and his mom to buy her a watch. So I guess that means something...
Found a trove of Rolexes at a jewelry store in the USVI. Not an authorized dealer but at least they were available.
Buy up all the stainless sports models you can.
I imagine they're not priced at MSRP
oh they're available here, they'll just cost you $15-20k instead of 7-9
Not pictured is the Explorer II that I tried on.
How overpriced were they? Hope you brought back as many as customs allows if not too overpriced.
Explorer II was marked for 15k. I didn't ask about the price of the others.
okay, so that's actually a little bit higher priced than grey market here.
216570 is about 11-12k here
216570 is about 11-12k here
Sea Speed said:
How overpriced were they? Hope you brought back as many as customs allows if not too overpriced.
Customs allows $800 worth. You can add your family members traveling with you to that. So a family of 4 could do $3200. Tax free that is. The rates are quite low thereafter, single digit %. Upto 6% I want to say.
If you bought them in the USVI, why are you paying any sort of duty or limited by customs? The USVI are US territories.
TarponChaser said:
If you bought them in the USVI, why are you paying any sort of duty or limited by customs? The USVI are US territories.
USVI lies outside US customs territory. But the allowance from USVI is higher than the standard $800. Maybe it's double.
This is a dumb question because I don't buy fancy **** when I travel (or generally when I'm at home either) but other than ethics what's to keep you from wearing you're shiny new watch home and not declaring it at all? How is the guy a the airport going to know that new watch was purchased while traveling?
No idea. I've rolled through customs with a case or more of bourbon and no one has ever said anything. They did stop me once because I had wooden tulips they thought were real though. Who knows what their priorities are.
Just ethics. Same thing that stops you from not paying sales tax when you buy a watch out of state.ChipFTAC01 said:
This is a dumb question because I don't buy fancy **** when I travel (or generally when I'm at home either) but other than ethics what's to keep you from wearing you're shiny new watch home and not declaring it at all? How is the guy a the airport going to know that new watch was purchased while traveling?
I'd love to own a 216570 or 226570 but these prices are getting out of hand. I always thought I'd never pay more than $10K. Heck, I remember when Subs were less than $5K about 20 or so years ago.
ChipFTAC01 said:
This is a dumb question because I don't buy fancy **** when I travel (or generally when I'm at home either) but other than ethics what's to keep you from wearing you're shiny new watch home and not declaring it at all? How is the guy a the airport going to know that new watch was purchased while traveling?
Not to entertain ways to bypass federal laws; but in the unlikely event you get searched and they find a box / receipt, the most likely consequence is that your shiny new watch will be confiscated with additional fines assigned. Probably not worth the $500 you are looking to pay on a 10k Rolex. People have been known to ship boxes and receipts separately through mail so there is no evidence of any purchase.
I'm currently in Las Vegas and going to take the opportunity with a free day tomorrow to look for watches I can't find in College Station.
To my knowledge the only things in CS I can see are Oris and Tag at Montelongo's and Rolex and Tudor at DG.
The one really on my mind I'd like to see in person is Omega Speedmaster. Any other recommendations for things to look at while I have access and time on my hands?
(Background - I've never owned anything nice, coming from Fossil background but have been following this thread for a couple months and doing casual research on getting a new hobby/purchase addiction.)
To my knowledge the only things in CS I can see are Oris and Tag at Montelongo's and Rolex and Tudor at DG.
The one really on my mind I'd like to see in person is Omega Speedmaster. Any other recommendations for things to look at while I have access and time on my hands?
(Background - I've never owned anything nice, coming from Fossil background but have been following this thread for a couple months and doing casual research on getting a new hobby/purchase addiction.)
The Tourneau in the Forum Shops carries a lot of brands and would be a good place to start.
The Tourbillon in the Crystals (on the strip in front of Aria) has the new Speedmaster. Saw it there last week. They also have boutiques for PP, AP, Mille, Bulgari, etc. not sure if they have any product.
My personal experience with cushions is you declare some stuff but only enough to stay under the $800. I've been through customs enough times I can't count with things I shouldn't have and never had an issue.
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