That is gorgeous!

FTAC2011 said:

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Client hooked me up on a piece so I'm doing him a favor and selling his batgirl. Hit me up if interested. It's 19k, full set, used, only 1 month old. It's price matching cheapest one on chrono24 in USA.

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Honest question from somewhat of a watch novice. Why so much more than advertised on the official Rolex site? Is anyone actually ordering them for that price?

You can't find them at Rolex dealers. Waiting lists are years long.

Demand has way out paced supply.

bthotugigem05 said:

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You can't find them at Rolex dealers. Waiting lists are years long.

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Ah. Like how many years? Maybe I'll go order one haha

There really isn't an ordering system. Until demand slacks to where they have inventory in the cases, everything that comes in is immediately redirected to big time customers

Joe Boudain said:

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There really isn't an ordering system. Until demand slacks to where they have inventory in the cases, everything that comes in is immediately redirected to big time customers

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Yep. I'm in the process of trying to find a very low-demand Rolex at a dealer. Five months in, across multiple dealers, and I don't feel like I'm very close.

Dealers can register interest on a watch, but they are allocated watches whenever Rolex decides to send one to them, they're not ordered on a 1:1 basis any longer (with the exception of 29-31mm ladies watches or some precious metal watches).

So even through dealers there's the mark up?

GAC06 said:

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So even through dealers there's the mark up?

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Dealers can only sell new watches for MSRP. They can sell used watches for whatever they want.

The grey market industry has popped up in the past few years as market values have skyrocketed for certain watches. Rolex Daytonas have an MSRP of $14300 and can easily sell in the high 30s in a heartbeat.

Lots of dealers are suspicious of first-time customers for that reason, as Rolex is trying to discourage people from buying watches just to flip them (realistically not much they can do though).

Indeed. Typically if you "order a Rolex" now, the salesman will write your name down and tell you he will call you, he will then throw the paper away.

I can't get a call back on Rolex and have bought over 6 figures of Rolexes from my AD in Houston. It has really soured me on the brand at the moment, and has led me to sell most of mine because of the insane value and buy a few small pieces and wait for the hopeful return to earth of the value.

Another thing too, is that Rolex is cracking the whip on AD'd as they want to move to a boutique only distribution strategy. The number of former AD's I know who have lost the rolex line is in the dozens, Ben Bridge being one of the biggest.

The ones who still have rolex are petrified of losing their line so they're making sure they don't do anything to draw attention to themselves negatively, like selling a Rolex to a guy who resells it for $20k profit

By boutique, you mean "all they sell is Rolex?"

Id assume so, like at the galleria.

schmendeler said:

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By boutique, you mean "all they sell is Rolex?"

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https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/rolex-tudor-watch-store-meatpacking-nyc-1234627180/

Same.

I initially rolled my eyes, then I realized this thing is now like 140 pages and while one should probably read the thread before posting something thoroughly covered, it isn't surprising he didn't.

AgLA06 said:

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schmendeler said:

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By boutique, you mean "all they sell is Rolex?"

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https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/rolex-tudor-watch-store-meatpacking-nyc-1234627180/

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Fancy

Yep. Plus not everyone spends time on TRF. Those folks are committing seppuku.

schmendeler said:

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By boutique, you mean "all they sell is Rolex?"

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yep, that's what they want to move towards, and it looks like Omega is following them.

RVAg02 said:

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Yep. Plus not everyone spends time on TRF. Those folks are committing seppuku.

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Is that a Rolex forum?

schmendeler said:

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AgLA06 said:

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schmendeler said:

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By boutique, you mean "all they sell is Rolex?"

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https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/rolex-tudor-watch-store-meatpacking-nyc-1234627180/

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Fancy

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I believe they're going for classy, luxury.

AgLA06 said:

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RVAg02 said:

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Yep. Plus not everyone spends time on TRF. Those folks are committing seppuku.

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Is that a Rolex forum?

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https://www.rolexforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=2

You're "welcome"

I'm not opening that.

My shrink says it's not good to covet something you can't afford.

AgLA06 said:

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schmendeler said:

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AgLA06 said:

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schmendeler said:

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By boutique, you mean "all they sell is Rolex?"

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https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/rolex-tudor-watch-store-meatpacking-nyc-1234627180/

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Fancy

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I believe they're going for classy, luxury.

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Yeah, that too!

Joe Boudain said:

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Indeed. Typically if you "order a Rolex" now, the salesman will write your name down and tell you he will call you, he will then throw the paper away.

I can't get a call back on Rolex and have bought over 6 figures of Rolexes from my AD in Houston. It has really soured me on the brand at the moment, and has led me to sell most of mine because of the insane value and buy a few small pieces and wait for the hopeful return to earth of the value.

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So is it even worth walking into the AD here in College Station and asking to be put on a "list"?

I had thought that as a 28 year old, most likely permanent resident of College Station I might be a candidate for developing a relationship - pitching something like, "hey, if you sell me a watch in a year or two then I'll make sure this is where I look first to do all my future jewelry [for the wife I don't currently have...] business throughout my career." And maybe throw in some Tudors in the meantime.

I had been having this thought over the past couple weeks - as a Sub or a GMT or a Daytona would be quite a few watches down the list for me - but by the time I get there, I would rather be a couple years down the "list" than just decide to hop on it.

That's kind of my thought as well - can't hurt to try [insert shrug]

Diggity said:

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not to discourage you or anything...but that would be a total waste of ****ing time.

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Diggity said:

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not to discourage you or anything...but that would be a total waste of ****ing time.

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This is not correct 100% of the time. Just 99.99999% of the time.

TheOC16 said:

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Joe Boudain said:

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Indeed. Typically if you "order a Rolex" now, the salesman will write your name down and tell you he will call you, he will then throw the paper away.

I can't get a call back on Rolex and have bought over 6 figures of Rolexes from my AD in Houston. It has really soured me on the brand at the moment, and has led me to sell most of mine because of the insane value and buy a few small pieces and wait for the hopeful return to earth of the value.

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So is it even worth walking into the AD here in College Station and asking to be put on a "list"?

I had thought that as a 28 year old, most likely permanent resident of College Station I might be a candidate for developing a relationship - pitching something like, "hey, if you sell me a watch in a year or two then I'll make sure this is where I look first to do all my future jewelry [for the wife I don't currently have...] business throughout my career." And maybe throw in some Tudors in the meantime.

I had been having this thought over the past couple weeks - as a Sub or a GMT or a Daytona would be quite a few watches down the list for me - but by the time I get there, I would rather be a couple years down the "list" than just decide to hop on it.

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To be considered, you'd most likely need to purchase the jewelry first, then try and get a watch.

What if someone is looking for, let's say, a less popular Rolex like a new black Explorer II, 216570 or 226570? Does that help my chances?

Marauder Blue 6 said:

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What if someone is looking for, let's say, a less popular Rolex like a new black Explorer II, 216570 or 226570? Does that help my chances?

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I would assume that any stainless steel model will be very difficult (ie impossible) to come by at an AD without having spent a significant amount of money there already.

I don't know if College Station would have a different dynamic but in Houston my assumption would be that you would need an extensive relationship and 6 figures in your purchase history. But FTAC, Joe, and some others would know better than I do.