Logically, that makes sense. If I own a Rolex AD, and can get twice the money selling in the secondary market, I would do it all day long. Chalk it up to greed or what have you, but you'll be financially stupid not to do it. It's FREE MONEY, for crying out loud! And who's to blame? Well..... Look into the mirror.
Thanks for Vid! I saw my watch contacts this week, and they say the market is in a sorry state. They claim they can't offer a discount, but have stories of dealers doing it, on almost every watch possible. It's finally the time for normal watch lovers. I will never ever but a Rolex again after the vile treatment they metred out in the last 3 years. It's really changed me forever. I don't see Rolex as a prestige brand anymore. And the naked corruption of the ADs, is terrible, but was never investigated or stopped by Rolex Ltd. Sad, and shocking!
Not just Rolex. I was in my Patek AD 2 weeks ago. Waiting for a 5205R and told to expect it July. Asked about 5811 and expected to be laughed out of the shop but told i should be able to get that this year, maybe same time as my 5205. Manager told me they are still selling watches but up to 10k has fallen off a cliff. This is a really nice AD, no side to them and enjoyable to talk to and visit. A rarity.
The 5811 is precious metal though, so its resale is not that much higher than the $70k rrp. The disc 5711 had a retail of around $30k, maybe less and was reselling for $70k which is why it became gold dust.
Like duh, precious metal. Cheapest 5711 unworn on Chrono 24 £80000. Cheapest 5811 £129000. Don't know where you get your figures from? But in the end I don't really give a shit as I'm a collector and never intend to sell.
It wasn’t just the wait. It was the snobbish attitude of the ADs who prioritised customers who would ‘do’ things to curry favour - buy other models, additional custom etc. A customer who merely wanted to buy a timepiece was treated with impunity. Well guess what guys? What goes round comes round. The attitude of the ADs has tainted my perception forever. You can take your snobby attitude and put it where the sun don’t shine - I took my custom elsewhere, and I’m not coming back!
@@markreynolds9135fuck them is the point no one cares what they’ll miss. Most times they live in crap hoods, modest dwellings but act like they’re disgusted royalty. See you on the bus, scrub.
Well, I wouldn't be so quick on that one. Graham is certainly not one of just a few folks out there feeling that way. There are thousands of people who were definitely poorly treated and sent away by ADs.
Hey, Britt! I'm local to Atlanta. Mayors had tons of models out yesterday. OP 34s, DJs, fluted bezels, Jubilee bracelets, all different sizes and NO Diamonds. They even had an Air King and Explorer 36 SS!!! I went in and they offered me a 124060 (Black Ceramic Submariner). Instantly scooped it up. Stop by Mayors if you get a chance, easily the best AD I've seen.
All brought out from the safe after the market started to tank. No risk for the ADs either. They already sold all the "desirable" pieces to their "pay for play" regulars.
AD's have been trying to preserve their "sell by cold call" business model. If these are in the window that's a good indication that they were unable to get rid of them that way. Nobody's flipping them because new resale prices are finally lower than retail. You might even be able to ask for a discount.
I’m in the “any watch but Rolex camp”. Any brand that can’t supply most of their entire range on demand, who makes up artificial wait lists and wants you to buy the low-end watches in the line-up to be eligible to buy the one you want is of zero interest to me. Blacklisted. I’ve got a Daytona but I never wear it anymore. Frankly I like my other watches more, and they’re all less common - JLC, GO, UN etc Rolex gets a pass.
Hello Britt, this week I was in Bristol and spent over an hour there watching the marvelous timekeepers at Goldsmith among the others in the same pathway. At Breitling’s tested some on my wrist to check the correct size and, while speaking with the hostess she told me he knew you as I do from CZcams. I watch your video because of your easy attitude and clear expositions when talking about watches. Nice job and greetings from ITALY 🇮🇹. Ciao
I was in that very store during the week and nobody mentioned that any of the Rolexes in the window were available to buy. I did notice the lack of a 'Exhibition only' sign and just assumed that they'd forgotten to put it in place.
Guys ! Don’t buy the two tone/ precious metal anything from your AD’s!!! Not until you check the secondary market prices! A lot of these watches that are now available will lose you money as soon as you walk through the door! “ Do your due diligence first “ 👍
It’s sooo true! Honestly. Almost all TT and PM watches are below retail on the secondary. BUT it also depends on what your collecting goals are! For example, if you do want to unlock those harder to get models, you will need a pretty good spend history with the AD. 😊 So! For me, it depends on how good the secondary savings are! If it’s a craaaazy amount - yeah I’ll buy secondary!!😅 if it’s marginal, AD all the way!
Thanks Brittany, I’ve been doing this for a few years, and I do think the bigger AD’s have taken the P**s, I hope it slows down so much we get back to some kind of normality! Keep up the great vids 👍👍
Who cares about value.. Buy what you like. If you are concerned about resale value, you are seriously not ready for luxury goods and rolex happens to be in that category. Some advice for you.. Get a life! 😆
@@alfieakaronaldog i work at an AD. its very very easy to tell the difference between a enthusiast and a poser. 90% of the ppl walking in want a rolex just because.. dont know the history, specs, how much the popular models cost, some of these people have no idea what a movement is, they think a 40k day date runs on a battery.. its incredible to see..
A curse upon flippers and their houses! I was exceedingly lucky to get a call on a Starbucks/Cermit and picked it up retail. Could I have flipped it for a tidy profit? Sure. Will I? No, because I actually wanted the watch. Enjoying watches for what they are rather than speculative assets is the essence of the hobby
That is crazy, I bought my sub date in 2004 in the Bahamas for about 5k US. The wife and I just walked in off the street wearing our swim suits and started browsing over the Rolex watches, the sales person that was assisting us couldn't slap watches on my wrist fast enough, I ended up picking the Sub Mariner Date. The whole process took about an hour and I walked out of the store wearing my new watch. I can't believe you guys go through all of this just for a watch.
I am glad I waited. I say this to a lot of people, never buy anything over MSRP, retail, advertised pricing, list pricing, whatever you want to call it. Also cars ion certain markets were one of those things over the last couple of years, and I guess toilet paper was too for a short bit. Never support the price gougers.
I work for an architecture firm. I asked a client a few weeks ago (at a job site) where he gets his servicing done on his Daytona. First thing he did was take it off and put in his pocket and said, "I probably shouldn't wear this here. It keeps crap time. Servicing? They need servicing?". He didn't know it required servicing. I'm guessing he bought it as a trophy. This is what prevents me from buying Rolex. To me, Rolex represents being a trophy guy. I'm not trophy guy. The only Rolex I would consider is an Explorer, but I need a date complication, so... 👎. Ya, I'm not buying a Rolex..
I think the market is going back to the earlier days (circa 2018) where I could walk in the shop and pick up an Explorer 39/Air King with no purchase history. With the market cooling down quite significantly maybe it's time to head to the ADs for a Sub/GMT.
@@bigmacdaddy1234 I have more Rolex in my collection and any pathetic ADs in the world, and I was wearing a green dial yellow gold gmt while I was in Japan. So if I didn’t look like a real buyer to them, then I don’t know who is. No one knows what kinds of stupid games they are playing but it’s seriously starting to frustrate Rolex’s best customers.
I went into an AD here in Sydney Australia, was speaking to someone for quite a while about it but basically he said come winter (your summer) there will be a big change in availability
Just sold my only Rolex and have no intention of buying another, but found the video interesting and entertaining just the same, thank you, Brittany 🙂👍
I scored a no-date Sub from an East Coast AD in October, and an Explorer II from the AD in Doha in November...even had a choice of dial colors for the Explorer II. After being on various "lists" for over two years, I got two in two months! I know I'm a data point of one, and benefited from work travel, but it feels like the dam is breaking....
Was in my AD last week that had the full Rose Gold GMT available in the window. Also a two-tone Sy-Dweller. Asked about the Green OP36 which I've been waiting on since July, no progress there!
Yes, two weeks ago, I received a call that the blue DJ was available. It's strange because I didn't want blue, and it's been 3 months since visiting the AD. It seems like they are calling back everyone interested in similar models. I declined. I'm waiting for my green one.
Just bought a rose gold 40mm day date at retail while on an unintentional shopping day. The AD even had a another one on sale with a different dial. What an amazing happening. Just like that out of the blue….
I was in my AD on Friday having some new links put in my Starbucks sub. I asked and they still haven't had their January allocation. They are expanding their Rolex space in store and hopefully will be getting an upped allocation. This is Norwich. I am waiting for my DateJust with the fluted bezel and the blue fluted motif. Though may have to drive to Bristol!
rolex now requires to be a stand alone store ( have their own entrance and bigger space ) in a AD, why would any company do that with nothing to sell? lol things are going back to normal sooner than anyone thinks! cant wait..
Ahh yes! Bristol has a LOT GOING ON! But it sounds like Norwich is about to be popping! 😅 something one of my patrons commented that I didn’t think about as well, with Rolex opening 2 new production facilities, perhaps they have told you AD to expect more allocations?! 😱 exciting times for Rolex lovers!
Last Monday i found a green bazel Submariner (Starbucks), available at an AD store here in Greece. Retail price 11.500€, so i decided to buy it. That's when the AD told me that this specific watch is on a premium price of 14.500€ because of its rarity.. Of course i didn't buy it.. But i am still wondering! Is this even legal ?!
Dunno greece's laws. In Canada they can't sell you something for more than the amount on the price tag. If there's a visible tag on it they have to go by that price. I don't think they're bound by MSRP. But if it says on the tag 11,500 in canada they can't tell you it's 14,500.
@@claytonberg721The tag price here was 11.500€ but the saleswoman did not hesitate to ask for 14.500€ I was furious like for the whole week. Was wondering if i should email Rolex
I have bought 5 Rolex with Goldsmiths and spent another £20k in their shop - I have been on a wait list for 7 years for a Daytona! Going to start buying my stuff from somewhere else now.
If you truly want a Daytona, go see David Khalil's pre-owned shop in London. No sense waiting forever with the AD and Rolex continuing to raise its prices every year. He also has a website at Watch Collectors UK, or watch his CZcams videos. One of the most honest grey market dealers in the UK, and with Daytona prices having fallen over the past 12 months, maybe now is the time to buy your Daytona. Plus, don't forget you can negotiate pricing too.
That’s a shitty AD. My Dad got a SS Daytona after 2 years and didn’t spend nearly that much with our AD. I got a 41mm Celebration OP and the only thing I bought from our AD before was a Longines avigation bigeye, less than $3,000. Go find somebody who actually cares about their customers.
I was told by an AD that the last SS Daytona went to a customer who had spent £200k plus in store on watches and other jewellery over a 15 year period. However, I have no way of know if that story is true - but it’s a good story to put someone off asking - especially a prospective customer with no prior purchase history who wasn’t interested in buying retail jewellery!
Yes, but hopefully it’s a sign of things to come. Because these were selling over retail and difficult to get. So hopefully (as BP says) these are the canary in the coal mine.
Watch flippers are akin to stock market day traders. I would argue they are important to price discovery, that is what probably led to Rolex expanding their production capacity. Although prices of watches went up to insane levels, when demand dried up, they drop, and flippers are left holding the bag. So let it be known there are very real risks being a watch flipper.
Bought a blusey yesterday 🎉Explained I wanted one for my 40th this year and had been on waitlist for 2 years so sales assistant said if I could get you one today would you purchase? so I said hell yeah!!! Very happy man and still in shock.
I live in Tennessee and can’t find one! They have me on a waiting list and never emailed or called me back 2 years later! I just wanted a Oyster in light blue. I hear on the down low, unless you are a past customer, dealers won’t sell you one! Keeps the demand and prices up with artificial shortages! I’m 70 years old and can’t get one in my retirement! I bought a Seiko yesterday! Screw😮 them!
There’s no reason Rolex shouldn’t be able to tell you exactly when a watch will come in. They are mass produced, so I shouldn’t be told that it will take 18 months to now waiting well over 30. I know I’m being treated poorly so I’ve decided they can kick rocks. What’s the point of a list if they can’t tell you where you are in it. The entire sales team on the floor has no idea either which just makes the whole situation worse. Going through all this just to end up with something that is overpriced is just not worth it. Rant over.
Great vid, I think the precious metal being the “Canary in the coal mine” is spot on. Steel models are just unattainable at a reasonable price (mostly) so that’s the best litmus test to go off of. Btw, I definitely appreciated your interpretive Pope-Tier dance last video. What strange sentence THAT was to type 😂
Last week my friend bought a rolex rose gold root beer from hongkong with 20 percent off brand new full sticker grey market dealer in hongkong for 29500. Hongkong and China in biggest crisis now they got over 1 million of rolex to dump need cash once these watches can't sell in hongkong in will dumped in Europe imagin oversupply in next 6 months
Well done, Britt! I'm also seeing more DJ and Precious Metal models available in my local AD (Southeast US). I hope this allows more people who are genuinely interested in the pieces to collect.
So I’ve been seeing these models for sale in the UK for some 6 months. But I was speechless when I visited another country recently because every piece at the AD was for sale - I counted 110 Rolex watches including platinum Day-Date models, full yellow gold GMT Master II on Jubilee and full yellow gold Yacht Master II pieces 😮
I live local to Bristol and my AD is the Cribbs one and they also have certain models like that for sale in the window at times over the last few months
Hello Im from Argentina and last year I got my first Rolex, the experience was form another planet (argentina) i walked into an AD saying i want to buy an Omega because rolex wont sell me, and 30min later i walked out with a Submariner no date. at retail price.. -- TRUE STORY..
I have to say, same thing here in my AD in nyc. They had “watches on the floor” as my SA said. They were even willing to overlook my 90 day wait as I had just purchased soemthing in December. Ended up getting something for my mom in the hopes that I can get something I really want later in the year.
In Cairo I was offered the Cameron Deepsea with the crown on the winder vertically positioned between the shoulders! and the white Explorer II. Payment was bank transfer only, so I reluctantly desisted.
The AD’s in Germany are trying to preserve the waitlist idea. Seems they all have been instructed by Rolex to say, that the demand is as high as it always was. Meanwhile there is a lot more on display…
You can't say this Britt..... Now that means Paul Thorpe and his friends have got to release a video today telling everyone the grey market is buoyant and keep buying over retail!!!
🙈🙈🙈 oh I love Paul so much!!! But man, the boom is over. I really think (and hope) that it isn’t coming back either. I think things will go back to how they were pre-panny-d. There will be harder to get models and those specific models will trade above retail. But it’s not gonna be to be what it was in 2021/2022 (thank GODDDDD!)
I feel like I live at the ass end of the watch distribution network. When Tudor announced their new models this year I went to my AD to ask about them and was told they didn't expect to them for 4 months. You bought your BB54 that same week. So, I don't expect anything to change around here any time soon, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to stop in and check.
I received the call a couple days ago and will receive mine next week. I've been waiting for a year and a half (not so bad honestly) but yeah, seems that some popular models are back in stock at MSRP (expensive ones already were available where I live, like gold or platinum DayDates).
I checked the AD at Piccadilly London, saw a few models with their prices quoted on the exhibition glass. Maybe a few models are available on retail there as well.
Similar situation in my part of the world. The same models sitting in the AD windows are even available at grey market dealers at deep discounts. Patiently waiting for my steel model 😂
Not here in the US. They got all the watches no one wants and or can afford. At least not in DC, NYC, NC, SC, and parts of Florida. This is from my experience.
Hmm it’s true. But it’s a starting place. 😅 this isn’t the ending place. Within a couple of years, I predict, you’ll be able to get stainless steel OPs, DJs, even Explorer and Explorer 2s no wait list. Wont be the case for all watches. But availability is changing. 😅
@WatchGringa I am old enough to remember I walked into Selfridges and purchased a Rolex datejust 36mm for me wife with 10% discount. Obviously, those days will never come back, but it would be nice to be able to get one in a matter of weeks and no games from the ADs. But as you say, the sports steel will still be difficult to buy.
Visited the AD in Bahrain on a work trip last week and the same was on sale there. Caught on the hop as they had the explorer 1 40mm for sale which I didn’t expect. Decided against buying it as saving cash at present
Yeah, to me “wait lists” were always contrived. In 2022, I walked into a major city AD with zero relationship and was offered two Datejusts. Recently visited my local AD, modest traffic inside, and was asked if I was looking for a new Rolex. Not saying I was getting a Green Sub but I feel their safes are easily accessible. Sure, I’ve spent money w them but now am more interested in micro brands and pre-owned. Glad the tide is turning. Housing in the States is next. Nice segment! 👏
Hey Britt ! Thks for the video again :) Im looking like u a celebration dial and its difficult … I bought An OP 34 black last year at my AD but he advices me to buy another watch ( gold sky dweller or datejust) that will give me more chances to have the celebration. Do you think its possible that it will be easy to have a celebration dial in 2024 ?
I just walked in to a Rolex AD in my local town in Miami, FL and they only have two tones available for sale on the spot for both men and women. But only 41mm and for women, 26mm. None of the stainless steel are currently available.
Great video, i picked up a skydweller from a secondary market in Japan. I’m happy to say I also got my wife one from my AD in Los Angeles. A model we requested 2 years ago.
Hey Britt thats my AD too! I have the priveledge of owning 4 fairly hard to get Rolex pieces from there!! love this AD all great people and a super team
I purchased a 50th anniversary Sub years ago for a retirement present to myself then years later a 216570 Explorer. Both purchased from an AD, both times I didn't have to get on a waiting list, buy other models I wasn't interested in just to establish a purchase record, and most of all I was treated like a real person and didn't have to kiss the salesman's behind to stay in his good graces. Just not worth playing all the games nowadays.
Last time I went to Bristol, it was just to have lunch at Paco Tapas! Might have to take a peek in some watch dealers next time - not Rolex though; when you’re making twice as many watches as some of your closest competitors, making any semblance of scarcity feels artificial. Still, not like I can walk out of an Omega boutique tomorrow with a Silver Snoopy either…
Hoping the start of the end of the trend of watches as an investment. The flex culture for me was vulgar and hoping that watches become again a personal extension of ones characteristic and seen as a fun but ultimately not important part of the individual.
My thought about Rolex pricing was that they would just keep increasing the price irrespective of the inflation rate until the sales started dropping. Looks like supply and demand are just about equal at the current price level. Great for them but I couldn't see me buying another.
Supply and demand equal at current price level?? If that were the case, they would be below retail on the secondhand market. That’s not currently the case. Rolex is a trust. They don’t operate based on the traditional micro economic model. They will never produce to the point where supply equals demand.
Hoping the my local goldsmiths (reading) allocates me a a DJ36 mint green, jubilee soon. The Bristol branch was so friendly so might need to visit and try my luck again 🤣
britt your funny and thank you for keeping your Canadian accent i love the impression you made when you were talking about the flippers lol good morning from north western Ontario Canada
Ahhh thank you! 🤣 YOU KNOW! I feel like my accent has become so confusing! But I went home to Canada in the summer and I think it got me sounding proper Canadian again! 😝 planning to go home next Christmas to get my accent right again! Hahaha! Big hugs from across the pond 🇨🇦 🇬🇧
Nice to see the new(ish) store in Cabots - I was lucky enough to receive a call the other week from the guys ostensibly to re-gauge my expression of interest in a 36mm Explorer. I'm not interested in it as an investment - I genuinely want to own and use it every day. Do you think we'll see a return to enthusiast owners actually outnumbering the flippers?
Why I love Two Tone Explorer....? Sometimes I imagine driving Khaki land rover defender with white roof...exploring what I suppose to explore rocking two tone explorer.....sadly,I don't live in UK....
Not a chance because Rolex watches in Grey market They’re coming straight from the ADs and Rolex boutiques. Same way other watches get on the grey market. A grey dealer/buyer buys up a ton of stock in order for the AD to offload their supply and maintain AD status. These watches come from all over the world. It’s not just a guy in your city buying up all the stock from one AD. In the case of Rolex, the ADs get their stock and it hardly every hits their showroom cases. That’s why all the cases are empty except one or two watches nobody wants. Their desirable pieces are already accounted for by the grey dealers and being sold out the back. The grey dealers are buying them at retail and then flipping them at secondary prices. It keeps the resale value of Rolex up while making it seem like supply is low, thus the brand maintains the facade of exclusivity. It’s all a ruse and certainly illegal, but this is the luxury watch industry and it has always been an exercise in smoke and mirrors. Rolex knows all this and doesn’t care. They operate as a charity organization and know that they’re the most influential name in the watch industry.
Why should we buy Rolexes after what they’ve done? There are many watchmakers that beat Rolex in aesthetics, watchmaking, innovation, history, cool factor. JLC, GS, Alange just to name a few. And besides, wearing a Rolex makes you a target for thieves cuz their watches are so high profile. Over the last 2 years, Rolex watches have grown stale and uninteresting to me.
The price fall can only be explained by this: The AD’s are bundling watches and selling them to secondary market. (ie. 1 steel model + 1 gold model) This is true because if a watch ie. white gold pepsi is not available at the AD (even if it is available, there are no discounts) but available in gray market 10-15% cheaper, meaning that AD’s are selling those directly to the market. Otherwise there would be discounts on underlist watches. No flipper, even the most VIP of AD’s, can get more than 2-3 good watches a year. Hence, they can not be responsible from the price fall
I was in my AD in Leicester yesterday. Nothing for sale, but did put my name down for an Explorer 40. AD was excellent. Spent 2 hours with me chatting and showing us around. I was told very clearly that with no purchase history a Sub No Date wasn’t going to happen. I was torn between the Explorer 40 and Sub No Date, so that helped my thought process immensely.
Whaaaat! That sounds like an awesome experience! I love it when the AD spends proper time with you! Plus, I’m sure they could sense you love watches for the right reasons, and they’ll hopefully be quite keen to get you that Explorer 40! Excellent choice! So timeless!
Love your optimism Britt. Unfortunately here in Las Vegas no one has seen a retail Rolex in 4 years. The stupid Rolex Certified program as filled the AD's windows with over priced watches and suckers are just glad to buy anything. I can wait.......
GAH NOOOO!! This is awful news! Rolex lovers of Nevada, you guys need a holiday in Bristol! 😅 the weather is awful hahaha but watches seem to be coming back in stock!
Imagine, a shop with items for sale. Outrageous
Today I bought some groceries, and waiting time was only about 5 minutes, but I must admin some items were not in stock.
@romanustin clearly you must have developed a relationship with the shopkeeper over the years !
@@mr.y.mysterious.video1 indeed. Because I sometimes buy stuff they don't need, they even make me private offers ;-)
well... now i think we should all play their game and ignore the Rolex.
This comment needs more likes!!!
FACTS
Dont hate on Rolex. Just enjoy the sqirming of the grey market operators. "How do we get rid of all this without loosing our shirt" - hahaha
Flippers may sell a small portion of the watches to the secondary market. The majority is sold to the secondary market by the AD directly!
Ahh I have heard this! But I don’t know if it’s true or not…? 🤔
Logically, that makes sense. If I own a Rolex AD, and can get twice the money selling in the secondary market, I would do it all day long. Chalk it up to greed or what have you, but you'll be financially stupid not to do it. It's FREE MONEY, for crying out loud! And who's to blame? Well..... Look into the mirror.
@@rayng4336until you get caught and Rolex takes away your AD license. They have the serial numbers, so seems like a terrible idea long term for an AD
@@rayng4336 Supposedly the AD is violating the terms and conditions of heir contract with Rolex, but I have no idea if Rolex enforces it or not.
@@user-pn2vg5zz2b I know of at least one Rolex AD, one that I went to a couple times, that got shut down for it.
Thanks for Vid! I saw my watch contacts this week, and they say the market is in a sorry state. They claim they can't offer a discount, but have stories of dealers doing it, on almost every watch possible. It's finally the time for normal watch lovers. I will never ever but a Rolex again after the vile treatment they metred out in the last 3 years. It's really changed me forever. I don't see Rolex as a prestige brand anymore. And the naked corruption of the ADs, is terrible, but was never investigated or stopped by Rolex Ltd. Sad, and shocking!
Not just Rolex. I was in my Patek AD 2 weeks ago. Waiting for a 5205R and told to expect it July. Asked about 5811 and expected to be laughed out of the shop but told i should be able to get that this year, maybe same time as my 5205. Manager told me they are still selling watches but up to 10k has fallen off a cliff. This is a really nice AD, no side to them and enjoyable to talk to and visit. A rarity.
The 5811 is precious metal though, so its resale is not that much higher than the $70k rrp. The disc 5711 had a retail of around $30k, maybe less and was reselling for $70k which is why it became gold dust.
Like duh, precious metal. Cheapest 5711 unworn on Chrono 24 £80000. Cheapest 5811 £129000. Don't know where you get your figures from? But in the end I don't really give a shit as I'm a collector and never intend to sell.
It’s okay I be rocking my 5976.
It wasn’t just the wait. It was the snobbish attitude of the ADs who prioritised customers who would ‘do’ things to curry favour - buy other models, additional custom etc. A customer who merely wanted to buy a timepiece was treated with impunity.
Well guess what guys? What goes round comes round. The attitude of the ADs has tainted my perception forever. You can take your snobby attitude and put it where the sun don’t shine - I took my custom elsewhere, and I’m not coming back!
They likely won’t miss your business.
@@markreynolds9135fuck them is the point no one cares what they’ll miss. Most times they live in crap hoods, modest dwellings but act like they’re disgusted royalty. See you on the bus, scrub.
Well, I wouldn't be so quick on that one. Graham is certainly not one of just a few folks out there feeling that way. There are thousands of people who were definitely poorly treated and sent away by ADs.
You are right im go to sell and get out of rolex before they crash
Hey, Britt! I'm local to Atlanta.
Mayors had tons of models out yesterday. OP 34s, DJs, fluted bezels, Jubilee bracelets, all different sizes and NO Diamonds. They even had an Air King and Explorer 36 SS!!!
I went in and they offered me a 124060 (Black Ceramic Submariner). Instantly scooped it up. Stop by Mayors if you get a chance, easily the best AD I've seen.
I am a customer of Mayors in Atlanta. I'll call tomorrow.
Last time I went to Mayors it wasn’t like that but then again it was 3-4 months ago. Maybe it’s time to check them out, again.
All brought out from the safe after the market started to tank. No risk for the ADs either. They already sold all the "desirable" pieces to their "pay for play" regulars.
AD's have been trying to preserve their "sell by cold call" business model. If these are in the window that's a good indication that they were unable to get rid of them that way. Nobody's flipping them because new resale prices are finally lower than retail. You might even be able to ask for a discount.
People know which models are worth over retail co, they are the ones people want as you'll know , steel Daytona, peril , Batman , Starbucks etc ,
Thank you Rolex AD, I fell out of love with Rolex
I’m in the “any watch but Rolex camp”. Any brand that can’t supply most of their entire range on demand, who makes up artificial wait lists and wants you to buy the low-end watches in the line-up to be eligible to buy the one you want is of zero interest to me. Blacklisted. I’ve got a Daytona but I never wear it anymore. Frankly I like my other watches more, and they’re all less common - JLC, GO, UN etc Rolex gets a pass.
Amen
Hey Rolex, in the words of Sheldon Cooper, "Do you need some aloe? Cuz you've just been burned" 🙂👍🔥
Amen brother!
Agreed brother, let me do you a favour and take that Daytona of your hands
Hello Britt, this week I was in Bristol and spent over an hour there watching the marvelous timekeepers at Goldsmith among the others in the same pathway. At Breitling’s tested some on my wrist to check the correct size and, while speaking with the hostess she told me he knew you as I do from CZcams. I watch your video because of your easy attitude and clear expositions when talking about watches. Nice job and greetings from ITALY 🇮🇹. Ciao
I was in that very store during the week and nobody mentioned that any of the Rolexes in the window were available to buy. I did notice the lack of a 'Exhibition only' sign and just assumed that they'd forgotten to put it in place.
I asked in my local Goldsmiths because only the sports models had “exhibition only” next to them and I was told they’re all still exhibition only.
Guys !
Don’t buy the two tone/ precious metal anything from your AD’s!!!
Not until you check the secondary market prices!
A lot of these watches that are now available will lose you money as soon as you walk through the door!
“ Do your due diligence first “ 👍
It’s sooo true! Honestly. Almost all TT and PM watches are below retail on the secondary. BUT it also depends on what your collecting goals are! For example, if you do want to unlock those harder to get models, you will need a pretty good spend history with the AD. 😊 So! For me, it depends on how good the secondary savings are! If it’s a craaaazy amount - yeah I’ll buy secondary!!😅 if it’s marginal, AD all the way!
Thanks Brittany, I’ve been doing this for a few years, and I do think the bigger AD’s have taken the P**s, I hope it slows down so much we get back to some kind of normality!
Keep up the great vids 👍👍
You should lose value on a retail item. Watches are not an investment class. Flipping a mass produced watch for a double is NOT normal.
Who cares about value.. Buy what you like. If you are concerned about resale value, you are seriously not ready for luxury goods and rolex happens to be in that category. Some advice for you.. Get a life! 😆
lol I want my own watch. The out the door loss I would much rather take than buying used
The daytona is still the most difficult to get even everything goes back on retail prices.
All this means is that those models available at the Rolex store is that you can buy them for way under retail on the grey market.
I had a Quick Look the other day and the sales guy came out of the shop to say I could try anything on. They are getting desperate!
My response directly to your headline “THAT’S GREAT, BRiT…BUT NOW I’M LESS INTERRESTED’😂
Why less interested?
🤣🤣🤣💕
@@alfieakaronaldog most ppl want to buy a rolex right now to feel like they’re in an exclusive club.
@@MADLITS1K I don’t 😉
Where do you get your statistacs?
@@alfieakaronaldog i work at an AD. its very very easy to tell the difference between a enthusiast and a poser. 90% of the ppl walking in want a rolex just because.. dont know the history, specs, how much the popular models cost, some of these people have no idea what a movement is, they think a 40k day date runs on a battery.. its incredible to see..
A curse upon flippers and their houses! I was exceedingly lucky to get a call on a Starbucks/Cermit and picked it up retail. Could I have flipped it for a tidy profit? Sure. Will I? No, because I actually wanted the watch. Enjoying watches for what they are rather than speculative assets is the essence of the hobby
Weird that flippers are able to buy so much brand new Rolex stock but collectors/enthusiasts still can’t get a GMT at retail for love nor money
Make sense cos the flippers would’ve spent millions at the AD
That is crazy, I bought my sub date in 2004 in the Bahamas for about 5k US. The wife and I just walked in off the street wearing our swim suits and started browsing over the Rolex watches, the sales person that was assisting us couldn't slap watches on my wrist fast enough, I ended up picking the Sub Mariner Date. The whole process took about an hour and I walked out of the store wearing my new watch. I can't believe you guys go through all of this just for a watch.
I am glad I waited. I say this to a lot of people, never buy anything over MSRP, retail, advertised pricing, list pricing, whatever you want to call it. Also cars ion certain markets were one of those things over the last couple of years, and I guess toilet paper was too for a short bit. Never support the price gougers.
I work for an architecture firm. I asked a client a few weeks ago (at a job site) where he gets his servicing done on his Daytona. First thing he did was take it off and put in his pocket and said, "I probably shouldn't wear this here. It keeps crap time. Servicing? They need servicing?". He didn't know it required servicing. I'm guessing he bought it as a trophy. This is what prevents me from buying Rolex. To me, Rolex represents being a trophy guy. I'm not trophy guy. The only Rolex I would consider is an Explorer, but I need a date complication, so... 👎. Ya, I'm not buying a Rolex..
conspicuous consumption man jewelry
he put it in his pocket so it gets all scratched up?
I like the explorer one but at this stage Rolex is a brand that has ruined itself increasingly since the 1980’s
Yeah, there are as many flex owners and watch people that own Rolex. It's like it is a very high end fashion brand.
wtf is this drivel
I think the market is going back to the earlier days (circa 2018) where I could walk in the shop and pick up an Explorer 39/Air King with no purchase history. With the market cooling down quite significantly maybe it's time to head to the ADs for a Sub/GMT.
Man if only they had the explorer 39 still. Best size
@@RA-yc9fbturned it down in 2019. Mistake.
huge. hahah @@eyeheartsushi2212
Are you kidding ? I just came back from Tokyo, visited every single ad and was told by everyone “sorry no inventory display only”.
They meant no inventory for YOU. They do have it for the real buyers.
Tokyo, LA, NYC, etc will always be empty. You need to go on the fringes to have a chance.
Japan ADs sell to locals only
@@bigmacdaddy1234 I have more Rolex in my collection and any pathetic ADs in the world, and I was wearing a green dial yellow gold gmt while I was in Japan. So if I didn’t look like a real buyer to them, then I don’t know who is. No one knows what kinds of stupid games they are playing but it’s seriously starting to frustrate Rolex’s best customers.
@@jeffsvlog203I can’t really blame any AD for preferring to sell to locals rather than tourists who they likely will never see again.
I went into an AD here in Sydney Australia, was speaking to someone for quite a while about it but basically he said come winter (your summer) there will be a big change in availability
Just sold my only Rolex and have no intention of buying another, but found the video interesting and entertaining just the same, thank you, Brittany 🙂👍
Pass, I'll keep buying Breitling
Can’t fault you here!!! I tried on an absolutely amazing navitimer yesterday!
Same here. Love my Breitling and awesome buying experience. I buy watches for me,
Same, I love Breitling, especially the SuperOcean Heritage! 😍
I scored a no-date Sub from an East Coast AD in October, and an Explorer II from the AD in Doha in November...even had a choice of dial colors for the Explorer II. After being on various "lists" for over two years, I got two in two months! I know I'm a data point of one, and benefited from work travel, but it feels like the dam is breaking....
What kind of sub was it? Steel?
@@dextersim305 steel...the no-date subs only come in steel.
Just got a Farer Milan and a Kuoe Old smith 002. Both great looking, fun and great quality. Spending THOUSANDS on a Rolex…… 🤷🏻♀️
Until I collected Rolex watches, I thought flippers were something to do with snorkelling.
I thought it was a talking dolphin 😂
Was in my AD last week that had the full Rose Gold GMT available in the window. Also a two-tone Sy-Dweller. Asked about the Green OP36 which I've been waiting on since July, no progress there!
Yes, two weeks ago, I received a call that the blue DJ was available. It's strange because I didn't want blue, and it's been 3 months since visiting the AD. It seems like they are calling back everyone interested in similar models. I declined. I'm waiting for my green one.
Just bought a rose gold 40mm day date at retail while on an unintentional shopping day. The AD even had a another one on sale with a different dial. What an amazing happening. Just like that out of the blue….
I was in my AD on Friday having some new links put in my Starbucks sub. I asked and they still haven't had their January allocation. They are expanding their Rolex space in store and hopefully will be getting an upped allocation. This is Norwich. I am waiting for my DateJust with the fluted bezel and the blue fluted motif. Though may have to drive to Bristol!
rolex now requires to be a stand alone store ( have their own entrance and bigger space ) in a AD, why would any company do that with nothing to sell? lol things are going back to normal sooner than anyone thinks! cant wait..
Ahh yes! Bristol has a LOT GOING ON! But it sounds like Norwich is about to be popping! 😅 something one of my patrons commented that I didn’t think about as well, with Rolex opening 2 new production facilities, perhaps they have told you AD to expect more allocations?! 😱 exciting times for Rolex lovers!
Ooh blue motif DJ is the one I want.
Last Monday i found a green bazel Submariner (Starbucks), available at an AD store here in Greece.
Retail price 11.500€, so i decided to buy it. That's when the AD told me that this specific watch is on a premium price of 14.500€ because of its rarity..
Of course i didn't buy it.. But i am still wondering! Is this even legal ?!
Dunno greece's laws. In Canada they can't sell you something for more than the amount on the price tag. If there's a visible tag on it they have to go by that price.
I don't think they're bound by MSRP. But if it says on the tag 11,500 in canada they can't tell you it's 14,500.
@@claytonberg721The tag price here was 11.500€ but the saleswoman did not hesitate to ask for 14.500€
I was furious like for the whole week. Was wondering if i should email Rolex
“…because of its rarity.” 😂😂😂😂
@@eyeheartsushi2212 it's sick when you can't even trust an AD
MY AD has 3 celebrations in the case. Two 41s and one of the smaller ones. All fully working and tagged.
Hope you enjoyed Bristol! Loved there for 7 years before leaving for oz. That goldsmiths is brand new :)
I have bought 5 Rolex with Goldsmiths and spent another £20k in their shop - I have been on a wait list for 7 years for a Daytona! Going to start buying my stuff from somewhere else now.
If you truly want a Daytona, go see David Khalil's pre-owned shop in London. No sense waiting forever with the AD and Rolex continuing to raise its prices every year. He also has a website at Watch Collectors UK, or watch his CZcams videos. One of the most honest grey market dealers in the UK, and with Daytona prices having fallen over the past 12 months, maybe now is the time to buy your Daytona. Plus, don't forget you can negotiate pricing too.
Most people never get the steel Daytona
My buddy’s just been offered a steel Daytona - and he hasn’t spent £20k 👍
That’s a shitty AD. My Dad got a SS Daytona after 2 years and didn’t spend nearly that much with our AD. I got a 41mm Celebration OP and the only thing I bought from our AD before was a Longines avigation bigeye, less than $3,000. Go find somebody who actually cares about their customers.
I was told by an AD that the last SS Daytona went to a customer who had spent £200k plus in store on watches and other jewellery over a 15 year period. However, I have no way of know if that story is true - but it’s a good story to put someone off asking - especially a prospective customer with no prior purchase history who wasn’t interested in buying retail jewellery!
Acquired an ExplorerII just 7 days ago as a first time walk in customer, the Grand Seiko pruchase might have helped a little.
I was lucky in the last 6 months I was able to walk away with a steel explorer, green op, and blue Datejust all from the dealership.
In other words, the models ADs have historically had trouble selling/people aren’t as interested in still haven’t sold…
Yes, but hopefully it’s a sign of things to come. Because these were selling over retail and difficult to get. So hopefully (as BP says) these are the canary in the coal mine.
Watch flippers are akin to stock market day traders. I would argue they are important to price discovery, that is what probably led to Rolex expanding their production capacity. Although prices of watches went up to insane levels, when demand dried up, they drop, and flippers are left holding the bag. So let it be known there are very real risks being a watch flipper.
How many watches are you left with?
Grand Seiko would ALWAYS sell you a watch TODAY. They want your money and your business.
🤣 HECK YES!
So when do the flippers panic and begin to dump their hoarded inventory and crash the market. Could be getting Rolex’s at a discount in a year.
🤞🏽🤞🏽
Great video Britt! That two tone Explorer is kind of calling my name now 😅
Bought a blusey yesterday 🎉Explained I wanted one for my 40th this year and had been on waitlist for 2 years so sales assistant said if I could get you one today would you purchase? so I said hell yeah!!! Very happy man and still in shock.
They arent in California... The Rolex AD here looked at me like I was an alien when i asked for an explorer 36 mm.
I will stick with Omega, thanks.
When you ask them for a Snoopy they turn pretty Rolex-y as well.
Saw two root beers in the same window the other day, was assured they’re display models but why would you have two of the same watch.
I live in Tennessee and can’t find one! They have me on a waiting list and never emailed or called me back 2 years later! I just wanted a Oyster in light blue. I hear on the down low, unless you are a past customer, dealers won’t sell you one! Keeps the demand and prices up with artificial shortages! I’m 70 years old and can’t get one in my retirement! I bought a Seiko yesterday! Screw😮 them!
There’s no reason Rolex shouldn’t be able to tell you exactly when a watch will come in. They are mass produced, so I shouldn’t be told that it will take 18 months to now waiting well over 30. I know I’m being treated poorly so I’ve decided they can kick rocks. What’s the point of a list if they can’t tell you where you are in it. The entire sales team on the floor has no idea either which just makes the whole situation worse. Going through all this just to end up with something that is overpriced is just not worth it. Rant over.
Great vid, I think the precious metal being the “Canary in the coal mine” is spot on. Steel models are just unattainable at a reasonable price (mostly) so that’s the best litmus test to go off of.
Btw, I definitely appreciated your interpretive Pope-Tier dance last video.
What strange sentence THAT was to type 😂
Saw a two tone Explorer in Liverpool available to purchase there and then in November.
Last week my friend bought a rolex rose gold root beer from hongkong with 20 percent off brand new full sticker grey market dealer in hongkong for 29500. Hongkong and China in biggest crisis now they got over 1 million of rolex to dump need cash once these watches can't sell in hongkong in will dumped in Europe imagin oversupply in next 6 months
many fake rolex in HK
Fake rolex card, fake invoice.
If you do buy, send to rolex to make sure it ok.
Well done, Britt! I'm also seeing more DJ and Precious Metal models available in my local AD (Southeast US). I hope this allows more people who are genuinely interested in the pieces to collect.
So I’ve been seeing these models for sale in the UK for some 6 months. But I was speechless when I visited another country recently because every piece at the AD was for sale - I counted 110 Rolex watches including platinum Day-Date models, full yellow gold GMT Master II on Jubilee and full yellow gold Yacht Master II pieces 😮
Oh and I just picked up a GMT Master II Zombie from the AD window two days ago! 🙌
I live local to Bristol and my AD is the Cribbs one and they also have certain models like that for sale in the window at times over the last few months
Sorry I missed you this trip… headed to bond street tomorrow to see watch I can find… ❤
Hi Britt do you have a video of your setup what camera / lights do you use
Thanks
Hello Im from Argentina and last year I got my first Rolex, the experience was form another planet (argentina) i walked into an AD saying i want to buy an Omega because rolex wont sell me, and 30min later i walked out with a Submariner no date. at retail price.. -- TRUE STORY..
You can as well in Edinburgh but only some models
I have to say, same thing here in my AD in nyc. They had “watches on the floor” as my SA said. They were even willing to overlook my 90 day wait as I had just purchased soemthing in December. Ended up getting something for my mom in the hopes that I can get something I really want later in the year.
In Cairo I was offered the Cameron Deepsea with the crown on the winder vertically positioned between the shoulders! and the white Explorer II. Payment was bank transfer only, so I reluctantly desisted.
The AD’s in Germany are trying to preserve the waitlist idea. Seems they all have been instructed by Rolex to say, that the demand is as high as it always was. Meanwhile there is a lot more on display…
You can't say this Britt..... Now that means Paul Thorpe and his friends have got to release a video today telling everyone the grey market is buoyant and keep buying over retail!!!
🙈🙈🙈 oh I love Paul so much!!! But man, the boom is over. I really think (and hope) that it isn’t coming back either. I think things will go back to how they were pre-panny-d. There will be harder to get models and those specific models will trade above retail. But it’s not gonna be to be what it was in 2021/2022 (thank GODDDDD!)
I feel like I live at the ass end of the watch distribution network. When Tudor announced their new models this year I went to my AD to ask about them and was told they didn't expect to them for 4 months. You bought your BB54 that same week. So, I don't expect anything to change around here any time soon, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to stop in and check.
I received the call a couple days ago and will receive mine next week. I've been waiting for a year and a half (not so bad honestly) but yeah, seems that some popular models are back in stock at MSRP (expensive ones already were available where I live, like gold or platinum DayDates).
I checked the AD at Piccadilly London, saw a few models with their prices quoted on the exhibition glass. Maybe a few models are available on retail there as well.
Similar situation in my part of the world. The same models sitting in the AD windows are even available at grey market dealers at deep discounts. Patiently waiting for my steel model 😂
The "change it had to come, Rolex AD's will be under my thumb" to paraphrase the Rolling Stones' song.
Only just realised you’re based in Bristol- I was in that Goldsmiths this week looking at the new Longines Conquest GMT
We were there yesterday!
Not here in the US. They got all the watches no one wants and or can afford. At least not in DC, NYC, NC, SC, and parts of Florida. This is from my experience.
Sadly, the ADs are only selling watches not wanted by anyone. The ones on sale are the ones you can get on the grey market under retail.
Hmm it’s true. But it’s a starting place. 😅 this isn’t the ending place. Within a couple of years, I predict, you’ll be able to get stainless steel OPs, DJs, even Explorer and Explorer 2s no wait list. Wont be the case for all watches. But availability is changing. 😅
So true, but not too long ago even these models were hard to get.
@WatchGringa I am old enough to remember I walked into Selfridges and purchased a Rolex datejust 36mm for me wife with 10% discount. Obviously, those days will never come back, but it would be nice to be able to get one in a matter of weeks and no games from the ADs. But as you say, the sports steel will still be difficult to buy.
Black dial explorer 2, explorer 1, the new 2 tone GMT (Grey /black), multiple YM’s even a 2 tone Daytona available in my local AD last weekend.
What AD is this??
Visited the AD in Bahrain on a work trip last week and the same was on sale there. Caught on the hop as they had the explorer 1 40mm for sale which I didn’t expect. Decided against buying it as saving cash at present
Yeah, to me “wait lists” were always contrived. In 2022, I walked into a major city AD with zero relationship and was offered two Datejusts. Recently visited my local AD, modest traffic inside, and was asked if I was looking for a new Rolex. Not saying I was getting a Green Sub but I feel their safes are easily accessible. Sure, I’ve spent money w them but now am more interested in micro brands and pre-owned. Glad the tide is turning. Housing in the States is next. Nice segment! 👏
Oh amazing , a Watch make having watches for sale. Who would have thought that would happen ?
Hey Britt !
Thks for the video again :)
Im looking like u a celebration dial and its difficult …
I bought An OP 34 black last year at my AD but he advices me to buy another watch ( gold sky dweller or datejust) that will give me more chances to have the celebration.
Do you think its possible that it will be easy to have a celebration dial in 2024 ?
I just walked in to a Rolex AD in my local town in Miami, FL and they only have two tones available for sale on the spot for both men and women. But only 41mm and for women, 26mm. None of the stainless steel are currently available.
It will eventually trickle down to Miami, NYC, and LA.
Great video, i picked up a skydweller from a secondary market in Japan. I’m happy to say I also got my wife one from my AD in Los Angeles. A model we requested 2 years ago.
Im on month 4 waiting on arrival of a new Explorer II Polar Dial. Im in Georgia Cant wait for it to get in. Enjoyed your video.
Hey Britt thats my AD too! I have the priveledge of owning 4 fairly hard to get Rolex pieces from there!! love this AD all great people and a super team
I purchased a 50th anniversary Sub years ago for a retirement present to myself then years later a 216570 Explorer. Both purchased from an AD, both times I didn't have to get on a waiting list, buy other models I wasn't interested in just to establish a purchase record, and most of all I was treated like a real person and didn't have to kiss the salesman's behind to stay in his good graces. Just not worth playing all the games nowadays.
Nah...I'll pass! I'll just stick to Invicta
Last time I went to Bristol, it was just to have lunch at Paco Tapas! Might have to take a peek in some watch dealers next time - not Rolex though; when you’re making twice as many watches as some of your closest competitors, making any semblance of scarcity feels artificial. Still, not like I can walk out of an Omega boutique tomorrow with a Silver Snoopy either…
Good spot! One of our regulars.
Hoping the start of the end of the trend of watches as an investment. The flex culture for me was vulgar and hoping that watches become again a personal extension of ones characteristic and seen as a fun but ultimately not important part of the individual.
My thought about Rolex pricing was that they would just keep increasing the price irrespective of the inflation rate until the sales started dropping. Looks like supply and demand are just about equal at the current price level. Great for them but I couldn't see me buying another.
Supply and demand equal at current price level?? If that were the case, they would be below retail on the secondhand market. That’s not currently the case. Rolex is a trust. They don’t operate based on the traditional micro economic model. They will never produce to the point where supply equals demand.
Shout out Watch Yourself Jorge! He works at that Goldsmiths🤣🤣
He does!!
Yes he does!!!! We 💕 Jorge! Such a great channel!
@@BrittPearceWatches HA HA it really is a great channel. He sold me my first Omega❤️
Thanks dude! My friend told me about this comment and that's awesome! Which omega was it again? 🤣 Also, I may no longer be at Goldsmiths... 👀
Nicely positive and encouraging video. Doesn't dissuade my sinking bitter pain that I'm NEVER getting a Pepsi on Jubilee bracelet.
Hoping the my local goldsmiths (reading) allocates me a a DJ36 mint green, jubilee soon. The Bristol branch was so friendly so might need to visit and try my luck again 🤣
Wonder if it’s the same here in Vancouver, will have to head downtown and check it out 😄
britt your funny and thank you for keeping your Canadian accent i love the impression you made when you were talking about the flippers lol good morning from north western Ontario Canada
Ahhh thank you! 🤣 YOU KNOW! I feel like my accent has become so confusing! But I went home to Canada in the summer and I think it got me sounding proper Canadian again! 😝 planning to go home next Christmas to get my accent right again! Hahaha! Big hugs from across the pond 🇨🇦 🇬🇧
If I had a budget of a Rolex Daytona I would buy zenith chronomaster panda and would still save 6k usd. 🤗
Nice to see the new(ish) store in Cabots - I was lucky enough to receive a call the other week from the guys ostensibly to re-gauge my expression of interest in a 36mm Explorer. I'm not interested in it as an investment - I genuinely want to own and use it every day. Do you think we'll see a return to enthusiast owners actually outnumbering the flippers?
Why I love Two Tone Explorer....? Sometimes I imagine driving Khaki land rover defender with white roof...exploring what I suppose to explore rocking two tone explorer.....sadly,I don't live in UK....
Sadly? Fortunately!!! You don’t want to live in this rainy swamp! 😝
in Qatar 🇶🇦 those precious metal are available since few years ago there's 36mm steel explorer and the moonphase cellini still there as well
Bahrain also. But I dont know if these are authorised dealers
Not a chance because Rolex watches in Grey market
They’re coming straight from the ADs and Rolex boutiques. Same way other watches get on the grey market. A grey dealer/buyer buys up a ton of stock in order for the AD to offload their supply and maintain AD status. These watches come from all over the world. It’s not just a guy in your city buying up all the stock from one AD. In the case of Rolex, the ADs get their stock and it hardly every hits their showroom cases. That’s why all the cases are empty except one or two watches nobody wants. Their desirable pieces are already accounted for by the grey dealers and being sold out the back. The grey dealers are buying them at retail and then flipping them at secondary prices. It keeps the resale value of Rolex up while making it seem like supply is low, thus the brand maintains the facade of exclusivity. It’s all a ruse and certainly illegal, but this is the luxury watch industry and it has always been an exercise in smoke and mirrors. Rolex knows all this and doesn’t care. They operate as a charity organization and know that they’re the most influential name in the watch industry.
Why should we buy Rolexes after what they’ve done? There are many watchmakers that beat Rolex in aesthetics, watchmaking, innovation, history, cool factor. JLC, GS, Alange just to name a few. And besides, wearing a Rolex makes you a target for thieves cuz their watches are so high profile. Over the last 2 years, Rolex watches have grown stale and uninteresting to me.
The price fall can only be explained by this: The AD’s are bundling watches and selling them to secondary market. (ie. 1 steel model + 1 gold model)
This is true because if a watch ie. white gold pepsi is not available at the AD (even if it is available, there are no discounts) but available in gray market 10-15% cheaper, meaning that AD’s are selling those directly to the market. Otherwise there would be discounts on underlist watches.
No flipper, even the most VIP of AD’s, can get more than 2-3 good watches a year. Hence, they can not be responsible from the price fall
I was in my AD in Leicester yesterday. Nothing for sale, but did put my name down for an Explorer 40.
AD was excellent. Spent 2 hours with me chatting and showing us around. I was told very clearly that with no purchase history a Sub No Date wasn’t going to happen.
I was torn between the Explorer 40 and Sub No Date, so that helped my thought process immensely.
Easy descision to make😂
Whaaaat! That sounds like an awesome experience! I love it when the AD spends proper time with you! Plus, I’m sure they could sense you love watches for the right reasons, and they’ll hopefully be quite keen to get you that Explorer 40! Excellent choice! So timeless!
Great watch got mine back in June and it's so comfortable
No purchase history? Yet you have money to spend? That’s ridiculous.
Is this your first purchase? I thought subs are getting cheaper and so more available to first purchase
Love your optimism Britt. Unfortunately here in Las Vegas no one has seen a retail Rolex in 4 years. The stupid Rolex Certified program as filled the AD's windows with over priced watches and suckers are just glad to buy anything. I can wait.......
GAH NOOOO!! This is awful news! Rolex lovers of Nevada, you guys need a holiday in Bristol! 😅 the weather is awful hahaha but watches seem to be coming back in stock!
The only rolxes I've seen for sale at rolex ADs are "second hand" and are being sold at grey market prices.