I am in Vienna at this moment in time and have been gawping at the hundreds of Rolex for sale in the many shops that have an agency. This is a place in which every top brand is sold and often with several shops selling the same "exclusive" product in the same street.
I looked into 5 shops selling new Rolex and the windows were full of the usual TT and YG stuff in the hundreds, but not one single SS Submariner or GMT was on sale.
There was just one 39mm Explorer, one polar Explorer11 and a few Yacht Masters looking forlorn in the hundreds of Datejusts on display.
There were quite a few well stocked Patek windows with the usual traditional perpetual calendar models but not a single Nautilus type model to be seen.
Funny games are definitely going on here.
There are available but not on display
Just 'get on the list' .... you know, 'the list', with 'your dealer' surely you have your own 'dealer' .... ;-)
Calm down dears
I know there is a shortage, you know there is a shortage but some people still think there isn't, just look at the Rolex forum. I was just adding to the fuel, but I admit I wish I hadn't, so will shut up.
Did you take the Explorer II or zenith Daytona for your trip?
I think a lot of the Rolex availability posts here are understandably UK centric as this is a mostly UK forum with small international input .
But the steel Rolex short supply is not just a UK phenomenon linked to £ exchange rate , list price variations or the like .
So if the production of steel models is constant is the supply heading into other markets- it certainly has not come to the Caribbean.
I was told that Rolex are so annoyed with people purchasing time pieces out of market, (Asians coming to the UK and buying up Rolex sports models) that they have decided to restrict the European markets significantly in order to stop this happening. Apparently the Asian markets will continue to get their normal supply to re-engage that market. As I say just what I have heard. I was also told that they would ramp production of the Sky-Dweller as that is seen as a core model along with the Datejust range etc. And they have no desire to keep supply of those models restricted.
Seems like a simple method to create buzz and increase prices at the same time. Very disappointing though!
I’ve recently been to Jamaica and Italy (inc Capri) and there were no SS Sport Rolex in those AD’s. Fancied my chances as well. Anyone own a Capri Watch?
Last edited by anz3001; 16th May 2018 at 20:21.
Yawn again
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Mick, other than to say you are in Vienna, this is a nonsense post.👍
Do these foreign dealers keep the cards, take the stickers etc. etc.?
If the steel sports Rolex is not available has anyone considered well, just buying something else?
Absolutely.
You’d be far better off sticking to some sachertorte.
I am living in Beijing and regularly travelling around other cities in China and usually pop into the Rolex stores and it seems to be the same situation as Europe, hardly any SS models just the occasional Explorer II or Yachtmaster. I will let you know if this situation changes!
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Thanks for the heads up mick.
Similar to Bangkok really in my experience. Last time I kept a (retained) record at the end of March, in one Rolex boutique here, I saw 3 Daytona's (not SS), 3 SS Yachtmasters and a black and white Explorer. However, on an earlier visit this year, I did see both Black and white SS Daytonas on display in the store side by side and on later visits I have seen both yachtmasters and explorers. I'm not really a Rolex fan, just check to compare with the UK. On one of those later visits I did see a SM or SD being tried on by a 'farang'.
as a new member my apologies if this has been said before
there is a worldwide shortage of SS 'sports' watches - end of story
i spoke to my AD earlier this week and my LVC is in this months allocation - been waiting over a year despite being what some would call a VIP customer
also on the list for a white Daytona
apparently Rolex are working three shifts per day to try and improve availability
'stickers' will be removed as per Rolex UK instructions, but i will get warranty card (Rolex UK have no official position regarding warranty cards, but tell AD's that they must do their utmost to stop watches entering the grey market)
btw i was banned some time ago from TRF for daring to tell the Americans that they do not rule the world and dictate business terms to Rolex - mind you they also did not like me for saying Range Rovers were better than US 'trucks' - lol!
Last edited by nick h; 17th May 2018 at 12:12.
No AD waiting list or warranty card being withheld here....
face the facts
you will not get the in demand SS watches unless you have a 'relationship' with an AD - yes, that is hard to hear but is a fact of life
how to get a 'relationship' with an AD?
there are no hard and fast rules but if you buy less in demand watches it certainly helps and some AD's who are also jewellers see jewellery purchases as part of the overall scheme?
if you only ever go into your AD to try and buy in demand SS watches you are going nowhere in the lists
many on forums such as TRF say lists do not exist in the real world and money gets you what you want (typical Yank attitude) - lists are very, very real
what Ad's in the UK want is for watches to go to people who will keep/enjoy the watches
the 'grey' market dealers are like vultures/parasites preying on the vulnerable - they do not work on a level 'playing field' in that they can legally sell a watch over the Rolex MRRP
maybe Rolex could turn the tables and for a time remove the MMRP and allow dealers to sell watches at the 'market price' - this would kill the greys overnight
so at Hulk at say £9.5K
ceramic Daytona at £18K
the watches would sell at those prices in the Uk
What you seem to be saying is that no-one can buy a Sub as their one luxury watch purchase - reaching a significant birthday or treating themselves following a good year or bonus? Subs will only be sold to people who buy a lot from a particular AD, i.e. collectors or flippers?
Great, so with your plan I would never have been able to afford my Sub at an AD, as the price increase pushed the opportunity ever further away from people like me who don't earn a fortune. A rather elitist solution. Yes it kills the greys but also destroys any hope of purchasing at today's prices.
I think the big question is, what's changed? Has demand really gone up that much or is Rolex making less sports watches? (In which case, why?)
Because they want to sell more of the precious metal models which give them a bigger profit?
They don't want every tom, dick and harry wearing a Rolex for fear of diluting the brand image (like what happened to Burberry in the past - short term gain but long term loss)?
These are guesses based on nothing but my own thinking.
lists, no lists
exchange rates
brexit
relationship with AD
we are all bored with it.
Rolex philosophy = customers really want something when you tell them you cannot have it. Result = increased interest in brand / they sell other models / maintain the Veblen cycle
General Economy - historically very low interest rates for 20 years. People with money want to park it elsewhere .... watches being one of Classic Cars / wine / art etc. So more people (non WIS) take an interest
WIS - I think the internet has fuelled number of WIS around. Suspect 20 years ago the average Submariner owner was a one watch guy. Now we have multiple watches from same brands adding to the demand
Not sure what the issue is. If you want a specific watch, Ceramic Daytona, Red SD, etc then go on Chrono 24 and search.
I am sure you will find one, albeit at an inflated price.
So the problem is not availability. The problem is being able to buy one at MRP, but if people really want one they just have to suck it up.
If people want one at MRP, to either keep or flip for a quick profit, then you need either luck or considerable patience.
The same goes for Porsche GT and RS models and even stuff like Supreme Hoodies, Hermes Handbags, etc.
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Went into Watches of Switzerland and Mappin & Webb in Regents St. today, neither having any subs at all. If Rolex want to reduce supply to maintain exclusivity good luck to them. I’ve lost interest and will just keep my DJ and my dosh.
Don't forget the widely held feeling that a Rolex purchased at any price, no matter how much above "market", will eventually pay off as a great investment. There are so many stories of vintage people buying top quality watches at a 30% premium to market and then making 300% returns on their investment over a couple years. That feeling seems to have trickled down from DRSDs and hand wound Daytonas to more mundaine references. People seem to think that's going to be the norm forever. I don't agree, but we will see.
Imagine the threads and complaints if Rolex increase production of SS Sports and anyone can buy whatever they want by walking in a shop:
‘I bought my Daytona at an AD for 9k but WF only offered me 2.5k’
‘My 7 Rolexes were my retirement fund but they are only worth a third of what I paid’
‘I was told Rolex was a guaranteed investment and now I need to sell I to fund my poodle through canine college and was told it’s not worth 2k when I paid 5k and was hoping for 8k’
‘You’re all liars’
I'd be happy to see it. My collection has probably increased in value somewhere between 200% and 300% over the last ten years or so. That has done two things:
(1) increase the cost to insure them
(2) make adding new watches to my collection much much more expensive
Neither is good for me as a collector/wearer.