Hello Forum Folks!

[Saint-Tropez]

Hello all,

"Long time listener, first time caller" here.

So, I've decided to get into the watch market again after many years post my first and only Rolex, which I'd purchased in my late 20's. (No date Sub) Now a couple decades later, I've been getting that feeling of wanting to get into another hobby in way of watches. My interests have always seemed to have came and went in cycles, with many coming full circle again, Cars, trucks, motorcycles, flying, coins, firearms, etc., but I digress...

Recently I'd taken some time to go on an honest pursuit and perusal of a few local AD's to pick up a few watches as a package. Unfortunately that was not successful due to the said "supply and demand." (Dealer withholding likely plays a part in that as well as I am not an established client, and my wife could care less about jewelry herself by and large.)

So seeing as I am not going to needlessly purchase items I have no affinity for, and likely spooked a few dealers as I am looking for popular watches like a Daytona, No-Date Sub, and an Air King for starters, I get that to many it probably looked suspect; to me personally, I could care less. I've been uber forthright with people, think the gray market pricing for ROLEX SS models specifically has gotten way out of hand, and am simply trying to get a few watches that I really like so that I can start rotating right away, but seems that the stories on here are pretty common about "relational selling", and "scarcity".

I'm in PA, and in frustration called not only around many dealers in my state, but also in DE, MD, NJ, HI, and CA! (So it was getting late here and I still wanted to do my due diligence (laugh), but I was ready to buy! One reason why I prefer to purchase from an AD is due to wanting the warranty in my name, not another.

Crazy prices lately. I can easily afford a $20,000 some gray market Daytona, but I'd be an idiot to buy one. I can easily get a nice AP Royal Oak for less than that, and for a bit more a nice PP Calatrava. To me, I personally don't want any watch priced higher than the latter due to personal taste of liking a few particular brands and models, but mainly Rolex. Simple, classic watches that are well made, and I can pass down someday to my son.

A gal in another state at a stand along Rolex store informed me in a very polite manor, that I was to simply approach an AD, let them know that I am aware they are somewhat difficult to obtain SS Professional Models, and inquire what are my requirements to get them (Mainly the Daytona or even a GMT). She informed me that their store is instructed to take no special orders for any SS Professional Models at all presently, but she was not certain about elsewhere in the country. Some stores with a lot of "high-rollers" she said have a requirement to spend $500k to $1,000,000+ to get a Daytona, but her store was low 6 figures. Apparently demographics and geographics play a part in this.

If I don't turn up something soon, I may just jump on the AP. I really don't need anything, but there is a grandiose difference between need and want.

Cheers, all!